Patent ID: 6131095
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of accessing a target entity over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:(a)--providing a DNS-type distributed database system storing records each associated with a corresponding domain name and holding communication data for use in accessing said target entity, each said domain name being related to a respective number string from which it can be derived by a process including parsing at least a substantial portion of the number string into at least a part of said domain name, said number string being a telephone number;(b)--supplying a said number string indicative of a said target entity and forming the related said domain name by said process including parsing at least a substantial part of the number string into at least a part of a siad domain name;(c)--applying the domain name formed in step (b) to the DNS-type distributed database system to retrieve the communication data held in the corresponding said record; and(d)--using the communication data retrieved in step (c) in accessing said target entity.