Patent ID: 7284056
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method implemented in a requesting computer system that is network connectable to a network, the requesting computer system including a native host name resolver that is not capable of resolving a host name when the requesting computer system is connected to the network due to advances in or proprietary name resolution techniques, the method being for resolving a host name using a replacement resolver so as to extend the functionality of the computer system, extending the useful life of the computer system by allowing the computer system to be used on networks that it was not originally intended to be used with, the method comprising the following: an act of assigning the requesting computer system as a name server for the requesting computer system, wherein the requesting computer system is a single physical device docked to a resolving computer system; an act of at a native host name resolver of the requesting computer system requesting resolution of a host name by sending host name data in a first protocol to the requesting computer system by sending the host name data to the name server assigned for the requesting computer system, the host name data being compatible for resolution of the host name by a DNS server, the first protocol being a native protocol of the requesting computer system that is incompatible for resolving host name data over a communication link connecting the requesting computer system to the network; an act of monitoring a name resolution port of the requesting computer system for receiving the host name data in the first protocol from the requesting computer system; an act of rerouting the host name data in the first protocol to a replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system; an act of sending the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system using a second protocol to a module at the resolving computer system for resolving the host name data, wherein the second protocol is compatible for resolving host name data over the communication link connecting the requesting computer system to the network; and an act of receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data, wherein the resolving computer system forwards the host name data from the replacement host name resolver in the requesting computer system to a name server, and wherein receiving a resolved address at the native host name resolver of the requesting computer system corresponding to the host name data comprises receiving the resolved address directly from the name server bypassing the resolving computer system.