Patent ID: 7711853
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for resolving a name to a network address, the method comprising performing computer-implemented operations on a computer system for: registering one or more providers with the computer system by receiving from each of the one or more providers a list of domains for which the each of the one or more providers is a primary provider and a list of domains for which the each of the one or more providers is a secondary provider or an indication that the each of the one or more providers is a wildcard provider, each of the one or more providers comprising an application or a service executing on the computer system and being operative to resolve names to network addresses; receiving a request to resolve a name to a network address from an application executing on the same computer system as the one or more providers, wherein the name comprises an electronic mail address having a local part and a domain; in response to the request, identifying one or more of the providers as being able to resolve the name to the network address; requesting that one or more of the identified providers resolve the name to a network address; receiving a network address in response to the request from the one or more of the providers; and providing the received network address to the application for use in communicating communicate with a computer system identified by the network address.