Patent ID: 6944661

Claim:
A system for providing a domain name lookup and redirection services to multiple users of a data communication network who are subscribed to said service, said system comprising a server located at a unique and predetermined address in said network, said server comprising: first means responsive to an inquiry received from one of said subscribed users, said inquiry effectively designating plural destinations in said network as potential targets for redirection of the respective inquiry, for operating in conformance to a predetermined set of criteria uniquely associated to said one subscribed user to determine an address in said network uniquely assigned to a single one of said plural destinations; said inquiry containing a first addressing term uniquely designating the location of said server in said network, and a second addressing term constituting a name having a non-unique association to all of said plural destinations; and second means activated by said first means for using said determined address to redirect said inquiry to only said single one of said plural destinations.