Patent ID: 7539774

Claim:
A computer system for registering domain names and/or IP addresses, the system consisting of a registry system which registers domain names and/or IP addresses in one or more registration state-type or -types and, when there is more than one registration state-type, in which certain of the registration state-type or -types have priority over other of the registration state-type or -types and in which domain names and/or IP addresses may be registered simultaneously in certain of the registration state-type or -types by the same or different parties; which registry system includes means to identify which of the registration state-type or -types a request to register a domain name and/or IP address is directed to; which registry system includes means to identify which of the registration state-type or -types a domain name and/or IP address is registered in; which registry system includes: a database of registered domain names and/or IP addresses; means to process communications and instructions directed to the registry system and to return appropriate responses; means to create and update a set of rules which define the one or more registration state-type or -types; means to create and update a set of rules which define parameters associated with the one or more registration state-type or -types and the permissible values of such parameters; means to optionally exchange consideration for registration services; which registry system includes means to change the registration state-type or -types of existing domain name and/or IP address registrations; which registry system includes means to set the values of the parameters associated with specific domain names and/or IP addresses registered in the registry system, including through delegation of authority.