Patent ID: 7194553

Claim:
A method of routing a message to a communication endpoint identified by a name comprising a plurality of discrete components, the method comprising the steps of: (1) receiving the message identified by a name comprising a plurality of discrete components at a first name router; (2) in the first name router, resolving a first portion of the name into a first address; (3) transmitting the message from the first name router to the first address resolved in step (2); (4) receiving the message at a second name router corresponding to the address resolved in step (2); (5) at the second name router, resolving a second portion of the name into a second address; and (6) transmitting the message to a computer corresponding to the second address; (7) transmitting the first address from the first name router to an originator of the message; and (8) transmitting the second address from the second name router to the originator of the message.