CNAME Flattening for Root Domain DNS Resolution

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the root domain does not directly store CNAME records but instead uses a special handling approach: when a CNAME record is needed at the root level, the system creates a subdomain (e.g., 'www' or other placeholder) that holds the CNAME record, while the root domain itself maintains an A record that points to the same IP address. This intermediary subdomain acts as a bridge that allows CNAME functionality at the root level without actually placing CNAME records at the root, thus maintaining DNS specification compliance while achieving the desired flexibility.

The patent applies segmentation by allowing each domain to have its own CNAME record that points to a unique alias or service endpoint, even when multiple domains resolve to the same underlying IP address. This segmentation of domain identities through CNAME records enables better traffic management and isolation, so that issues affecting one domain (such as DNS-level attacks or misconfigurations) do not directly impact other domains sharing the same IP infrastructure.

The patent implements universality by using a shared pool of IP addresses that can serve multiple customers through virtual hosting and CNAME record mechanisms. Instead of requiring dedicated IP addresses for each customer, the system allows a single IP address to handle traffic for multiple domains simultaneously. This multi-functional approach to IP address usage reduces the total number of IP addresses needed while maintaining the ability to provide customized domain services to each customer.