Domain Name Registration State Management for Variable Value Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domain name registration systems lack flexibility in handling domain names with variable monetary values, leading to inefficiencies in cost recovery and allocation, as they typically offer only a binary registration state, which can result in valuable domain names being unregistered due to minimum fee requirements.
Innovation Solution
Introducing multiple registration state-types that allow for variable control of domain name parameters and enable reassignment without the previous registrant's action, along with flexible fee structures and risk apportionment, enabling registration regardless of monetary value and cost recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a binary registration state is used, then the system is simple to operate, but it lacks flexibility in handling domain names with variable monetary values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single binary registration state into multiple distinct registration state-types (e.g., available, registered, reserved, transferred). Each state-type can be associated with different fee structures and control parameters, enabling the system to handle domain names with variable monetary values while maintaining operational simplicity through structured categorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic registration state-types that can change based on the domain name's status, fee payment state, and control parameters. The system allows transitions between different state-types (e.g., from available to registered, or from registered to transferred), providing adaptability for variable monetary values while maintaining ease of operation through automated state management.
2Reliability
If minimum fee requirements are enforced, then cost recovery is ensured, but valuable domain names may remain unregistered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of fee requirements from a fixed minimum to variable fees based on registration state-type and domain name characteristics. Different state-types can have different fee structures, allowing the system to recover costs reliably while enabling registration of valuable domain names that meet the adjusted fee requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces preliminary registration state-types (e.g., reserved or pre-registered states) that allow domain names to be held or transferred before final registration. This enables valuable domain names to be allocated through transfer mechanisms rather than being blocked by minimum fee requirements, improving allocation efficiency while maintaining cost recovery through appropriate fee charging.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple registration state-types are introduced, then flexibility in handling variable values is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs registration state-types to serve multiple functions: they indicate availability, track fee payment status, enable transfers, and control parameters. By making each state-type multi-functional, the system achieves flexibility for variable monetary values without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same state-type infrastructure handles multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the registration state-type automatically influences fee requirements, control parameters, and transfer capabilities. The system uses feedback loops to manage complexity by automatically adjusting parameters based on the current state-type, reducing the manual complexity of managing multiple states while maintaining flexibility for variable values.
4Ease of operation
If first-come first-served registration is used, then the process is simple, but it cannot accommodate variable monetary values and risk apportionment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the registration process into different state-type transitions (e.g., availability check, fee payment, registration, transfer). This segmentation allows the basic first-come first-served simplicity to be maintained for standard registrations while adding complexity only where needed for variable monetary values and risk apportionment through different state-type pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces preliminary registration state-types that allow domain names to be reserved or pre-processed before final registration. This enables the system to accommodate variable monetary values and risk apportionment through preliminary actions (such as fee assessment or transfer preparation) while maintaining the simplicity of the overall first-come first-served process for standard cases.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed method and apparatus makes possible the registration of domain names in one or more registration state-types, each registration state-type being associated with a set of functional rules or parameters. Certain of the registration state-types are allowed to have priority over other of the registration state-types, meaning that a domain name registered in a low priority registration state-type may be superseded or overwritten by an intervening registration to the same or a different registrant who requests a higher priority registration. Interplay of the registration state-types and parameters provides for a broad range of registration services and flexibility in the means by which consideration is obtained in exchange for registration services.