Server-Side DNS Resolution for Private Faster Web Page Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Web browsers frequently initiate numerous DNS queries, which can leak user browsing activity information and enable third parties to track or monetize user behavior, and existing encryption methods do not reduce the number of queries.
Innovation Solution
Server-side resolution of domain names into IP addresses by a web server, minimizing the need for client-side DNS queries by providing fully resolved web pages, and using intelligence to anticipate additional domain names a user might access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the web browser performs numerous DNS queries to resolve domain names, then the web page can be accessed with all embedded domain names resolved, but the number of opportunities for third parties to monitor user browsing activity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs DNS resolution in advance before the web browser needs to access the web page. The server resolves domain names to IP addresses and provides this pre-resolved information to the browser, eliminating the need for the browser to perform DNS queries that could be monitored by third parties.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary between the web browser and the DNS system. Instead of the browser directly querying DNS servers (which creates monitorable traffic), the server performs the resolution indirectly and provides the results to the browser, masking the browsing activity from third parties.
2Reliability
If the web browser performs DNS queries for each domain name, then all domain names can be resolved, but query delays occur and performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs DNS resolution in advance before the web browser needs to access the web page. By resolving domain names to IP addresses beforehand and providing this pre-resolved information to the browser, the system eliminates the time the browser would otherwise spend performing DNS queries.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple DNS queries that would be performed sequentially by the browser for different domain names are merged into a single server-side resolution process. The server resolves all domain names in the web page simultaneously, combining multiple queries into one operation and reducing total resolution time.
3Reliability
If the web browser performs DNS queries, then domain names can be resolved, but ad-blocking software may interfere with the resolution process
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary between the web browser and the DNS system. By performing resolution on the server side rather than allowing direct browser-to-DNS queries, the system bypasses ad-blocking software that would intercept and block queries from the browser, ensuring uninterrupted domain name resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The DNS resolution operation is extracted from the browser environment and moved to the server environment. This separation removes the resolution process from the scope of ad-blocking software's control, allowing domain names to be resolved without interference from browser-based ad blockers.
Data Source
AI summary
A server computer includes a network communications interface, a memory configured to store a web page having an IP address, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive, via the network communications interface, a request for the web page. The request includes the IP address. The processor is also configured to identify a set of domain names referenced by the web page; resolve the set of domain names into a set of IP addresses; and transmit, in response to the request for the web page and via the network communications interface, a content and format of the web page. The content of the web page includes the set of IP addresses.