VeriSign, Inc.
Domain name registration reservation through the use of encoding domain names

Abstract:

A technique for facilitating registration of an internet domain name with the domain name system (DNS) is presented. The technique can include receiving a request to register an encoding domain name with the DNS, the encoding domain name including an indication of a temporal event and of a target domain name. The technique can also include registering the encoding domain name to a registrant, where the registering the encoding domain name confers to the registrant a right to register the target domain name upon specified conditions, where the specified conditions include an occurrence of the temporal event. The technique can also include receiving a request initiated by the registrant to register the target domain name, and registering the target domain name to the registrant after satisfaction of the specified conditions.