System with user interface for efficiently checking availability statuses of, and selecting, muliple items such as domain names

Abstract

A system is disclosed that includes a user interface through which a user can submit a query to check the availability statuses of multiple items, such as domain names. After the query results are returned, the user is presented with a web form which includes a tabular display indicating, at intersections between rows and columns, the availability statuses of the items. From this tubular display, the user can select, and generate a request that specifies, multiple available items. The system and method can be used to increase the speed and productivity of querying and updating a domain name registry or other database.

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising: 
 receiving a request generated by a user via submission of a first electronic form;    checking availability statuses of a plurality of items that correspond to the request;    outputting results of the request for presentation to the user via a second electronic form that includes a tabular display having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein each of the plurality of items corresponds to a respective intersection of a row and a column, and the tabular display indicates, at the intersections of the rows and columns, the availability statuses of corresponding ones of said items; and    receiving a subsequent request generated via submission of the second electronic form, said subsequent request identifying multiple items selected by the user via the tabular display.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second electronic form includes functionality for the user to select multiple items from the tabular display, and to submit a single request that specifies multiple selected items.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second electronic form includes check boxes at respective intersections of the rows and columns, said check boxes permitting multiple ones of said items to be selected concurrently for purposes of submitting the second electronic form.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the items include domain names.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by a server system that communicates over a network with a user computer.  
     
     
         6 . A server system programmed to perform the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising: 
 a first electronic form adapted for user generation of requests to check availability statuses of items; and    a server system programmed to respond to a request generated by a user via the first electronic form by at least (a) determining availability statuses of a plurality of items, and (b) generating a second electronic form to present to the user, said second electronic form comprising a tabular display having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and indicating, at intersections of said rows and columns, the availability statuses of the corresponding items;    wherein the second electronic form is configured to enable the user to select multiple available items, and to generate a single request that specifies said multiple available items.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the tabular display includes means for selecting each available item.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second electronic form includes check boxes at respective intersections of the rows and columns, said check boxes permitting multiple ones of said items to be selected concurrently for purposes of submitting the second electronic form.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the items include domain names.