System, method, and article of manufacture for maintaining and accessing a whois database

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for maintaining and accessing a whois database. In one embodiment, modifications to a registrar database that includes information about domain names are tracked, and based on the tracked modifications, one or more records that include modified information about the domain names are identified. Unique identifiers for the identified one or more records are determined and are used to reflect the modifications in the whois database. The modifications are tracked on a real-time basis and are reflected in the whois database on an hourly or a real-time basis.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A whois system in communication with a registrar system that includes a registrar database having a plurality of domain name records and an audit file having a plurality of unique identifiers, each unique identifier corresponding to a modified or deleted domain name record within the registrar database, the whois system comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one whois database having a plurality of domain name records; and   stored instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 extracting the plurality of unique identifiers from the audit file; and 
 for each unique identifier:
 determining whether a first domain name record that corresponds to the unique identifier exists within the registrar database, 
 if the first domain name record exists, retrieving the first domain name record from the registrar database, 
 determining whether a second domain name record that corresponds to the unique identifier exists within the whois database, 
 if the second domain name record exists, retrieving the second domain name record from the whois database, 
 comparing the first domain name record to the second domain name record, and 
 updating the second domain name record, within the whois database, based on the first domain name record. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 if the first domain name record does not exist, deleting the second domain name record from the whois database.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 if the second domain name record does not exist, adding the first domain name record to the whois database.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the method further comprises:
 discarding duplicate unique identifiers from the plurality of unique identifiers   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the modified or deleted domain name record consists of an added domain name record, a deleted domain name record and a changed domain name record. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the audit file includes an indicator associated with each unique identifier, the indicator consisting of an added indicator, a deleted indicator and changed indicator. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the audit file includes modified domain name information associated with each unique identifier. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of unique identifiers is associated with a time period.