Validating control of domain zone

Abstract

A requestor requests a domain zone control validation from a validating entity. The validating entity generates a pass string. The requestor enters the pass string into a domain zone. The validating entity determines if the pass string was entered in the domain zone. If the pass string is present in the domain zone, the domain zone control was successfully validated.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a server computer coupled to a network and running a domain name system server software;   a domain name zone file for a domain name, the domain name zone file hosted on the server computer and comprising at least one resource record; and   at least one processor on the server computer executing instructions causing the server computer to:
 receive a transmission encoding a request for a validation to modify the at least one resource record; 
 responsive to the request, generate:
 a validation string unique to the domain name zone file and the domain name; and 
 at least one instruction for entering the validation string into the at least one resource record in the domain name zone file; 
 
 transmit the validation string and the at least one instruction to a client computer coupled to the network; 
 query the domain name zone file to determine whether the validation string has been entered into the at least one resource record; and 
 responsive to a determination that the validation string has been entered into the at least one resource record, validate the modification of the at least one resource record. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server computer is operated by a validating entity comprising:
 a certification authority;   a domain name registry; or   a domain name registrar.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one resource record within the domain name zone file comprises:
 a TXT DNS record; or   a CNAME DNS record.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server computer receives the request via:
 an email message; or   a website.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the domain name zone file is a flat text file and is
 formatted using:   space separated values;   character separated values; or   a markup language.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the validation string comprises:
 an alphanumeric string; or   a numeric string.    
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 at least one processor running on a server computer coupled to a network, the at least one processor executing instructions causing the server computer to:   host a domain name zone file for a domain name, the domain name zone file comprising at least one domain name system (DNS) record;   receive a transmission encoding a request for a validation to modify the at least one DNS record;   responsive to the request, generate:
 a validation string unique to the domain name zone file and the domain name; and 
 at least one instruction for entering the validation string into the at least one DNS record in the domain name zone file; and 
   transmit the validation string and the at least one instruction to a client computer coupled to the network.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the server computer is operated by a validating entity comprising:
 a certification authority;   a domain name registry; or   a domain name registrar.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one DNS record within the domain name zone file comprises:
 a TXT DNS record; or   a CNAME DNS record.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the server computer receives the request via:
 an email message; or   a website.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the domain name zone file is a flat text file and is formatted using:
 space separated values;   character separated values; or   a markup language.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the validation string comprises:
 an alphanumeric string; or   a numeric string.   
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 hosting, by a server computer coupled to a network, a domain name zone file for a domain name, the domain name zone file comprising at least one domain name system (DNS) record;   receiving, by the server computer, a transmission encoding a request for a validation to modify the at least one domain name system (DNS) record;   responsive to the request, generating, by the server computer:
 a validation string unique to a domain name zone file hosted on a server computer coupled to a network; and 
 at least one instruction for entering the validation string into the at least one DNS record in the domain name zone file; and 
   transmitting, by the server computer, the validation string and the at least one instruction to a client computer coupled to the network.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the server computer is operated by a validating entity comprising:
 a certification authority;   a domain name registry; or   a domain name registrar.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one DNS record within the domain name zone file comprises:
 a TXT DNS record; or   a CNAME DNS record.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the server computer receives the request via:
 an email message; or   a website.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the domain name zone file is a flat text file and is formatted using:
 space separated values;   character separated values; or   a markup language.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the validation string comprises:
 an alphanumeric string; or   a numeric string.