IP Library Granted Patent US 8,799,295
Granted Patent B2
US 8,799,295 · App. 12/417,949 · Granted Aug 5, 2014

Method and system for scoring domain names

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,799,295
App. No.
12/417,949
Granted
Aug 5, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for scoring domain names are provided. A domain name may be scored based on a set of criteria, and a sub-score assigned to each criteria. The sub-scores may be used to generate a domain name score and identify ways of increasing the score of the domain name. A domain name score may provide an indication of the value or usefulness of the domain name.

Claims (61)

1. A computer-implemented method for calculating a value score for a domain name, the method comprising:

at a computer, receiving a domain name to be scored;

determining, by a processor of the computer, a number of equivalent top-level domain names corresponding to the received domain name that are registered in the domain name system;

assigning a first sub-score based on the number of equivalent top-level domain names registered;

determining, by the processor of the computer, a number of related domain names that are registered in the domain name system;

assigning a second sub-score based on the number related domain names registered in the domain name system;

automatically collecting registration data for the received domain name;

assigning a third sub-score based on the automatically-collected registration data;

generating, by the processor of the computer, a domain name score for the received domain name, the domain name score being determined from the first, second, and third subscores;

identifying a technique for increasing at least one of the first, second, and third subscores; and

providing the domain name score and the identified technique to a user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the registration data comprises data retrieved by a whois query.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the registration data comprises at least one of the registration term of the domain name, whether the domain name registration includes a privacy feature, and whether a transfer lock is enabled for the domain name.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented by a domain name registrar, the method further comprising:

determining that the user is a customer of the domain name registrar and has registered the domain name with the domain name registrar; and

automatically collecting customer data associated with the user;

wherein at least one of the first, second, and third sub-scores is assigned further based at least in part on the collected customer data.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

suggesting at least one additional domain name for registration by the user;

receiving a request from the user to register the at least one additional domain name; and

registering the at least one additional domain name.

6. A computer-implemented method for calculating a value score for a domain name, the method comprising:

at a computer, receiving a domain name to be scored;

measuring, by a processor of the computer, a plurality of domain name registration criteria for the received domain name;

for each of the plurality of domain name registration criteria, assigning a sub-score to the domain name;

calculating a combined domain name score based on the sub-scores;

identifying a technique for increasing the combined domain name score;

and

providing the domain name and the identified technique to the user.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the domain name registration criteria include the number of equivalent top-level domain names corresponding to the received domain name that are registered in the domain name system.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the domain name registration criteria include the number of related domain names are registered in the domain name system.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the domain name registration criteria include registration data available via a who is lookup of the domain name.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising identifying a technique for increasing at least one of the first, second, and third sub-scores.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

determining a number of equivalent top-level domain names corresponding to the received domain name that are registered in the domain name system;

assigning a first sub-score based on the number of equivalent top-level domain names registered;

determining a number of related domain names that are registered in the domain name system;

assigning a second sub-score based on the number related domain names registered in the domain name system;

automatically collecting registration data for the received domain name;

assigning a third sub-score based on the automatically-collected registration data;

generating a domain name score for the received domain name, the domain name score being determined from the first, second, and third sub-scores;

identifying a technique for increasing at least one of the first, second, and third subscores;

and

providing the domain name score and the identified technique to the user.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the registration data comprises data retrieved by a whois query.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the registration data comprises at least one of the registration term of the domain name, whether the domain name registration includes a privacy feature, and whether a transfer lock is enabled for the domain name.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , said method further comprising:

determining that the user is a customer of a domain name registrar and has registered the domain name with the domain name registrar; and

automatically collecting customer data associated with the user;

wherein at least one of the first, second, and third sub-scores is assigned further based at least in part on the collected customer data.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , said method further comprising:

suggesting at least one additional domain name for registration by the user;

receiving a request from the user to register the at least one additional domain name; and

registering the at least one additional domain name.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing the technique to the user.

17. The method of claim 6 , further comprising

suggesting at least one additional domain name for registration by the user;

receiving a request from the user to register the at least one additional domain name; and

registering the at least one additional domain name.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the suggested at least one additional domain name has a higher domain name score than the domain name score generated for the received domain name.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the suggested at least one additional domain name has a higher domain name score than the domain name score generated for the received domain name.

Assignments (12)
SUPERPRIORITY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 17, 2025
From: MARKMONITOR INC.; NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC; NEWFOLD DIGITAL, INC.; A SMALL ORANGE, LLC; BLUEHOST INC.; HOSTGATOR.COM LLC; P.D.R SOLUTIONS (U.S.) LLC; MONSTERCOMMERCE, LLC
To: WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073963/0121 →
SUPERPRIORITY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 17, 2025
From: MARKMONITOR INC.; NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC; NEWFOLD DIGITAL, INC.; A SMALL ORANGE, LLC; BLUEHOST INC.; HOSTGATOR.COM LLC; P.D.R SOLUTIONS (U.S.) LLC; MONSTERCOMMERCE, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 073963/0186 →
FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 18, 2023
From: NEWFOLD DIGITAL, INC.; NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC; WEB.COM GROUP, INC.; MARKMONITOR INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065268/0277 →
RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES RF 047239 / 0172) Recorded Feb 11, 2021
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 055282/0943 →
RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES RF047239 / 0233) Recorded Feb 11, 2021
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 055283/0096 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2021
From: THE ENDURANCE INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC.; NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC; WEB.COM GROUP, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055277/0783 →
FIRST LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 15, 2018
From: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047239/0172 →
SECOND LIEN GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 15, 2018
From: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047239/0233 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (034060/0945) Recorded Oct 11, 2018
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 047785/0618 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2014
From: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034060/0945 →
RELEASE OF GRANT OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027608/0319) Recorded Oct 28, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034077/0659 →
RELEASE OF GRANT OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (027608/0255) Recorded Oct 28, 2014
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034079/0941 →