Application verification for hosted services

Abstract

In a client-server environment providing hosted services, an application service server receives from a client a first request for hosted services associated with a user-specified domain name. If the server does not provide hosted services for that domain name, the server designates the first request as pending and provides a limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request. The server provides a complete set of the hosted services requested in the first request if it can be established that a first user associated with the first request has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name. In some embodiments, the server denies the first request and cancels the limited services if it is not shown within a predetermined period of time that the first user has the appropriate authority.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the nature and embodiments of the invention, reference should be made to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the infrastructure of a client-server network environment according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates data structures associated with several components of the client-server network environment according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining the type of hosted services, if any, to be provided to a service applicant according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of verifying whether an applicant has rights to use a domain name according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of suspending and then terminating the limited set of hosted services provided to a service applicant according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of deleting a user account from a hosted service according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7E are block diagrams of graphical user interfaces (GUI) used by a service administrator to manage user accounts of hosted services according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an exemplary client computer according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an exemplary application service server computer according to some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an exemplary domain name server computer according to some embodiments.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving a first request for hosted services associated with a user-specified domain name;if the hosted services are not being provided for the domain name, designating the first request as pending and providing a limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request; andproviding a complete set of the hosted services requested in the first request if it can be established that a first user associated with the first request has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: denying the first request and terminating the limited set of the hosted services if it is not shown within a predetermined period of time that the first user has the appropriate authority.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: while providing the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request, receiving a second request for hosted services associated with the same domain name;requesting a second user associated with the second request to establish that it has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name; andterminating the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request and providing a complete set of the hosted services requested in the second request if the second user establishes that that it has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name with a predefined time period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein requesting the second user associated with the second request to establish that it has appropriate authority to use the domain name includes: requesting the second user to update a data record associated with the domain name in a predefined manner;designating the second user as a legitimate user of the domain name if the data record has been updated in the predefined manner; anddesignating the second user as an illegitimate user of the domain name if the data record has not been updated in the predefined manner;

5. The method of claim 4, wherein updating the data record includes changing a parameter in the data record to a particular value unique to the applicant.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: denying the first request if a complete set of the hosted services is being provided in association with a third request associated with the domain name.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: charging a fee before providing the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request; andproviding the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request after receiving the fee.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the user-specified domain name exists or not;denying the first request if the user-specified domain name does not exist; andproviding information relating to obtaining the user-specified domain name.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the domain name is an Internet domain name.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request includes: enabling an applicant of the first request to create a set of user accounts; andenabling a user associated with one of the user accounts to log into the user account and view digital contents associated with the user account.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein viewing digital contents includes checking an email message directed to the user account.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the limited set of hosted services excludes enabling the user to generate any digital content using the user account.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the hosted services comprise email services.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the hosted services comprise one or more of communication services and digital content management services.

15. A computer system, comprising: memory;at least one processor; andat least one program stored in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the at least one program including:instructions for receiving a first request for hosted services associated with a user-specified domain name;instructions for designating the first request as pending and providing a limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request if the hosted services are not being provided for the domain name; andinstructions for providing a complete set of the hosted services requested in the first request if it can be established that a first user associated with the first request has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name.

16. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising: instructions for denying the first request and terminating the limited set of the hosted services if it is not shown within a predetermined period of time that the first user has the appropriate authority.

17. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising: while providing the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request, instructions for receiving a second request for hosted services associated with the same domain name;instructions for requesting a second user associated with the second request to establish that it has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name; andinstructions for terminating the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request and providing a complete set of the hosted services requested in the second request if the second user establishes that that it has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name with a predefined time period.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the instructions for requesting the second user associated with the second request to establish that it has appropriate authority to use the domain name include: instructions for requesting the second user to update a data record associated with the domain name in a predefined manner;instructions for designating the second user as a legitimate user of the domain name if the data record has been updated in the predefined manner; andinstructions for designating the second user as an illegitimate user of the domain name if the data record has not been updated in the predefined manner;

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the instructions for updating the data record includes instructions for changing a parameter in the data record to a particular value unique to the applicant.

20. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising: instructions for denying the first request if a complete set of the hosted services is being provided in association with a third request associated with the domain name.

21. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising: instructions for charging a fee before providing the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request; andinstructions for providing the limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request after receiving the fee.

22. The computer system of claim 15, further comprising: instructions for determining whether the user-specified domain name exists or not;instructions for denying the first request if the user-specified domain name does not exist; andinstructions for providing information relating to obtaining the user-specified domain name.

23. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the hosted services comprise email services.

24. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the hosted services comprise one or more of communication services and digital content management services.

25. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism comprising: instructions for receiving a first request for hosted services associated with a user-specified domain name;instructions for designating the first request as pending and providing a limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request if the hosted services are not being provided for the domain name; andinstructions for providing a complete set of the hosted services requested in the first request if it can be established that a first user associated with the first request has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name.

26. A system for authenticating a client device, comprising: memory;a processor;means for receiving a first request for hosted services associated with a user-specified domain name;means for designating the first request as pending and providing a limited set of the hosted services in association with the first request if the hosted services are not being provided for the domain name; andmeans for providing a complete set of the hosted services requested in the first request if it can be established that a first user associated with the first request has appropriate authority to make administrative changes for the network domain designated by the domain-name.