Abstract: A data processing system (1,2) stores coordinate data defining a plurality of unique regions (17), for example defined by a cell of a geodesic grid (13) applied to the surface of the earth (12). Each region can be allocated to an owner and there is stored a unique identifier for that region, a hierarchical descriptor for that region, data identifying the owner, and a network address which identifies an owner domain in respect of that region. An owner of a region may sub-allocate sub-regions (18) or objects of an allocated region and there is stored in respect of any sub-region or object that has been sub-allocated by an owner, an identifier and a hierarchical descriptor for that sub-region or object. The data processing system can resolve a descriptor based DNS query specifying a region, or a sub-region, or object of such a region, so as to return data comprising the network address for the owner domain allocated to that region.

Abstract: A data processing system (1,2) stores coordinate data defining a plurality of unique regions (17), for example defined by a cell of a geodesic grid (13) applied to the surface of the earth (12). Each region can be allocated to an owner and there is stored a unique identifier for that region, a hierarchical descriptor for that region, data identifying the owner, and a network address which identifies an owner domain in respect of that region. An owner of a region may sub-allocate sub-regions (18) or objects of an allocated region and there is stored in respect of any sub-region or object that has been sub-allocated by an owner, an identifier and a hierarchical descriptor for that sub-region or object. The data processing system can resolve a descriptor based DNS query specifying a region, or a sub-region, or object of such a region, so as to return data comprising the network address for the owner domain allocated to that region.