Abstract: There is described a communication system allowing communication over one or more communication networks. The communication system includes a domain name server storing a zone data file for a domain associated with a first party, the zone data file including contact information associated with the first party, the contact information including a plurality of electronic communication identifiers associated with the first party with each electronic communication identifier being associated with a corresponding communication protocol. An access granting system enables the first party to grant a second party access to one or more of the plurality of electronic communication identifiers.

Abstract: There is described a networked computer system comprising a domain name system server storing zone datafiles, each zone datafile storing records associated with a corresponding zone of the domain name system name space. According to the invention, at least one zone datafile stores search terms, and a search index generator queries the domain name system server to retrieve search terms from the at least one zone datafile and utilises said retrieved search terms in the generation of a search index. In an embodiment, the zone datafile also includes pointers to other regions of the domain name space, which may or may not be in the same zone, in which search terms may be found.

Abstract: There is described a communication system allowing communication over one or more communication networks. The communication system includes a domain name server storing a zone data file for a domain associated with a first party, the zone data file including contact information associated with the first party, the contact information including a plurality of electronic communication identifiers associated with the first party with each electronic communication identifier being associated with a corresponding communication protocol. An access granting system enables the first party to grant a second party access to one or more of the plurality of electronic communication identifiers.

Abstract: A communications system in a user queries a first database regarding a registered user identifier and uses the response of the first database to query a second database to access a data set regarding the registered user. The system may also comprise a third server comprising hierarchical data that defines a relationship between a plurality of data sets regarding the registered user, enabling the user to access a selected data set.