Patents by Inventor Paul Nicks

Paul Nicks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11184321
    Abstract: A computer-based method includes receiving, by at least one first server managed by a first domain name registrar, a search string that identifies a desired domain name by a potential owner. The desired domain name is determined to be available for transfer. A firm domain name transfer request for the desired domain name is received from the potential owner and sent to at least one domain name aftermarket server operating an Aftermarket Platform. An approval notification is received that the firm domain name transfer request is approved by the current owner. An authorization code for authorizing an electronic transfer of the desired domain name is received and utilized to transfer the desired domain name from a second domain name registrar to an account of the potential owner with the first domain name registrar so that the potential owner becomes a new owner of the desired domain name.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Publication number: 20200252371
    Abstract: A computer-based method includes receiving, by at least one first server managed by a first domain name registrar, a search string that identifies a desired domain name by a potential owner. The desired domain name is determined to be available for transfer. A firm domain name transfer request for the desired domain name is received from the potential owner and sent to at least one domain name aftermarket server operating an Aftermarket Platform. An approval notification is received that the firm domain name transfer request is approved by the current owner. An authorization code for authorizing an electronic transfer of the desired domain name is received and utilized to transfer the desired domain name from a second domain name registrar to an account of the potential owner with the first domain name registrar so that the potential owner becomes a new owner of the desired domain name.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Patent number: 10601774
    Abstract: A domain name hi-jack prevention service may be selected by a domain name registrant and enabled by a Registrar. In a first embodiment, the Registrar may send a confirmation request via a preferred contact method to the registrant and only move the domain name from a first account to a second account (both managed by the Registrar) when the registrant confirms the request. In a second embodiment, a third party platform that is independent from and/or not the Registrar confirms the identity of the registrant before the Registrar moves the domain name from the first account to the second account (again, both managed by the Registrar). In a third embodiment, a third party platform communicates an authorization code to a verified registrant so the registrant can enter the authorization code with a Gaining Registrar so the domain name may be transferred from a Losing Registrar to the Gaining Registrar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190166092
    Abstract: A domain name hi-jack prevention service may be selected by a domain name registrant and enabled by a Registrar. In a first embodiment, the Registrar may send a confirmation request via a preferred contact method to the registrant and only move the domain name from a first account to a second account (both managed by the Registrar) when the registrant confirms the request. In a second embodiment, a third party platform that is independent from and/or not the Registrar confirms the identity of the registrant before the Registrar moves the domain name from the first account to the second account (again, both managed by the Registrar). In a third embodiment, a third party platform communicates an authorization code to a verified registrant so the registrant can enter the authorization code with a Gaining Registrar so the domain name may be transferred from a Losing Registrar to the Gaining Registrar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Patent number: 10277556
    Abstract: A domain name hi-jack prevention service may be selected by a domain name registrant and enabled by a Registrar. In a first embodiment, the Registrar may send a confirmation request via a preferred contact method to the registrant and only move the domain name from a first account to a second account (both managed by the Registrar) when the registrant confirms the request. In a second embodiment, a third party platform that is independent from and/or not the Registrar confirms the identity of the registrant before the Registrar moves the domain name from the first account to the second account (again, both managed by the Registrar). In a third embodiment, a third party platform communicates an authorization code to a verified registrant so the registrant can enter the authorization code with a Gaining Registrar so the domain name may be transferred from a Losing Registrar to the Gaining Registrar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GO DADDY OPERATING COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180205700
    Abstract: A domain name hi-jack prevention service may be selected by a domain name registrant and enabled by a Registrar. In a first embodiment, the Registrar may send a confirmation request via a preferred contact method to the registrant and only move the domain name from a first account to a second account (both managed by the Registrar) when the registrant confirms the request. In a second embodiment, a third party platform that is independent from and/or not the Registrar confirms the identity of the registrant before the Registrar moves the domain name from the first account to the second account (again, both managed by the Registrar). In a third embodiment, a third party platform communicates an authorization code to a verified registrant so the registrant can enter the authorization code with a Gaining Registrar so the domain name may be transferred from a Losing Registrar to the Gaining Registrar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Patent number: 9954818
    Abstract: A domain name hi-jack prevention service may be selected by a domain name registrant and enabled by a Registrar. In a first embodiment, the Registrar may send a confirmation request via a preferred contact method to the registrant and only move the domain name from a first account to a second account (both managed by the Registrar) when the registrant confirms the request. In a second embodiment, a third party platform that is independent from and/or not the Registrar confirms the identity of the registrant before the Registrar moves the domain name from the first account to the second account (again, both managed by the Registrar). In a third embodiment, a third party platform communicates an authorization code to a verified registrant so the registrant can enter the authorization code with a Gaining Registrar so the domain name may be transferred from a Losing Registrar to the Gaining Registrar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Publication number: 20170032428
    Abstract: A registrant may register a domain name with a registrar. A domain name industry may be determined based on one or more keywords parsed from the domain name. A hosting provider may host a website (which is preferably a parked page) pointed to by the domain name. Advertisers may provide advertisements that are suitable to be displayed on a website and a corresponding advertisement geo-location and an advertisement industry for each advertisement. The hosting provider may receive the website visitor at the website and determine a visitor geo-location. The website visitor may enter a search query in a search field on the website and determine a search query industry based on parsed keywords from the search query.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Michael McLaughlin, Greg Hollingsworth
  • Patent number: 9451050
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for displaying, suggesting and registering available domain names on a client computer based on selected geographical locations from online mapping service software or a geo-location software. Any combination of an online mapping software and a domain name registration software may receive a selection of one or more geographical locations within a displayed geographical area. Alternatively, a location of a client computer may be detected using the geo-location software. One or more available domain names may be parse for keywords related to the selected geographical area, and one or more available domain names may be suggested based on the selected keywords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Robert Bacus, Adam Dicker
  • Publication number: 20160117788
    Abstract: A Buyer may enter a domain name or a related search string in a search field on a website operated by a Gaining Registrar. The Gaining Registrar may determine the domain name is registered at a Losing Registrar (a different registrar) and ask if the Buyer would like to make an offer on the domain name. If the Buyer does want to make an offer, the Gaining Registrar may validate the Buyer, collect a reserve from the Buyer and communicate the domain name and the offer (and possibly a time the offer is good) to an Aftermarket Platform (or possibly directly to the Losing Registrar). The Aftermarket Platform may then communicate the domain name, offer and possibly the time the offer is good to the Losing Registrar. The Losing Registrar may present the offer to the Seller (registrant of the domain name). The Seller may accept, decline, present a counter-offer to the Buyer or let the time the offer is good to expire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Mark Haseltine, Paul Nicks
  • Publication number: 20160117789
    Abstract: A Buyer may enter a domain name or a related search string in a search field on a website operated by a Gaining Registrar. The Gaining Registrar may determine the domain name is registered at a Losing Registrar (a different registrar) and ask if the Buyer would like to make an offer on the domain name. If the Buyer does want to make an offer, the Gaining Registrar may validate the Buyer, collect a reserve from the Buyer and communicate the domain name and the offer (and possibly a time the offer is good) to an Aftermarket Platform (or possibly directly to the Losing Registrar). The Aftermarket Platform may then communicate the domain name, offer and possibly the time the offer is good to the Losing Registrar. The Losing Registrar may present the offer to the Seller (registrant of the domain name). The Seller may accept, decline, present a counter-offer to the Buyer or let the time the offer is good to expire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Mark Haseltine, Paul Nicks
  • Publication number: 20160119283
    Abstract: A domain name hi-jack prevention service may be selected by a domain name registrant and enabled by a Registrar. In a first embodiment, the Registrar may send a confirmation request via a preferred contact method to the registrant and only move the domain name from a first account to a second account (both managed by the Registrar) when the registrant confirms the request. In a second embodiment, a third party platform that is independent from and/or not the Registrar confirms the identity of the registrant before the Registrar moves the domain name from the first account to the second account (again, both managed by the Registrar). In a third embodiment, a third party platform communicates an authorization code to a verified registrant so the registrant can enter the authorization code with a Gaining Registrar so the domain name may be transferred from a Losing Registrar to the Gaining Registrar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Sarah Ptalis, Paul Nicks, Frank Taylor
  • Patent number: 9058393
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for storing one or more data records, comprising a text string and a monetary value associated with the text string, in a database. One or more server computers may receive an appraisal request for a domain name and identify one or more keywords in the domain name. The server(s) may then determine an existence of one or more matching data records wherein the text string in the record(s) match the identified keyword. If the matching data records exist, the server(s) may identify a keyword frequency count and a keyword monetary value for that keyword. A keyword appraisal value may be generated by dividing the keyword monetary value by the keyword frequency count. The appraisal value for all identified keywords may be added to the domain name appraisal and the domain name appraisal may be transmitted to a client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Patrick Lutwitze
  • Patent number: 9002926
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for displaying, suggesting and registering available domain names on a client computer based on selected geographical locations from online mapping service software or a geo-location software. Any combination of an online mapping software and a domain name registration software may receive a selection of one or more geographical locations within a displayed geographical area. Alternatively, a location of a client computer may be detected using the geo-location software. One or more available domain names may be parsed for keywords related to the selected geographical area, and one or more available domain names may be suggested based on the selected keywords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Adam Dicker, Robert Bacus
  • Patent number: 8909558
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for storing one or more data records, comprising a text string and a monetary value associated with the text string, in a database. One or more server computers may receive an appraisal request for a domain name and identify one or more keywords in the domain name. The server(s) may then determine an existence of one or more matching data records wherein the text string in the record(s) match the identified keyword. If the matching data records exist, the server(s) may identify a keyword frequency count and a keyword monetary value for that keyword. A keyword appraisal value may be generated by dividing the keyword monetary value by the keyword frequency count. The appraisal value for all identified keywords may be added to the domain name appraisal and the domain name appraisal may be transmitted to a client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Patrick Lutwitze
  • Patent number: 8706728
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for the word splitting and reliability score for an entered character string. A list of keywords may be extracted from the character string entered into a user interface on a client. These keywords may be compared to potential matches in a dictionary database and a reliability score for word splits and keywords strings may be compiled and displayed to the user. The client may also display the reliability score using a plurality of logical groupings within a reliability score process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Doug Schmucker, Jeff Belina, Gregory Glick, Patrick Lutwitze
  • Publication number: 20140082064
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for displaying, suggesting and registering available domain names on a client computer based on selected geographical locations from online mapping service software or a geo-location software. Any combination of an online mapping software and a domain name registration software may receive a selection of one or more geographical locations within a displayed geographical area. Alternatively, a location of a client computer may be detected using the geo-location software. One or more available domain names may be parse for keywords related to the selected geographical area, and one or more available domain names may be suggested based on the selected keywords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Robert Bacus, Adam Dicker
  • Patent number: 8515969
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for the word splitting and reliability score for an entered character string. A list of keywords may be extracted from the character string entered into a user interface on a client. These keywords may be compared to potential matches in a dictionary database and a reliability score for word splits and keywords strings may be compiled and displayed to the user. The client may also display the reliability score using a plurality of logical groupings within a reliability score process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Doug Schmucker, Jeff Belina, Gregory Glick, Patrick Lutwitze
  • Patent number: 8489746
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for displaying, suggesting and registering available domain names on a client computer based on selected geographical locations from online mapping service software or a geo-location software. Any combination of an online mapping software and a domain name registration software may receive a selection of one or more geographical locations within a displayed geographical area. Alternatively, a location of a client computer may be detected using the geo-location software. One or more available domain names may be parsed for keywords related to the selected geographical area, and one or more available domain names may be suggested based on the selected keywords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Nicks, Adam Dicker, Robert Bacus
  • Patent number: 8447702
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present invention provide for the spinning and appraisal of a domain name. A list of keywords may be extracted from a domain name entered into a user interface on a client. These keywords may be compared to potential matches in a database and a result set may be compiled and displayed to the user. The client may also display a certified domain name appraisal using a plurality of logical groupings within a domain name appraisal process. This appraisal process may also include a multiplier derived from comparisons of registration statistics for various top level domains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Go Daddy Operating Company, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Nicks