Automatic called party locator over internet

A method for establishing a communication link through a system of interlinked networks using TCP/IP protocol comprising the steps of:

• initiating from a first terminal a request to a domain name server for a translation of a domain name;
• determining whether there is a control record for said domain name;
• if said determination fails to establish that there is a control record for said domain name, then translating said domain name into a single IP address;
• if said determination establishes that there is a control record for said domain name, then translating said domain name into a first IP address and at least one additional IP address;
• transmitting messages, substantially simultaneously, to coupling points for destination terminal devices represented by said first IP address and said at least one additional IP address;
• transmitting to said first terminal the IP address for a first one of said destination terminal devices to respond to the transmitted messages;
• and
• establishing a communication link between said first terminal and the first of said destination terminal devices to respond.

A server comprising:

• one or more processors executing one or more sequences of instructions;
• an interface connected to said one or more processors for coupling the server to a system of interlinked networks using TCP/IP protocol;
• and
• a computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for establishing a communication link at least partially through the system of interlinked networks;
• wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more of the processors causes the one or more processors to:
• receive a request from a first terminal for a translation of a first domain name,
• determine whether there is a control record for said first domain name,
• if said determination fails to establish that there is a control record for said first domain name, then translating said first domain name into a single IP address,
• if said determination establishes that there is a control record for said first domain name, then translating said first domain name into a first IP address and at least one additional IP address,
• transmit messages, substantially simultaneously, to coupling points for terminal devices represented by said first IP address and said at least one additional IP address to determine the availability of said terminal devices for communication, and
• transmit to terminal devices determined to be available the IP address for said first terminal, to enable communication between said first terminal and the first of said terminal devices to respond to the transmittal thereto of said IP address for said first terminal.

A server comprising:

• one or more processors executing one or more sequences of instructions;
• an interface connected to said one or more processors for coupling the server to a system of interlinked networks using TCP/IP protocol;
• and
• a computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for establishing a communication link through the system of interlinked networks;
• wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more of the processors causes the one or more processors to:
• receive a request from a first terminal for a translation of a first domain name;
• determine whether there is a control record for said first domain name;
• if said determination fails to establish that there is a control record for said first domain name, then translating said first domain name into a single IP address;
• if said determination establishes that there is a control record for said first domain name, then translating said first domain name into a first IP address and at least one additional IP address;
• transmit messages, substantially simultaneously, to coupling points for destination terminal devices represented by said first IP address and said at least one additional IP address;
• and
• transmit to said first terminal the IP address for a first one of said destination terminal devices to respond to the transmitted messages, to enable communication between said first terminal and the first of said destination terminal devices to respond.