Method and apparatus for maintaining internet domain name data

A computer program product for supporting Internet access in a host node computer system coupled to the Internet, said computer program product comprising:

• a plurality of processor executable instructions recorded on signal-bearing media, wherein said instructions, when executed by at least one processor in said host node, cause said host node to perform the steps of:
• automatically generating an IP address of said host node, said step of automatically generating an IP address of a host node being performed automatically by said host node;
• receiving data defining an Internet domain name for said host node;
• and
• automatically generating and transmitting a request to update domain name data relating to said host node, said domain name data residing in a first domain name server, said request being transmitted from said host node and addressed to said first domain name server, said request including said IP address generated by said automatically generating step;
• wherein said first domain name server automatically updates its domain name data responsive to receiving said request by associating said IP address generated by said automatically generating step with said Internet domain name for said host node.

An apparatus which maintains Internet domain name data, comprising:

• a plurality of host nodes connected to the Internet;
• a first domain name server connected to the Internet, said first domain name server maintaining domain name data for an Internet zone, said zone including said plurality of host nodes;
• a respective Internet access mechanism in each of said plurality of host nodes, each said Internet access mechanism automatically generating one or more IP addresses for its host node and automatically generating and transmitting a request to update said domain name data for an Internet zone in said first domain name server, each said request being transmitted from its respective host node and addressed to said first domain name server, each said request including a respective IP address automatically generated by the respective Internet access mechanism in the requesting host node and a respective domain name of the requesting host node;
• and
• a domain name database mechanism in said first domain name server, said domain name database mechanism responding to a request to update said domain name data received from one of said plurality of host nodes by automatically updating said domain name data, said domain name data being updated by associating the IP address contained in the request with the domain name of the requesting host node.