Description

METHOD OF PROCESSING NATIVE LANGUAGE INTERNET ADDRESS AND STORAGE MEDIUM OF STORING PROGRAM

EXECUTING THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a method of processing a native language Internet address using a local network. Background Art

[2] With the widespread use of the Internet, present-day computer systems are mostly connected with each other via a network. Computer systems physically located far away from each other in a network can communicate via the Internet network. Here, large and small networks are connected with each other through routers, etc., and thereby constitute one huge communication network, which is the Internet.

[3] Currently, a local network in which several to several hundreds of computer systems are physically connected is used for network printing, file sharing, etc., but the advantage of physical proximity in a local network is hardly utilized.

[4] A process of accessing a site via the Internet follows a method by which when a

Uniform Resource Locator (URL) address of a site to access is input into a client terminal, the URL address is transferred to a Domain Name Service (DNS) server in or out of a local network, and when the DNS server responds with an Internet protocol (IP) address corresponding to the URL address, the site is accessed using the IP address.

[5] Meanwhile, a method of processing a native language Internet address has been researched, by which a native language Internet address is input in the form of a keyword to access an Internet site, and a client computer is made to access a webpage corresponding to the Internet address. An example of a native language Internet address processing method is disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 317059 filed by the same applicant. More specifically, the example includes a method of installing a proxy server in a DNS server and a method of installing a native language processing program on a client terminal.

[6] However, when the program is installed on a client terminal to process a native language Internet address, only the client terminal on which the program is installed other than client terminals on which the program is not installed can process a native language Internet address.

[7] For this reason, when there are client terminals capable of processing a native language Internet address and client terminals incapable of processing a native

language Internet address among client terminals connected via the Internet, a user experiences unreliable service for processing a native language Internet address. This is a serious problem threatening the existence of native language Internet addresses.

[8] There is a method of processing a native language Internet address using a DNS server when a text string is input into a web browser of a client terminal on which the native language Internet address program is not installed. To implement the method, however, a DNS server of the client terminal must be changed with a DNS server capable of processing native language Internet addresses.

[9] Thus, when a DNS server incapable of processing a native language Internet address is set for the client terminal, and the plug-in program is not installed on the client terminal, it is not possible to process native language Internet addresses.

[10] In addition, according to the plug-in program of conventional art, when a text string is input into an address window of a web browser, a hooking process is performed before the input value is transferred to an Application Program Interface (API). Such a hooking technique artificially interrupts normal data flow and thus may destabilize a system.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] In consideration of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to allow all client terminals in a group connected via a local network to use a native language Internet address even when a Native Language Internet Address (NLIA) program is installed on only one client terminal in the group. Technical Solution

[12] In order to achieve the above objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address comprises: a query reception step of receiving, at a second client terminal, a query message including a text string and transferred from a first client terminal via a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals; a process determination step of analyzing the query message, and when the query message is destined for the local network, determining to process the query message; an address determination step of determining whether the text string is a native language Internet address; and a response transfer step of transferring a response message including an Internet address of an NLIA server to the first client terminal when the text string is a native language Internet address.

[13] In the query reception step, the query message may include an Internet protocol (IP) address of the first client terminal, a destination IP address, a communication port, a q uery sign and the text string. In the process determination step, it may be determined

whether the destination IP address coincides with an IP address indicating the local network and whether a query sign is included in the query message, and when it is determined that the destination IP address coincides with the IP address indicating the local network, and a query sign is included in the query message, it may be determined to process the query message. And, in the response transfer step, the response message including the IP address of the first client terminal, the communication port, a response sign and the Internet address of the NLIA server may be transferred using the IP address of the first client terminal.

[14] In the process determination step, it may be determined whether the communication port corresponds with a communication port for processing an Internet address, and it may be determined to process the query message when the communication port coincides with a communication port for processing an Internet address.

[15] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address comprises: a query reception step of receiving, at a second client terminal, a query message including a text string and transferred from a first client terminal via a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals; a process determination step of analyzing the query message, and when the query message is destined for the local network, determining to process the query message; an address determination step of determining whether the text string is a native language Internet address; and a response transfer step of transferring a response message including an Internet address of an NLIA server to the local network when the text string is a native language Internet address.

[16] In the query reception step, the query message may include a query identifier (ID), a destination IP address, a communication port, a query sign and the text string. In the process determination step, it may be determined whether the destination IP address coincides with an IP address of the local network and whether a query sign is included in the query message, and it may be determined to process the query message when it is determined that the destination IP address coincides with the IP address indicating the local network, and a query sign is included in the query message. And, in the response transfer step, the response message including the query ID, the Internet address of the NLIA server, the communication port and a response sign may be transferred using the IP address indicating the local network.

[17] The method may further comprise: a text string reception step of receiving, at the

NLIA server, the text string from the first client terminal; and an Internet address return step of searching, at the NLIA server, an NLIA database, and when an address keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the NLIA database, transferring an Internet address corresponding to the address keyword to the first client terminal, wherein the NLIA server includes the NLIA database matching an address keyword

with an Internet address and storing the address keyword and the Internet address.

[18] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address comprises: a query reception step of receiving, at a second client, a query message including a text string and transferred from a first client terminal via a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals; a process determination step of analyzing the query message, and when the query message is destined for the local network, determining to process the query message; an Internet address detection step of searching an NLIA database matching an address keyword with an Internet address and storing the address keyword and the Internet address, and when an address keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the NLIA database, detecting an Internet address corresponding to the address keyword; and a response transfer step of transferring a response message including the detected Internet address to the first client terminal.

[19] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address comprises: a query reception step of receiving, at a second client terminal, a query message including a text string and transferred from a first client terminal via a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals; a process determination step of analyzing the query message, and when the query message is destined for the local network, determining to process the query message; an Internet address detection step of searching an NLIA database matching an address keyword with an Internet address and storing the address keyword and the Internet address, and when an address keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the NLIA database, detecting an Internet address corresponding to the address keyword; and a response transfer step of transferring a response message including the detected Internet address to the local network.

[20] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address comprises: a query reception step of receiving, at a second client, a query message including a text string and transferred from a first client terminal via a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals; a process determination step of analyzing the query message, and when the query message is destined for the local network, determining to process the query message; an address determination step of determining whether the text string is a native language Internet address; and a response transfer step of transferring a response message including an Internet address of a specific search server to the first client terminal when the text string is a native language Internet address.

[21] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address comprises: a query reception step of receiving, at a second client terminal, a query message including a text string and transferred from a

first client terminal via a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals; a process determination step of analyzing the query message, and when the query message is destined for the local network, determining to process the query message; an address determination step of determining whether the text string is a native language Internet address; and a response transfer step of transferring a response message including an Internet address of a specific search server to the local network when the text string is a native language Internet address.

[22] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address by which a text string of a first client terminal performing access using an Internet address received from a second client terminal is processed in a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals is provided, the method comprising: a step of receiving, at an NLIA server, a text string from the first client terminal; and an Internet address return step of searching, at the NLIA server, an NLIA database, and when an address keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the NLIA database, transferring an Internet address corresponding to the address keyword to the first client terminal, wherein the NLIA server includes the NLIA database matching an address keyword with an Internet address and storing the address keyword and the Internet address.

[23] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address by which a text string of a first client terminal performing access using an Internet address received from a second client terminal is processed in a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals is provided, the method comprising: a step of receiving, at an NLIA server, a text string from the first client terminal; and a step of converting, at the NLIA server, the text string into a search query inquiring to a specific search server and transferring the search query to the first client terminal.

[24] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a method of processing a native language Internet address by which a text string of a first client terminal performing access using an Internet address received from a second client terminal is processed in a local network connecting a plurality of client terminals is provided, the method comprising: a step of receiving, at an NLIA server, a text string from the first client terminal; and a search server connection step of searching, at the NLIA server, a search keyword database included in the NLIA server for storing a search keyword, and when an address keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the search keyword database, converting the text string into a search query inquiring to a specific search server and transferring the search query to the first client terminal.

[25] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a recording medium storing a program for executing a method of processing a native language Internet address is

provided.

[26] A method of processing a native language Internet address according to the present invention can be implemented in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of computer code. The computer-readable recording medium may be any recording device storing data that can be read by computer systems. For example, the computer- readable recording medium may be a read-only memory (ROM), a random- access memory (RAM), a compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), a magnetic tape, a hard disk, a floppy disk, a mobile storage device, a nonvolatile memory (flash memory), an optical data storage device, and so on. Also, the recording medium may be carrier waves, e.g., transmission over the Internet.

[27] In particular, a program for processing a native language Internet address according to the present invention may be installed on a client terminal as mentioned above or stored in recording media having various forms to perform the method in a process in which the native language Internet address is transferred from a client terminal to a Domain Name Service (DNS) server.

[28] The term "text string" denotes all kinds of input information that can be input into an address window or a search window of a web browser and includes a general Uniform Resource Locator (URL), a keyword other than a URL (in a Korean word, a number, an English word, etc.) and so on.

[29] The term "URL" denotes a directory, a file, etc., as well as a domain name, e.g.,

"http://www.netpia.com/htm/index.html", indicating an address of various information provided by a computer system connected with the Internet.

[30] The term "IP" denotes a physical address for computer systems connected with the

Internet to identify each other and conforms to Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) regulations, Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) regulations, and so on.

[31] The term "local network" denotes a communication network in which switches, hubs and clients are physically connected without a router. There are some methods of transferring data, such as a query, etc., to several client terminals connected with each other. For example, data may be transferred to a plurality of or all client terminals in a local network, or may be transferred to only client terminals connected through a group communication channel.

Advantageous Effects

[32] The new method of processing a native language Internet address according an exemplary embodiment of the present invention solves a problem of conventional art that only a client terminal on which an NLIA program is installed can process a native language Internet address. In other words, even when there is only one computer system capable of processing a native language Internet address in a local network, all

computer systems connected in the local network can process a native language address without additional management.

[33] When a large number of computer terminals are connected via a local network in, for example, a school, a company and an apartment complex, the NLIA program must be installed on all the terminals to process native language Internet addresses according to a conventional method. On the other hand, according to the inventive method, a large number of terminals connected via a local network can all provide an NLIA service even when the program is installed on only one terminal. Therefore, in comparison with the conventional method, the present invention has a significant effect.

[34] In addition, since a local network immediately responds to a native language

Internet address, the inventive method processes a native language Internet address faster in comparison with a case of using a general Internet network performing communication with a remote server, and is effective for generation of network traffic. Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for processing a native language Internet address according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[36] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method of processing a native language Internet address according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[37] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of a Native Language Internet Address

(NLIA) server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[38] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of processing a native language Internet address according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[39] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system for processing a native language Internet address according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[40] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In detailed descriptions below, functions are classified and described according to a server, a client terminal, etc., but may be performed by another component as occasion demands.

[41] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for processing a native language Internet address according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[42] Referring to FIG. 1, respective client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N are connected via a local network 1. When data, i.e., a packet, is sent to the connected client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N, the client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N belonging to the local network 1 receive and respond to the data. FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which a Native Language Internet Address (NLIA) program 100 is installed on one client terminal 1-1 among the client

terminals 1-1, ...,1-N.

[43] When a query message including a text string is received via the local network 1 connecting the plurality of client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N, the NLIA program 100 analyzes the query message, and when the query message is destined for the local network 1, determines to process the query message. Subsequently, the NLIA program 100 determines whether the text string is a native language Internet address, and when the text string is a native language Internet address, transfers a response message including an Internet address of an NLIA server to a client terminal having transferred the text string.

[44] A constitution of the respective client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N of FIG. 1 will now be described in further detail. The client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N include Operating Systems (OSs)30-l, ...,30-N, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) 20-1, ...,20-N and web browsers 10-1, ...,10-N, which are application programs, respectively.

[45] Each API 20-1, ...,20-N is a set of subroutines or functions that a program or an application can call for each OS 30-1, ...,30-N to process something, that is, a set of functions defining functions of each OS 30-1, ...,30-N and a method of using the functions. In other words, an application program, such as a web browser, etc., can utilize various functions of an OS, etc., using an API function. For example, a window web browser API consists of about 1000 or more functions, and an application programmer calls a function by merely mentioning a function in a program and thereby can use various functions.

[46] FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which the NLIA program is installed as a separate application, but functions of the NLIA program can be partially or wholly implemented in a web browser.

[47] In addition, FIG. 1 illustrates a case in which the NLIA program is installed on one client terminal, but needless to say, a native language Internet address can be processed when the NLIA program is installed on a plurality of client terminals. In this case, when a query message is transferred from a client terminal in a local network, all the NLIA programs in the local network respond to the query message, and the client terminal having transferred the text string uses a first arriving response among returned responses and ignores responses arriving afterwards.

[48] The query message is simultaneously transferred to a plurality of client terminals.

On the other hand, when a client terminal responds to the query message, the response message may be transferred through 1:1 communication using an Internet protocol (IP) address of a client terminal having transferred the query message, rather than be transferred to the plurality of client terminals.

[49] Here, as the query message about the native language Internet address, the text string input by a user may be transferred as it is to the local network, and an input

having the form of a non- American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) code may be transferred in a changed form of a punycode. The punycode is a method of changing a non- ASCII code character with an ASCII code character, e.g., xn— BCQTESQRF, to use non- ASCII code characters in a conventional Internet system based on the ASCII code.

[50] In this case, regardless of whether or not the client terminal into which the text string is input is different from the client terminal on which the NLIA program is installed, a native language Internet address can be processed in the same way.

[51] A method of processing a native language Internet address according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 2.

[52] This exemplary embodiment assumes that an NLIA program is installed on one client terminal 1-1 of respective client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N connected via a local network.

[53] Referring to FIG. 2, a text string is input into a web browser of the first client terminal 1-N among the client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N connected via a local network (step 101). Then, an API 20-N, e.g., a network API named "socket", of the first client terminal 1-N performs a resolution operation to find a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or an IP address corresponding to the input text string. In a process of the resolution operation, the API 20-N transfers a query message to all the client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N connected to the local network (step 103). The query message may include an IP address of the first client terminal 1-N, a destination IP address, a communication port, a query sign and the text string.

[54] When the query message is transferred, the second client terminal 1-1 on which the

NLIA program is installed receives the query message (step 105), and analyzes the query message to determine whether or not the query message is destined for the local network (step 106). When it is determined that the query message is destined for the local network, the process proceeds to step 107. On the other hand, when it is determined that the query message is not destined for the local network, the query message is not processed (step 108).

[55] Whether or not the query message is destined for the local network is determined according to whether the destination IP address included in the query message coincides with an IP address indicating the local network, and whether a query sign is included in the query message. When the destination IP address included in the query message coincides with an IP address indicating the local network, and a query sign is included in the query message, it is determined to process the query message. Additionally, as occasion demands, a step of determining whether the communication port included in the query message coincides with a communication port for processing an

Internet address may be performed to determine whether or not the query message is destined for the local network. Since IP addresses are set for services, e.g., "224.0.0.251" for Multicast Domain Name Service (MDNS) and "224.0.0.252" for Link-Local Multicast Name Resolution (LLMNR), the additional step can be applied without checking a communication port.

[56] Communication for inquiring about an Internet address and responding to the query requires less reliability than general data communication, but instead requires high speed and a simple technique. Thus, it is preferable to use User Datagram Protocol (UDP) which transfers data without checking a connection state rather than Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/IP which performs communication after checking whether a counterpart client terminal is available and ready for communication.

[57] Data for inquiring about an Internet address and responding to the query is generated from an Application layer. While the data generated from the Application layer passes through Transport layer, Network layer and Link layer, data of the respective layers are added to the original data. As a result, final data has the form of a data packet for communication, i.e., Ethernet frame (see Table 1). An Ethernet header includes Media Access Control (MAC) addresses that are hardware addresses of destination and source Local Area Network (LAN) cards, etc., an IP header includes IP addresses of the source and destination, a protocol type, etc., and a TCP(UDP) header includes information on a communication port for the corresponding service, etc.

[58] Table 1

[59] To perform network communication, first, addresses of a source that transfers data and a destination that receives the data are required. In addition, an Ethernet header informs of MAC addresses that are hardware addresses of destination and source LAN

cards, etc., and an IP header informs of information such as IP addresses of the source and the destination, a protocol type, etc., thereby serving to enable communication in a network. Table 2 shows the form of an IP header.

[60] Table 2

[61] In the case of communication using a local network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an IP address of a client terminal becomes a source IP address. However, the local network becomes a destination, and an IP address indicating the local network other than a specific client terminal becomes a destination IP address. Here, the Ethernet header also indicates whether or not the query message is destined for the local network.

[62] Therefore, even when data is transferred to an IP address indicating the local network other than an IP address of a client terminal, the client terminal receives the data. Here, the IP address indicating the local network may correspond to all client terminals of the local network or may selectively correspond to only a client terminal wanting to receive the data. The client terminal receiving the data can obtain an IP address of a terminal having transferred the query message from a value in the IP header.

[63] A query message can be transferred to all the client terminals connected to the local network by inputting "255.255.255.255" instead of a general IP address as a data transfer address or inputting "255" into a subnet mask application portion of network IP addresses. For example, when an IP address of a terminal to transfer a query message is "140.252.13.63", and an IP address of a subnet mask is "255.255.255.0", " 140.252.13.255" is input as a reception IP address. By changing the reception IP

address in the similar way, it is possible to transfer a message to all the client terminals in the network.

[64] Meanwhile, a method, e.g., broadcast communication, of transferring a resolution query to all or several client terminals in a local network easily transfers the query to many terminals and thus can expect a response. However, the query may be transferred to unnecessary terminals, thereby generating excessive network traffic. To solve the problem, a method, e.g., multicast communication, can be used which transfers data to only associated terminals through a common channel for group communication.

[65] For the sake of group communication through a common channel, a specific IP address set for the group communication other than a general IP address of a specific terminal is used as a destination IP address among IP addresses for communication. Such a specific IP address indicates the local network. The IP address for the group communication ranges from "224.0.0.0" to "239.255.255.255". Most IP addresses are previously set for a specific use as "224.0.0.1" for all hosts in a subnet and "224.0.0.2" for all routers in the subnet. As an IP address for a common channel for processing a native language Internet address, "224.0.0.251" or "224.0.0.252" may be used.

[66] Each client terminal can determine whether or not to receive data transferred to a specific IP address and communication port, and can participate in the common channel for group communication by receiving the data transferred to the specific IP address and communication port. Here, the communication port may not be selectively used.

[67] When a text string that is a native language Internet address is input into one client terminal in the local network, the client terminal transfers a resolution query about the native language Internet address input into the common channel for group communication to a destination address (local network) corresponding to a specific IP address and communication port. When the query message transferred to the channel, i.e., the specific IP and communication port, is data that can be processed by terminals connected to the group communication channel, the terminals transfer processed data as a response to the common channel for group communication or directly transfer the processed data to the client terminal having transferred the query message.

[68] Meanwhile, the response message may be transferred to the local network or directly transferred to the client terminal having transferred the query message because an IP address of the client terminal is already known. Thus, a destination of the response message may be selected as occasion demands.

[69] When the response message is transferred to the local network, the client terminal having transferred the query message needs to check whether the response message is a response to its query message. Here, a query identifier (ID) is used. The query ID is allocated by a program generating a query and may be, for example, "ID" in Table 4.

When a response message is transferred to the local network while the client terminal transferring the query message remembers a query ID of the query message transferred by the client terminal, the client terminal can recognize from the query ID included in the response message that the response message corresponds to the query message transferred by the client terminal.

[70] Meanwhile, in this exemplary embodiment, a communication port other than port 53 used for general DNS query may be used for distinguishing services from each other. Port 53 is used for general DNS communication, but changed ports, e.g., 5353 and 5355, may be used here.

[71] In addition, a query message of Application layer may use a DNS protocol and form used for general Internet address query. A query message and a response message of the DNS protocol have a form of a data packet divided into a header and 4 sections for query and response.

[72] Table 3

[73] A header section always included in a data packet denotes information on what sections exist, whether a message is a query or a response, and so on. A header includes an ID field, a QR field, an OPcode field, an RCODE field, etc., which are described in Table 5.

[74] Table 4

[75] Table 5

[76] When a query message is transferred, a value of the QR field indicating whether the message is a query or a response is set to 0, and when a response message is transferred, a value of the QR field is set to 1, thereby informing whether a message is a query or a response. In addition, whether communication is performed between a plurality of computer systems connected to a local network or 2 computer systems, i.e., 1 : 1 communication, is denoted in the Z field indicating a data transfer method. The query ID is allocated by a program generating a query. Together with a header value, a query message and a response message are contained in query and response sessions.

[77] Table 6

[78] As shown in Table 6, when a query message including a text string input by a user and data on a query type is transferred, a response message according to a query type is transferred in response to the query message as shown in Table 7.

[79] Table 7

[80] Meanwhile, a client terminal having transferred the query message performs, for example, access to the corresponding site, etc., using the returned response message according to the query type. Here, DNS query and response forms are used, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[81] Besides the DNS query form, a query message may use NetBIOS widely used for computer recognition in local network communication, NetBIOS User Extended Interface (NETBEUI) that is an extended protocol of NetBIOS, Internet Packet Exchange (IPX), and so on.

[82] NetBIOS also has a query data form similar to the standard DNS query form and uses a NetBIOS (NB) resource record corresponding thereto as a resource record indicating a query data type.

[83] Meanwhile, after analyzing the query message and determining to process the query message when the query message is destined for the local network, it is determined whether the text string is a native language Internet address (step 107).

[84] A detailed process of determining whether the input text string is a native language

Internet address is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 2006-70270, Korean Patent Registration No. 317059 filed by the same applicant, and so on. For example, in a first classification step, the input text string is classified according to whether or not "." is inserted in the input text string, that is, classified into a text string in which "." is included or a text string in which "." is not included. In a second classification step, the input text string is classified according to a type and size of a character behind "." at the end of the input text string, and so on. By various combinations of the first and second classification steps, it may be determined whether or not the input text string is a native language Internet address.

[85] In addition, whether or not the input text string is a native language Internet address may also be determined according to whether or not "www" is included, whether or not "http://" is included, whether or not "/" and ^l|X \"are included, or a position of "." in the input text string. For example, according to a method of determining whether the input text string is a native language Internet address depending on a position of "." in the input text string, the input text string is determined to be a native language Internet address when "." exists in the input text string and determined not to be a native language Internet address when "." does not exist in the input text string.

[86] Subsequently, when it is determined that the input text string is a native language

Internet address, the NLIA program may transfer an Internet address of an NLIA server capable of processing a native language Internet address to the first client terminal in response to the resolution query (step 109). Alternatively, as mentioned above, the Internet address of the NLIA server may be transferred to the local network. In addition, the NLIA program also can respond to the query while caching previously processed data.

[87] When the first client terminal receives the response, it accesses the NLIA server using the obtained Internet address (step 111).

[88] A process of an NLIA server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of an NLIA server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[89] Referring to FIG. 3, when a first client terminal accesses the NLIA server, it transfers information on an input text string to the NLIA server (Step 313). The NLIA server receives the text string and processes an Internet address corresponding to the text string. First, the NLIA server searches for an address keyword in an NLIA database in which address keywords and Internet addresses are matched and stored (steps 315 and 317).

[90] When an address keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the NLIA database, the NLIA server returns an Internet address corresponding to the address

keyword to the first client terminal (step 319). The first client terminal receiving the Internet address accesses the corresponding webpage (step 323).

[91] In the NLIA database, address keywords and Internet addresses corresponding to the keywords are previously matched and stored. For example, an address keyword "DDD(BlueHouse)" and an Internet address "www.president.go.kr" are matched with each other and stored.

[92] Meanwhile, when an address keyword coinciding with the text string does not exist in the NLIA database, the NLIA server converts the text string into a search query inquiring to a specific search server and transfers the search query to the first client terminal (step 321). The first client terminal receiving the search query accesses the specific search server and the corresponding webpage (step 323).

[93] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when an address keyword coinciding with the text string does not exist in the NLIA database, the NLIA server may transfer an Internet address of the specific search server to the first client terminal.

[94] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the

NLIA server receives a text string from the first client terminal, it may convert the text string into a search query inquiring to the specific search server and transfers the search query to the first client terminal.

[95] In addition, when the NLIA server receives a text string from the first client terminal, it may search a search keyword database storing search keywords and included in the NLIA server. When a search keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the database, the NLIA server may convert the text string into a search query inquiring to the specific search server and transfer the search query to the first client terminal, and thereby may be capable of connecting the first client terminal with the search server.

[96] Meanwhile, a program having the corresponding functions may be installed on a client terminal of the local network 1 so that the client terminal can respond to the native language Internet address resolution query. However, the NLIA program may be implemented as a separate application from a web browser, or the functions may be implemented in the web browser. In addition, some functions of the NLIA program may be performed by an operating system.

[97] According to a conventional NLIA program, when a text string is input, a hooking process is performed before the text string is transferred to an API. On the other hand, the NLIA program according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention receives data inquired to a network and responds to the data. Therefore, in comparison with conventional art, changes in a client system are remarkably reduced, and thus it is possible to construct a stable system.

[98] In a practical implementation of the present invention, a resolution query about a native language Internet address performed by a client terminal may be transferred to a DNS server as well as a local network. In this case, the client terminal processes only a first arrived response between responses to the query.

[99] Alternatively, a client terminal may transfer a resolution query about a native language Internet address to a local network, and then transfer the query to a DNS server when there is no terminal responding to the query within a predetermined time.

[100] Meanwhile, when the NLIA program is installed on the corresponding client terminal, it may change a configuration of the client terminal so that the client terminal can receive a query message transferred to all client terminals in the local network or a query message transferred to only client terminals connected through a group communication channel.

[101] For example, according to a method of transferring data to only the client terminals connected through the group communication channel, when the NLIA program is installed, routing information on a used network card may be checked to determine whether the network card is configured to use IP addresses "224.0.0.0/4" ranging from "224.0.0.0" to "239.255.255.255". Table 8 below shows routing information checked by a route print command.

[102] Table 8

[103] Most Microsoft Windows series are previously configured so that only client terminals connected through a group communication channel receive data. However, the NLIA program checks such a configuration, and then adds the IP addresses "224.0.0.0/4" to a router table of the client terminal to process the IP addresses when it is not configured to process the IP addresses. The IP addresses "224.0.0.0/4" can be simply added using, for example, a route add command.

[104] The NLIA program may monitor whether data is received from IP addresses, e.g.,

"224.0.0.251", "224.0.0.252", and ports, e.g., port 53, port 5355, port 5353, from which a query about a native language Internet address will be transferred. When the corresponding data is received, the NLIA program may process and respond to the data.

[105]

[ 106] <Other exemplary embodiments>

[107] A method of processing a native language Internet address according to another exemplary embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 4. A difference between the method of FIG. 2 and this method is that the NLIA program of this method has an NLIA database.

[108] Referring to FIG. 4, when a text string is input into a web browser of the first client terminal among the client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N in the local network 1 (step 201), an API of the first client terminal 1-N transfers a query message to the client terminals 1-1, ...,1-N in the local network 1 (step 203).

[109] Subsequently, the second client terminal 1-1 on which the NLIA program is installed receives the query message (step 205).

[110] The second client terminal 1-1 analyzes the query message to determine whether or not the query message is destined for the local network (step 206). When it is determined that the query message is destined for the local network, it is determined to process the query message, and the process proceeds to step 207. On the other hand, when it is determined that the query message is not destined for the local network, the query message is not processed (step 208).

[I l l] As described above, whether or not the query message is destined for the local network is determined according to whether a destination IP address included in the query message coincides with an IP address indicating the local network, and whether a query sign is included in the query message. When the destination IP address included in the query message coincides with an IP address indicating the local network, and a query sign is included in the query message, it is determined to process the query message as described above.

[112] When it is determined to process the query message, the NLIA program searches the NLIA database added to the NLIA program in which address keywords and Internet addresses are matched with each other and stored. When an address keyword coinciding with the text string exists in the NLIA database, an Internet address corresponding to the address keyword is searched for (step 207).

[113] Subsequently, when an Internet address, i.e., a URL or an IP address, corresponding to the input text string exists in the NLIA database, the NLIA program returns a response message including the corresponding Internet address to the first client

terminal (step 209). The first client terminal receiving the response message accesses the corresponding webpage using the received Internet address (step 211).

[114] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when an

Internet address, i.e., a URL or an IP address, corresponding to the input text string exists in the NLIA database, the NLIA program may return a response message including the corresponding Internet address to the local network, and the first client terminal may access the corresponding webpage using the response message corresponding to the query message of the first client terminal. This can be implemented using a query ID included in the query message, as described above.

[115] Meanwhile, when an Internet address, i.e., a URL or an IP address, corresponding to the input text string does not exist in the NLIA database, the process proceeds to step 107 of FIG. 2. In other words, the NLIA program determines whether the input text string is a native language Internet address (step 107 of FIG. 2), and the process proceeds to step 109 or 113 according to the determination. In addition, when an Internet address corresponding to the text string is not found in the Internet address search step, the text string may be converted into a search query inquiring to a specific search server and transferred to the first client terminal.

[116] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the step of determining whether the text string is a native language Internet address may be included between steps 206 and 207. According to still another exemplary embodiment in which it is determined whether the text string is a native language Internet address before searching the NLIA database, when the text string is determined to be a native language Internet address, the NLIA database is searched. When an Internet address corresponding to the text string exists in the NLIA database, a response message including the Internet address may be returned to the first client terminal. On the other hand, when an Internet address corresponding to the text string does not exist in the NLIA database, an Internet address of an NLIA server or the search server may be returned to the first client terminal. Meanwhile, when the text string is not determined to be a native language Internet address, the process is terminated, and the text string is processed through general procedure.

[117] According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the

NLIA program may determine whether or not an Internet address, i.e., a URL or an IP address, corresponding to the input text string exists in the NLIA database, but may not determine whether or not the text string is a native language Internet address. When an Internet address, i.e., a URL or an IP address, corresponding to the input text string exists in the NLIA database, the corresponding IP address or URL is returned to the first client terminal. On the other hand, when an Internet address, i.e., a URL or an IP address, corresponding to the input text string does not exist in the NLIA database, the

process is terminated, and the text string is processed through general procedure.

[118] According to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the text string is a native language Internet address, a response message including an Internet address of a specific search server may be transferred to the first client terminal. In this case, the first client terminal receiving the response message accesses the specific search server, and a search result is provided to the first client terminal. Alternatively, the response message may be transferred to the local network.

[119] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a system for processing a native language Internet address according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[120] In the system of FIG. 1, the NLIA program is a separate application. On the other hand, in a system of FIG. 5, the NLIA program is implemented in a web browser 10-1. When data, i.e., a packet, is transferred while the web browser 10-1 is activated, the NLIA program receives the data and responds to the data. In particular, it is possible to process a native language Internet address using a function of the web browser 10-1 or an OS 30-1.

[121] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein and, although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.