The way the internet functions could be overhauled after discussions this weekend in New York.

The web's overseer, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann), is to look at restructuring programmes to make the web work more effectively.

Although a firm resolution is unlikely, the group is hoping to reach a consensus with which to proceed on improving the domain name system which it was established to resolve.

Icann has never fully addressed the issue or decided who should make decisions about the future direction and governance of the web.

"They're going to boil it down and come up with what they think is best," Icann spokeswoman Mary Hewitt told Reuters.

Icann president M Stuart Lynn is known to favour an approach which will see national government representatives selected over publicly elected people.

But some fear that this could hand too much control of the web to large corporations and technology interest groups.

Sources close to Icann said that any decision it made this weekend is "likely to be final".