Abstract: A method of establishing a secure communication link comprises: (a) receiving a request that (i) includes an identifier of a client and (ii) was sent in response to a determination that a DNS request from the client corresponds to a first computer configured to communicate securely; (b) comparing the received client identifier to at least one stored client identifier; (c) determining, based on the comparison, whether the client is authorized to communicate with the first computer; (d) generating a resource used to establish the secure communication link between the client and the first computer; (e) generating a message in response to determining that the client is not authorized to communicate with the first computer; and (f) in response to determining that the client is authorized to communicate with the first computer, making the resource available to the client to automatically establish the secure communication link.

Abstract: A client device comprises: (a) a memory, (b) an application program, and (c) a signal processing configuration. The memory is configured and arranged to facilitate a connection of the client device with a target device over a secure communication link created based on (i) an address request generated by the client device, and (ii) a determination as a result of the address request that the target device is a device with which a secure communication link can be established when the requested address is identified in an address lookup. The application program is configured and arranged so as to allow participation in audio/video communications with the target device over the secure communication link once the secure communication link is established. The signal processing configuration is arranged to execute the application program.

Abstract: A method and system are used to transparently create an encrypted communications channel between a client device and a target device. Audio video communications between the client device and the target device are allowed over the encrypted communications channel once the encrypted communications channel is created. The method comprises: (1) receiving from the client device a request for a network address associated with the target device; (2) determining whether the request is requesting access to a device that accepts an encrypted channel connection with the client device; and (3) depending on the determination made in step (2) providing provisioning information required to initiate the creation of the encrypted communications channel between the client device and the target device such that the encrypted communications channel supports secure audio/video communications transmitted between the two devices.

Abstract: A network device comprises a storage device storing an application program for a secure communications service; and at least one processor configured to execute the application program enabling the network device to: (a) send a request to look up a network address of a second network device based on an identifier; (b) receive an indication that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address of the second network device and provisioning information for a secure communication link; (c) connect to the second network device over the secure communication link, using the received network address of the second network device and the provisioning information for the secure communication link; and (d) communicate at least one of video data and audio data with the second network device using the secure communications service via the secure communication link.

Abstract: A system for connecting a first network device and a second network device includes one or more servers. The servers are configured to: (a) receive, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; (b) determine, in response to the request, whether the second network device is available for a secure communications service; and (c) initiate a virtual private network communication link between the first network device and the second network device based on a determination that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, wherein the secure communications service uses the virtual private network communication link.

Abstract: A system and method connect a first network device and a second network device by initiating a secure communication link. The system includes one or more servers configured to: receive, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; determine, in response to the request, whether the second network device is available for a secure communications service; and initiate a secure communication link between the first network device and the second network device based on a determination that the second network device is available for the secure communications service; wherein the secure communications service uses the secure communication link to communicate at least one of video data and audio data between the first network device and the second network device.

Abstract: A network device comprises a storage device storing an application program for a secure communications service and at least one processor. The processor is configured to execute the application program enabling the network device to (a) send a request to look up a network address of a second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; (b) receive an indication that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address of the second network device and provisioning information for a virtual private network communication link; (c) connect to the second network device, using the received network address of the second network device and the provisioning information for the virtual private network communication link; and (d) communicate with the second network device using the secure communications service via the virtual private network communication link.

Abstract: A network device comprises a storage device storing an application program for a secure communications service; and at least one processor configured to execute the application program enabling the network device to: (a) send a request to look up a network address of a second network device based on an identifier; (b) receive an indication that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address of the second network device and provisioning information for a secure communication link; (c) connect to the second network device over the secure communication link, using the received network address of the second network device and the provisioning information for the secure communication link; and (d) communicate at least one of video data and audio data with the second network device using the secure communications service via the secure communication link.

Abstract: A method and system are used to transparently create an encrypted communications channel between a client device and a target device. Audio video communications between the client device and the target device are allowed over the encrypted communications channel once the encrypted communications channel is created. The method comprises: (1) receiving from the client device a request for a network address associated with the target device; (2) determining whether the request is requesting access to a device that accepts an encrypted channel connection with the client device; and (3) depending on the determination made in step (2) providing provisioning information required to initiate the creation of the encrypted communications channel between the client device and the target device such that the encrypted communications channel supports secure audio/video communications transmitted between the two devices.

Abstract: A network device comprises a storage device storing an application program for a secure communications service and at least one processor. The processor is configured to execute the application program enabling the network device to (a) send a request to look up a network address of a second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; (b) receive an indication that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address of the second network device and provisioning information for a virtual private network communication link; (c) connect to the second network device, using the received network address of the second network device and the provisioning information for the virtual private network communication link; and (d) communicate with the second network device using the secure communications service via the virtual private network communication link.

Abstract: A client device comprises: (a) a memory, (b) an application program, and (c) a signal processing configuration. The memory is configured and arranged to facilitate a connection of the client device with a target device over a secure communication link created based on (i) an address request generated by the client device, and (ii) a determination as a result of the address request that the target device is a device with which a secure communication link can be established when the requested address is identified in an address lookup. The application program is configured and arranged so as to allow participation in audio/video communications with the target device over the secure communication link once the secure communication link is established. The signal processing configuration is arranged to execute the application program.