Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes generating a Domain Name Service (DNS) request comprising a domain name, determining that the DNS request corresponds to a first computer configured to communicate securely, and sending, based on the determination, a request to establish a communication link with the first computer configured to communicate securely, the request including an identifier of a client device used to determine whether the client device is authorized to communicate with the first computer.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing an encrypted communication link between a first device and a second device. One exemplary computer-implemented method includes accessing, from a storage, identification information of a user of the first device. The method further includes receiving, at a domain name server, a Domain Name Service (DNS) request from the first device requesting a network address corresponding to a domain name associated with the second device, the domain name being used to establish the encrypted communication link to the second device. The method further includes authenticating the user based on the user identification information, the user identification information including biometric information of the user. The method also includes transmitting network address in response to the DNS request based on a determination that the user has been authenticated at the domain name server using the biometric information of the user.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network device for communicating over a network, the method includes receiving, at the first network device, a request to connect to a second network device. The method includes, based on the request to connect, determining whether the first network device is set to an encrypted communication mode. The method further includes, based on a determination that the first network device is set to the encrypted communication mode, sending, to a first name service, a first name associated with the second network device and for which the first name service supports establishing an encrypted connection to the second network device.

Abstract: A plurality of computer nodes communicates using seemingly random IP source and destination addresses and (optionally) a seemingly random discriminator field. Data packets matching criteria defined by a moving window of valid addresses are accepted for further processing, while those that do not meet the criteria are rejected. In addition to “hopping” of IP addresses and discriminator fields, hardware addresses such as Media Access Control addresses can be hopped. The hopped addresses are generated by random number generators having non-repeating sequence lengths that are easily determined a-priori, which can quickly jump ahead in sequence by an arbitrary number of random steps and which have the property that future random numbers are difficult to guess without knowing the random number generator's parameters. Synchronization techniques can be used to re-establish synchronization between sending and receiving nodes.

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 for the secure communications service so as to enable the network device to send a request to look up a network address of a second device based on an identifier associated with the second device, receive an indication that the second device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address and provisioning information for a secure communication link, connect to the second device over the secure communication link, using the received network address of the second device and the provisioning information for the secure communication link, and communicate at least one of video data and audio data with the second device using the secure communications service via the secure communication link.

Abstract: A device and method for establishing a connection between devices is disclosed. A first device receives a request to connect to a second network device and, based on the request, a determination is made as to whether the first device is set to a first communication mode or a second communication mode. If the first device is set to the first communication mode then a first name associated with the second device is sent to a first name service, the first name service supporting establishing an encrypted connection to the second device, a resource for the encrypted connection to the second device is received at the first device, and communication with the second device is established over the network via the encrypted connection using the received resource. If the first device is set to the second communication mode then communication with the second device is established via a second connection.

Abstract: A system for and method of establishing a secure communication link is disclosed. The method comprises: (1) generating a Domain Name Service (DNS) request; (2) determining that the DNS request corresponds a first computer configured to communicate securely; (3) sending, based on the determination, a request to establish a secure communication link with the first computer configured to communicate securely, the request including an identifier of a client device used to determine whether the client device is authorized to communicate with the first computer; (4) receiving, in response to the request to establish a secure communication link, a resource used to establish the secure communication link; (5) automatically establishing the secure communication link using the received resource; and (6) communicating securely with the first computer over the established secure 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 for the secure communications service so as to enable the network device to send a request to look up a network address of a second device based on an identifier associated with the second device, receive an indication that the second device is available for the secure communications service, the indication including the requested network address and provisioning information for a secure communication link, connect to the second device over the secure communication link, using the received network address of the second device and the provisioning information for the secure communication link, and communicate at least one of video data and audio data with the second device using the secure communications service via the secure communication link.

Abstract: A secure domain name service for a computer network is disclosed that includes a portal connected to a computer network, such as the Internet, and a domain name database connected to the computer network through the portal. The portal authenticates a query for a secure computer network address, and the domain name database stores secure computer network addresses for the computer network. Each secure computer network address is based on a non-standard top-level domain name, such as .scom, .sorg, .snet, .snet, .sedu, .smil and .sint.

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 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 technique is disclosed for establishing a secure communication link between a first computer and a second computer over a computer network. Initially, a secure communication mode of communication is enabled at a first computer without a user entering any cryptographic information for establishing the secure communication mode of communication. Then, a secure communication link is established between the first computer and a second computer over a computer network based on the enabled secure communication mode of communication. The secure communication link is a virtual private network communication link over the computer network in which one or more data values that vary according to a pseudo-random sequence are inserted into each data packet.

Abstract: A network device stores an application program for a secure communications service and has processor configured to execute the application program. The execution causes the processor to send a request to look up an internet protocol (IP) address of a second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device, to receive, following a determination by a name service that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, the determination by the name service being based on the identifier in the request: (1) an indication that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, (2) the requested IP address of the second network device, and (3) provisioning information for an encrypted communication link. The execution further enables the processor to connect to the second network device and to communicate data with the second network via the encrypted 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: Systems and methods for connecting a first network device and a second network device over a communication network are disclosed. An exemplary method includes receiving, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network and evaluating the request to determine whether an identifier associated with the second network device is registered with a name service that facilitates resolving the identifier and further facilitates establishing direct encrypted communication links. It is determined whether the second network device is available to communicate through a direct encrypted communication link facilitated by the name service, the establishment of the direct encrypted communication link between the first network device and the second network device is facilitated. This includes provisioning the first network device or the second network device with one or more resources for the direct encrypted communication link.

Abstract: A secure domain name service for a computer network is disclosed that includes a portal connected to a computer network, such as the Internet, and a domain name database connected to the computer network through the portal. The portal authenticates a query for a secure computer network address, and the domain name database stores secure computer network addresses for the computer network. Each secure computer network address is based on a non-standard top-level domain name, such as .scom, .sorg, .snet, .snet, .sedu, .smil and .sint.

Abstract: Methods and related systems are presented that relate to automatically avoiding address conflicts when establishing a secure communications link over a public network between a local computer, associated with a local network, and a remote computer, located outside the local network. In order to avoid address conflict, addresses reserved for use by the local network and addresses reserved for use by the remote network are determined. At least one local address is selected from among available local addresses such that the selected local address is an address that does not conflict with the reserved addresses of the local network and the reserved addresses of the remote network. The selected local address is used in connection with establishment of the secure communications link between the local computer and the remote computer.

Abstract: A method for connecting a first network device to a second network device includes receiving a request to resolve a network address of the second network device. The request includes a name associated with the second network device that corresponds to the network address. The request is evaluated to confirm that the name is registered with a name service that facilitates resolving the name and facilitates establishing communication links, which use encryption, between the first network device and the second network device over the network. It is determined whether the second network device is available to establish the communication link. If so, the communication link is automatically established, including sending a signal to a provisioning server to provision the first network device or the second network device with a resource for the communication link.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for establishing a secure communication link between a first computer and a second computer over a computer network. Initially, a secure communication mode of communication is enabled at a first computer without a user entering any cryptographic information for establishing the secure communication mode of communication. Then, a secure communication link is established between the first computer and a second computer over a computer network based on the enabled secure communication mode of communication. The secure communication link is a virtual private network communication link over the computer network in which one or more data values that vary according to a pseudo-random sequence are inserted into each data packet.

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.