Patents by Inventor Robert Dunham Short, III

Robert Dunham Short, III has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110270998
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: VirnetX, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 8051181
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Virnetx, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Publication number: 20110238993
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: VIRNETX, INC.
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Vincent J. Sabio, Robert Dunham Short, III, Virgil D. Gligor, Douglas Charles Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110225419
    Abstract: A plurality of computer nodes communicate using seemingly random Internet Protocol source and destination addresses. 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 quickly rejected. Improvements to the basic design include (1) a load balancer that distributes packets across different transmission paths according to transmission path quality; (2) a DNS proxy server that transparently creates a virtual private network in response to a domain name inquiry; (3) a large-to-small link bandwidth management feature that prevents denial-of-service attacks at system chokepoints; (4) a traffic limiter that regulates incoming packets by limiting the rate at which a transmitter can be synchronized with a receiver; and (5) a signaling synchronizer that allows a large number of nodes to communicate with a central node by partitioning the communication function between two separate entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Douglas Charles Schmidt, Robert Dunham Short, III, Victor Larson, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7996539
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Virnetx, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Vincent J. Sabio, Robert Dunham Short, III, Virgil D. Gligor, Douglas Charles Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110191582
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Vincent J. Sabio, Robert Dunham Short, III, Virgil D. Gligor, Douglas Charles Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110185053
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Publication number: 20110185169
    Abstract: A plurality of computer nodes communicate using seemingly random Internet Protocol source and destination addresses. 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 quickly rejected. Improvements to the basic design include (1) a load balancer that distributes packets across different transmission paths according to transmission path quality; (2) a DNS proxy server that transparently creates a virtual private network in response to a domain name inquiry; (3) a large-to-small link bandwidth management feature that prevents denial-of-service attacks at system chokepoints; (4) a traffic limiter that regulates incoming packets by limiting the rate at which a transmitter can be synchronized with a receiver; and (5) a signaling synchronizer that allows a large number of nodes to communicate with a central node by partitioning the communication function between two separate entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Douglas Charles Schmidt, Robert Dunham Short, III, Victor Larson, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7987274
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Virnetx, Incorporated
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Publication number: 20110167087
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: VirtnetX, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7945654
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: VirnetX, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7933990
    Abstract: A plurality of computer nodes communicate using seemingly random Internet Protocol source and destination addresses. 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 quickly rejected. Improvements to the basic design include (1) a load balancer that distributes packets across different transmission paths according to transmission path quality; (2) a DNS proxy server that transparently creates a virtual private network in response to a domain name inquiry; (3) a large-to-small link bandwidth management feature that prevents denial-of-service attacks at system chokepoints; (4) a traffic limiter that regulates incoming packets by limiting the rate at which a transmitter can be synchronized with a receiver; and (5) a signaling synchronizer that allows a large number of nodes to communicate with a central node by partitioning the communication function between two separate entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Virnetx, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Douglas Charles Schmidt, Robert Dunham Short, III, Victor Larson, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7921211
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: VirnetX, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7490151
    Abstract: A plurality of computer nodes communicate using seemingly random Internet Protocol source and destination addresses. 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 quickly rejected. Improvements to the basic design include (1) a load balancer that distributes packets across different transmission paths according to transmission path quality; (2) a DNS proxy server that transparently creates a virtual private network in response to a domain name inquiry; (3) a large-to-small link bandwidth management feature that prevents denial-of-service attacks at system chokepoints; (4) a traffic limiter that regulates incoming packets by limiting the rate at which a transmitter can be synchronized with a receiver; and (5) a signaling synchronizer that allows a large number of nodes to communicate with a central node by partitioning the communication function between two separate entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Virnetx Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Colby Munger, Robert Dunham Short, III, Victor Larson, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7418504
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: VirnetX, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 7010604
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corporation
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Vincent J. Sabio, Robert Dunham Short, III, Virgil D. Gligor, Douglas Charles Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6907473
    Abstract: A plurality of computer nodes communicate using seemingly random Internet Protocol source and destination addresses. 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 quickly rejected. Improvements to the basic design include (1) a load balancer that distributes packets across different transmission paths according to transmission path quality; (2) a DNS proxy server that transparently creates a virtual private network in response to a domain name inquiry; (3) a large-to-small link bandwidth management feature that prevents denial-of-service attacks at system chokepoints; (4) a traffic limiter that regulates incoming packets by limiting the rate at which a transmitter can be synchronized with a receiver; and (5) a signaling synchronizer, that allows a large number of nodes to communicate with a central node by partitioning the communication function between two separate entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corp.
    Inventors: Douglas Charles Schmidt, Robert Dunham Short, III
  • Patent number: 6839759
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corp.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson
  • Patent number: 6834310
    Abstract: A plurality of computer nodes communicate using seemingly random Internet Protocol source and destination addresses. 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 quickly rejected. Improvements to the basic design include (1) a load balancer that distributes packets across different transmission paths according to transmission path quality; (2) a DNS proxy server that transparently creates a virtual private network in response to a domain name inquiry; (3) a large-to-small link bandwidth management feature that prevents denial-of-service attacks at system chokepoints; (4) a traffic limiter that regulates incoming packets by limiting the rate at which a transmitter can be synchronized with a receiver; and (5) a signaling synchronizer that allows a large number of nodes to communicate with a central node by partitioning the communication function between two separate entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corp.
    Inventors: Edmund Colby Munger, Douglas Charles Schmidt, Robert Dunham Short, III, Victor Larson
  • Patent number: 6826616
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Science Applications International Corp.
    Inventors: Victor Larson, Robert Dunham Short, III, Edmund Colby Munger, Michael Williamson