System and method for establishing an encrypted communication link based on IP address lookup requests

摘要

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. The network device is a device at which a user uses the secure communications service to access the encrypted communication link.

主权项

1. A network device, comprising:
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 an internet protocol (IP) address of a second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device;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;connect to the second network device, using the received IP address of the second network device and the provisioning information for the encrypted communication link; andcommunicate data with the second network device using the secure communications service over an electronic network via the encrypted communication link,the network device being a device at which a user uses the secure communications service to access the encrypted communication link.