IP Library Granted Patent US 7,945,654
Granted Patent B2
US 7,945,654 · App. 11/840,508 · Granted May 17, 2011

Agile network protocol for secure communications using secure domain names

Assignee: VirnetX, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,945,654
App. No.
11/840,508
Granted
May 17, 2011
Kind
B2
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.

Claims (35)

1. A method for registering a secure domain name, comprising steps of:

receiving a request for registering a secure domain name;

verifying ownership information for an equivalent non-secure domain name corresponding to the secure domain name;

registering the secure domain name in a secure domain name service when the ownership information for the equivalent non-secure domain name is consistent with ownership information for the secure domain name.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of verifying ownership information includes steps of:

determining whether the equivalent non-secure domain name corresponding to the secure domain name has been registered in a non-secure domain name service; and

querying whether the equivalent non-secure domain name should be registered in the non-secure domain name service when the equivalent non-secure domain name has not been registered in the non-secure domain name service.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secure domain name has a top-level domain reserved for secure network connections.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising:

a storage area; and

computer-readable instructions for a method for registering a secure domain name, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a request for registering a secure domain name;

verifying ownership information for an equivalent non-secure domain name corresponding to the secure domain name;

registering the secure domain name in a secure domain name service when the ownership information for the equivalent non-secure domain name is consistent with ownership information for the secure domain name.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 4 , wherein the step of verifying ownership information includes steps of:

determining whether the equivalent non-secure domain name corresponding to the secure domain name has been registered in a non-secure domain name service; and

querying whether the equivalent non-secure domain name should be registered in the non-secure domain name service when the equivalent non-secure domain name has not been registered in the non-secure domain name service.

6. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the secure domain name has a top-level domain reserved from secure network connections.

7. A method for registering a domain name, comprising steps of:

(i) receiving a request for registering a first domain name;

(ii) verifying ownership information for a second domain name corresponding to the first domain name; and

(iii) registering the first domain name when the ownership information for the second domain name is consistent with ownership information for the first domain name.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first domain name comprises a non-standard top-level domain and the second domain name comprises a standard top-level domain.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of storing information corresponding to the registration performed in step (iii) in a database separate from a database storing information for standard domain name registrations.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the step of verifying ownership information includes steps of:

(a) determining whether the second domain name has been registered in a domain name service; and

(b) querying whether the second domain name should be registered in the domain name service when the second domain name has not been registered in the domain name service.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising computer-readable instructions for a method for registering a domain name, the method comprising steps of:

(i) receiving a request for registering a first domain name;

(ii) verifying ownership information for a second domain name corresponding to the first domain name; and

(iii) registering the first domain name when the ownership information for the second domain name is consistent with ownership information for the first domain name.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first domain name comprises a non-standard top-level domain and the second domain name comprises a standard top-level domain.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the step of verifying ownership information includes steps of:

(a) determining whether the second domain name has been registered in a domain name service; and

(b) querying whether the second domain name should be registered in the domain name service when the second domain name has not been registered in the domain name service.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE Recorded Jan 19, 2012
From: VIRNETX INC.
To: VIRNETX INC.
Reel/Frame 027558/0281 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2007
From: LARSON, VICTOR; SHORT, ROBERT DUNHAM, III; MUNGER, EDMUND COLBY; WILLIAMSON, MICHAEL
To: SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019722/0270 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2007
From: SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
To: VIRNETX, INC.
Reel/Frame 019722/0525 →
Continuity (7)
Division 10714849 · Nov 18, 2003
Continuation 09558210 · Apr 26, 2000
Continuation In Part 09504783 · Feb 15, 2000
Continuation In Part 09429643 · Oct 29, 1999
Provisional Application 60137704 · Jun 7, 1999
Provisional Application 60106261 · Oct 30, 1998
Related Publication 20080040783A1 · Feb 14, 2008