Method and apparatus for resolving a web site address when connected with a virtual private network (VPN)

• US 20030014541A1
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Certicom Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Poeluev, Yuri
• Granted Patent: US 7,366,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks

Abstract

The present invention is directed at a method and apparatus of resolving an address location for a web site when connected with a virtual private network (VPN). Once the public host is connected to, or logged on to, the VPN, a software module within the public host monitors domain name requests and routes them to a domain name server (DNS) associated with the VPN. The VPN DNS then resolves the address location request and returns the address location to the software module in the form of a domain name response. The software module then forwards the address location to the requesting public host.

Claims

1. A method for resolving a web site address when connected with a virtual private network (VPN) comprising the steps of:

receiving a domain name request from a public host;

resolving said domain name request at a domain name server (DNS) associated with said VPN; and

returning an address location corresponding to said domain name request to said public host.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, prior to said step of resolving said domain name request, said domain name request is forwarded to said DNS associated with said VPN.

3. A method of resolving a domain name request for a requesting host, said host connected to a virtual private network (VPN) comprising the steps of:

intercepting a domain name request directed at an internet service provider (ISP) domain name server (DNS) and redirecting said domain name request to a VPN DNS;

receiving a domain name response from said VPN DNS; and

returning said domain name response to said requesting host.

4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of connecting said host to said domain name resulting from said domain name request.

5. A method for resolving a web site address when connected with a virtual private network (VPN) comprising the steps of:

intercepting a domain name request from a public host addressed to a pre-determined domain name server (DNS);

forwarding said domain name request to a DNS associated with said VPN;

receiving a domain name response including an address location corresponding to said domain name request; and

forwarding said domain name response to said public host.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step, occurring after said step of intercepting said domain name request, a step of modifying said domain name request.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step, occurring before said step of forwarding said domain name request, a step of modifying said domain name response.

8. Apparatus for resolving a web site address for a public host when connected with a virtual private network (VPN) comprising:

a VPN domain name server (DNS) for resolving domain name requests; and

a software module for forwarding a domain name request to said VPN DNS and for receiving a domain name response from said VPN DNS and for forwarding said response to said public host.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said domain names are related to private web sites of public web sites.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said software module modifies said domain name request and said domain name response prior to forwarding said request and said response.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said software module is a driver.