Patent ID: 6434600
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A system for securely delivering electronic mail to a mail server, wherein the mail server has a dynamically assigned IP address and is communicatively linked to a public network, the system comprising:a first name server comprising a memory having stored therein a first record containing the mail server's dynamically assigned IP address and the secret code, wherein the first name server is communicatively linked to the public network; and a second name server in communication with the first name server over a private network, the second name server comprising a memory having stored therein a second record containing the mail server's domain name and a secret code associated with the mail server, wherein the first name server executes one or more programs for performing steps comprising: receiving the secret code from the second name server; referencing the memory of the first name server to determine the IP address that is associated with the secret code received from the second name server; and transmitting, to the second name server, the IP address determined to be associated with the secret code received from the second name server; and wherein the second name server executes one or more programs for performing steps comprising: receiving, from a requestor, a request for the dynamically assigned IP address of the mail server; referencing the data stored in the memory of the second name server to determine the secret code value that is associated with the mail server; transmitting, via the private network, the secret code to the first name server, in response to transmitting the secret code value to the first name server, receiving, from the first name server, the IP address of the mail server; transmitting the dynamically assigned IP address of the mail server to the requester, thereby allowing the requestor to transmit email to the mail server.