A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING NETWORK ADDRESS INFORMATION TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF NETWORK TRANSACTIONS

摘要

An apparatus and method for using network address information to improve the performance and increase the functionality of network transactions. is disclosed. In a client network interface device having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein sequences of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of: 1) accessing a first server over a secure data communication line to obtain a client encryption key, 2) accessing a second server over an unsecure data communication line to establish a connection with the second server, 3) encrypting information sent to the second server over the connection using the client encryption key obtained from the first server, and 4) decrypting information received from the second server over the connection using the client encryption key obtained from the first server. The present invention further includes sequences of instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform the steps of, 1) connecting to an unsecure server over an unsecure data communication line to perform unsecure portions of a data transaction, 2) disconnecting from the unsecure server; and 3) connecting to a secure server over a secure data communication line to perform secure portions of the data transaction.