Added connect_to()

dlib/bridge/bridge.h

@@ -43,6 +43,31 @@ namespace dlib
         const unsigned short port;
     };
 
+    inline connect_to_ip_and_port connect_to (
+        const network_address& addr
+    )
+    {
+        // make sure requires clause is not broken
+        DLIB_ASSERT(addr.port != 0,
+            "\t connect_to_ip_and_port()"
+            << "\n\t The TCP port to connect to can't be 0."
+            << "\n\t addr.port: " << addr.port
+            );
+
+        if (is_ip_address(addr.host_address))
+        {
+            return connect_to_ip_and_port(addr.host_address, addr.port);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            std::string ip;
+            if(hostname_to_ip(addr.host_address,ip))
+                throw socket_error(ERESOLVE,"unable to resolve '" + addr.host_address + "' in connect_to()");
+
+            return connect_to_ip_and_port(ip, addr.port);
+        }
+    }
+
     struct listen_on_port
     {
         listen_on_port(

dlib/bridge/bridge_abstract.h

@@ -27,6 +27,17 @@ namespace dlib
         !*/
     };
 
+    connect_to_ip_and_port connect_to (
+        const network_address& addr
+    );
+    /*!
+        requires
+            - addr.port != 0
+        ensures
+            - converts the given network_address object into a connect_to_ip_and_port
+              object.
+    !*/
+
     struct listen_on_port
     {
         listen_on_port(