Captive network negotiation interface and automation

摘要

A method and apparatus of to negotiate access with a captive network is described. In an exemplary method, a mobile client detects, with a network interface, a network. The mobile client associates with the network, where associating allows the mobile client to communicate with the network. In addition, the mobile client probes the network by requesting a web page, where the web page is independent of the network. In response to the web page request, the mobile client receives a capture web page. The mobile client determines the type of authentication used for the network based on the received capture web page.

主权项

1. A computerized method comprising:
detecting, with a first network interface of a mobile client, a first network, wherein the first network interface is a primary interface of the mobile client and the primary interface of the mobile client allows an application running on the mobile client to communicate with a third network; associating with the first network, wherein associating allows the mobile client to communicate with the first network; probing the first network by accessing a resource location on a network device located outside the first network, wherein the resource location is independent of the first network; receiving a second web page in response to the resource location request, wherein the second web page is not the resource located at the resource location; in response to receiving a second web page that is not the resource located at the resource location, switching the primary interface of the mobile client from the primary network interface to a secondary network interface, wherein the secondary interface allows the application to access the resource located at the resource location; determining a type of authentication for the first network based on the received second web page; authenticating with the first network; and upon successful authentication with the first network, switching the primary interface of the mobile client from the second network interface back to the first network interface, wherein the primary interface now allows the application to access the resource located at the resource location.