Network Management System Captive Portal Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hotspot 2.0 protocol lacks a mechanism for implementing a captive portal, which is necessary for additional authentication, venue-specific commands, and loyalty program requirements.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a network management system that uses durable and non-durable device identifiers to enable a captive portal by redirecting user devices to a specific network resource for additional input, even when connected via Hotspot 2.0.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Hotspot 2.0 protocol is used for network access, then network connectivity and authentication are improved, but the ability to implement captive portal for additional authentication and venue-specific commands is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network management system as an intermediary between the Hotspot 2.0 protocol and the captive portal functionality. This mediator translates and bridges the gap between the protocol's authentication mechanism and the portal's requirements, allowing both to coexist and function together without direct conflict
2Ease of operation
If seamless network access is provided, then user convenience is improved, but the ability to require additional user input for authentication is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the network management system with the ability to intercept and redirect traffic before the authentication challenge occurs. This allows the system to prepare the authentication flow in advance, ensuring both seamless access and required user input are achieved
Data Source
AI summary
Generally described, the presently disclosed technology utilizes durable and non-durable identifiers of a user device to authenticate the user device and cause the user device to be directed to a network intercept portal or captive portal to the user device based on whether additional user input is needed from the user device. A cloud network management server may identify a user device based on a previously stored association between a durable identifier associated with the user device and a non-durable identifier associated with the user device. In response to an indication from the cloud network management server that additional input is needed, a gateway or network management device can indicate to the access point that network access has been granted to the user device, but redirect the user device to network intercept portal or captive portal to obtain the additional user input requested by the cloud network management server.