Network access server (NAS) discovery and associated automated authentication in heterogenous public hotspot networks

摘要

Automated HTTP-based user authentication in a public WLAN environment is facilitated across heterogeneous network access servers (NASs). Each of a set of network access servers has a given authentication protocol, and these protocols typically differ from one another. According to the invention, each authentication protocol has a unique “signature.” According to the invention, a “smart” client that is executable on a given wireless device seeking access to the public WLAN environment is provided with a set of signatures. These signatures are used by the client to determine the appropriate access protocol to use with respect to a given NAS that is controlling access to the WLAN. The client may also have the capability of discovering an unknown authentication protocol “on-the-fly” as it attempts to obtain wireless access. The set of signatures is updated in the client from time-to-time without requiring the client software to be recompiled. The present invention thus provides a generic mechanism by which a client can work with any NAS.