MECHANISM TO DETECT RESTRICTED ACCESS VIA INTERNET HOTSPOT

• US 20110040867A1
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: KALBAG, Rohit Satish
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/005 involving radio access media independent information, e.g. MIH [Media independent Hand-off]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

The disclosed wireless device automatically detects the redirection of its internet access via a wireless hotspot network. The exemplary device algorithm provides the flexibility to detect either or both of DNS redirection and HTTP redirection, as well as to automatically accommodate such internet redirection. The proposed algorithm allows a wireless device user to be alerted and account for internet redirection when such internet redirection is automatically detected upon entering service via a hotspot. Alternatively, the wireless device may attempt to automatically meet the hotspot requirements and complete the internet access through the hotspot.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting internet access redirection of a wireless device, comprising the steps of:

automatically detecting a connection of a wireless device to a wireless hotspot network;

responsive to the automatic detection of the connection, sending a request for a resolution of a first domain name to a first internet protocol address, via the wireless hotspot network, addressed to an internet server known not to implement redirection, wherein the first domain name is known to resolve to an internet protocol address which ordinarily reverse resolves back to the first domain name;

receiving response data via the wireless hotspot network, wherein the response data comprises the first internet protocol address resolved from the first domain name; and

based on a discrepancy between the response data and expected response data from the internet server, determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access of the wireless device, wherein the step of determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access of the wireless device comprises;

via the wireless hotspot network, requesting reverse resolution of the first internet protocol address to a second domain name;

responsive to requesting the reverse resolution, receiving the second domain name reverse resolved from the first internet protocol address via the wireless hotspot network; and

based on a discrepancy between the first domain name and the second domain name, determining that the wireless hotspot network is using domain name system redirection to redirect internet access of the wireless device.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

4. A method for automatically detecting internet access redirection of a wireless device, comprising the steps of:

automatically detecting a connection of a wireless device to a wireless hotspot network;

responsive to the automatic detection of the connection, performing a first type of detecting whether or not the wireless hotspot network implements internet access redirection;

when the first type of detecting does not detect internet access redirection, performing a second type of detecting whether or not the wireless hotspot network implements internet access redirection;

wherein;

one of the first and second types of detecting comprises detecting domain name system redirection; and

the other of the first and second types of detecting comprises detecting HTTP redirection.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the detecting of domain name system redirection comprises steps of:

requesting a resolution of a first domain name to a first internet protocol address via the wireless hotspot network, wherein the first domain name is known to resolve to an internet protocol address which ordinarily reverse resolves back to the first domain name;

responsive to the step of requesting the resolution, receiving the first internet protocol address resolved from the first domain name via the wireless hotspot network;

responsive to the step of receiving the first internet protocol address, requesting reverse resolution of the first internet protocol address to a second domain name via the wireless hotspot network;

responsive to the step of requesting the reverse resolution, receiving the second domain name reverse resolved from the first internet protocol address via the wireless hotspot network; and

responsive to the step of receiving the second domain name, if there is a discrepancy between the first domain name and the second domain name, determining that the wireless hotspot network is using domain name system redirection to redirect internet access of the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the detecting of HTTP redirection comprises steps of:

sending a HTTP request for a web page via the wireless hotspot network, where the web page is known not to implement redirection;

responsive to the request for the web page, receiving a HTTP response via the wireless hotspot network; and

responsive to the step of receiving the HTTP response, if there is a discrepancy between the HTTP response and an expected HTTP response, determining that the wireless hotspot network is using HTTP redirection to redirect internet access of the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein:

the step of receiving the HTTP response via the wireless hotspot network comprises receiving a HTTP status code; and

the discrepancy between the HTTP response and the expected HTTP response comprises a discrepancy between the HTTP status code and an expected HTTP status code.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the step of sending the HTTP request via the wireless hotspot network comprises sending an HTTP HEAD request via the wireless hotspot network;

the step of receiving the HTTP response via the wireless hotspot network further comprises receiving HTTP headers via the wireless hotspot network; and

the discrepancy between the HTTP response and the expected HTTP response further comprises a discrepancy between the received HTTP headers and expected HTTP headers for the web page.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the step of sending the HTTP request via the wireless hotspot network comprises sending an HTTP GET request via the wireless hotspot network;

the step of receiving the HTTP response via the wireless hotspot network further comprises receiving an HTTP GET via the wireless hotspot network; and

the discrepancy between the HTTP response and the expected HTTP response further comprises a discrepancy between the response to HTTP GET and an expected response to HTTP GET for the web page.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising steps of:

upon determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access of the wireless device, opening a web browser on the wireless device to allow authentication to the wireless hotspot network;

generating an alert to attract attention of a user of the wireless device; and

responsive to a user input, submitting information needed to obtain internet access service from the wireless hotspot network, via HTTP.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising a step of:

upon determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access of the wireless device, automatically submitting via HTTP information needed to obtain internet access service from the wireless hotspot network.

12. A wireless device configured to implement the steps of the method of claim 4, to automatically detect internet access redirection.

13. An article of manufacture, comprising:

instructions for causing a programmable wireless device to implement the steps of the method of claim 4 to automatically detect internet access redirection; and

a machine readable storage medium bearing the instructions.

14. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine readable storage medium; and

programming embodied in the machine readable storage medium, wherein execution of the programming causes a wireless device to perform functions for automatically detecting internet access redirection, the functions comprising;

automatically detecting a connection to a wireless hotspot network;

responsive to the automatic detection of the connection to the wireless hotspot network, sending a request for a resolution of a first domain name to a first internet protocol address, via the wireless hotspot network, addressed to an internet server known not to implement redirection, wherein the first domain name is known to resolve to an internet protocol address which ordinarily reverse resolves back to the first domain name;

receiving response data via the wireless hotspot network, wherein the response data comprises the first internet protocol address resolved from the first domain name; and

based on a discrepancy between the response data and expected response data from the internet server, determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access, wherein the function of determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access comprises;

via the wireless hotspot network, requesting reverse resolution of the first internet protocol address to a second domain name;

responsive to requesting the reverse resolution, receiving the second domain name reverse resolved from the first internet protocol address via the wireless hotspot network; and

based on a discrepancy between the first domain name and the second domain name, determining that the wireless hotspot network is using domain name system redirection to redirect internet access.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the functions preformed upon execution of the programming further comprise:

based on the determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access of the wireless device, opening a web browser on the wireless device to allow authentication to the wireless hotspot network;

generating an alert to attract attention of a user of the wireless device; and

responsive to a user input, submitting information needed to obtain internet access service from the wireless hotspot network.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein the functions preformed upon execution of the programming further comprise:

based on the determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access of the wireless device, automatically submitting information needed to obtain internet access service from the wireless hotspot network.

17-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A wireless device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver;

a programmable controller coupled to the wireless transceiver;

a storage medium coupled to the controller; and

programming stored in the medium, wherein execution of the programming by the controller causes the controller to operate the wireless device to perform functions comprising;

automatically detecting a connection to a wireless hotspot network;

responsive to the automatic detection of the connection to the wireless hotspot network, sending a request for a resolution of a first domain name to a first internet protocol address, via the wireless hotspot network, addressed to an internet server known not to implement redirection, wherein the first domain name is known to resolve to an internet protocol address which ordinarily reverse resolves back to the first domain name;

receiving response data via the wireless hotspot network, wherein the response data comprises the first internet protocol address resolved from the first domain name; and

based on a discrepancy between the response data and expected response data from the internet server, determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access, wherein the function of determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access comprises;

via the wireless hotspot network, requesting reverse resolution of the first internet protocol address to a second domain name;

responsive to requesting the reverse resolution, receiving the second domain name reverse resolved from the first internet protocol address via the wireless hotspot network; and

based on a discrepancy between the first domain name and the second domain name, determining that the wireless hotspot network is using domain name system redirection to redirect internet access.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the functions preformed by the wireless device upon controller execution of the programming further comprise:

based on the determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access, opening a web browser on the wireless device to allow authentication to the wireless hotspot network;

generating an alert to attract attention of a user of the wireless device; and

responsive to a user input, submitting information needed to obtain internet access service from the wireless hotspot network.

21. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the functions preformed by the wireless device upon controller execution of the programming further comprise:

based on the determining that the wireless hotspot network is redirecting internet access, automatically submitting information needed to obtain internet access service from the wireless hotspot network.

22-23. -23. (canceled)