Proxy DNS for web browser request redirection in public hotspot accesses

In a Domain Name System (DNS) server, a method for resolving a proxy server name for a web browser request issued by a user device in a network, the user device having a browser configured with the proxy server name and being capable of communicating with the DNS server, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating a private Internet Protocol (IP) address in response to a non-resolvable DNS query from the user device, wherein said DNS query is for an IP address associated with said proxy server name;
• creating a one-to-one mapping that relates the private IP address to the proxy server name;
• and
• identifying the proxy server name from the private IP address using the one-to-one mapping, when the web browser request is issued by the user device, wherein said web browser request will only be resolved by a server corresponding to said private IP address if said web request is a proxy server request to a web proxy server corresponding to said proxy server name for a web page from a second server which is not said web proxy server and said server corresponding to said private IP address, otherwise said server corresponding to said private IP address will reject said web request.

In a web server, a method for receiving redirected web browser requests issued from a user device in a network, the user device being capable of communicating with the DNS server, the method comprising the steps of:

• determining, from a header of a redirected web browser request issued from the user device, whether a browser in the user device has a proxy server configuration;
• determining an original destination IP address of the redirected web browser request, the original destination IP address being a private IP address previously associated with the user device in response to a non-resolvable DNS query from the user device;
• and
• identifying a proxy server name corresponding to the proxy server configuration from the private IP address, using a one-to-one mapping between the private IP address and the proxy server name, wherein said redirected browser request will only be resolved if said proxy server name can be identified, otherwise said browser requested will be rejected because said web browser request will be determined to be a non-proxy server request.