Captive network negotiation interface and automation

A non-transitory machine-readable medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a 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 first web page 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.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor through a bus;
• and
• a process executed from memory by the processor to cause the processor to perform the following:
• to detect, 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;
• to associate with the first network, wherein associating allows the mobile client to communicate with the first network;
• to probe 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;
• to receive a second web page in response to the first web page 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, to switch 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;
• to determine a type of authentication for the first network based on the received second web page;
• to authenticate with the first network;
• and
• upon successful authentication with the first network, to switch 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.