Apparatus and methods for access solutions to wireless and wired networks

1. A client-server environment apparatus for providing access to a network comprising:

a module having an embeddable portion and a downloadable portion, the embeddable portion scripted to integrate with a first webpage accessible by a web browser of a client device and the downloadable portion scripted to be parsed by the web browser of the client device for injecting a portal for display via the web browser, wherein the first webpage is hosted within an iFrame,

wherein the portal has a URL and, the embeddable portion of the module is scripted to automatically submit authentication information to provide the client device with access to the network based on a flag present in the URL,

wherein the module is scripted to direct the web browser of the client device back to the first webpage after the web browser of the client device has been injected with the portal,

wherein the module is scripted to white list a third party guest server by IP address or name, and

wherein the embeddable portion of the module is scripted to cause an HTTP redirect status code be issued.

2. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the embeddable portion of the module is scripted to determine 1) an owner of a gateway or 2) a geographic location of the gateway, and

wherein the downloadable portion of the of the module is scripted to redirect the client device to the portal based on the ownership or geographic location determined by the embeddable portion.

3. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the portal is configured to perform one or more of 1) displaying advertising, 2) maintaining a consistent guest experience, 3) delivering marketing messages, 4) track the client device, and 5) interrogate a cookie or MAC address of the client device.

4. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the downloadable portion of the browser is configured to be parsed by the client device for redirecting the client device to the portal.

5. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the embeddable portion of the module is scripted to determine if the portal has been disabled via a “disable” flag and direct the client device to the first webpage if the portal is disabled.

6. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 5 ,

wherein the embeddable portion of the module is scripted to present an authorization parameter for proceeding through the first webpage based on an “action” flag, and

wherein the embeddable portion of the module is scripted to direct the client device to the first webpage if the portal becomes unreachable after a predetermined period of time.

7. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 6 ,

wherein the module is scripted to display a graphic indicating loading on the client device if the “disable” flag and the “action” flag are found by the module, and

wherein the module is scripted to pass a URL of the first webpage to the portal.

8. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the downloadable portion of the module is scripted to redirect the client device to one or more third party webpages that require two or more of the following 1) authentication of a user, 2) payment, 3) agreement to a policy, 4) viewing of an advertisement.

9. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the client device is directed to the first webpage if 1) the portal is unreachable, 2) the client device does not have JavaScript enabled, or 3) advertisements could not been allocated for the client device.

10. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the embeddable portion of module is scripted to allow a connection to be turned on or off for 1) a particular user or 2) a given venue location.

11. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portal is configured to present an advertisement to the client device and perform web analytics tracking events for the client device.

12. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the redirecting of the client device to the portal is based on setting a location property of an active window to the URL of the portal and transmitting a parameter indicating a URL of the first webpage.

13. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the portal is configured to send an “action” flag to the module after the client device accesses the portal, and

wherein the module is scripted to detect the “action” flag and send an authentication parameter of a user of the client device to the portal.

14. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the module is scripted to send a cookie and an HTTP GET parameter to the portal.

15. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the module is scripted to transmit information used for determining whether the client device should be directed through the portal flow in lieu of the sign-on via the first webpage.

16. The client-server environment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portal and includes a plurality of webpages served by a server that include 1) agreement to Terms & Conditions and 2) advertisements for display on the client device.

17. A method of authenticating a client device during sign-in to a network, comprising:

connecting a gateway with the client device, the gateway having a first webpage accessed by a web browser of the client device, wherein the first webpage is hosted within an iFrame;

injecting a portal having a URL to the web browser after the web browser undergoes a sign-on process via the gateway;

automatically submitting authentication information to provide the client device with access to the network based on a flag present in the URL;

directing the web browser of the client back to the first webpage of the gateway after the web browser of the client device has accessed the portal;

white listing a third party guest server by IP address or name; and

issuing an HTTP redirect status code.