Zone migration in network access
The present disclosure is directed to providing a network user the ability to travel between different zones or locations within a network environment, such as, for example, a hospitality location, without requiring a user to re-login to the new location, while requiring a user to re-login to other locations within the network environment.
1. A network management system configured to manage requests for network access from user devices and determine whether re-authentication is required, the network management system comprising one or more hardware processors configured to:
process a first request for network access received at a first network access point from a user device, said first network access point located a first geographical location;
allow network access to the user device based on the first request including authentication data;
store migrating permission for migrating between said first network access point and a second network access point based on the allowed network access, wherein the second network access point is in a second geographical location different than the first geographical location;
process a second request for network access received at a second port from the user device;
determine whether re-authentication of the user device is required prior to allowing access in response to the second request; and
allow network access to the user device based on the determination of whether re-authentication is required and the stored migrating permission.
2. The network management system of claim 1 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that registration is required.
3. The network management system of claim 1 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that a payment is required.
4. The network management system of claim 1 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that an affirmative action from a user on the user device is required.
5. The network management system of claim 1 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that the second network access point is in a different group than the first network access point.
6. A network management method for managing requests for network access from user devices and determining whether re-authentication is required, the network management method comprising:
processing a first request for network access received at a first network access point from a user device, said first network access point located a first geographical location;
allowing network access to the user device based on the first request including authentication data;
storing migrating permission for migrating between said first network access point and a second network access point based on the allowed network access, wherein the second network access point is in a second geographical location different than the first geographical location;
processing a second request for network access received at a second port from the user device;
determining whether re-authentication of the user device is required prior to allowing access in response to the second request; and
allowing network access to the user device based on the determination of whether re-authentication is required and the stored migrating permission.
7. The network management method of claim 6 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that registration is required.
8. The network management method of claim 6 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that a payment is required.
9. The network management method of claim 6 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that an affirmative action from a user on the user device is required.
10. The network management method of claim 6 , wherein said determination of re-authentication is based on a determination that the second network access point is in a different group than the first network access point.