Proxy captive portal traffic for input-limited devices

Abstract

A system for registering an input-limited device such as a media player with a captive access point that requires completion of a portal web page prior to allowing client devices access to a network such as the Internet. Such captive access points are commonly found in hotels, and may be used for both freely provided public WiFi and for connections that require providing payment. For registration, the input-limited device operates as a proxy, relaying communications with the captive access point back-and-forth to a second device with rich user-input capabilities via an independent communications channel. Registration information is provided to the access point as though it originated with the media player, allowing the media player to acquire access to the network.