Application Inactivity Control via Centralized Session Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing client-server communication systems lack effective mechanisms to automatically log out or close applications after a period of user-interface inactivity, leading to potential unauthorized access and resource management issues, particularly in handling sensitive customer information.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that monitors user-interface activity through counter values or timestamps, sending periodic messages to determine inactivity periods, and automatically closing, locking, or logging out applications across devices when no interaction is detected, while allowing single-login logout functionality for multiple applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If applications remain open indefinitely without automatic logout, then user convenience is improved, but security and resource management deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by establishing inactivity thresholds and monitoring mechanisms before security issues arise. The server proactively tracks user interaction timestamps and automatically initiates logout procedures when predetermined inactivity conditions are met, preventing unauthorized access before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where the server monitors client activity status, compares it against defined thresholds, and adjusts session states accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that sessions are maintained only when actively used and automatically terminated when inactivity exceeds acceptable limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If automatic logout is implemented after inactivity, then security is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that centralizes the complexity of session management. Instead of implementing complex logout logic in each client application, the server handles all inactivity monitoring, threshold evaluation, and coordinated logout execution across multiple applications and devices, simplifying the client-side implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a universal session management mechanism that handles multiple applications and devices through a single coordinated logout process. The activity manager serves as a multi-functional component that can monitor various types of user interactions across different applications and initiate appropriate logout actions, reducing the need for application-specific security logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple applications are monitored separately for inactivity, then individual application security is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication securityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the monitoring functions of multiple applications into a single centralized activity manager on the server. Instead of each application independently tracking user activity and managing its own session state, the server consolidates these functions, monitoring all applications simultaneously and coordinating logout actions to reduce redundant resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The activity manager serves as a universal monitoring component that handles session management for multiple applications through a single mechanism. It can track various types of user interactions across different applications and initiate appropriate logout actions, reducing the need for application-specific security logic and minimizing overall resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If inactivity monitoring is implemented, then unauthorized access prevention is improved, but loss of time due to monitoring occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunauthorized access preventionVSAvoidmonitoring time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring where the server checks user activity status at defined intervals rather than continuously. By establishing inactivity thresholds and monitoring at periodic checkpoints, the system effectively prevents unauthorized access while minimizing the time and resources spent on constant surveillance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9632824B2System and method for application inactivity control

Publication Date: 2017.04.25 GENESYS CLOUD SERVICES INC

AI summary

A system includes multiple applications executing on a device. One or more user-interfaces connect with the device. The one or more user-interfaces interact with the applications as user-interface activities. A processor sends or receives an indication of the user-interface activities for the multiple applications. The multiple applications are closed or locked, or the device logged out, based on the indication of the user-interface activities for the multiple applications.