Web Browser Session Cookie Segmentation for Multi-Tab User Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Web browsers often struggle to manage multiple concurrent user sessions with the same website across different tabs, as many websites are not natively configured to support this feature, leading to frustrating user experiences and potential errors, especially when back-end elements do not support multiple user sessions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system where a web browser stores session cookies in tab-specific storage locations instead of a global storage location, allowing different session cookies to be temporarily swapped in and out of a global storage location based on active tabs, enabling distinct user sessions with the same website across different tabs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the web browser stores session cookies in a shared memory location accessible by any tab, then the user can continue a previously-established user session across different tabs, but the user cannot access multiple distinct user sessions simultaneously in different tabs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shared memory location into tab-specific storage areas, where each tab has its own dedicated storage space for session cookies. This segmentation allows each tab to maintain independent session state while still using the same browser instance, resolving the contradiction by enabling multiple simultaneous sessions without requiring manual user intervention to switch between them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of organization by moving from a flat shared memory structure to a hierarchical structure with tab-specific namespaces. Each tab operates in its own dimensional space within the browser's memory architecture, allowing independent session management while maintaining overall system coherence.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the website is coded under the assumption that each web browser will only be associated with a single user session, then the website can provide a single session cookie to the web browser, but the web browser cannot support multiple concurrent user sessions with different tabs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cookie management system into tab-specific components, where each tab maintains its own session cookie independently. This segmentation allows the browser to present multiple simultaneous sessions to the website, effectively increasing adaptability while the segmentation architecture manages the complexity of handling multiple cookies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying mechanisms to replicate session cookie management capabilities across multiple tabs. Each tab receives and manages its own copy of the session cookie, allowing independent session state while the underlying management system handles the complexity of coordinating multiple copies.
3Ease of operation
If the web browser returns the same session cookie to the website regardless of which tab is in active use, then the user can switch between tabs without losing session state, but the user experiences frustration and errors when attempting to access different user sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the session state management by creating tab-specific storage areas within the shared memory location. Each tab's session cookie is isolated in its own segment, ensuring that switching between tabs automatically switches the active session cookie. This segmentation simultaneously provides session continuity within each tab and session accuracy across tabs, resolving the contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
A web browser can manage different session cookies associated with a website by storing the session cookies in distinct tab storage locations associated with different tabs of the web browser, instead of in a global storage location accessible by any tab of the web browser. When the web browser prepares to send a request associated with an active tab to a server associated with the website, the web browser can temporarily copy a corresponding session cookie into the global storage location from the tab storage location associated with the active tab. Accordingly, even if the website does not natively support multiple concurrent user sessions with the web browser, the web browser can send different session cookies to the website based on which tab of the web browser is active, and thereby allow users to engage in different user sessions with the website in different tabs.