Browser Instance-Specific Cookie Segmentation for Concurrent Session Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional web browsers lack the ability to support multiple user identifying states concurrently, which limits user privacy and flexibility in emulating different user sessions, as conventional cookies apply to all browser instances and do not allow for distinct session management.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method and apparatus that allows a web browser to maintain multiple data structure sets and user profiles, enabling different user identifying states to be used concurrently, with each set including unique cookies, browser history, and preferences, allowing separate sessions with distinct presentation and functionality, and the browser logic to manage these sessions and profiles effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional cookies are used to store session state, then server can store session state on the browser, but all browser instances share the same cookie and cannot maintain distinct user identifying states

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to maintain multiple user identifying statesVSAvoidsession management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the session state storage by introducing browser instance-specific cookies. Each browser instance maintains its own cookie containing session state, rather than all instances sharing a single cookie. This segmentation enables each instance to have its own user identifying state while the server can distinguish between different instances through instance-specific session identifiers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension to cookie storage by incorporating browser instance identification into the cookie structure. The cookie is extended to include instance-specific information, transforming the single-dimension shared cookie model into a multi-dimensional model where cookies are differentiated by browser instance. This allows the server to recognize and manage multiple simultaneous sessions from the same user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a single cookie is shared across all browser instances, then session state can be maintained, but user privacy and flexibility are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser privacy and flexibilityVSAvoiddistinct session management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments session management by creating instance-specific cookies for each browser instance. This allows users to maintain separate user identifying states across different instances, enhancing privacy and flexibility. Each instance can independently manage its own session state without interfering with other instances, enabling scenarios such as simultaneous logged-in and logged-out states or different user profiles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making each browser instance's cookie unique to that instance. The cookie structure includes instance-specific identifiers and properties, allowing each instance to have customized session state tailored to its specific needs. This local differentiation enables distinct session management while maintaining overall system coherence through the unified cookie protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple user profiles with separate data structures are maintained, then distinct user identifying states can be used concurrently, but browser complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconcurrent user identifying statesVSAvoidbrowser logic and data structure management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the concepts of user profiles and session management into a unified cookie-based system. Instead of maintaining separate complex data structures for each user profile, the solution combines profile identification and session state into instance-specific cookies. This integration reduces browser complexity while enabling concurrent user identifying states, as the cookie mechanism handles both profile differentiation and session management in a standardized way.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7991830B2Multiple sessions between a server and multiple browser instances of a browser

Publication Date: 2011.08.02 RED HAT INC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for a server capable of supporting multiple sessions with a browser. First session information of a browser is detected. Second session information of the browser is detected. A first session is initiated with a first browser instance of the browser using the first session information. A second session is initiated with a second browser instance of the browser using the second session information.