Browser Tab Session Isolation via URL Rewriting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multiple tabs in a single browser window share session information, leading to unintended consequences such as data corruption when managing different server nodes, as existing solutions are not generic and cannot be applied to various web servers like Tomcat and Jetty.
Innovation Solution
Implementing URL rewriting by a servlet to generate unique session cookies for each tab, with a login servlet rewriting URLs to include a unique session ID, and a URL filter stripping out the ID to route requests to the appropriate servlet, ensuring each tab has a distinct session.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple tabs share session information in a single browser window, then browser convenience and simplicity are improved, but data corruption occurs when managing different server nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shared session space into tab-specific sessions by generating unique session identifiers for each tab. The URL rewriting mechanism embeds tab-specific identifiers in URLs, creating isolated session contexts for each tab while maintaining the same browser window. This resolves the contradiction by allowing multiple tabs to coexist without interfering with each other's session data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making each tab have its own unique session characteristics rather than a uniform shared session. Each tab receives customized session cookies with tab-specific identifiers, allowing different session states for different tabs. This enables data integrity for each tab while maintaining browser convenience.
2Reliability
If URL rewriting is implemented to generate unique session cookies for each tab, then session independence is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces URL rewriting as an intermediary mechanism between the browser and server. The servlet acts as a mediator that automatically rewrites URLs to include tab-specific identifiers and manages session cookie generation. This intermediary approach achieves session independence without requiring complex client-side modifications or fundamental architectural changes to the browser.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of URL structure by embedding additional identifiers in the URL path. Instead of using separate cookies or complex authentication mechanisms, the solution modifies URL parameters to include tab-specific information, which then drives session differentiation. This parameter change approach maintains simplicity while achieving reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing solutions are used for tab session management, then implementation is simplified, but adaptability to different web servers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal solution that works across different web server platforms (Tomcat, Jetty, and others) by implementing a standard URL rewriting mechanism in the servlet. The approach uses fundamental HTTP and cookie mechanisms that are universally supported, making the solution adaptable to various server environments without requiring platform-specific modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique for creating different sessions for each tab of a client browser window includes receiving a first login request associated with a first tab of the client browser window, and in response to the first login request: generating a first uniform resource locator and a first session cookie having a path that includes the first uniform resource locator; and transmitting the first session cookie to the client browser. The technique further includes receiving a second login request that is associated with a second tab of the client browser window, and in response to the second login request, generating a second uniform resource locator and a second session cookie. The second uniform resource locator is different from the first uniform resource locator and a path of the second session cookie includes the second uniform source locator. The technique also includes transmitting the second session cookie to the client browser.