Session Switchover Between End-User Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless network technologies do not allow users to seamlessly switch between different end-user terminals while maintaining an active session, requiring users to terminate and re-establish sessions when moving to a different device, which can result in lost progress or the need to restart applications.

Innovation Solution

A mobile end-user agent device (MEAD) that tracks authentication and session data to enable seamless switchover between different end-user terminals by suspending and re-establishing sessions on different devices, maintaining session continuity across various networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between different end-user terminals, then mobility and flexibility are improved, but session continuity is lost requiring re-establishment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal switching capabilityVSAvoidsession continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates session management functionality from the terminal device by introducing a session management entity that maintains session state independently. This allows the session to be segmented into terminal-dependent components and terminal-independent components, enabling switching between terminals while preserving the core session state in the session management entity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A session management entity acts as an intermediary between multiple terminals and the network services. This intermediary maintains session state and coordinates session transfer between terminals, enabling seamless switching without requiring users to re-establish sessions at each terminal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If session data is maintained across terminals, then session continuity is improved, but security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession continuityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerabilities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts sensitive session data from individual terminals and stores it securely in a centralized session management entity. This extraction removes the security burden from terminals while maintaining session continuity, as the session state is preserved in a secure location rather than being replicated across multiple potentially insecure terminal devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of sharing the same session data across terminals, the system creates controlled copies or references to session state in the session management entity. Each terminal receives only the necessary authentication tokens or session identifiers without access to the full session data, reducing security risks while enabling session continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS8515490B2Method and apparatus for providing same session switchover between end-user terminals

Publication Date: 2013.08.20 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

Method and apparatus for performing switchover of a session between different user terminals. The method and apparatus includes means for receiving, from a first device, data representing a session, where the session data includes any application and authentication data required to reestablish the session. The method and apparatus facilitates suspending the session at the first device, and reestablishing the suspended session on a second device using the suspended session data.