Tenant-Domain Traffic Routing Without Third-Party Cookies

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multi-tenant software-as-a-service (SaaS) configurations, users often need to re-enter login credentials when accessing a service from different tenant network domains due to the inability of these domains to read first-party cookies from the service network domain, leading to redundant login steps.

Innovation Solution

A server in the tenant network domain predicts the likelihood of an active login cookie for the service network domain being stored in the user's browser based on identifiers, and directs the user to a logged-in state webpage if the likelihood exceeds a threshold, thereby facilitating seamless login without third-party cookies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users access service from different tenant network domains, then service accessibility is improved, but redundant login steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidlogin time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing identifiers (such as device IDs, browser fingerprints, or session tokens) in the data store during initial service access. When a user returns from a different tenant domain, the server proactively retrieves these pre-stored identifiers and uses them to predict cookie presence, thereby avoiding redundant login steps and directly redirecting to the appropriate service state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If browser redirects are used for service access, then navigation between domains is enabled, but cookie deletion risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation easeVSAvoidcookie persistence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism using alternative identifiers (device IDs, browser fingerprints, session tokens) that mediate between the tenant network domain and the service network domain. These identifiers serve as substitutes for traditional cookies, enabling domain navigation and service state maintenance without relying on cookies that may be deleted due to redirect tracking protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If third-party cookies are used for login state maintenance, then cross-domain authentication is simplified, but browser compatibility and security restrictions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication complexityVSAvoidbrowser compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the essential authentication function from third-party cookies and implements it using alternative identifiers stored in the data store. By removing the dependency on third-party cookies, the system maintains cross-domain authentication capability while avoiding browser compatibility issues and security restrictions that block or limit cookie usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12452234B2Systems and methods for directing network traffic from third-party domains

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 SHOPIFY INC

AI summary

A server of a first tenant network domain receives one or more identifiers associated with a browser application that was used to access a webpage of the first tenant network domain. The server identifies, based on the one or more identifiers associated with the browser application, a likelihood that an active login cookie associated with a service network domain is stored by the browser application. If the likelihood exceeds a threshold, the server causes the browser application to be directed to a webpage on the service network domain that is associated with a logged-in state at the service network domain.