Information Terminal Session Management for Web Application Security

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing web application systems face challenges in establishing both an automatic update function and a session timeout mechanism, leading to potential security vulnerabilities when handling sensitive information, as automatic updates can maintain sessions even without user activity, allowing malicious third parties to hijack sessions and access security information.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that requests update information from the server before a session times out, displays the updated application screen, and prevents display of security information screens after a predetermined period of inactivity, ensuring session timeout and screen operation timeout functions are independent and secure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If automatic update function is implemented for web application screen, then information freshness is improved, but session security deteriorates because sessions are maintained even without user activity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation freshnessVSAvoidsession security
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the session management into two independent timeout mechanisms: (1) session timeout for maintaining connection security, and (2) screen operation timeout for controlling access to security information. This segmentation allows automatic updates to occur while maintaining security boundaries, resolving the contradiction between information freshness and session security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different timeout characteristics to different functional aspects: session timeout uses a longer period to allow automatic updates, while screen operation timeout uses a shorter period to restrict access to security information. This local differentiation of timeout quality enables simultaneous achievement of information freshness and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If session timeout mechanism is implemented to enhance security, then session security is improved, but automatic update function deteriorates because sessions may be terminated during automatic updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesession securityVSAvoidautomatic update function
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides timeout control into separate session timeout and screen operation timeout mechanisms with different time periods. The session timeout uses a longer period that accommodates automatic update cycles, preventing premature termination while maintaining security through the independent screen operation timeout mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the timeout parameter values based on functional requirements: session timeout is set to a longer period to preserve connectivity for automatic updates, while screen operation timeout is set to a shorter period to enforce security restrictions. This parameter differentiation resolves the contradiction between security and automatic update functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If screen operation timeout is implemented to prevent unauthorized access, then security information protection is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to additional authentication requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity information protectionVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary authentication through screen operation timeout monitoring, which proactively prevents unauthorized access before it can occur. By detecting inactivity and requiring re-authentication in advance, the system protects security information while maintaining user convenience for legitimate users who will be promptly re-authenticated after brief pauses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3145158B1Method for controlling information terminal, and application system
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3145158B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3145158B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3145158B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for controlling an information terminal, including: (a) requesting a server to transmit update information for predetermined information included in an application screen before a session with the server is timed out after no request to the sever continues during a first time; (b) displaying the application screen including the update information received from the server; and (c) not displaying the application screen corresponding to an operation with respect to the application screen that leads to an application screen including security information being displayed when the operation is executed by an operator after lapse of a second time from a most recent operation with respect to the application screen by the operator.