VPN Session Management via Temporary Bridge and Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual private networks (VPNs) face challenges in managing multiple user sessions, particularly when a user attempts to log in from a different location without terminating an existing session, leading to confusion about which session to route communications to and potential access issues to previous session data.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where an appliance creates a temporary VPN session, identifies existing sessions, requests user confirmation to terminate previous sessions, transfers session data, and establishes a new VPN session, ensuring seamless connection management across multiple locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user logs in from a different location without terminating the existing session, then the user can access resources from multiple locations, but the appliance cannot determine which session to route communications to
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the existence of existing sessions before establishing a new connection. When a user attempts to log in from a different location, the appliance identifies previously established sessions and presents them to the user for confirmation before proceeding, thus preventing routing conflicts in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by notifying the user of existing sessions and requesting confirmation before establishing a new connection. This feedback loop ensures the user is aware of the session state and makes an informed decision, resolving the routing ambiguity through user input
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple virtual private network sessions are associated with a single user, then the user can access resources from different locations, but session data from previous sessions becomes inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and preserves critical session data (such as authentication credentials and connection parameters) from existing sessions before terminating them. This extraction ensures that when old sessions are closed to prevent conflicts, essential information is retained and can be applied to new sessions, preventing data loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards old sessions that are no longer needed while recovering and preserving their essential data elements. By separating the session container (which is terminated) from the session data (which is preserved), the system enables multi-location access while maintaining access to critical information from previous sessions
3Adaptability or versatility
If the appliance allows multiple concurrent sessions for the same user, then user flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of existing sessions before allowing a new connection to be established. By checking for conflicts in advance and requiring user confirmation, the system avoids the complexity of managing multiple ambiguous concurrent sessions while still providing flexible multi-location access
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for establishing an SSL/VPN session on behalf of a user of a client where the user has a previously existing session are described. Methods include receiving, by an appliance, a request from a first client operated by a user to establish a virtual private network session; creating, by the appliance, a temporary virtual private network session with the client; identifying, by the appliance, an existing virtual private network session previously established on behalf of the user; terminating the previous session; and creating a new virtual private network session with the client using the temporary session. Other methods may further include transmitting a request to a user corresponding to whether to terminate one or more previous sessions, and transferring session data from a previously existing session to a current session. Corresponding systems are also described.