Multi-browser authentication

• US 9,641,497 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2011
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Lissick, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Assistant Examiner(s): STILTNER, WEIWEI YE
• Application Number:
  US13/082,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260327A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,216 Days
• Field of Search: 726 9, 726 12, 709218-224, 717126
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0838 using one-time-passwords

Abstract

The content rendering capability of web browsers can be tested and compared across different web browsers. Testing with respect to restricted content is enabled utilizing a web browser to facilitate authentication. State information acquired by the web browser from a server can be employed to request restricted content for rendering by a number of target web browsers sought to be tested. Subsequently, representations of the restricted content produced by target web browsers can be rendered to a multi-browser display environment, for example.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating testing, comprising:

employing at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts;

receiving an address of content to test multi-browser consistency;

invoking a first web browser with the address of the content;

receiving authentication information in the first web browser in response to a login request received by the first web browser from a server in place of the content;

receiving state information from the server in response to transmission of valid authentication information to the server by a first web browser;

requesting content from the server directly, without using a browser, with the state information, and a browser identifier of a second web browser, different from the first web browser, wherein the browser identifier identifies a web browser with which content will be rendered;

receiving the content, specific to the second browser, from the server; and

rendering a representation of the content, rendered by a second web-browser engine, in a multi-browser display environment configured to display a plurality of representations of content rendered by different web-browser engines in a single user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises saving the authentication information.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises retrieving the authentication information from a data store.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

submitting the content received in response to the request to a remote web browser engine; and

receiving the representation of the content rendered by the remote web browser engine.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprise receiving a cookie saved by the first web browser that encapsulates the state information and submitting the cookie with a request for content from the server for the second web browser.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprises receiving a browser image as the representation of the content as rendered by the remote web browser engine.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises sending the browser identifier as part of a user-agent string in a hypertext transport protocol header.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprises sending the browser identifier comprising a browser name and version.

9. A system of facilitating testing, comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, the processor configured to execute the following computer-executable components stored in the memory;

a acquisition component that acquires state information provided by a web server in response to successful authentication with the web server associated with procurement of restricted content by a first web browser;

a content acquisition component that requests the restricted content specific to a second web browser, different from the first web browser, with the state information and a browser identifier of the second web browser that identifies a web browser with which content will be rendered; and

a rendering component that renders images of the restricted content as displayed by the first web browser and the second web browser in a single display environment.

10. The system of claim 9, the browser identifier is a user-agent string in a hypertext transport protocol header.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprises a web browser component that accepts user identification information and acquires the state information.

12. The system of claim 11, the web browser component is further configured to enable navigation and selection of the restricted content.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprises a storage component that stores the state information.

14. The system of claim 9, the second web browser is a remote browser.

15. The system of claim 9, acquired state information is encapsulated in a cookie saved by the first web browser.

16. The system of claim 9, the browser identifier comprises a browser name and version.

17. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon that enable at least one processor to perform a method upon execution, the method comprising:

employing a first web browser to authenticate a user on a web server and identify content available on the web server after authentication;

acquiring a set of one or more cookies received by the first web browser from the web server without intercepting the set of one or more cookies from network traffic;

determining a browser identifier associated with a browser selected by a user for testing;

requesting the content from the web server with the set of one or more cookies and the browser identifier of a second web browser, different from the first web browser, wherein the browser identifier identifies a browser with which content will be rendered;

receiving the content, specific to the second web browser, from the web server;

employing a web browser engine for the second web browser to render the content; and

rendering an image produced by the web browser engine to a multi-browser display environment configured to enable display of a plurality of representations of content rendered by different web-browser engines in a single user interface.

18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, the method further comprises saving the set of one or more cookies.

19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, the method further comprises employing the web browser engine at a remote location.

20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, determining an identifier comprises determining a user-agent string in a hypertext transport protocol.