Maintaining independent states for multiple web browser instances

• US 20040133563A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PTC Inc.
• Original Assignee: Axeda (PTC Inc.)
• Inventors: Spiewak, Joshua, Beskrowni, Andre, Harvey, Matthew, MacDonald, Jared
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

A method includes receiving a request for a target Web page, the request containing a session identifier (ID) associated with an instance of a Web browser, and determining if the session ID is new or existing. If the session ID is new, the method includes creating a window session object, and initializing the window session object with data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser. If the session ID is existing, the method includes accessing a stored window session object using the session ID, the stored window session object containing data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser, generating the target Web page based on the data, and providing the target Web page to the Web browser.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining a state of an instance of a Web browser, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a target Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded session identifier (ID) associated with the instance of the Web browser; and

storing a window session object associated with the session ID, the window session object containing data defining the state of the instance of the Web browser.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing comprises:

creating the window session object; and

initializing the window session object with the data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the window session object is stored in association with a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session object, the HTTP session object containing state data that relates to an interaction between the Web browser and a Web site that contains the target Web page.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is issued from an original Web page, and the method further comprises:

providing the original Web page to the Web browser, the original Web page containing a control feature that contains the session ID, the control feature being used to issue the request for the target Web page.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the control feature comprises at least one of a menu item, a hyperlink, a button and an image.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request for a second Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded second session identifier (ID) associated with a second instance of the Web browser; and

storing a second window session object associated with the second session ID, the second window session object containing data defining the state of the second instance of the Web browser.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) command.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a request for a target Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded session identifier (ID) associated with an instance of a Web browser;

accessing a window session object using the session ID, the window session object containing data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser;

generating the target Web page based on the data; and

providing the target Web page to the Web browser.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the request is issued from an original Web page, and the method further comprises:

providing the original Web page to the Web browser, the original Web page containing a control feature that contains the session ID, the control feature being used to issue the request for the target Web page.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the control feature comprises at least one of a menu item, a hyperlink, a button and an image.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) command.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining if the session ID is a new or existing;

wherein accessing is performed only if the session ID is existing.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the target Web page comprises:

encoding a URL in the target Web page with the session ID; and

encoding a URL in the target Web page that opens a second instance of the Web browser with a new session ID.

14. A method comprising:

receiving a request for a target Web page, the request containing a session identifier (ID) associated with an instance of a Web browser; and

determining if the session ID is new or existing;

wherein, if the session ID is new, the method further comprises;

creating a window session object; and

initializing the window session object with data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser; and

wherein, if the session ID is existing, the method further comprises;

accessing a stored window session object using the session ID, the stored window session object containing data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser;

generating the target Web page based on the data; and

providing the target Web page to the Web browser.

15. A method of storing HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session information, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of states within a single HTTP session, the plurality of states each corresponding to a window of a Web browser that has been opened during the HTTP session.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of states each correspond to a parameter in an HTTP command that identifies a window of the Web browser.

17. A machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions to maintain a state of an instance of a Web browser, the instructions causing a machine to:

receive a request for a target Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded session identifier (ID) associated with the instance of the Web browser; and

store a window session object associated with the session ID, the window session object containing data defining the state of the instance of the Web browser.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein storing comprises:

creating the window session object; and

initializing the window session object with the data.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the window session object is stored in association with a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session object, the HTTP session object containing state data that relates to an interaction between the Web browser and a Web site that contains the target Web page.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the request is issued from an original Web page, and the machine-readable medium further comprises instructions that cause the machine to:

provide the original Web page to the Web browser, the original Web page containing a control feature that contains the session ID, the control feature being used to issue the request for the target Web page.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the control feature comprises at least one of a menu item, a hyperlink, a button and an image.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions that cause the machine to:

receive a request for a second Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded second session identifier (ID) associated with a second instance of the Web browser; and

store a second window session object associated with the second session ID, the second window session object containing data defining the state of the second instance of the Web browser.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) command.

24. A machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions that cause a machine to:

receive a request for a target Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded session identifier (ID) associated with an instance of a Web browser;

access a window session object using the session ID, the window session object containing data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser;

generate the target Web page based on the data; and

provide the target Web page to the Web browser.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the request is issued from an original Web page, and the machine-readable medium further comprises instructions that cause the machine to:

provide the original Web page to the Web browser, the original Web page containing a control feature that contains the session ID, the control feature being used to issue the request for the target Web page.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the control feature comprises at least one of a menu item, a hyperlink, a button and an image.

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) command.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions that cause the machine to:

determine if the session ID is a new or existing;

wherein accessing is performed only if the session ID is existing.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein generating the target Web page comprises:

encoding a URL in the target Web page with the session ID; and

encoding a URL in the target Web page that opens a second instance of the Web browser with a new session ID.

30. A machine-readable medium that stores executable instructions that cause a machine to:

receive a request for a target Web page, the request containing a session identifier (ID) associated with an instance of a Web browser; and

determine if the session ID is new or existing;

wherein, if the session ID is new, the instructions cause the machine to;

create a window session object; and

initialize the window session object with data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser; and

wherein, if the session ID is existing, the instructions cause the machine to;

access a stored window session object using the session ID, the stored window session object containing data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser;

generate the target Web page based on the data; and

provide the target Web page to the Web browser.

31. A machine-readable medium that stores instructions to store HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session information, the instructions causing a machine to:

store a plurality of states within a single HTTP session, the plurality of states each corresponding to a window of a Web browser that has been opened during the HTTP session.

32. The machine-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the plurality of states each correspond to a parameter in an HTTP command that identifies a window of the Web browser.

33. An apparatus for use in maintaining a state of an instance of a Web browser, the apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to;

receive a request for a target Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded session identifier (ID) associated with the instance of the Web browser; and

store a window session object associated with the session ID, the window session object containing data defining the state of the instance of the Web browser.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein storing comprises:

creating the window session object; and

initializing the window session object with the data.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the window session object is stored in association with a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session object, the HTTP session object containing state data that relates to an interaction between the Web browser and a Web site that contains the target Web page.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the request is issued from an original Web page, and the processor executes instructions to:

provide the original Web page to the Web browser, the original Web page containing a control feature that contains the session ID, the control feature being used to issue the request for the target Web page.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the control feature comprises at least one of a menu item, a hyperlink, a button and an image.

38. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the processor executes instructions to:

receive a request for a second Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded second session identifier (ID) associated with a second instance of the Web browser; and

store a second window session object associated with the second session ID, the second window session object containing data defining the state of the second instance of the Web browser.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) command.

40. An apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to;

receive a request for a target Web page, the request comprising a URL-encoded session identifier (ID) associated with an instance of a Web browser;

access a window session object using the session ID, the window session object containing data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser;

generate the target Web page based on the data; and

provide the target Web page to the Web browser.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the request is issued from an original Web page, and the processor executes instructions to:

provide the original Web page to the Web browser, the original Web page containing a control feature that contains the session ID, the control feature being used to issue the request for the target Web page.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the control feature comprises at least one of a menu item, a hyperlink, a button and an image.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the request comprises a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) command.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the processor executes instructions to:

determine if the session ID is a new or existing;

wherein accessing is performed only if the session ID is existing.

45. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein generating the target Web page comprises:

encoding a URL in the target Web page with the session ID; and

encoding a URL in the target Web page that opens a second instance of the Web browser with a new session ID.

46. An apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to;

receive a request for a target Web page, the request containing a session identifier (ID) associated with an instance of a Web browser; and

determine if the session ID is new or existing;

wherein, if the session ID is new, the processor executes instructions to;

create a window session object; and

initialize the window session object with data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser; and

wherein, if the session ID is existing, the processor executes instructions to;

access a stored window session object using the session ID, the stored window session object containing data defining a state of the instance of the Web browser;

generate the target Web page based on the data; and

provide the target Web page to the Web browser.

47. An apparatus for storing instructions to store HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session information, apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores executable instructions; and

a processor that executes the instructions to;

store a plurality of states within a single HTTP session, the plurality of states each corresponding to a window of a Web browser that has been opened during the HTTP session.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the plurality of states each correspond to a parameter in an HTTP command that identifies a window of the Web browser.