Patent ID: 6225995
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method performed by a server for maintaining state in a stateless server environment, comprising the steps of:receiving a message from a client requesting performance of an operation;initiating said operation in response to receiving said request;assembling state information associated with said operation;determining whether said client will allow said server to cause said state information to be stored at said client;if said client will allow said server thengenerating a cookie based on said state information; andsending said cookie to said client to be used by said client in future requests to said server;if said client will not allow said server thenincorporating said state information into a first universal resource locator (URL); andsending said first URL to said client to be used by said client in future requests to said server;wherein said server is not required to persistently maintain said state information, thereby remaining stateless.