Patent ID: 7941544
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A computer system, comprising: a network including a plurality of servers executing a portal manager to maintain portal-based communication with a client terminal and a first application, wherein the portal manager is configured to receive an authentication request directly from the client terminal and authenticate and admit the client terminal to the network and to establish a session between the requesting client terminal and the first application, wherein once the session is established, the first application is configured to communicate directly with the client terminal without communicating through the portal manager, wherein the first application is configured to engage in interactive exchange with the client terminal and, after and in response to a period of no communication between the first application and the client terminal exceeding a predetermined length, send a termination message to the portal manager indicating that the session is invalid, and wherein, in response to a second session being initiated between a second application and the client terminal, the second application delivers heartbeat messages at a predefined periodic rate to the portal manager, and in response to each heartbeat message, the portal manager sends an activity message to the first application, wherein receipt by the first application of the activity message at a predefined periodic rate prevents the first application from generating the termination message.