Patent ID: 7765275

Claim:
A computer implemented method for generating cookies, the computer implemented method comprising: generating a plurality of time periods, where each time period defines a duration of time during which data content of responses sent during the time period are valid; responsive to receiving a request, retrieving a cookie value to fulfill the request; retrieving a current time period during which the request is received from the plurality of time periods; setting an expiration time for the cookie value based on an end of the retrieved current time period during which the request is received wherein the expiration time for the cookie value is calculated by subtracting a time at which the request is received from the end of the retrieved current time period; adding a set of unique identifiers comprising the expiration time for the cookie value and a cookie name to form a cookie; sending a response to the request through an intermediate server, wherein the response comprises data responsive to the request and the cookie, and wherein validity of the data in the response is related to the expiration time for the cookie value; and where sending the response to the request through the intermediate server comprises: synchronizing caching of the data in the response in a storage location associated with the intermediate server to form a set of cached data, wherein validity of the set of cached data is related to the expiration time for the cookie value after which the validity of the set of cached data is synchronized to expire.