Apparatus and method for sharing session information

A method of sharing session information comprising the steps:

• accessing a first website by a user;
• serializing a profile object for the user;
• storing the serialized profile object in a database system with a key;
• forwarding the key to a second website where the session information will be shared;
• deserializing the profile object based, at least in part, on the key;
• and
• restoring the session at the second website together with the shared session information.

A method of sharing session information comprising at least one of the sequential, non-sequential and sequence-independent steps:

• accessing a first website by a user;
• selecting a link which identifies information stored on a second website;
• creating a profile object for the user;
• serializing the user's profile object;
• storing the serialized profile object in a database system with a key;
• forwarding the key to the second website;
• deserializing the profile object based, at least in part, on the key;
• and
• restoring the session at the second website together with the shared session information.

A method of sharing session information comprising at least one of the sequential, non-sequential and sequence-independent steps:

• accessing a first website by a user;
• serializing a profile object for the user;
• storing the serialized profile object in a database system with a key;
• transmitting the key to the first website from the database system;
• redirecting the user to a second website where the session information will be shared;
• forwarding the key to the second website;
• deserializing the profile object based, at least in part, on the key;
• and
• restoring the session at the second website together with the shared session information.

A method of sharing session information comprising at least one of the sequential, non-sequential and sequence-independent steps:

• accessing a first website by a user;
• serializing a profile object for the user;
• storing the serialized profile object in a database system with a key;
• transmitting the key to the first website from the database system;
• redirecting the user to a second website where the session information will be shared;
• forwarding the key to the second website;
• creating a new session at the second website;
• sending a request for a serialized profile object;
• returning the serialized profile object associated with the key to the second website;
• deserializing the profile object based, at least in part, on the key;
• loading the deserialized profile object into the new session;
• and
• displaying the web page associated with the link selected by the user together with the shared session information.

A method of sharing session information comprising at least one of the sequential, non-sequential and sequence-independent steps:

• initializing a session at a first website;
• selecting a link which identifies information stored on a second website;
• serializing the session at the first website;
• generating a key associated with the serialized session;
• storing the serialized session and associated key into a database system;
• sending the key to the second website where the session information will be shared;
• extracting the serialized session from the database system using the received key;
• and
• restoring the session at the second website together with the shared session information.

A system for sharing session information comprising:

• a database system coupled to an electronic network;
• a first computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system;
• said first computer system being configured to:
• provide a user with access to a first website hosted thereon, and initializing a session,
• create a profile object for the user,
• serialize said profile object, and
• store said serialized profile object in said database system with a key;
• and
• a second computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system;
• said second computer system being configured to:
• receive said key from said first computer system over said electronic network,
• query said database system to access profile objects stored thereon,
• deserialize the user's profile object based, at least in part, on said received key, and
• restore said session at the second website together with shared session information.

A system for sharing session information comprising:

• a database system coupled to an electronic network, said database system being capable of generating keys for restricting access to data stored thereon;
• a first computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system;
• said first computer system being configured to:
• provide a user with access to a first website hosted thereon, and initialize a session,
• serialize a profile object for the user;
• store said serialized profile object in said database system with a key generated by said database system;
• receive said key from said database system;
• redirect the user to a second website where the session information will be shared;
• and
• a second computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system, said second computer system hosting said second website;
• said second computer system being configured to:
• receive said key from said first computer system over said electronic network together with a request to access information contained in a second website stored on said second computer system,
• query said database system to access profile objects stored thereon,
• deserialize the user's profile object based, at least in part, on said key, and
• restore said session at said second website together with the shared session information.

A system for sharing session information comprising:

• a database system coupled to an electronic network, said database system being capable of generating keys for restricting access to data stored thereon;
• a first computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system;
• said first computer system being configured to:
• provide a user with access to a first website hosted thereon, and initialize a session,
• serialize a profile object for the user,
• store said serialized profile object in said database system with a key generated by said database system,
• receive said key associated with said serialized profile object from said database system,
• redirect the user to a second website where session information will be shared;
• and
• a second computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system, said second computer system hosting said second website;
• said second computer system being configured to:
• receive said key from said first computer system over said electronic network together with a request to access information contained in said second website,
• query said database system to retrieve said serialized profile object associated with said key,
• create a new session on said second website for the user,
• deserialize said profile object,
• load said deserialized profile object into the new session;
• and
• display the information requested by the user.

A system for sharing session information comprising the steps:

• a database system coupled to an electronic network, said database system being capable of generating keys for restricting access to data stored thereon;
• a first computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system;
• said first computer system being configured to:
• provide a user with access to a first website hosted thereon, and initialize a session,
• receive a selection of a link, from the user, which identifies information stored on a second website,
• serialize the session at said first website,
• generate a key associated with said serialized session,
• store said serialized session and associated key into said database system,
• send said key to said second website where said session information will be shared;
• and
• a second computer system coupled to said electronic network and capable of accessing said database system, said second computer system hosting said second website;
• said second computer system being configured to:
• receive said key from said first computer system over said electronic network together with a request to access information contained in said second website,
• query said database system to extract said serialized session associated with said key;
• and
• restore the session at the second website together with the shared session information.

A system for sharing session information comprising:

• means for communicating information between multiple locations;
• means for providing a user with access to a first website and initializing a session;
• means for creating a profile object for the user;
• means for serializing said profile object;
• means for storing said serialized profile object in a data storage means with a key;
• means for receiving said key at a second website over said means for communicating;
• means for accessing said data storage means to access profile objects stored thereon;
• means for deserializing the user's profile object based, at least in part, on said received key;
• and
• means for restoring said session at the second website together with shared session information.

A system for sharing session information comprising the steps:

• database means coupled to an electronic network, said database means being capable of generating keys for restricting access to data stored thereon;
• means for providing a user with access to a first website using said electronic network and initializing a session;
• means for receiving a selection of a link, from the user, which identifies information stored on a second website;
• means for serializing the session at said first website;
• means for storing said serialized session and associated key into said database means;
• means for providing the user with access to said second website and restoring one or mores sessions with shared session information;
• means for receiving said key over said electronic network together with a request to access information contained in said second website;
• and
• means for querying said database means to extract said serialized session associated with said key.