Messaging API over HTTP protocol to establish context for data exchange

A server for data exchange between a client and a productivity service over a network, comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• a processor coupled to the memory, the processor executing a data retrieval application, wherein the data retrieval application is configured to:
• receive a connection request;
• establish a first connection with the client;
• receive a data request over the connection, wherein the data request comprises a specialized header specifying a content type, a content length, an operation to be performed, and an identity of the client making the request;
• in response to the data request, send a receipt response;
• generate a cookie representing a context between the client and the server, wherein the context represents a collection of state of the server that is maintained for a subsequent request from the client after interruption of the first connection, and wherein re-authentication of the client is not required when the cookie is provided with the subsequent request;
• and
• provide the cookie in at least one of a series of intermediary chunk responses sent while processing the data request.

A storage device with instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, perform a method for providing messaging-over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to establish a context between a client and a server and to exchange data over a network, the method comprising:

• receiving a connection request;
• establishing a first connection with the client;
• receiving a data request over the connection, wherein the data request comprises a specialized header specifying a content type, a content length, an operation to be performed, and an identity of the client making the request;
• in response to the data request, sending a receipt response;
• processing the data request to retrieve requested data;
• generating a cookie representing a context between the client and the server, wherein the context represents a collection of state of the server that is maintained for a subsequent request from the client after interruption of the first connection, and wherein re-authentication of the client is not required when the cookie is provided with the subsequent request;
• sending the cookie in at least one of a series of intermediary chunk responses sent to the client while processing the data request;
• and
• upon providing the requested data, sending a final response.