Method and apparatus for managing an interactive network session

Abstract

Methods for controlling online session inactivity timeouts between a user terminal and a server involves the server polling the user's local terminal to determine whether the user presence at the terminal can be confirmed if there is a period of inactivity within the session. If so, or if the server can otherwise confirm that the terminal is secured from use by other users, then the user session is maintained. Otherwise, the user session is allowed to timeout due to inactivity. The server may issue an alert to the user whenever a timeout is imminent, and may restore any information entered by the user prior to the timeout, if the user later returns and validates his identification.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a first computer, information from a second computer, wherein the information indicates that a user corresponding to the second computer has provided user information to the first computer via an interactive session established with the first computer;   based on a time attribute associated with the user information, the first computer requesting that the second computer provide additional information indicative of a location of the user; and   upon receiving a response from the second computer, the first computer determining to maintain the interactive session.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 the first computer providing a program to the second computer, wherein the program is executable by the second computer to provide the additional information to the first computer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 based on the response, wherein the response indicates that the location of the user corresponds to the second computer, the first computer resetting a timer for the interactive session.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 calculating, by the first computer, a length of time associated with the interactive session based on the time attribute;   based on information indicating that the length of time exceeds a threshold value, the first computer requesting the additional information, wherein the response includes the additional information and further information indicating that the second computer is associated with a particular security feature.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 based on the response, the first computer detecting that the user has interacted with an external device that is communicatively coupled to the second computer; and   based on the detecting, the first computer determining that the location of the user corresponds to the second computer.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 based on the response, the first computer detecting that the user has performed an action on the second computer without using the interactive session; and   based on the detecting, the first computer determining that the location of the user corresponds to the second computer.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the interactive session is a web-based session implemented via a networked connection between the first computer and the second computer. 
     
     
         25 . A system comprising:
 a processor;   a memory configured to communicate with the processor, the memory having instructions stored thereon that are executable by the processor to cause the system to perform operations comprising:   receiving, from a user of a computer, a request to implement an interactive session for the user;   in response to the request, initiating the interactive session;   subsequent to the initiating, determining that the user has been inactive for a particular time interval; and   based on information indicating that the computer meets one or more security requirements, maintaining the interactive session.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 in response to the request, causing a program to be installed on the computer, wherein the program is executable by the computer to collect the information from the computer and send the information to the system, and wherein the information further indicates that the computer has been secured from unauthorized uses.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 based on a determination that the user has been inactive within the interactive session, evaluating an input device queue corresponding to the computer; and   based on particular information indicating that the input device queue corresponding to the computer has not been updated over the particular time interval, determining that the user is not present at the computer.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 detecting that the user has not inserted or removed a physical media item into or from the computer during the particular time interval; and   based on the detecting, determining that the user has been inactive.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 subsequent to determining that the user has been inactive, transmitting a program to the computer;   receiving the information from the program, wherein the information is collected from the computer, and wherein the information indicates that the computer is configured to activate a password protected screensaver based on inactivity of the user; and   based on information, determining that the computer meets one of the one or more security requirements.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 implementing a timer to track a length of the interactive session;   based on the timer, determining that the interactive session has been inactive for the particular time interval, wherein the particular time interval exceeds a threshold value; and   determining that the user has been inactive for the particular time interval.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 requesting that the user provide a confirmation to indicate that the user is present at the computer; and   based on confirmation information indicating that the confirmation was not received during the particular time interval, determining that the user has been inactive.   
     
     
         32 . An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that are executable by a processor to cause a computer system to perform operations comprising:
 communicating, via a networked connection, with a computer;   based on the communicating, initiating an interactive session with a user of the computer;   based on a threshold time interval, inquiring the computer for additional information indicative of at least one action of the user outside of the interactive session; and   based on the inquiring, continuing the interactive session.   
     
     
         33 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 tracking a time interval of the interactive session;   comparing a length of time for the interactive session to the threshold time interval;   based on a result of the comparing, wherein the result indicates that the time interval exceeds the threshold time interval, instructing the computer to download a program from the computer system; and   subsequent to the instructing, detecting that a result of the inquiring includes user activity information collected by the program.   
     
     
         34 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein in
 initiating the interactive session, the operation further comprises initiating the interactive session via a browser on the computer; and   receiving, from the computer additional information, wherein the additional information indicates that the user performed an act, and wherein the additional information indicates that the act does not include the browser.   
     
     
         35 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 subsequent to continuing the interactive session, receiving further information from the computer indicating that the user has been inactive for a particular time interval; and   based on the further information, terminating the interactive session.   
     
     
         36 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 upon receiving a response from the computer, resetting a timer for tracking a length of time of the interactive session.   
     
     
         37 . The article of manufacture of  claim 32 , wherein the operation of inquiring further comprises inquiring the computer for at least one security feature of the computer, and wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a result of the inquiring, wherein the result indicates that the user has not performed the at least one action outside of the interactive session, and wherein the result further indicates that the security feature of the computer meets a threshold requirement.