Apparatus, system, and method for maintaining a persistent data state on a communications network

1. A session state method allowing session states to be maintained by sites that run on multiple, load-balanced servers by providing persistent updated session data that is validated in multiple session states distributable across one or more machines over a communications network, comprising:

recalling session information based on a current and corresponding session key upon traversal of a web form segment having a session state,

wherein session information is maintained for multiple web form segments and session states that are associated with the web form segments;

obtaining user provided information via the web form segment;

updating the session information based on the current and corresponding session key with session states for each of the web form segments;

validating the user provided information in each web form segment using the associated session state or states;

retrieving a web form segment for user correction using the associated session state or states where the user provided information was not validated;

obtaining user corrections for any provided information that was not validated; and

posting the user provided information to an information server if the user provided information is validated.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cookie.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cache.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a session server.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to an information server.

6. A session state system allowing session states to be maintained by sites that run on multiple, load-balanced servers by providing persistent updated session data that is validated in multiple session states distributable across one or more machines over a communications network, comprising:

means for recalling session information based on a current and corresponding session key upon traversal of a web form segment having a session state,

wherein session information is maintained for multiple web form segments and session states that are associated with the web form segments;

means for obtaining user provided information via the web form segment;

means for updating the session information based on the current and corresponding session key with session states for each of the web form segments;

means for validating the user provided information in each web form segment using the associated session state or states;

means for retrieving a web form segment for user correction using the associated session state or states where the user provided information was not validated;

means for obtaining user corrections for any provided information that was not validated; and

means for posting the user provided information to an information server if the user provided information is validated.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cookie.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cache.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a session server.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to an information server.

11. A computer session state program stored on a computer readable medium, the session state program to allow session states to be maintained by sites that run on multiple, load-balanced servers by providing persistent updated session data that is validated in multiple session states distributable across one or more machines over a communications network, comprising:

a module to recall session information based on a current and corresponding session key upon traversal of a web form segment having a session state,

wherein session information is maintained for multiple web form segments and session states that are associated with the web form segments;

a module to obtain user provided information via the web form segment;

a module to update the session information based on the current and corresponding session key with session states for each of the web form segments;

a module to validate the user provided information in each web form segment using the associated session state or states;

a module to retrieve a web form segment for user correction using the associated session state or states where the user provided information was not validated;

a module to obtain user corrections for any provided information that was not validated; and

a module to post the user provided information to an information server if the user provided information is validated.

12. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cookie.

13. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cache.

14. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a session server.

15. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to an information server.

16. A session state apparatus to allow session states to be maintained by sites that run on multiple, load-balanced servers by providing persistent updated session data that is validated in multiple session states distributable across one or more machines over a communications network, comprising:

a processor;

a storage medium, communicatively connected to the processor; and

a program, stored in the storage medium, comprising:

a module to recall session information based on a current and corresponding session key upon traversal of a web form segment having a session state,

wherein session information is maintained for multiple web form segments and session states that are associated with the web form segments;

a module to obtain user provided information via the web form segment;

a module to update the session information based on the current and corresponding session key with session states for each of the web form segments;

a module to validate the user provided information in each web form segment using the associated session state or states;

a module to retrieve a web form segment for user correction using the associated session state or states where the user information was not validated;

a module to obtain user corrections for any provided information that was not validated;

a module to post the user provided information to an information server if the user provided information is validated.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cookie.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a cache.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to a session server.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the updated session information based on the current and corresponding session key is updated to an information server.

21. A method for facilitating persistent updated data management sessions validated in multiple session states, comprising:

recalling session information based on a current and corresponding session key upon traversal of a web form segment having a session state, wherein the session information includes a series of session updated data;

updating the session information based on the current and corresponding session key with session states for each of the web form segments;

obtaining user provided information via the web form segment;

validating the user provided information in each web form segment using the associated session state or states;

retrieving a web form segment for user correction using the associated session state or states where the user provided information was not validated;

obtaining user corrections for any provided information that was not validated; and

posting the user provided information to an information server if the user provided information is validated.