Systems and methods for facilitating portable user sessions
In an embodiment, a method is performed by a computer system. The method includes automatically receiving, from an agent on a client device that is physically distinct from the computer system, a cookie corresponding to an active user session on a website. The active user session is previously established on the website in response to the website receiving valid user credentials from the client device. The method also includes storing the cookie in memory. In addition, the method includes, via the cookie, collecting information from the website over the active user session, thereby reusing the active user session. Further, the method includes periodically sending a dummy request comprising the cookie to the website, thereby preserving the active user session.
1. A method comprising, by a computer system:
automatically receiving, from an agent on a client device that is physically distinct from the computer system, a session cookie corresponding to an active user session on a cloud computing platform, wherein the cloud computing platform requires a valid user name and a valid password for access;
wherein the active user session is previously established on the cloud computing platform in response to the client device logging into the cloud computing platform with valid user credentials for a corresponding user account of a plurality of user accounts, the valid user credentials comprising a particular valid user name and a particular valid password;
storing the session cookie in memory;
via the session cookie, performing web scraping on the cloud computing platform over the active user session without the computer system having to provide the valid user credentials to the cloud computing platform and without the active user session having been torn down, thereby reusing the active user session, the performing web scraping comprising extracting data, from the cloud computing platform, that is particular to the corresponding user account;
storing, in a data store, the extracted data that is particular to the corresponding user account; and
periodically sending a dummy request comprising the session cookie to the cloud computing platform, thereby preserving the active user session.
2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving a request to restore the active user session on a requesting device;
responsive to a determination that the restore is possible, retrieving the session cookie for the active user session; and
transmitting the session cookie to the requesting device, thereby allowing the requesting device to reuse the active user session without the requesting device having to provide the valid user credentials to the cloud computing platform.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the requesting device is the client device.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the requesting device is distinct from the client device.
5. The method of claim 1 , comprising, responsive to a determination that the computer system is finished collecting data from the cloud computing platform, deleting the session cookie.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the web scraping comprises simulating a web browser when communicating with the cloud computing platform.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises a web browser extension.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent comprises a native application on the client device that is distinct from an application used to access the cloud computing platform.
9. An information handling system comprising at least one computer processor and memory, wherein the at least one computer processor and memory in combination are operable to implement a method comprising:
automatically receiving, from an agent on a client device that is physically distinct from the information handling system, a session cookie corresponding to an active user session on a cloud computing platform, wherein the cloud computing platform requires a valid user name and a valid password for access;
wherein the active user session is previously established on the cloud computing platform in response to the client device logging into the cloud computing platform with valid user credentials for a corresponding user account of a plurality of user accounts, the valid user credentials comprising a particular valid user name and a particular valid password;
storing the session cookie in memory;
via the session cookie, performing web scraping on the cloud computing platform over the active user session without the information handling system having to provide the valid user credentials to the cloud computing platform and without the active user session having been torn down, thereby reusing the active user session, the performing web scraping comprising extracting data, from the cloud computing platform, that is particular to the corresponding user account;
storing, in a data store, the extracted data that is particular to the corresponding user account; and
periodically sending a dummy request comprising the session cookie to the cloud computing platform, thereby preserving the active user session.
10. The information handling system of claim 9 , the method comprising:
receiving a request to restore the active user session on a requesting device;
responsive to a determination that the restore is possible, retrieving the session cookie for the active user session; and
transmitting the session cookie to the requesting device, thereby allowing the requesting device to reuse the active user session without the requesting device having to provide the valid user credentials to the cloud computing platform.
11. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein the requesting device is the client device.
12. The information handling system of claim 10 , wherein the requesting device is distinct from the client device.
13. The information handling system of claim 9 , the method comprising, responsive to a determination that the information handling system is finished collecting data from the cloud computing platform, deleting the session cookie.
14. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the web scraping comprises simulating a web browser when communicating with the cloud computing platform.
15. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the agent comprises a web browser extension.
16. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the agent comprises a native application on the client device that is distinct from an application used to access the cloud computing platform.
17. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:
automatically receiving, from an agent on a client device, a session cookie corresponding to an active user session on a cloud computing platform, wherein the cloud computing platform requires a valid user name and a valid password for access;
wherein the active user session is previously established on the cloud computing platform in response to the client device logging into the cloud computing platform with valid user credentials for a corresponding user account of a plurality of user accounts, the valid user credentials comprising a particular valid user name and a particular valid password;
storing the session cookie in memory;
via the session cookie, performing web scraping on the cloud computing platform over the active user session without having to provide the valid user credentials to the cloud computing platform and without the active user session having been torn down, thereby reusing the active user session, the performing web scraping comprising extracting data, from the cloud computing platform, that is particular to the corresponding user account;
storing, in a data store, the extracted data that is particular to the corresponding user account; and
periodically sending a dummy request comprising the session cookie to the cloud computing platform, thereby preserving the active user session.
18. The computer-program product of claim 17 , the method comprising:
receiving a request to restore the active user session on a requesting device;
responsive to a determination that the restore is possible, retrieving the session cookie for the active user session; and
transmitting the session cookie to the requesting device, thereby allowing the requesting device to reuse the active user session without the requesting device having to provide the valid user credentials to the cloud computing platform.
19. The computer-program product of claim 18 , wherein the requesting device is distinct from the client device.
20. The computer-program product of claim 17 , the method comprising, responsive to a determination that data collection from the cloud computing platform is finished, deleting the session cookie.