Avoid user being signed out when working locally

Question

I use the CookieAuthenticationOptions.ExpireTimeSpan to set the timespan for the user session. And it works fine - maybee too good. When the user works by filling out textboxes etc., there is no server activity, which causes that when the user press Save, he is being signed out - and looses all entered data.

Is there any way where I can update timestamp, to prevent time expires when the user works without postback?

I have some ideas:

• JavaScript polling/pinging - which may be spoiling the point to sign out user when she/he leaves the client computer, after some time.
• Make some javacript to catch keypress event and send some ping to server, but that may be hard to implement, since I use a lot of forms.
• Redirect user to last used webform at re-post data - if it is possible.

I am using AngularJS 1.4.7 as JavaScript framework.

Answer 1

Why not use a preprocessor directive to set an alternate expiration time if the solution is in debug mode?

var options = new CookieAuthenticationOptions {
#if DEBUG
    ExpireTimeSpan = System.Timespan.FromDays(1)
#else
    ExpireTimespan = System.Timespan.FromMinutes(20) //or your preferred timespan
#endif
}