var cookieAgent = function(){};

cookieAgent.getExpDate = function(days, hours, minutes)
{
    var expDate = new Date();
    if(typeof(days) == "number" && typeof(hours) == "number" && typeof(hours) == "number")
    {
        expDate.setDate(expDate.getDate() + parseInt(days));
        expDate.setHours(expDate.getHours() + parseInt(hours));
        expDate.setMinutes(expDate.getMinutes() + parseInt(minutes));
    }
    return expDate.toGMTString();
}

//utility function called by getCookie()
cookieAgent.getValue = function(offset)
{
    var endstr = document.cookie.indexOf(";", offset);
    if(endstr == -1)
    {
        endstr = document.cookie.length;
    }
    return unescape(document.cookie.substring(offset, endstr));
}

// primary function to retrieve cookie by name
cookieAgent.getCookie = function(name)
{
    var arg = name + "=";
    var alen = arg.length;
    var clen = document.cookie.length;
    var i = 0;
    while(i < clen)
    {
        var j = i + alen;
        if (document.cookie.substring(i, j) == arg)
        {
            return this.getValue(j);
        }
        i = document.cookie.indexOf(" ", i) + 1;
        if(i == 0) break;
    }
    return;
}

// store cookie value with optional details as needed
cookieAgent.setCookie = function(name, value, expires, path, domain, secure)
{
    document.cookie = name + "=" + escape(value) +
        ((expires) ? "; expires=" + expires : "") +
        ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
        ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
        ((secure) ? "; secure" : "");//5+1+a+s+p+x
}

// store cookie value with optional details as needed
cookieAgent.setCookieForever = function(name, value, path, domain, secure)
{
    this.setCookie(name,value,this.getExpDate(300,0,0),path,domain,secure);
}

// remove the cookie by setting ancient expiration date
cookieAgent.deleteCookie = function(name,path,domain) 
{
    if(this.getCookie(name))
    {
        document.cookie = name + "=" +
            ((path) ? "; path=" + path : "") +
            ((domain) ? "; domain=" + domain : "") +
            "; expires=Thu, 01-Jan-70 00:00:01 GMT";
    }
}