MOD_PLSQL and cookies - when available to the server?

Hi,

I'm looking at a mod_plsql-based application which uses cookies to store session identifiers that link to a table of session information.

At the moment, the application sets the cookie during a user
(lightweight i.e. not a true database user) logon in the 'welcome' screen.

Various screens read the cookie to determine who they're talking to, etc.

I'd like to create a simple URL that allows a non-interactive access to an existing procedure. Although I can create a simple procedure that can check passed logon details and set the cookie, subsequent procedures do not seem to be able to see the cookie.

Is this because the cookie has not been sent back to the browser yet
(i.e. I haven't got the 'welcome' return to browser)? Or... am I doing
something wrong and cookies that have been created by the server should be accessible even if the HTTP has not been returned to the client browser? Or... something else!

Environments to be supported are 8.1.7.4 and 10gR2.

Any thoughts?

-- 
Andy