public static function emptyInstance()
    {

        // extract the values
        $id = null;
        $name = 'empty';
        $lifetime = -1;
        $maximumAge = -1;
        $domain = '';
        $path = '';
        $secure = false;
        $httpOnly = false;

        // initialize and return the empty instance
        return new Session($id, $name, $lifetime, $maximumAge, $domain, $path, $secure, $httpOnly);
    }