protected function _startSession()
    {
        $name     = md5($this->getCfg('secret') . get_class($this));
        $lifetime = $this->getCfg('lifetime') * 60 ;
        $handler  = $this->getCfg('session_handler', 'none');

        $options = array(
            'name' => $name,
            'expire' => $lifetime
        );

        $session = JSession::getInstance($handler, $options);
        $session->initialise($this->input, $this->dispatcher);

        if ($session->getState() == 'expired') {
            $session->restart();
        } else {
            $session->start();
        }

        return $session;
    }