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From what I understand, this is not about cookies. It's about cookies storing information about pending server-side background tasks so the cached parts of a website can be sent out immediately and the slower server-side tasks can send over the results later without that resulting in a delayed response. If your slowest task takes 500ms, you simply spawn a worker who takes care of the task, immediately send out all things that are in the cache and then have your website render in <100ms. At 500ms, the rest will be filled in. It also seems to include a mechanism to figure out what resources are the most cacheable ones from the usage patterns of the clients.

It's still a joke, but it's more than just setting cookies.

Although I don't agree with this patent, or software patents generally, I think you're wrong. By using the coookies in a very specific way they are achieving something new. They aren't merely pushing a "set cookie" button. It is analogous to using standard electronic components in a new way to make a new circuit which has a particular purpose. You wouldn't call it "hey, they are just using resistors and capacitors, how is this an invention?"

Ask Amazon.