Context-Aware Access Policies for Dynamic Permission Override

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Solution Overview

Problem

Global permissions models in content management systems are inadequate for dynamic collaboration environments, as they fail to adapt to varying user roles, enterprise contexts, and interaction attributes, leading to inefficiencies in managing access permissions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing context-aware extensible access permissions that dynamically analyze interaction attributes to override global permissions, using context-aware access policies and justification mechanisms to determine extensible access permissions, allowing for flexible and adaptive permission management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a global permissions model is used to manage access permissions, then permission management is simplified and standardized, but the system cannot adapt to dynamic interaction contexts such as user roles, enterprise contexts, and interaction attributes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to dynamic interaction contextsVSAvoidpermission management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The permission management system is segmented into multiple layers: a global permissions model layer that provides baseline permissions, and context-aware access policies layer that evaluates specific interaction contexts. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple global defaults while adding adaptive context-specific permissions only when needed, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static global permissions to dynamic context-aware permissions. Context-aware access policies dynamically evaluate interaction attributes (user role, enterprise context, interaction type) at runtime to determine appropriate permissions. This dynamic approach enables adaptability to varying contexts while maintaining manageable complexity through automated policy evaluation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If context-aware access policies are implemented to dynamically evaluate interaction attributes, then permission adaptability is improved, but system complexity and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermission flexibilityVSAvoidpermission management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Context-aware access policies are pre-configured with evaluation rules and criteria before runtime interactions occur. The system performs preliminary setup of policy conditions, attribute mappings, and decision logic, so that during actual interactions, the system can efficiently evaluate pre-defined contexts without complex real-time computations. This preliminary action maintains productivity while enabling flexible permission adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If static user roles are assigned according to a global permissions model, then permission assignment is straightforward, but the system cannot restrict permissions based on specific interaction contexts such as enterprise boundaries or content sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess control securityVSAvoidpermission management effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Context-aware access policies serve as an intermediary layer between static user roles and actual permission enforcement. The intermediary evaluates interaction contexts (enterprise boundaries, content classification, user attributes) and dynamically adjusts permissions based on policy rules. This intermediary mechanism enhances security by adding context-based restrictions while maintaining ease of operation through automated evaluation rather than manual permission configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11616782B2Context-aware content object security

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 BOX INC

AI summary

As a default, a global permissions model is established. The global permissions model serves for applying a first set of resource access permissions to shared content objects. Additionally, a set of context-aware access policies that govern user interactions over the shared content object is established. When a particular user requests an interaction over a shared content object, then interaction attributes associated with the request are gathered. The context-aware access policies are applied to the request by determining a set of extensible access permissions that are derived from the interaction attributes. The context-aware access policies are enforced by overriding the first set of resource access permissions with dynamically-determined access permissions. When a particular access request is denied, a response is generated in accordance with the set of extensible access permissions and the user is notified. In some cases, the access request is permitted, but only after the user provides a justification.