Delegation Assistance System for Access Control Deadlocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Networked systems face challenges in task completion due to access control policies that deny users necessary access rights, leading to deadlocks and stagnation, as users struggle to find authorized individuals for task delegation or access extension.
Innovation Solution
The delegation assistance system, which includes a client-server architecture and layered application components, automatically identifies and provides ordered sets of mentors based on configurable distance functions, combining various information sources to suggest individuals with the necessary permissions or access rights, thereby facilitating task completion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If access control policies are strictly enforced to protect information security, then security is improved, but task completion is hindered due to users lacking necessary access rights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system (delegation assistance system) that mediates between users and the access control system. When users encounter access denials, the system automatically identifies and contacts appropriate mentors or colleagues who have the necessary access rights to complete the task, thus maintaining security while enabling task completion through intermediate assistance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring access denial events and automatically responding with delegation suggestions. The system provides real-time feedback to users about who can help complete their tasks, creating a closed-loop system that maintains security policies while facilitating workarounds through human delegation
2Reliability
If users are manually searching for authorized individuals to delegate tasks or extend access rights, then access control security is maintained, but time is lost due to manual searching and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying and ranking potential mentors based on organizational hierarchy, project relationships, and access rights databases before users even need to search. When access is denied, the system has already prepared a sorted list of appropriate contacts, eliminating the need for users to manually search through organizational structures
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically providing users with a curated list of mentors who can help complete their tasks. Users simply need to review the pre-computed suggestions and contact the appropriate person, rather than manually searching through organizational charts and accessing rights databases
3Productivity
If the system provides detailed delegation assistance with multiple information sources, then task completion is facilitated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex delegation assistance functionality into distinct modular components: access denial monitoring modules, mentor identification modules, communication modules, and ranking modules. Each module handles a specific aspect of the delegation process, making the overall complex system manageable through clear separation of concerns and independent functionality
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments described herein provide various techniques for providing delegation assistance. Upon a request for delegation assistance, data from information sources are retrieved. Relationships are automatically identified relative to a requesting user based on the data from the information sources. The relationships are automatically ranked, and results of the ranking are provided to the requesting user. The user may then trigger delegation resolution based in part on the results of the ranking.