Dynamic Access Control Lists for Adaptive User Permissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional access control systems rely on manually maintained Access Control Lists (ACLs) that are rigid and inflexible, failing to adapt to dynamic user information and resource changes, leading to inefficiencies in managing user access.
Innovation Solution
The development of dynamic access control lists (ACLs) that utilize membership rules based on user presence information and communication data, allowing for automatic addition or exclusion of users and resource changes over time, using conditional operators to define access policies dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manually maintained ACLs are used, then access control can be implemented, but the system becomes rigid and inflexible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static ACLs into dynamic ACLs by enabling automatic updates when user information changes. The system continuously monitors user attributes (such as location, time, or other metadata) and automatically adjusts ACL memberships without manual intervention, making the access control mechanism adaptive to changing conditions while reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-maintenance by automatically detecting user information changes and updating ACLs accordingly. When users modify their attributes or when new users join, the system autonomously processes these changes and updates access permissions without requiring administrator intervention, thereby eliminating manual maintenance complexity while preserving adaptability.
2Extent of automation
If manually maintained ACLs are used, then access control can be implemented, but manual intervention is required for updates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors user information changes and updates ACLs without requiring manual intervention. Administrators simply define the initial ACL rules, and the system autonomously handles subsequent updates when user attributes change, eliminating ongoing manual maintenance effort while achieving high automation in ACL management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary setup by allowing administrators to define ACL rules and monitoring mechanisms in advance. Once configured, the system automatically executes these pre-defined rules to update ACLs whenever user information changes, reducing manual intervention to initial setup while achieving continuous automated operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rigid ACLs are used, then access control is simple, but the system cannot adapt to changes over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic ACLs that automatically adapt to user information changes while maintaining manageable complexity. The system continuously monitors user attributes and automatically updates ACL memberships based on predefined rules, providing flexibility without requiring complex manual management procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring user information changes and automatically adjusting ACLs accordingly. This closed-loop approach ensures the access control system adapts to real-time conditions while using automated feedback processing to manage complexity without requiring manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for creating and managing dynamic access control lists (ACL's). In a specific embodiment, a method of creating or modifying a dynamic access control policy (ACP) is disclosed. A current ACP for one or more specified resources is defined based on one or more membership rules for specifying users who can access the one or more specified resources based on user information that was or will be collected for a plurality of users. The collected user information includes at least user presence information or user communication data. The current ACP is retained for the one or more specified resources, wherein the current ACP is accessibly usable so as to dynamically allow a selected set of users, who each have corresponding collected user information which meets the one or more membership rules of the current ACP, to access the one or more specified resources. The selected set of users is changeable over time as different user information is collected over time.