External Approval Service for Group Communication Access Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing messaging and communication systems lack efficient mechanisms for managing external user approvals and resource sharing within group-based communication systems, leading to inefficiencies in user access control and collaboration.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize an external approval provisioning service to generate and manage authorization requests for resource sharing, allowing admin users to approve or deny access to group-based communication resources, and update a sharing approval repository with approval or denial indications, enabling seamless integration of external users into group-based communication channels and workspaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual approval processes are used for external user access requests, then security and privacy control is improved, but processing time and administrative overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically pre-approving external user access requests based on predefined policies and criteria. The approval service evaluates requests against stored policies before they reach human administrators, performing the approval action in advance and only requiring human intervention for exceptional cases that don't meet automated criteria.
2Productivity
If automated approval mechanisms are implemented, then processing efficiency is improved, but system complexity and integration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approval service that mediates between external user requests and the group-based communication system. This service acts as a buffer layer that handles automated policy evaluation and decision-making, simplifying the integration complexity by providing a standardized interface while implementing sophisticated automated approval logic internally.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external users are integrated into group-based communication systems, then collaboration capabilities are improved, but security risks and privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by implementing differentiated access control policies for different external users based on their specific roles, requirements, and risk profiles. Rather than applying uniform security restrictions, the approval service evaluates each external user's requested access level and grants appropriate permissions locally tailored to their collaboration needs while maintaining security boundaries.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a group-based communication system that is configured to more efficiently manage resource sharing requests. In particular, in some embodiments, the group-based communication system is configured to enable admin users to use an external service, such as an external approval provisioning service, that is separate and distinct from the group-based communication system to manage group-based communication resource sharing requests. In other embodiments, the group-based communication system is configured to allow communication with external users and to trigger new user onboarding protocols through the ingestion of external user directories associated with a sponsor user.