Feed-Centric Access Control Workflow for Enterprise Social Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In enterprise social networking systems, granting access to private resources is inefficient as it typically requires manual, separate communication channels like email, which is time-consuming and cumbersome, especially when users primarily interact through social network feeds.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a feed-centric workflow that allows users to request and grant access to private resources directly within the feed, using @mentions or explicit posts, which triggers an automated workflow for approval or denial by moderators or owners, eliminating the need to switch out of the feed for approval processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual communication channels like email are used for access requests, then access control can be implemented, but the process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the access request process with the existing feed communication channel. Users can request access to private resources by posting in the feed, and approvals can be granted by moderators through the same feed interface, eliminating the need to switch between separate communication channels like email and the social network interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed serves multiple functions: it is used for normal social networking communication, for requesting access to private resources, for approving access requests, and for notifying users of access changes. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would traditionally require separate processes into a single unified interface.
2Reliability
If users must switch out of the feed for approval processes, then access management can be handled, but workflow efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The access management workflow is merged into the feed interface. Moderators can view access requests, approve or deny them, and communicate with requesters all within the same feed environment where normal collaboration occurs, eliminating context switching and maintaining workflow efficiency.
3Reliability
If separate communication channels are used for access requests, then access control can be maintained, but collaboration continuity is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines access control operations with the existing collaboration feed. Users continue their natural collaboration flow by posting access requests in the feed rather than switching to separate communication channels, maintaining collaboration continuity while still enforcing access control through the same interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for providing access to a private resource in an enterprise social networking system. One or more servers may receive a request for access to a private resource to be granted to a user from a publisher. The publisher may be configured to publish a message as a feed item to one or more feeds, where the message includes a user identification identifying the user. The user does not have access to the private resource. The feed item may be provided to display in the one or more feeds. Access may be granted to the user via the one or more feeds. In some implementations, access may be granted in response to a user input from the feed item associated with a moderator or owner, the moderator or owner having a privilege to control user access to the private resource.