Instance-Level Role-Based Security Service
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional role-based declarative security lacks fine-grained access control, leading to potential unauthorized access and requiring software modifications for new access conditions, which is impractical and compromises resource security.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a security service that dynamically evaluates constraints associated with dynamic roles to determine access permissions at an instance level, allowing for granular control without modifying resource interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional role-based declarative security is used, then access control is simplified, but fine-grained access control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional role-based access control into a two-layer structure: coarse-grained roles (e.g., doctor, nurse) for high-level access control and fine-grained constraints (e.g., patient-specific constraints) for detailed control. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both simplicity in role assignment and precision in access control by separating these two functions into distinct components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where fine-grained constraints are embedded within coarse-grained roles. Each role can contain multiple constraints that further refine access permissions. This nesting allows the system to achieve instance-level granularity without complicating the overall access control architecture, as the fine-grained details are contained within the broader role framework.
2Device complexity
If role-based declarative security is used, then security management is simplified, but adaptability to new access conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic constraints that can be evaluated at runtime based on the specific instance being accessed. Instead of static role definitions, the system uses dynamic constraints that can adapt to different scenarios (e.g., time-based access, location-based access, patient-specific constraints). This dynamic evaluation mechanism allows the system to adapt to new access conditions without requiring changes to the underlying role-based framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows constraints to be parameterized with variables that can change based on the access request. For example, constraints can reference time, location, or other dynamic parameters. This parameterization enables the system to adapt to varying access conditions by simply changing the parameter values rather than modifying the fundamental access control structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If application-level security is implemented, then fine-grained access control is achieved, but code complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a security service as an intermediary component between the application and the access control logic. This security service handles the complex constraint evaluation and access control decisions, allowing the application itself to remain simple. The security service acts as a mediator that enforces fine-grained access control without requiring the application code to implement complex security logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service security where the security service automatically evaluates constraints and makes access control decisions without requiring manual intervention or complex programming. The constraint evaluation mechanism is designed to be autonomous, automatically determining whether access should be granted based on the role and constraints associated with the principal and the resource being accessed.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for providing role-based security with instance-level granularity are provided. A security service detects a request made by a principal for access to a resource. Access to the resource is conditioned on a status of a role. The role is associated with the request, the principal, and the resource. The security service evaluates a constraint associated with the role to determine the status. The status is subsequently consumed to determine whether access to the resource for the purposes of satisfying the request is permissible.