System for and methods of administration of access control to numerous resources and objects

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/302,181 filed Jun. 29, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to the administration of computer system access control, and more specifically relates to controlling access to numerous computer resources and objects. Conventional access control systems and their associated methods of operation typically use a “user-centric” orientation. In contrast, the present invention adjudicates user requests from an “object-centric” orientation, specifically designed to address the need for access control to massively numerous computer resources and objects.

[0003] Controlling access to an exponentially growing array of data by an increasing number of users represents one of the greatest challenges facing the future of the Internet. Access control and privilege management, no matter the form, presents a cumbersome issue for all types of businesses employing the Internet. Typically, administration tools for access control focus only on the identity of accessors and associated policies, without allowing for massively scalable or sufficiently granular levels of information management. Further, access control administration tools generally require that the user have a high level of expertise.

[0004] For instance, it might be necessary in the future to deal with millions of objects, manipulating carefully chosen subgroups of typically less than fifty objects in parallel. The usability of the methods that select these subgroups and manipulate them in parallel may be critical to the viability of the overall project and processes.

[0005] The amount of data and resources in the next-generation Internet is expected to increase massively, and the complexity of managing those resources will likewise increase. What is needed is a way to manage the complexity of a large number of resources.

[0006] Requests for system resources via the Internet must include contextual information, such as the identity of the user and the resources being requested, for proper adjudication of access control. System resources can be organized using “attributes and values.” Name spaces for the resources can often be created using “attributes and values”, and each resource name space (“resource key”) is associated with specific or general access rules (“entitlement expression” or “eexpression”). Together, they form a policy. As used from this point forward, the term “resources” refers to the resource key rather than the actual resource that might be a piece of data contained in a database, a function in an application, or a hardware resource, such as opening a lock on a door.

[0007] Associating the “attributes and values” referred to above with requested resources represents a considerable system management issue. Resources can be organized as groups that are generated, used and manipulated together, which are called “templates.”The templates are used to manage resource keys and their associated entitlement expressions. A health record, for example, may be separated into several distinct resources to be protected by different policies (e.g., healthrecord.patientxyz.contactinfo may have a very different access privilege/eexpression than healthrecord.patientxyz.HIVtestresult). A template can group these resources, and instantiate policies (resource keys and eexpressions) for all the patient's health record, and manage “health records” at a meta level, rather than dealing with each individual's specific record and specific resources in that record, yet allowing exceptions and unique access privileges for specific resources in specific patient's health records.

[0008] “Attributes and values” and templates are independent. Each may be useful in operation both separately and in combination. It is somewhat analogous to sorting a hand of cards: one could sort by suit or by value. If one sorts by suit, one could still sort by value within the suit. In a similar way, over a much larger universe of objects, it is useful to be able to select and manipulate based on attributes and values, and it is also useful to be able to select and manipulate based on templates. It can be useful to use both, particularly when the number of objects is high and the relationships are complex. What is needed is a way to associate and embed attributes and values with resources.

[0009] Most people using the Internet are not computer programmers. The problems unsophisticated computers users encounter are exacerbated when the number of objects is large. Access control alone requires complex programs to adjudicate users' attempts to log onto a computer or network. As the number of objects stored on a system increases, the complexity of this adjudication also increases. What is needed is a way to manage the complexity of access control to a large number of objects.

[0010] Creating, modifying and deleting groups of related resources can be very complex and inefficient. Systems can use templates to efficiently and reliably create and otherwise control groups of related resources. Additionally, systems can use attributes and groups for this purpose, with or without the use of templates. What is needed is a way to efficiently create, modify, and delete groups of related resources with similar access control needs in a single operation, such as using templates, with or without attributes and groups, or else using attribute and groups alone.

[0011] The present invention provides a system for and associated methods of administration of access control to numerous resources and objects. The present invention operates from an “object-centric” view, in contrast with that of the conventional “user-centric” system of access control administration. The system described optimally employs the “Entitlement engine” and its associated protocols for data storage (BMAP) described in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,741 to Daniel J. Feldman, entitled “Entitlement Management and Access Control System.” However, the present invention may be used by any access management system and also incorporate a wide array of database administration protocols, such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

[0012] The present invention associates an administrative control tool with the management of an access control system. The administrative control tool may be utilized either by an administrator or by programmatic methods not directly requiring the input of an administrator. The administrative control tool may be capable of using a wide array of database storage systems for management of the associated access control rules.

[0013] A first advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way to manage the complexity of a large number of resources.

[0014] A second advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way to associate and embed attributes and values with resources.

[0015] A third advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way to ease the complexity of a system for users with less advanced computer skills than those of programmers.

[0016] A fourth advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way to manage the complexity of access control to a large number of objects.

[0017] A fifth advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way to efficiently create, modify and delete groups of related resources with similar access control needs in a single operation.

[0018] A sixth advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way to operate various components of the overall system independently of the operating system.

[0019] A seventh advantage of the present invention is that it provides a way to control access in a very narrow way in some parts of the system and more broadly in others, where this choice can be reconsidered at any time.

[0020] A first aspect of the present invention is a system for administration of access control to numerous resources and objects, including a client personal computer (PC); an application program; a network, such as the Internet or an intranet; an authorization mechanism (such as the Entitlement Engine, but not limited to this specifically); a store of rules about objects/users; an administrative tool and associated application program interfaces (APIs); a data store; a controller; and an administrator PC.

[0021] A second aspect of the present invention is a method of initial setup of the system utilizing an administrative tool, including the steps of creating attributes; assigning possible values to attributes; and creating object names.

[0022] A third aspect of the present invention is a method of using the system to order enumerated accessible resources, including the steps of querying an API for enumeration and showing the accessible documents.

[0023] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a method of using attributes and values to ease access control administration, including the steps of querying an administrative tool via a graphical user interface (GUI) form; presenting the results; and choosing attributes.

[0024] A fifth aspect of the present invention is a method of using attributes and values to segment administration, including the steps of selecting allowable attributes for a sub-administrator; and storing data in an object key database.

[0025] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a method of designing and creating templates in access control administration, including the steps of identifying a need for multiple resources related in a particular way via a GUI form; identifying parameterized ways that templates may vary; creating a template; determining whether the template is satisfactory; and editing the template.

[0026] A seventh aspect of the present invention is a method of using or instantiating templates in access control administration, including the steps of choosing a template to instantiate; supplying the required parameters; and calling on the template API.

[0027] An eighth aspect of the present invention is how the notion of attributes and values can be used separate or together with the notion of templates.

[0028] A ninth aspect of the present invention is a method of inheriting access rights through a hierarchy, to improve control and ease of operation.

[0040] The present invention provides a system for and associated methods of administration of access control to numerous resources and objects. The present invention operates from an “object-centric” view, in contrast with that of the conventional “user-centric” system of access control administration. The system described optimally employs the “Entitlement engine” referred to and incorporated by reference above as an authorization mechanism, however, the present invention may be used by any access management system and also incorporate a wide array of database administration protocols, such as Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

[0041] In certain embodiments, the system includes a special parameter called {super} that is useful in establishing access privilege inheritances. Through the use of {super} and DefaultAccessPrivileges, it is shown that an administrator can control access to resources and objects with great specificity or detail in some parts of the system and more broadly in others.

[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for administration of access control to numerous resources and objects. System 100 includes a client personal computer (PC) 110 capable of remotely executing an application program 120 that accesses an authorization mechanism 140 via a network 130, such as the Internet or an intranet. Authorization mechanism 140 connects via an internal network to a data table of rules about objects/users 150. Requests from client PC 110 that are accepted by authorization mechanism 140 draw on system resources such as a store of data 160 and a controller 170. An administrative tool 180 (along with its associated application program interfaces or APIs) has access to to the rules about objects/users 150. An administrator PC 190 connects to administrative tool 180 via an internal network, and also monitors and accesses administrative tool 180.

[0043] Alternatively, application program 120 may reside on client PC 110 for local execution. However, distributed systems like the present invention are typically characterized by client PC 110 connecting to application program 120 via network connection.

[0044] Also, with sufficient security precautions, it is possible to perform network administration remotely by inserting a network connection between 180 and 190.

[0045] In operation, client PC 110 requests some data 160 or operation by controller 170 using application program 120. This request may take the form of commands such as read, write, lock, and unlock, or may in some way manipulate data 160 and/or controller 170. Requests received via network 130 proceed to authorization mechanism 140, which in turn consults rules about objects/users 150 via network connection. Authorization mechanism 140 needs to know the precise identity of the user requesting access on client PC 110 and the exact description of the object being requested. Rules regarding objects/users 150 take the form of a data table employing BMAP or another database administration system used to store and adjudicate access control decisions. Administrative tool 180 creates and manipulates rules about objects/users 150. Administrator PC 190 represents the network-connected workstation used to manage administrative tool 180, but an administrator using administrator PC 190 need not monitor such management. Rules about objects/users 150 determines whether the client PC 110 request should be allowed (either “yes” or “no”), and returns this determination to authorization mechanism 140. If authorization is granted, authorization mechanism 140 accesses the associated information or actions from data 160 and controller 170 and returns the results to client PC 110 via network 130.

[0046] Typically, rules about objects/users 150 are organized in the manner described in the following co-pending U.S. patent applications, which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference: “System for Uniform Interface with an Encapsulated Entitlement System”, application Ser. No. 10/107,570 filed Mar. 27, 2002; “Entitlement Management and Access Control System”, application Ser. No. 09/978,635 filed Oct. 16, 2001; “System and Method for Storing and Elaborating User Preferences”, application Ser. No. 10/078,914 filed Feb. 20, 2002; “System and Method for Managing Objects and Resources with Access Rights Embedded in Modes within a Hierarchical Tree-Structure”, application Ser. No. 10/107,949 filed Mar. 27, 2002. These co-pending applications primarily relate to the creation, maintenance and access to accessor groups or lists, and object keys. The present invention relates primarily to the grouping of the object keys for better control and usability.

[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates a method 200 of initial setup of system 100 utilizing administrative tool 180 to establish entries in rules about objects and users 150. The following examples focus upon the use of BMAP in rules about objects/users 150, but other database administration systems can also be used. Method 200 includes the following steps:

Step 210: Creating Attributes

[0048] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 creates attributes for data 160. Administrator PC 190 transfers the list of created attributes to administrative tool 180. The following list of attributes, for example, may characterize a hypothetical sales management system:

[0049] Region

[0050] Relationship

[0051] Special Handling

[0052] Read

[0053] Write

Step 220: Assigning Possible Values to Attributes

[0054] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 connected to administrative tool 180 assigns possible values to attributes, where relevant. Examples of values include full descriptions, “present” or non-applicable (“N/A”), and values may be multiple choices, such as the following:

[0055]

	Region	North, East, South, West, Global
	Relationship	Client, Prospect, Vendor
	Special Handling	N/A
	Read	N/A
	Write	N/A

Step 230: Creating Object Names

[0056] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 connected to administrative tool 180 creates object names using these attributes and values along with an object name. These attributes and values would be optionally associated with each object key as it is created (either by a program or by an administrator). The following is a continued example:

[0057]

Object Key	Attributes & Values
ReadContract 703	Region = East, Relationship = Client, Read
WriteContract 703	Region = East, Relationship = Client, Write
ReadVendorRelationsDoc	Relationship = Vendor

[0058] The attribute and value information could be tracked in a separate table, or it could be made part of the object key itself, such as:

[0059] Combined object key ReadContract 703 $ Buyer:East; Relationship:Client; Read

[0060] In the case of the above example, “$” is used to separate the object key name from attributes and values, “;” is used to separate attributes, and “:” is used to separate associated values, if any. Alternatively, the administrator can use other coding protocols, such as concatenating an XML string as follows:
ReadContract703<Buyer=“East”&Relationship=“Client” Read>

[0061] FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 of using system 100 to order enumerated accessible resources. Method 300 includes the following steps:

Step 310: Querying API for Enumeration

[0062] In this step, client PC 110 using application program 120 queries an associated API on administration tool 180. Programs could query through an API (if they have sufficient authorization) for an enumeration of all keys meeting certain criteria about the originating template as well as attributes and values in ways logically equivalent to a query, such as:
Relationship=Client AND ANY Region AND NOT SpecialHandling
Step 320: Showing Accessible Documents

[0063] In this step, query results present client PC 110 with the listing of accessible documents. Further, this listing may be ordered, e.g., to show a user the documents with high preference ratings as adjudicated for that particular user.

[0064] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 of using attributes and values to ease access control administration. (Selection based on originating template can also be included, as described further on.) Method 400 includes the following steps:

Step 410: Querying Administrative Tool via GUI Form

[0065] In this step, administrator PC 190 queries administrative tool 180 using a graphical user interface (GUI) programmed specifically for that purpose. Administrator PC 190 could also describe subsets by checking off possibilities in a table, using the following GUI:

[0066]

SELECTION:	Region:	_NoneXAny_North_East
		_South _West _Global
	Relationship:	_None _AnyXClientXProspect
		_Vendor
	Special Handling:	_Must be Present
		_Cannot be Present
	Read:	_Must be Present
		_Cannot be Present
	Write:	XMust be Present
		_Cannot be Present
ORDER BY:	Region:	2
	Relationship:	—
	SpecialHandling:	1
	Read:	—
	Write:	—

Step 420: Presenting Results

[0067] In this step, administrative tool 180 presents results to administrator PC 190 in the form of an answer to the query in step 410. This generates a list of applicable object keys in the specified order, which could then be further administered, i.e., made available or denied to accessors or accessor groups, individually, by selection, or en masse.

Step 430: Choosing Attributes

[0068] In this step, administrator PC 190 chooses from the listed attributes.

[0069] FIG. 5 illustrates a method 500 of using attributes and values to segment administration by establishing “sub-administrators” to create and administer only certain types of object keys. Method 500 includes the following steps:

Step 510: Selecting Allowable Attributes

[0070] In this step, a “master administrator” (characterized by no access restrictions) selects allowable attributes for a sub-administrator. The master administrator uses a selection mechanism like that in “SELECTION” shown in step 410 to govern which object keys a particular sub-administrator can access.

Step 520: Storing Data in Object Key Database

[0071] In this step, administrative tool 180 stores data in an object key database. If desired, separate table criteria can determine which object keys can be created and which can be deleted. Typically, however, a separate database for storage of these object keys is not needed. Keys of this nature are coded in a special way so that only the master administrator can create, modify, and delete them. Using this technique, an Eastern administrator could be set up, for example, as the follow XML code:
¢JDoe<Region=“East”Relationship=“Prospect”Relationship=“Vendor”>

[0072] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of template information contained in a healthcare application. Access templates (hereafter “templates”) allow for easy creation and management of access policies to large numbers of resources. This can significantly reduce the complexity of granular high-volume authorization to records and content. Templates function apart from attributes and values, since they are two independent schemes that can be used both separately and together. Templates associate information or other resources related in some fashion. FIG. 6 provides representative information resources related to a doctor's visit. This example uses “dot” names, but the names could use any arbitrary standard. This template in an outline-style form would look like the following:

[0073]

		Access
	Resource	Privileges
visit			visit
	admin		visit.admin
		patient	visit.admin.patient
		insurance	visit.admin.patient.insurance
	clinical		visit.clinical
		observations	visit.clinical.observations
		tests	visit.clinical.tests
		scripts	visit.clinical.scripts

[0074] The Access Privileges column (currently empty) contains any data expression meaningful for use in adjudicating whether or not a particular user or group has access to the associated data.

[0075] Note that there are separate entries for “visit”, “visit.admin” and “visit.admin.patient” That is because it is possible to assign rights for entire subsections of the tree as well as for individual leaves (end nodes). This will be discussed further below in the section about the special parameter “{super}”.

[0076] Typically, different users are permitted “read” access to information than “write” access. For instance, a doctor may be able to edit some of this information, but the patient may only be allowed to read it.

[0077] FIG. 7 illustrates an example screenshot of a template GUI used in an employee information application. This example indicates separate read and write access rights for certain information resources. The panel on the right shows the values for the highlighted information, in this case: “Employees.salary.objkey.Read Access”. In the right hand panel, “name” refers to the resource name, “key” represents an alternate description for the resource, and “eexpr” stands for “entitlement expression,” representing the BMAP version of the “Access Privileges” field in the previous example. This example introduces the concept of parameters, which distinguish one instance (or “instantiation”) of a template from another. Therefore, any template that can be used more than once requires at least one parameter. In this case, there are two parameters: {self}, which refers to the employee who is the subject of the record instance, and {manager}, which refers to his or her manager or managers (allowed to be a series of individuals, a group, or an expression containing both). Here, it indicates that either the employee him- or herself, or his or her manager or managers can read the “salary” section. An administrator can modify this expression at any time, either for this employee record alone, or for an arbitrarily large group. FIG. 8 describes the method of using a GUI such as this for creating and designing a template.

[0078] In addition, the system may implement an additional, very special, parameter which will be referred to as “super” and notated as “{super}”. Wherever {super} is used in an Access Privileges expression, the Access Privileges expression of the next superior node is substituted. For instance, if the Access Privileges expression for a node is simply “{super}”, then it has the same Access Privileges as its parent node.

[0079] If “{super}” is used for an Access Privileges expression for a node that has no parent, then a Default System Access Privileges expression determined by the System Administrator is used instead. Typically, the default Access Privileges expression for any node would be “{super}”. With this arrangement, consequently, if no special Access Privileges were defined, all resource Access Privileges would default to this Default Access Privileges expression. This feature, along with the use of “{super}” makes it possible to control access very narrowly in some parts of the system and very broadly in others.

[0080] This use of {super} and Default System Access Privileges result in hierarchical inheritance of access privileges, thus making it possible for the administrator to maintain detailed granular of some parts of the system, while being able to manage other parts more broadly, increasing clarity and ease of administration.

[0081] FIG. 8 illustrates a method 800 of designing and creating a template. Method 800 includes the following steps:

Step 810: Identifying Need for Multiple Resources

[0082] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 identifies a need for multiple resources related in a particular way.

Step 820: Identifying Ways Template May Vary

[0083] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 identifies parameterized ways in which new template might vary, and stores these parameterized variances in administrative tool 180 using a GUI similar to that seen in FIG. 7.

Step 830: Creating Template

[0084] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 creates a template showing these relationships, parameterized variations, and initial access control rules, names the template, and saves it in administrative tool 180 using a GUI similar to that seen in FIG. 7. At this point, the administrator has not created any resources. The template is a plan for creating resources, not the creation of resources itself.

Step 840: Satisfactory?

[0085] In this decision step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 determines whether the new template is satisfactory. If yes, method 800 ends; if no, method 800 proceeds to step 850.

Step 850: Editing Template

[0086] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 edits the template, as necessary. System 100 may optionally keep track of when editing changes were made, since this information can be used to historically reconstruct how a template looked at a particular point in time. When the necessary edits are completed, method 800 returns to step 840. (Note that changes made to the policies inside a template can be applied to new resources created by the template as well as already instantiated resources, i.e. changes access privileges for existing resources created by templates can be done very easily using the template itself.)

[0087] FIG. 9 illustrates a screenshot example of a GUI used for template instantiation. Instantiation refers to using the template as a plan to create resources. Either a computer application program or a system administrator using administrator PC 190 can initiate instantiations. Because administrative tool 180 stores the time of resources creation, retrieval and reconstruction of which resources were created from each instantiation of the template is possible. This information is important if the administrator needs to edit control of resources en masse or to delete the instantiation of the template at some point in time. Further, an administrator can extend the use of efficient selection of resource subsets by attributes and values as described in method 400 to include the originating template and time of creation as additional criteria. For instance, one could quickly retrieve (from a large set of resources), such things as all of the resources that were created from a particular template, values within a particular time range, and instantiations that have a particular value of an attribute. One could then make the same editing change to the Access Privileges for all the selected resources. This functionality gives the administrator, or an administrating access control program, efficient access to narrowly defined sets of available resources.

[0088] Alternatively, an administrator can segment administrative access by template, providing another method for delegating subsets of administrative powers and giving additional people limited control over subsets of the resources. FIG. 10 describes the method of using such a GUI for template instantiation.

[0089] FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 of instantiating a template. Method 1000 includes the following steps:

Step 1010: Choosing Template to Instantiate

[0090] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 chooses a template to instantiate from the already created templates, such as those created using method 800.

Step 1020: Supplying Required Parameters

[0091] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 supplies the values of required parameters, as determined by the application. In the example provided in FIG. 9, the administrator might give {self} the value MichaelJones and might give {manager} the value KevinCleary. The resulting “eexpr” for the template resource displayed in this instantiation would then be MichaelJones+KevinCleary, so that the actual values of the parameters are substituted for the names of the parameters. Each instantiation requires the use of different values.

Step 1030: Calling on Template API

[0092] In this step, an administrator using administrator PC 190 calls on the template API to create the related resources as requested by the choice of template and parameters. Processing of method 1000 then ends.

[0093] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.