Patent Abstract:
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for performing an authorization check for a user. In one implementation, a data processing system is provided that includes means for storing first data descriptive of at least one directed acyclic graph and for storing second data descriptive of an assignment of a user to a first node of the graph. The data processing system also includes means for receiving an access request of the user, the access request specifying a second node of the graph. Furthermore, the data processing system includes means for determining a least common ancestor of the first and second nodes of the graph and means for performing an authorization check adapted to grant authorization for the access request if the least common ancestor of the first and second nodes is the first node.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of data processing. More particularly, and without limitation, the invention relates to data processing in the field of user authorization. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     A user&#39;s right to read and write specific data objects stored in a data processing system may be specified in his or her user profile. Manual maintenance of such user profiles is a tedious and error prone task. For example, if an organizational structure of a company changes, the respective user authorizations also need to be changed. This may require a manual update of a large number of user profiles that are afflicted by the organizational change. 
     Structural user authorization is a concept that aims to reduce this drawback. For example, SAP&#39;s authorization system as implemented in SAP R/3 (commercially available from SAP AG, Walldorf, Germany) has a structural authorization concept, as described in SAP Authorization System—Design and Implementation of Authorization concepts for SAP R/3 and SAP Enterprise Portals, IBM Business Consulting GmbH, SAP Press (see Chapter 2.3.5, page 52). 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, data processing systems may be provided that include means for storing first data descriptive of at least one directed acyclic graph and for storing second data descriptive of an assignment of a user to a first node of the graph. The data processing systems may also include means for receiving an access request of the user, the access request specifying a second node of the graph. Furthermore, the data processing systems may include means for determining a least common ancestor of the first and second nodes of the graph, and means for performing an authorization check to grant authorization for the access request if the least common ancestor of the first and second nodes is the first node. 
     In one embodiment consistent with the invention, the nodes of the graph may be assigned to data objects. The access request of the user may explicitly specify the second node. Alternatively or in addition, the access request may implicitly specify the second node by indicating the data object to which access is requested. 
     For example, assume that the data objects are confidential. Read and/or write access to these data objects may be controlled by performing an authorization check for the respective user access request. In this manner, unauthorized access to confidential information may be prevented and access to such confidential information may only be granted to users that have the required access rights, as specified by the assignment of the users to first nodes in the graph. 
     The determination of the least common ancestor of the first and second nodes in the graph may be performed using any known algorithm for finding such ancestors. One example of such an algorithm is disclosed by Dov Harel and Robert Endre Tarjan in “Fast Algorithms for Finding Nearest Common Ancestors,” SIAM Journal on Computing, v.13 n.2, pp. 338-355, May 1984. 
     An algorithm that reduces the least common ancestor problem to the range minimum query problem may be used for determining the least common ancestor. An example of such an algorithm is described in M. A. Bender and M. Farach-Colton, “The LCA problem revisited,” Latin American Theoretical Informatics, pp. 88-94, Apr. 2000. For example, the sparse table algorithm for the range minimum query problem, described in the Bender, Farach-Colton reference, may be used for determining the least common ancestor of the first and second nodes. The above-noted Harl, Tarjan and Bender, Farach-Colton references are expressly incorporated herein by reference to their entireties. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a least common ancestor (LCA) index may be pre-computed, such as in the form of one or more tables or a sparse table (e.g., using one of the algorithms disclosed in the Bender, Farach-Colton reference). In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the pre-computed LCA index may be stored in shared memory in order to enable parallel processing of authorization checks for multiple access requests received from various users. When users send access requests at a high frequency, such as when the data processing system is used in a large organization or corporation, storage of the LCA index in shared memory, such as in an application server computer, can provide short latency times to users for the performance of the authorization check. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the graph may be a tree and the nodes of the tree may represent organizational entities. For example, the root node of the tree may represent a company holding various subsidiaries and affiliated companies that are represented by lower level nodes of the tree. Each subsidiary or affiliated company may have various business units that are also represented by nodes of the tree. The business units may have various departments whereby each department is represented by a node of the tree. In other words, all organizational entities of a complex company holding structure may be represented by respective nodes of the tree. 
     The level of granularity of the tree may depend on the required level of granularity of the access control. For example, the tree may go down to the individual employee level to represent each individual employee by a node in the tree. This can be required if, for example, personnel records of the employees are of a confidential nature and, therefore, need to be access-protected. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the tree may represent organizational entities but not individuals, thus preventing frequent updates of the tree. Although the organizational structure of a company may be changed infrequently, the job positions of individual employees may change more frequently due to promotions within the company, employee fluctuation, and employee attrition. If access control needs to be provided on an individual employee level, each employee may be assigned to a node of the tree that represents the organizational entity to which the employee currently belongs. If the employee changes his job position, but the organizational structure of the company remains unchanged, then the employee&#39;s assignment to one of the nodes of the tree may be updated, but the tree may remain unchanged. In this manner, the LCA index for the tree may not need to be re-computed. 
     In additional embodiments consistent with the invention, methods are provided for performing an authorization check for a user. The user may be assigned to a first node of a directed acyclic graph, and the methods may include receiving an access request from the user, the access request specifying a second node of the graph. Further, such methods may include determining a least common ancestor of the first and second nodes and granting authorization if the least common ancestor of the first and second nodes is the first node. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the least common ancestor of the first and second nodes may be determined using a pre-computed LCA index. By using a pre-computed LCA index, latency times experienced by users for the performance of an authorization check may be reduced. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the pre-computation of the LCA index may be initialized in response to an access request if no previously pre-computed LCA index exists in shared memory or if the available LCA index is older than a predefined time limit. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, pre-computation of a new LCA index may be initiated if the tree has been updated after a preceding pre-computation of the newest available LCA index. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, each LCA index stored in shared memory may have one of a first, second, third, or fourth status. The first status may indicate that the LCA index can currently be used for determining least common ancestors of first and second nodes for the performance of respective authorization checks. The second status may indicate that the LCA index is “outdated.” An outdated LCA index may include a timestamp that indicates when the LCA index was put in the second “outdated” status. The outdated LCA index may be used for performing authorization checks if, for example, no current LCA index is available and if the outdated LCA index is not to old (e.g., if it is not older than a predefined first time interval). An exemplary first time interval is between five and fifteen minutes, such as ten minutes. 
     An LCA index may transition from the first to the second status if a pre-computation of the LCA index is initialized. The “outdated” LCA index may be used during the pre-computation for the performance of the authorization checks during the first time interval. 
     If neither a LCA index having the first status nor a LCA index having the second status is available, pre-computation of a new LCA index may be initiated asynchronously. The initialization of the pre-computation of the new LCA index may be performed by generating an instance of the LCA index that is initially empty. The instance of the LCA index may have a third status “wait.” During the third status the pre-computation may be delayed for a second time interval. The second time interval may be shorter than the first time interval. For example, the length of the second time interval may be approximately 10% to 30% of the first time interval. 
     The status of the instance may transition from the third status to a fourth status after the second time interval has lapsed. The fourth status may indicate that the pre-computation of the LCA index is “in progress.” 
     If there is neither an LCA index having the first status nor an LCA index having the second status, the authorization check may be performed without an LCA index using another technique, such as upwards traversal of the tree. In this manner, the latency time may be reduced when a LCA index does not exist or when the LCA index is not sufficiently up-to-date because the authorization check can be executed using an alternative algorithm, without having to wait until completion of the LCA index calculation. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the second time interval of the instance having the third status may be incremented when a request for LCA pre-computation is made while the instance is still in its third status. This may increase the likelihood that all changes to the tree have been entered before the pre-computation of the LCA index starts. In this example, an additional instance for the LCA pre-computation may not be generated. For example, the second time interval may be incremented by restarting the second time interval or by adding an incremental time interval, such as one to three minutes. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the status transition from the first status to the second status of the LCA index may be executed upon making a request for LCA pre-computation. The current LCA index that has the first status may be time stamped and placed in the second “outdated” status for temporary use during the first time interval while calculating the new LCA index. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an instance of the LCA index that has the fourth status may be deleted upon receipt of a request for the LCA pre-computation while the instance is still in its fourth status, e.g., while computing the LCA index. The LCA index computation may be aborted due to the renewed LCA pre-computation request and the LCA pre-computation may be initiated again on the basis of the modified tree information. 
     Embodiments of the present invention may reduce the time and effort required for updating user profile information regarding user authorizations while minimizing the processing load for performing authorization checks. Further, authorization checks may be performed on the basis of relatively up-to-date tree information whereby the acceptable time interval during which an outdated LCA index can still be used may be selectable. 
     In still other embodiments consistent with the invention, computer program products may be provided for performing methods consistent with the present invention. The computer program products may be executed by an application server that generates the LCA indices on the basis of tree information stored in a database server. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, a block diagram of an exemplary data processing system; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, a flowchart of an exemplary method; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, an exemplary tree structure; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, a block diagram of another exemplary data processing system; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, a flowchart of another exemplary method; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, a flowchart of another exemplary method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary data processing system  100 . Data processing system  100  may include at least one database server  102  for storing user profiles  104 , one or more database tables  106  for storing data descriptive of the nodes and vertices of at least one directed acyclic graph, such as a tree, and data objects  108 , such as data files or other data structures. 
     Each node of the tree may be identified by a node identifier (ID) in database table  106 . User profiles  104  may reference these node IDs. For example, the user having user identifier (ID) “A” may be assigned to node ID “2”, whereas the user having user ID “B” may be assigned to the node having node ID “3”, etc. The assignment of users to nodes of the tree may specify authorization levels of the users. A single assignment of a node ID per tree may be sufficient to specify a user&#39;s authorization level. 
     Data objects  108  may also reference node IDs of the tree. A user that is assigned to a specific node of the tree may be allowed access to all data objects that are assigned to that node and all data objects assigned to lower tree nodes below the node specified for that user. 
     An application server  110  may be coupled to the database server  102 . Application server  110  and database server  102  may be closely or loosely coupled via the network  112 . 
     Application server  110  may include a shared memory  114  for multiple client computers  116 ,  118 , . . . , that may be coupled to application server  110  by network  112 . Application server  110  may execute program instructions  120  for pre-computation of an LCA index  122 . Pre-computed LCA index  122  may be stored in shared memory  114 . 
     The LCA index pre-computation may be performed by any suitable LCA index pre-computation algorithm. For example, the LCA index may be calculated as one or more look up tables or a sparse table in accordance with one or more of the algorithms disclosed in the above-cited Bender, Farach-Colton reference. Application server  110  may access the required tree information stored in the database table  106  for the pre-computation of the LCA index. 
     Further, application server  110  may include program instructions  124  for performing an access authorization check. Program instructions  124  may be configured to read user profile information from user profiles  104 , using, for example, the node ID that is assigned to a given user. Program instructions  124  may also perform a LCA Index Lookup  128  of the LCA index  122  using the node ID obtained from the user profiles  104  and the node ID of another node of the tree that is specified in an access request  130  received from a client computer  116 ,  118 . Application server  110  may also include program instructions for performing database access operations  132  for reading data from database server  102 . 
     In operation, application server  110  may execute program instructions  120  for computation of LCA index  122 , which may be stored in shared memory  114 . Program instructions  120  may be invoked automatically, such as by instructions  132 , if a modification of the tree is entered into the database table  106 . 
     Assume, without restriction, that user A logs onto client computer  116  and that user B logs onto client computer  118 . An access request  130  initiated by user A may identify user A and a data object to which user A requests read and/or write access. The specification of the data object may be explicit, such as by including access path information to that data object in the access request  130 . Alternatively, or in addition, access request  130  may indicate the node ID to which the data object of interest is assigned. 
     Receipt of access request  130  by application server  110  may invoke execution of program instructions  124 . Program instructions  126  may perform a lookup operation of user profiles  104  to read the node ID that is assigned to the user ID in the access request  130 . If the access request  130  does not directly specify a node ID of the tree to which access is requested, but rather specifies one of the data objects  108 , the node ID that is assigned to that data object  108  may also be read from database server  102 . 
     Next, program instructions  128  may be invoked to lookup the LCA index  122  using the node ID assigned to the user ID specified in the access request  130 . Program instructions  128  may also lookup the node ID assigned to data object  108  to which access is requested. Authorization may be granted for the access request  130  if the least common ancestor of the node that is assigned to the specified user and the node that is assigned to data object  108  of interest is the node that is assigned to the specified user. Accordingly, the requested read and/or write access operation may executed by program instructions  132 . However, if the contrary is the case, access request  130  may be rejected. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method. In step  200 , an access request may be received from one of the users. The access request may directly or indirectly specify the node n of a tree to which the data of interest is assigned. In step  202 , node u, to which the requesting user is assigned, may be looked up from the user profile of that user. Node u may specify the user&#39;s level of access authorization. 
     In step  204 , an LCA index look up may be performed for nodes n and u. The table entries obtained for the nodes n and u from the LCA index may be evaluated in step  206  to determine whether the least common ancestor of nodes u and n is node u. If not, access may be denied (step  208 ). If this condition is fulfilled, access may be authorized (step  210 ). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates, consistent with an embodiment of the invention, an exemplary tree  334 . Tree  334  has a root with node ID “1” and three tree levels  336 ,  338 , and  340 . Tree level  336  has child nodes  2  and  3  of root node  1 . Tree level  338  has child nodes  4 ,  5 , and  6  of node  2  and child node  7  of node  3 . Tree level  340  has child nodes  8  and  9  of node  6 . 
     In the exemplary user profile  104  of  FIG. 1 , user A is assigned to node  2 . Accordingly, user A may have access rights to data objects assigned to node  2  and all nodes below node  2 , i.e., nodes that are connected to node  2  and that are on lower tree levels  338  and  340 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , these nodes are nodes  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8 , and  9 . Likewise, node  3  is assigned to user B such that user B has access rights to data objects assigned to node  3  and nodes below node  3 , i.e., node  7 . 
     For example, user A has access rights to the data object x that is assigned to node  2 . User A also has access rights to data object z (assigned to node  8 ) because node  8  is on a lower tree level, i.e., tree level  340  and because there is a tree path from node  2  to node  8 . However, user A does not have access rights to data object y as this is assigned to node  3  and node  3  is on the same tree level  336  as node  2 . In other words, the least common ancestor of nodes  2  and  3  is node  1  rather than node  2 . Therefore, the condition is not fulfilled and no access can be granted to user A for access to data object y. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates, consistent with embodiments of the invention, a block diagram of another exemplary data processing system  400 . Database server  402  may include a mapping table  442  that maps individuals, such as employees, to nodes of the tree, e.g., tree  334 , as stored in database table  406 . In this embodiment, tree  334  does not need to go down to the employee level; rather, tree  334  may only cover the organizational structure of the company, including all organizational entities except individual employees and/or individual jobs of an organizational entity. In this manner, pre-computed LCA index  422  does not need to be re-computed each time an employee fluctuation occurs and/or if new jobs are defined or abolished within one of the organizational entities modelled by tree  334 . Because changes in the organizational structure of a company may occur relatively infrequently, respective recalculations of the LCA index  422  may also be relatively infrequent. 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , employee “Smith” and employee “Miller” are assigned to node  8  of tree  334 . For example, the data object z that is also assigned to node  8  may be the personnel record of employee “Smith.” 
     LCA index  422  has a first status “current,” indicating LCA index  422  is currently to be used for authorization checks. In addition, or alternatively, an LCA index  444  may be stored in shared memory  414 . LCA index  444  has a second status “outdated” and a time stamp which indicates when the LCA index  444  transitioned from the first status “current” to its second status “outdated.” LCA index  444  can be used for current authorization checks if LCA index  422  is not available and if LCA index  442  is not too old, e.g. if a predetermined first time interval from the time stamp has not lapsed. 
     Shared memory  414  may also include an instance  446  of a new LCA index yet to be computed. Instance  446  has a third status “waiting,” which means the pre-computation of the new LCA index is delayed for a second time interval from the creation of the instance  446 . 
     Shared memory  414  may also include an instance  448  for the pre-computation of a new LCA index. Instance  448  has a fourth status “in progress,” which may indicate that the new LCA index is being pre-computed after the second time interval has lapsed. 
     Instructions  424  may include additional instructions  450  for performing an authorization check using an alternative method that does not require an LCA index. Instructions  450  may be executed if an authorization check needs to be performed at a time when neither a current LCA index nor an outdated LCA index for which the first time interval did not yet lapse is available. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates, consistent with the invention, a flowchart of an exemplary method of status-dependent use of LCA indices  422  and  444  ( FIG. 4 ). In step  500 , an authorization check may be initiated upon receipt of access request  430  by application server  410 . In step  502 , a determination may be made whether an LCA index having the first status “current” is available in shared memory  414 . In this example, LCA index  422  may be identified and used to perform the authorization check (step  504 ). Performance of the authorization check can be implemented in accordance with the steps  202  to  210  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     If there is no LCA index  422  in shared memory  414 , step  506  may be executed. There may not be an LCA index if, for example, a tree update had been entered into the database table  406  such that the current LCA index transitioned to outdated. 
     In step  506 , a determination is made whether an LCA index having the second status is in shared memory  414  and, if so, whether the second time interval of that LCA index has already expired. In this example, LCA index  444  may be identified as outdated. If the LCA index  444  is available in the shared memory  414  and if the second time interval has not yet expired, control may proceed to step  504 . In other words, the outdated LCA index  444  may be used to perform the authorization check because only a negligible amount of time has expired from its transition from the first to the second status. The second time interval may be configured depending on the particular application. For example, the second time interval can be between five to fifteen minutes, such as ten minutes. 
     If LCA index  444  does not exist or if the second time interval has lapsed, control may proceed to step  508 . In step  508 , a pre-computation of a new LCA index may be initiated. The pre-computation of the new LCA index may be performed asynchronously such that the subsequent step  510  can be carried out immediately after initialization of the pre-computation of the new LCA index (step  508 ). 
     In step  510 , instructions  450  ( FIG. 4 ) may be invoked to perform the authorization check without an LCA index. For example, the authorization check may be performed by upwards traversal of the directed graph, e.g., tree  334 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of an exemplary method of LCA index pre-computation. In step  600 , program instructions  420  may be invoked due to the initialization of the LCA pre-computation in step  508  ( FIG. 5 ). In step  602 , a determination may be made whether an LCA index  446  exists in shared memory  414 . If so, control may proceed to step  604 . 
     In step  604 , the second time interval may be incremented for a period of time that is shorter than the first time interval. For example, if the first time interval is ten minutes, the second time interval may be incremented by two minutes. Pre-computation of the new LCA index may be executed after the incremented second time interval has lapsed. 
     If there is no LCA index  446  (status “waiting”) in shared memory  414 , a determination may be made in step  606  whether there is an LCA index  422  (current) in shared memory  414 . If an LCA index  422  (current) exists in shared memory  414  (step  606 ), control may proceed to step  608  where a determination may be made whether there is an LCA index  444  (outdated/timestamp) in shared memory  414 . 
     If an LCA index  444  exists, LCA index  422  may transition from its first status to the second status and may be time stamped in order to become LCA index  444  (step  610 ). If, however, LCA index  444  exists in shared memory  414 , LCA index  444  may be deleted and the status transition of the LCA index  422  may be executed from its first status to the second status such that the LCA index  422  replaces the former LCA index  444  (step  612 ). From steps  610  or  612 , control may proceed to step  614  (described below). 
     Returning to step  606 , if a determination is made that there is no LCA index  444  does not exists in shared memory  414 , control may proceed to step  624 . In step  624 , a determination may be made whether there is an instance  448  (status “in progress”) in shared memory  414 . If such an instance  448  exists, control may proceed to step  626  where the ongoing pre-computation of the LCA index with respect to the existing instance  448  may be stopped and instance  448  may be deleted. Control may then proceed to step  614 . If, however, step  624  determines that instance  448  does not exist in shared memory  414 , control may proceed directly to step  614 . 
     At step  614 , the instance  446  for a new LCA index may be generated and the status set to “waiting”. After the second time interval has lapsed (e.g., two minutes, step  616 ), LCA index  446  may transition to instance  448  (status “in progress,” step  618 ) and the new LCA index may be computed in step  620 . After completion of the new LCA index, instance  448  may transition to become the new LCA index  422  (status changed from “in progress” to “current,” step  622 ). 
     Systems and methods consistent with the present invention, including those disclosed herein, may be embodied in various forms including, for example, a data processor, such as a computer that also includes a database, digital electronic circuitry, firmware, software, or in combinations thereof. Moreover, the above-noted features and other aspects and principles of the present invention may be implemented in various environments. 
     Such environments and related applications may be specially constructed for performing the various processes and operations according to the invention or they may include a general-purpose computer or computing platform selectively activated or reconfigured by code to provide the necessary functionality. The processes disclosed herein are not inherently related to any particular computer, network, architecture, environment, or other apparatus, and may be implemented by a suitable combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. For example, various general-purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with teachings of the invention, or it may be more convenient to construct a specialized apparatus or system to perform the required methods and techniques. 
     Embodiments of the invention may be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. 
     Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments and features of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended, therefore, that the specification and embodiments be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8