US5778222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for managing access to objects
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-07-03
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2017-07-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and a system for managing access to a plurality of objects located on levels within a hierarchical structure in a data processing system. A first object within the plurality of objects is located. An operation is selected to after access to selected objects within the plurality of objects, wherein the selected operation excludes altering access to directories located in said hierarchical structure on levels below the first directory to match that of the first directory. Then, the selected operation is performed on objects located in on levels below the first object wherein access to the plurality of objects may be managed.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R. Herrick
- 👤 Scott A. Lenharth
- 👤 Syed A. Wadood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/60; G06F21/62; G06F21/6218; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/21; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2141; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/955; Y10S707/956; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99939
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method in a data processing system for managing access to a plurality of objects located on levels within a hierarchical structure, said method comprising: locating a first object within said plurality of objects; selecting an operation to alter an access attribute associated with said first object, wherein said selected operation normally excludes altering access attributes associated with objects located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first object; and recursively performing said selected operation on subordinate objects located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first object to alter access attributes associated with said subordinate objects, wherein access to said plurality of objects may be efficiently managed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method in a data processing system for managing access to a plurality of objects located on levels within a hierarchical structure, said method comprising: locating a first object within said plurality of objects; selecting an operation to alter an access attribute associated with said first object, wherein said selected operation normally excludes altering access attributes associated with objects located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first object; and recursively performing said selected operation on subordinate objects located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first object to alter access attributes associated with said subordinate objects, wherein access to said plurality of objects may be efficiently managed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting an union operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a non-intrusive operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a delete operation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
103 words
A method in a data processing system for managing access to a plurality of directories located on levels within a hierarchical structure, said method comprising: locating a first directory within said plurality of directories; selecting an operation to alter access to said first directory, wherein said selected operation normally excludes altering access to directories located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first directory; and recursively performing said selected operation on subordinate directories located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first directory to alter access to said subordinate directories, wherein access to said plurality of directories may be efficiently managed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
103 words
A method in a data processing system for managing access to a plurality of directories located on levels within a hierarchical structure, said method comprising: locating a first directory within said plurality of directories; selecting an operation to alter access to said first directory, wherein said selected operation normally excludes altering access to directories located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first directory; and recursively performing said selected operation on subordinate directories located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first directory to alter access to said subordinate directories, wherein access to said plurality of directories may be efficiently managed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting an union operation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said selecting step comprises selecting a non-intrusive operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said selecting step selecting a delete operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A data processing system for managing access to a plurality of objects located in directories on levels within a hierarchical structure, said data processing system comprising: location means for locating a first object within said plurality of objects wherein said first object is located in a first directory; selection means for selecting an operation to alter access to said first directory, wherein said selected operation normally excludes altering access to directories located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first directory; and execution means for recursively performing said selected operation on objects located in subordinate directories within said hierarchical structure on levels below said first to alter access to said subordinate, wherein access to said plurality of objects may be efficiently managed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A data processing system for managing access to a plurality of objects located in directories on levels within a hierarchical structure, said data processing system comprising: location means for locating a first object within said plurality of objects wherein said first object is located in a first directory; selection means for selecting an operation to alter access to said first directory, wherein said selected operation normally excludes altering access to directories located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first directory; and execution means for recursively performing said selected operation on objects located in subordinate directories within said hierarchical structure on levels below said first to alter access to said subordinate, wherein access to said plurality of objects may be efficiently managed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said selected operation is an union operation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said selected operation is a non-intrusive operation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said selected operation is a delete operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The data processing system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of objects is a plurality of directories.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The data processing system of claim 13 further comprising an access control list defining permissions for said plurality of directories.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
The data processing system of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of access control lists, wherein a number of said plurality of directories is associated with a plurality of access control lists and said first directory is associated with a first access control list within said plurality of access control lists.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The data processing system of claim 15, wherein said selected operation prevents modification of said plurality of access control lists to prevent access to all directories located on levels below said first directory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The data processing system of claim 15, wherein said selected operation combines said first access control list associated with said number of access control lists associated with each of said plurality of directories located on levels below said first directory to form modified access control lists.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of managing access to a plurality of objects within a hierarchical structure, comprising: determining whether an object under a parent object is a container object; responsive to determining that said object is not a container object, modifying an access control list associated with said object; and modifying an access control list associated with said parent object.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of managing access to a plurality of objects within a hierarchical structure, comprising: determining whether an object under a parent object is a container object; responsive to determining that said object is not a container object, modifying an access control list associated with said object; and modifying an access control list associated with said parent object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18, further comprising: responsive to determining that said object is a container object, determining whether an additional object is under said object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 19, further comprising: responsive to determining that said additional object is a not container object, modifying an access control list associated with said additional object; and modifying an access control list associated with said object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising: responsive to determining that said additional object is a container object, determining whether a further object is under said additional object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the step of modifying an access control list associated with said parent object further comprises: deleting an access attribute.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of managing access to a plurality of resources having a hierarchical structure in a data processing system, comprising: associating an access control list with selected resources within said hierarchical structure of resources; and executing a procedure modifying a first access control list associated with a first resource within said hierarchical structure of resources and descendant access control lists associated with each descendant resource on a level within said hierarchical structure of resources below said first resource, wherein access control lists associated resources in said hierarchical structure may be efficiently managed.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of managing access to a plurality of resources having a hierarchical structure in a data processing system, comprising: associating an access control list with selected resources within said hierarchical structure of resources; and executing a procedure modifying a first access control list associated with a first resource within said hierarchical structure of resources and descendant access control lists associated with each descendant resource on a level within said hierarchical structure of resources below said first resource, wherein access control lists associated resources in said hierarchical structure may be efficiently managed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of associating an access control list with each resource within said hierarchical structure of resources further comprises: associating an access control list with each directory within a hierarchical structure of directories.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of executing a procedure further comprises: executing an absolute procedure wherein said first access control list and said descendant access control lists are replaced.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of executing a procedure further comprises: executing a union procedure wherein access attributes within said first access control list and said descendant access control lists are combined with new access attributes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of executing a procedure further comprises: executing a delete procedure wherein said first access control list and said descendant access control lists are removed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of executing a procedure further comprises: executing a nonintrusive procedure wherein said first access control list and said descendant access control lists are left undisturbed if a defined access control list is associated with said first resource.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for managing access to a plurality of resources having a hierarchical structure in a data processing system, said method comprising: instantiating an object for each resource within said plurality of resources; selecting an operation to alter access to a first resource within said plurality of resources; performing said selected operation on an object for said first resource; and performing said selected operation on objects for resources located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first resource to alter access to said resources to match that of said first resource, wherein access to said plurality of resources may be efficiently managed.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for managing access to a plurality of resources having a hierarchical structure in a data processing system, said method comprising: instantiating an object for each resource within said plurality of resources; selecting an operation to alter access to a first resource within said plurality of resources; performing said selected operation on an object for said first resource; and performing said selected operation on objects for resources located in said hierarchical structure on levels below said first resource to alter access to said resources to match that of said first resource, wherein access to said plurality of resources may be efficiently managed.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the step of instantiating an object for each resource within said plurality of resources further comprises: instantiating an object for each file and directory within a hierarchical file system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
91 words
A data processing system having a hierarchical system of resources, comprising: an object for each resource within said hierarchical system of resources; means for altering an access attribute associated with an object for a first resource within said hierarchical system of resources; means for automatically altering access attributes associated with objects for resources located in said hierarchical system of resources on levels below said first resource to match said access attribute associated with said object for said first resource, wherein access to said hierarchical system of resources may be efficiently managed.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
91 words
A data processing system having a hierarchical system of resources, comprising: an object for each resource within said hierarchical system of resources; means for altering an access attribute associated with an object for a first resource within said hierarchical system of resources; means for automatically altering access attributes associated with objects for resources located in said hierarchical system of resources on levels below said first resource to match said access attribute associated with said object for said first resource, wherein access to said hierarchical system of resources may be efficiently managed.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The data processing system of claim 31, wherein said hierarchical system of resources comprises files and directories in a hierarchical file system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |