Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-29
2001-03-27
Alam, Hosain T. (Department: 2172)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208984
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of managing resources in a computer system, and more particularly to a method and system of determining access to records of members of a community.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern businesses often employ integrated computer systems to gather and record information from various departments and operations. Such integrated systems allow information to be efficiently shared between departments. Information collected may include accounting records, payroll records, personnel records, manufacturing records, and the like.
In a decentralized business environment, integrated computer systems may provide front line managers with information pertaining to employees reporting to the managers. Such information may include personnel records and other sensitive information of the employees. A manager may use this information to perform human resources and other decentralized tasks for employees reporting to the manager.
Decentralized business environments may be used in connection with matrix organizations. Matrix organizations are typical of businesses in the service industry where people are a primary resource of the company and need to be leveraged between accounts to maximize their expertise. In a matrix organization, a manager has responsibilities and needs access to records of employees who administratively belong to an organization managed by the manager and employees who are temporarily performing work for the organization but administratively belong to another organization.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a need has arisen in the art for manager access to records of employees that report to the manager or perform work for the manager. The present invention provides a method and system of determining access to records of members of a community that substantially reduce or eliminate problems associated with prior systems and methods.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of determining access to records of members of a community in response to a request by a user may comprise determining if a relationship exists between the user requesting access to a record of a member of a community and the member. If a relationship exists between the user and the member, the type of relationship may be automatically determined. For the relationship type, it may be automatically determined if the requested types of access to records of the member is authorized.
More specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, determination of a relationship between the user and the member may comprise evaluating one or more evaluation paths of the user to identify members of a community related to the user. A relationship record may be generated comprising the identified members of the community related to the user. It may then be determined if the relationship record identifies the member.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, determination of the relationship between the user and the member may comprise evaluating one or more evaluation paths of the member to determine if any of the relationship paths lead to the user.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of determining relationships between members of a community may comprise providing a profile assignment table including an evaluation path having a starting object. An identifier associated with a member of a community may be automatically entered into the evaluation path as the starting object. The evaluation path may be automatically evaluated starting with the identifier of the member to determine related members of the community.
Technical advantages of the present invention include varying manager access privileges to records of members of the community reporting to managers depending on the responsibilities of the manager toward the member. In particular, an administrative manager may have greater access privileges to records of a member than a work assignment manager. Similarly, a substitute manager may have greater access privileges to records of a member than a surrogate manager. Accordingly, managers are provided with only needed access privileges to records of a member reporting to the manager.
Another technical advantage of the present invention includes providing a dynamic profile assignment table. In particular, the profile assignment table may include one or more relationship paths each having a dummy number as a start object. The dummy number of each relationship path may be replaced with an identifier associated with a member of a community and the paths evaluated to determine related members of the community. Accordingly, separate profile assignments need not be maintained for various members of the community. Additionally, the profile assignments need not be updated as members change within the community.
Other technical advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.
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Alam Hosain T.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Electronic Data Systems Corporation
Shah Sanjiv
LandOfFree
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