Access control for elements in a database object

Abstract

A system for controlling access to elements in a database object are provided. The system provides for receiving a request from a user to access the database object, determining whether an access restriction is imposed on the database object, and controlling access to the elements in the database object by the user based on the access restriction. The access restriction specifies one or more users to which the access restriction is applicable, defines a dynamic condition the one or more users must satisfy in order to access the database object, and identifies one or more of the elements in the database object accessible to the one or more users when the dynamic condition is satisfied.

1 . A system comprising:
 a database operable to store a database object, the database object comprising elements; and   a server coupled to the database, the server comprising a processor and a memory, the server being operable to:   receive a request from a user to access the database object;   determine whether an access restriction is imposed on the database object, the access restriction specifying a first user group to which the access restriction is applicable, defining a first dynamic condition the first user group must satisfy in order to access the database object, wherein the first dynamic condition is a function that compares a current time to a time of the day when access can be granted, and identifying a first element set in the database object accessible to the first user group when the first dynamic condition is satisfied; and   control access to the elements in the database object by the user based on the access restriction, wherein controlling access to the elements in the database object comprises:
 confirming whether the user is in the first user group when the access restriction is imposed on the database object; 
 verifying whether the user satisfies the first dynamic condition when the user is in the first user group; and 
 allowing the user to access the first element set when the user satisfies the first dynamic condition, wherein allowing the user to access the first element set comprises:
 generating a dynamic pseudo-view of the database object comprising only the first element set when the user satisfies the first dynamic condition, wherein the dynamic pseudo-view is a view-like entity with attributes similar to a predefined regular view, wherein the dynamic pseudo-view does not exist in a database, wherein the dynamic pseudo-view does not have dependencies; and 
 responding to the request from the user using the dynamic pseudo-view of the database object. 
 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the database object is a table or a view. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one element in the first element set is a column. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first dynamic condition is a session context or a session purpose associated with a user in the first user group. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the server is further operable to:
 obtain one or more session variables associated with the user when the user is in the first user group; and   compare the one or more session variables associated with the user to the first dynamic condition to determine whether the user satisfies the first dynamic condition.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the access restriction further defines a second dynamic condition the first user group must alternatively satisfy in order to access the database object and further identifies a second element set in the database object accessible to the first user group when the second dynamic condition is satisfied. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein at least one element in the first element set is also an element in the second element set. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the access restriction further defines an additional dynamic condition the first user group must satisfy in order to access the first element set. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the server is further operable to:
 determine whether another access restriction is imposed on the database object, the other access restriction specifying a second user group to which the other access restriction is applicable.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the other access restriction further defines another dynamic condition the second user group must satisfy in order to access the database object and identifies another element set in the database object accessible to the second user group when the other dynamic condition is satisfied. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the other element set is a subset of the first element set. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein at least one user in the first user group is also a user in the second user group. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the server is further operable to:
 decide whether an exception to the access restriction is applicable to the user requesting access to the database object; and   permit the user to access the elements in the database object when the exception to the access restriction is applicable to the user.   
   
   
       14 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including a computer-readable program for controlling access to elements in a database object, wherein the computer-readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 receive a request from a user to access the database object;   determine whether an access restriction is imposed on the database object, the access restriction specifying a first user group to which the access restriction is applicable, defining a first dynamic condition the first user group must satisfy in order to access the database object, wherein the first dynamic condition is a function that compares a current time to a time of the day when access can be granted, and identifying a first element set in the database object accessible to the first user group when the first dynamic condition is satisfied; and   control access to the elements in the database object by the user based on the access restriction, wherein controlling access to the elements in the database object comprises:
 confirming whether the user is in the first user group when the access restriction is imposed on the database object; 
 verifying whether the user satisfies the first dynamic condition when the user is in the first user group; and 
 allowing the user to access the first element set when the user satisfies the first dynamic condition, wherein allowing the user to access the first element set comprises:
 generating a dynamic pseudo-view of the database object comprising only the first element set when the user satisfies the first dynamic condition, wherein the dynamic pseudo-view is a view-like entity with attributes similar to a predefined regular view, wherein the dynamic pseudo-view does not exist in a database, wherein the dynamic pseudo-view does not have dependencies; and 
 responding to the request from the user using the dynamic pseudo-view of the database object. 
 
   
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein the database object is a table or a view. 
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein at least one element in the first element set is a column. 
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein the first dynamic condition is a session context or a session purpose associated with a user in the first user group. 
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein verifying whether the user satisfies the first dynamic condition comprises:
 obtaining one or more session variables associated with the user when the user is in the first user group; and   comparing the one or more session variables associated with the user to the first dynamic condition to determine whether the user satisfies the first dynamic condition.   
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein the access restriction further defines a second dynamic condition the first user group must alternatively satisfy in order to access the database object and further identifies a second element set in the database object accessible to the first user group when the second dynamic condition is satisfied. 
   
   
       20 . The computer program product of  claim 14  wherein at least one element in the first element set is also an element in the second element set.