Dynamically configured client access control network

Abstract

A dynamically configured access control network is disclosed. Any given node on such a network can function as a client, a controller, an agent, an access control component, a server, and/or any other component to enable the network. That is, the given node can be configured to function as a first combination of the above-mentioned components at a first point of time to enable the network and can function as a second combination of the above-mentioned components at a second point of time to enable the network. In some examples, the configuration of the given node can be determined based one or more predetermined rules. In some examples, the configuration of the given node can be determined by an administrator via a monitoring system included in or coupled to the network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system configured to enable a client access control network, the system comprising:
 one or more physical processors configured by machine-readable instructions to:   facilitate configuration of one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network such that configuration of a first computing platform as a controller, an agent, an access control component, and/or a server in the client access control network is facilitated, wherein   when configured as a controller in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to authenticate one or more client devices operatively connected to the first computing platform and to instruct one or more agents to administer access by the one or more client devices to one or more servers in the client access control network,   when configured as an agent in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to generate instructions for one or more access control components in the client access control network to administer access by client devices to one or more servers controlled by the access control components in response to the instructions received from one or more controllers operatively connected to the first computing platform,   when configured as a access control component in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to grant or remove access by one or more client devices to one or more servers controlled by the access control component in response to instructions received from one or more agents operatively connected to the first computing platform, and   when configured as a sever in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to provide one or more data services for access by one or more client devices operatively connected to the first computing platform; and   determine information for presenting, on a terminal display, a graphical representation of the client access control network, the graphical representation illustrating one or more connections between controllers and agents in the client access control network, one or more connections between agents and access control components in the client access control network, one or more connections between access control components and servers in the client access control network, and/or one or more connections between agents and servers in the client access control network.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating configuring one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network includes facilitating configuration of a second computing platform as a controller, an agent, a access control component, and/or a server in the client access control network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the first computing platform as a controller, an agent, a access control component, and/or a server in the client access control network is based on one or more predetermined rules. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rules include a rule specifying that the first client computing platform is available for access only by one or more specific client devices when the first computing platform is configured as a controller. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rules include a rule specifying that the first client computing platform can administer access to one or more specific servers when the first computing platform is configured as an agent. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the rules include a rule specifying that the first client computing platform provides data services to one or more specific client devices when the first computing platform is configured as a server. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation of the client access control network reflects a state of the client access control network at a given time. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network is facilitated through a graphical user interface in which the graphical representation of the client access control network is presented. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein facilitating the configuration of the one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network includes generating information for implementing a graphical user interface on the terminal display such that the graphical user interface includes actionable objects representing the one or more computing platforms, wherein upon user interaction with the individual actionable objects in the graphical user interface, the configuration of the one or more computing platforms is facilitated. 
     
     
         10 . A method for enabling a client access control network, the method comprising:
 facilitating configuration of one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network such that configuration of a first computing platform as a controller, an agent, an access control component, and/or a server in the client access control network is facilitated, wherein   when configured as a controller in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to authenticate one or more client devices operatively connected to the first computing platform and to instruct one or more agents to administer access by the one or more client devices to one or more servers in the client access control network,   when configured as an agent in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to generate instructions for one or more access control components in the client access control network to administer access by client devices to one or more servers controlled by the access control components in response to the instructions received from one or more controllers operatively connected to the first computing platform,   when configured as a access control component in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to grant or remove access by one or more client devices to one or more servers controlled by the access control component in response to instructions received from one or more agents operatively connected to the first computing platform, and   when configured as a sever in the client access control network, the first computing platform is adapted to provide one or more data services for access by one or more client devices operatively connected to the first computing platform; and   determining information for presenting, on a terminal display, a graphical representation of the client access control network, the graphical representation illustrating one or more connections between controllers and agents in the client access control network, one or more connections between agents and access control components in the client access control network, one or more connections between access control components and servers in the client access control network, and/or one or more connections between agents and servers in the client access control network.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein facilitating configuring one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network includes facilitating configuration of a second computing platform as a controller, an agent, a access control component, and/or a server in the client access control network. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the configuration of the first computing platform as a controller, an agent, a access control component, and/or a server in the client access control network is based on one or more predetermined rules. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the rules include a rule specifying that the first client computing platform is available for access only by one or more specific client devices when the first computing platform is configured as a controller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rules include a rule specifying that the first client computing platform can administer access to one or more specific servers when the first computing platform is configured as an agent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the rules include a rule specifying that the first client computing platform provides data services to one or more specific client devices when the first computing platform is configured as a server. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the graphical representation of the client access control network reflects a state of the client access control network at a given time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the configuration of the one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network is facilitated through a graphical user interface in which the graphical representation of the client access control network is presented. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein facilitating the configuration of the one or more computing platforms to enable the client access control network includes generating information for implementing a graphical user interface on the terminal display such that the graphical user interface includes actionable objects representing the one or more computing platforms, wherein upon user interaction with the individual actionable objects in the graphical user interface, the configuration of the one or more computing platforms is facilitated.