Method and apparatus for granting access rights to users of communications networks

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems for automatically determining the access rights to be granted to a telecommunication device to the assets in a first network as a function of the access rights previously granted to that same device in another network.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 detecting addition of a new electronic device to a network comprising a plurality of electronic devices;   comparing a first characteristic of the new electronic device with a corresponding first characteristic of a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices;   identifying a telecommunication device having access rights to the first electronic device; and   when the comparison of the first characteristic of the new electronic device and the first characteristic of the first electronic device meets a first criterion of similarity, granting access rights for the new electronic device to the telecommunication device, wherein the access rights for the new electronic device are based on the access rights for the first electronic device.   
     
     
         29 . A method comprising:
 detecting addition of a new electronic device to a network comprising a plurality of electronic devices;   comparing a first characteristic of the new electronic device with a corresponding first characteristic of a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices;   comparing a second characteristic of the new electronic device with a corresponding second characteristic of the first electronic device;   identifying a telecommunication device having access rights to the first electronic device; and   when the comparison of the first characteristic of the new electronic device and the first characteristic of the first electronic device meets a first criterion of similarity and when the comparison of the second characteristic of the new electronic device and the second characteristic of the first electronic device meets a second criterion of similarity, granting access rights for the new electronic device to the telecommunication device.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the first characteristic comprises at least one of:
 a device type;   a criticality characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the criticality characteristic corresponds to an extent to which an ability to operate the corresponding electronic device has a significant effect in the physical world; and   a sensitivity characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the sensitivity characteristic corresponds to a level of confidentiality of data available through the corresponding electronic device.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second characteristic comprises at least one of:
 a device type;   a criticality characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the criticality characteristic corresponds to an extent to which an ability to operate the corresponding electronic device has a significant effect in the physical world; and   a sensitivity characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the sensitivity characteristic corresponds to a level of confidentiality of data available through the corresponding electronic device.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein comparing the first characteristic comprises:
 comparing a value assigned to the first characteristic of the new electronic device to a value assigned to the first characteristic of the first electronic device to determine a first degree of similarity; and   determining whether the degree of similarity meets the first criterion of similarity.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein comparing the second characteristic comprises:
 comparing a value assigned to the second characteristic of the new electronic device to a value assigned to the second characteristic of the first electronic device to determine a second degree of similarity; and   determining whether the degree of similarity meets the second criterion of similarity.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the access rights for the new electronic device are similar to or identical to the access rights for the first electronic device. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein, when the first characteristic is one of a criticality characteristic and a sensitivity characteristic, and at least one of (a) a criticality level of the criticality characteristic of the new electronic device is more critical than a criticality level of the criticality characteristic of the first electronic device and (b) a sensitivity level of the sensitivity characteristic of the new electronic device is more sensitive than a sensitivity level of the sensitivity characteristic of the first electronic device, the granted access rights for the new electronic device are more restrictive than the access rights for the first electronic device. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein a user interface of one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices is used to interface with at least one other electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices via the network. 
     
     
         37 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:
 detecting addition of a new electronic device to a network comprising a plurality of electronic devices;   comparing a first characteristic of the new electronic device with a corresponding first characteristic of a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices;   identifying a telecommunication device having access rights to the first electronic device;   when the comparison of the first characteristic of the new electronic device and the first characteristic of the first electronic device meets a first criterion of similarity, granting access rights for the new electronic device to the telecommunication device, wherein the access rights for the new electronic device are based on the access rights for the first electronic device.   
     
     
         38 . A apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   memory operably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory has stored instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:
 detecting addition of a new electronic device to a network comprising a plurality of electronic devices; 
 comparing a first characteristic of the new electronic device with a corresponding first characteristic of a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices; 
 identifying a telecommunication device having access rights to the first electronic device; and 
 when the comparison of the first characteristic of the new electronic device and the first characteristic of the first electronic device meets a first criterion of similarity, granting access rights for the new electronic device to the telecommunication device, wherein the access rights for the new electronic device are based on the access rights for the first electronic device. 
   
     
     
         39 . A apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   memory operably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory has stored instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform:
 detecting addition of a new electronic device to a network comprising a plurality of electronic devices; 
 comparing a first characteristic of the new electronic device with a corresponding first characteristic of a first electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices; 
 comparing a second characteristic of the new electronic device with a corresponding second characteristic of the first electronic device; 
 identifying a telecommunication device having access rights to the first electronic device; and 
 when the comparison of the first characteristic of the new electronic device and the first characteristic of the first electronic device meets a first criterion of similarity and when the comparison of the second characteristic of the new electronic device and the second characteristic of the first electronic device meets a second criterion of similarity, granting access rights for the new electronic device to the telecommunication device. 
   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first characteristic comprises at least one of:
 a device type;   a criticality characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the criticality characteristic corresponds to an extent to which an ability to operate the corresponding electronic device has a significant effect in the physical world; and   a sensitivity characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the sensitivity characteristic corresponds to a level of confidentiality of data available through the corresponding electronic device.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the second characteristic comprises at least one of:
 a device type;   a criticality characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the criticality characteristic corresponds to an extent to which an ability to operate the corresponding electronic device has a significant effect in the physical world; and   a sensitivity characteristic, wherein a value assigned to an electronic device for the sensitivity characteristic corresponds to a level of confidentiality of data available through the corresponding electronic device.   
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein comparing the first characteristic comprises:
 comparing a value assigned to the first characteristic of the new electronic device to a value assigned to the first characteristic of the first electronic device to determine a first degree of similarity; and   determining whether the degree of similarity meets the first criterion of similarity.   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein comparing the second characteristic comprises:
 comparing a value assigned to the second characteristic of the new electronic device to a value assigned to the second characteristic of the first electronic device to determine a second degree of similarity; and   determining whether the degree of similarity meets the second criterion of similarity.   
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the access rights for the new electronic device are similar to or identical to the access rights for the first electronic device. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein, when the first characteristic is one of a criticality characteristic and a sensitivity characteristic, and at least one of (a) a criticality level of the criticality characteristic of the new electronic device is more critical than a criticality level of the criticality characteristic of the first electronic device and (b) a sensitivity level of the sensitivity characteristic of the new electronic device is more sensitive than a sensitivity level of the sensitivity characteristic of the first electronic device, the granted access rights for the new electronic device are more restrictive than the access rights for the first electronic device. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein a user interface of one electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices is used to interface with at least one other electronic device of the plurality of electronic devices via the network. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the network is a local area network.