Authorizing computing resource access based on calendar events in a networked computing environment

• US 8,881,244 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir S., DeLuca, Lisa Seacat, Peterson, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehedi, Morshed
• Assistant Examiner(s): LYNCH, SHARON S
• Application Number:
  US13/572,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/108 when the policy decisions are valid for a limited amount of time

Abstract

An approach for authorizing access to computing resources (e.g., electronic files) based on calendar events (e.g., meetings of a user) in a networked computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment) is provided. A portion/segment (e.g., private cloud) of the networked computing environment may be designated for storing at least one electronic file to be shared (e.g., as stored in a computer storage device associated with the portion). The portion of the networked computing environment may then be associated (e.g., graphically) with an electronic calendar entry (e.g., a meeting having a set of attendees). Based on the calendar entry, a set of users (e.g., the meeting attendees) authorized to access the at least one electronic file may be determined based on the electronic calendar entry. Thereafter, access (e.g., a related permissions) to the at least one electronic file may be authorized for the set of users.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for authorizing computing resource access based on calendar events in a networked computing environment, comprising:

creating an electronic calendar entry corresponding to a meeting defined in a meeting leader'"'"'s electronic calendar;

designating a portion of the networked computing environment for storing at least one electronic cloud resource to be shared, the at least one electronic cloud resource being stored in at least one computer storage device associated with the portion;

associating the portion of the networked computing environment with the electronic calendar entry and the at least one cloud resource;

determining a set of users authorized to access the at least one electronic cloud resource from the at least one computer storage device via the private cloud based on the electronic calendar entry, the set of users being a set of attendees of the meeting;

authorizing access to the portion for the set of users for a predetermined time period comprising at least a duration of the meeting;

and revoking the access to the portion for the set of users at an end time of the predetermined time period;

wherein the portion comprises a private storage cloud, and the networked computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the set of users in an access control list (ACL).

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising associating the set of users with a set of permissions in the ACL for interacting with the at least one electronic cloud resource.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, further comprising modifying the set of users or the set of permissions based upon changes to the electronic calendar entry.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising storing the at least one electronic cloud resource in the at least one computer storage device.

6. A system for authorizing computing resource access based on calendar events in a networked computing environment, comprising:

a memory medium comprising instructions;

a bus coupled to the memory medium; and

a processor coupled to the bus that when executing the instructions causes the system to;

create an electronic calendar entry corresponding to a meeting defined in a meeting leader'"'"'s electronic calendar;

designate a portion of the networked computing environment for storing at least one electronic cloud resource to be shared, the at least one electronic cloud resource being stored in at least one computer storage device associated with the portion;

associate the portion of the networked computing environment with the electronic calendar entry and the at least one cloud resource;

determine a set of users authorized to access the at least one electronic cloud resource from the at least one computer storage device via the private cloud based on the electronic calendar entry, the set of users being a set of attendees of the meeting;

authorize access to the portion for the set of users for a duration of the meeting;

and revoke the access to the portion for the set of users at an end time of the duration of the meeting;

wherein the portion comprises a private storage cloud, and the networked computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.

7. The system of claim 6, the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to maintain the set of users in an access control list (ACL).

8. The system of claim 7, the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to associate the set of users with a set of permissions in the ACL for interacting with the at least one electronic cloud resource.

9. The system of claim 8 the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to modify the set of users or the set of permissions based upon changes to the electronic calendar entry.

10. The system of claim 6, the memory medium further comprising instructions for causing the system to store the at least one electronic cloud resource in the at least one computer storage device.

11. A computer program product for authorizing computing resource access based on calendar events in a networked computing environment, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage device with a processor for executing program instructions stored on the computer readable storage device, to:

create an electronic calendar entry corresponding to a meeting defined in a meeting leader'"'"'s electronic calendar;

designate a portion of the networked computing environment for storing at least one electronic cloud resource to be shared, the at least one electronic cloud resource being stored in at least one computer storage device associated with the portion;

associate the portion of the networked computing environment with the electronic calendar entry and the at least one cloud resource;

determine a set of users authorized to access the at least one electronic cloud resource from the at least one computer storage device via the private cloud based on the electronic calendar entry, the set of users being a set of attendees of the meeting;

authorize access to the portion for the set of users for a predetermined time period comprising at least a duration of the meeting; and

revoke the access to the portion for the set of users at an end time of the predetermined time period;

wherein the portion comprises a private storage cloud, and the networked computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to maintain the set of users in an access control list (ACL).

13. The computer program product of claim 12, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to associate the set of users with a set of permissions in the ACL for interacting with the at least one electronic cloud resource.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to modify the set of users or the set of permissions based upon changes to the electronic calendar entry.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, the computer readable storage device further comprising instructions to store the at least one electronic cloud resource in the at least one computer storage device.

16. A method for deploying a system for authorizing computing resource access based on calendar events in a networked computing environment, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

create an electronic calendar entry corresponding to a meeting defined in a meeting leader'"'"'s electronic calendar;

designate a portion of the networked computing environment for storing at least one electronic cloud resource to be shared, the at least one electronic cloud resource being stored in at least one computer storage device associated with the portion;

associate the portion of the networked computing environment with the electronic calendar entry and the at least one cloud resource;

determine a set of users authorized to access the at least one electronic cloud resource from the at least one computer storage device via the private cloud based on the electronic calendar entry, the set of users being a set of attendees of the meeting; and

authorize access to the portion for the set of users for a duration of the meeting; and

revoke the access to the portion for the set of users at an end time of the duration of the meeting;

wherein the portion comprises a private storage cloud, and the networked computing environment comprises a cloud computing environment.