The formulary model for flexible privacy and access controls

Abstract

This paper presents a model for engineering the user interface for large data base systems in order to maintain flexible access controls over sensitive data. The model is independent of both machine and data base structure, and is sufficiently modular to allow cost-effectiveness studies on access mechanisms. Access control is based on sets of procedures called formularies. The decision on whether a user can read, write, update, etc., data is controlled by programs (not merely bits or tables of data) which can be completely independent of the contents or location of raw data in the data base.