Apparatus and method for defining area of authority for user access rights

An apparatus for setting access rights to project data in an application by defining an area of authority for a user, the apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• determine a plurality of fields of data for a project in the application;
• determine a topology of one or more fields, from among the determined plurality of fields, for which the area of authority is to be settable, the area of authority being settable on a per-user basis and being settable and changeable on-the-fly and post-development of the application;
• set an area of authority for a registered user of the application, based on a field of the determined topology, the area of the authority being set for the field based on a user input defining an area of authority value for the field, wherein the area of authority is set on-the-fly and post-development of the application;
• and
• control a graphical user interface of the application to restrict access by the registered user to a database record of the data for which a value of the field does not comply with the set area of authority for the determined topology,
• wherein the database record includes another field, different from the field, such that access to the other field in the database record is restricted based on the value of the field in the database record not being equal to the area of authority value.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recorded instructions, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method for setting access rights to project data in an application by defining an area of authority for a user, the method comprising:

• determining a plurality of fields of data for a project in the application;
• determining a topology of one or more fields, from among the determined plurality of fields, for which the area of authority is to be settable, the area of authority being settable on a per-user basis and being settable and changeable on-the-fly and post-development of the application;
• setting an area of authority for a registered user of the application, based on a field of the determined topology, the area of the authority being set for the field based on a user input defining an area of authority value for the field, wherein the area of authority is set on-the-fly and post-development of the application;
• and
• preventing controlling a graphical user interface of the application to restrict access by the registered user to a database record of the data for which a value of the field does not comply with the set area of authority for the determined topology,
• wherein the database record includes another field, different from the field, such that access to the other field in the database record is restricted based on the value of the field in the database record not being equal to the area of authority value.