Devices and methods for enabling authorization and communication between indirectly related parties via networked computing systems using data models with nested party relationships

A computer comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program code which, when executed by the processor, performs a computer-implemented method for using a data model to enable authorization and communication between computers including a first computer configured to provide a service, a second computer in communication with the first computer and configured to consume the service, and a third computer in communication with one or both of the first computer and the second computer, the program code comprising:
• program code for storing, using a processor, the data model, wherein the data model describes nested party relationships among a first party having access to the first computer, a second party having access to the second computer, and a third party having access to the third computer, wherein the data model describes the third party as a third set of attributes specifying authorizations of the third party with respect to only the second party, the third set of attributes being nested within and dependent upon a second set of attributes specifying authorizations of the second party with respect to the first party;
• program code for receiving a request at the first computer to use the service, the request being from at least one of the second party and the third party via the second computer or the third computer;
• program code for determining, using the processor in conjunction with the data model, whether the request has authorization to use the service, whereby a determination is made;
• and
• program code for granting or denying, using the processor and based on the determination, access to the service to at least one of the second computer and the third computer.