Open AccessA nonmonotonic modal authorization logic for pervasive computing
Author(s) -
Noorollahi Ali,
Fallah Mehran S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
security and communication networks
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1939-0122
pISSN - 1939-0114
DOI - 10.1002/sec.1063
Subject(s) - computer science , description logic , modal logic , modal , semantics (computer science) , modal operator , authorization , non monotonic logic , ubiquitous computing , theoretical computer science , multimodal logic , human–computer interaction , programming language , computer security , chemistry , polymer chemistry
Abstract Modal logics have proven invaluable for authorization in distributed systems. The logics devised so far, however, are inadequate to meet the requirements of pervasive environments. Such environments are, in general, characterized as open systems in which computing and communication facilities are provided to human users in a dynamic manner. These features suggest the need for the modification of existing logics in two directions. First, users’ capabilities being intrinsic to pervasive computing should be incorporated into the underlying modal logic. Second, the logic should be equipped with appropriate machinery so that it can deal with the imperfection in the information required for authorization. This paper has contributions in both directions. We present a logic that reflects how the capabilities of users change in different contexts. Nonmonotonicity is then added to the logic so that earlier decisions based on imperfect information can be retracted. The usefulness of our formulation is demonstrated through the added capacity it provides for specifying and enforcing access control policies in real‐life environments. We also present a minimal model semantics that reflects nonmonotonicity through the way it gives meaning to the formulas of the logic. Finally, we propose a sound and complete decision procedure based on semantic tableaux. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.