Examples of the Policy Decision Process by Agent Type

This section illustrates the policy decision process through the use of flow charts: one for J2EE agents and one for web agents. These two flow charts show how J2EE agents and web agents can differ in that J2EE security can be enabled for J2EE agents.

These charts illustrate possible scenarios that can take place when an end user makes a request for a resource. Therefore, the end user points a browser to a URL. That URL is a resource, such as a JPEG image, HTML page, JSP page, etc. When a resource is under the sphere of influence of the agent, the agent intervenes to varying degrees, depending on the specifics of the situation, checks the request, and takes the appropriate action, which culminates with the user either being allowed or denied access to the resource. The charts that follow reflect the potential paths a request makes before finally being allowed or denied.

Policy Decision Process for J2EE Agents

The figure that follows is a flow chart of the policy decision process for J2EE agents. This figure illustrates how a single request is processed and how the filter mode is involved in the process.

Figure A–3 J2EE Agents and the Policy Decision Process

Policy Decision Process for Web Agents

The figure that follows is a flow chart of the policy decision process for web agents. This figure illustrates how a single request is processed.

Figure A–4 Web Agents and the Policy Decision Process