Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for providing distributed access rights management using access rights filters

1. A method comprising:

generating, by a processor, an access rights filter configured to accept at least one specified authorization key and comprising executable code based at least in part upon a set of one or more access rights settings, the at least one specified authorization key associated with the access rights filter at the time of generation of the access rights filter; and

causing the access rights filter to be distributed to an access rights management entity,

wherein the generated access rights filter is configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to receive a service access request message comprising one or more received authorization keys, determine service access rights based on whether the one or more received authorization keys included in the service access request message match the at least one specified authorization key, and filter the service access request message based at least in part upon the determined service access rights.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to receive a service access request message further comprising a service access request type, and to determine service access rights further based upon the service access request type.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to filter services provided to a requesting device in response to receipt of the service access request message based at least in part upon the one or more received authorization keys included in the service access request message.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein generating an access rights filter further comprises generating an access rights filter further based upon capabilities of the access rights management entity.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to operate in Boolean combination with one or more additional access rights filters and determine service access rights based at least in part upon access rights determinations of the one or more additional access rights filters.

6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

causing a user interface for receiving a set of access rights settings to be provided; and

receiving the set of one or more access rights settings via the user interface.

7. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a program code portion for generating an access rights filter configured to accept at least one specified authorization key and comprising executable code based upon a set of one or more access rights settings, the at least one specified authorization key associated with the access rights filter at the time of generation of the access rights filter; and

a program code portion for causing the access rights filter to be distributed to an access rights management entity,

wherein the generated access rights filter is configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to receive a service access request message comprising one or more received authorization keys, determine service access rights based on whether the one or more received authorization keys included in the service access request message match the at least one specified authorization key, and filter the service access request message based at least in part upon the determined service access rights.

8. A computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to receive a service access request message further comprising a service access request type, and to determine service access rights further based upon the service access request type.

9. A computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to filter services provided to a requesting device in response to receipt of the service access request message based at least in part upon the one or more received authorization keys included in the service access request message.

10. A computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein the program code portion for generating an access rights filter includes instructions for generating an access rights filter further based upon capabilities of the access rights management entity.

11. A computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to operate in Boolean combination with one or more additional access rights filters and determine service access rights based at least in part upon access rights determinations of the one or more additional access rights filters.

12. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least:

generate an access rights filter configured to accept at least one specified authorization key, the access rights filter comprising executable code based at least in part upon a set of one or more access rights settings, and the at least one specified authorization key associated with the access rights filter at the time of generation of the access rights filter; and

cause the access rights filter to be distributed to an access rights management entity,

wherein the generated access rights filter is configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to receive a service access request message comprising one or more received authorization keys, determine service access rights based on whether the one or more received authorization keys included in the service access request message match the at least one specified authorization key, and filter the service access request message based at least in part upon the determined service access rights.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to receive a service access request message further comprising a service access request type and to determine service access rights further based upon the service access request type.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to filter services provided to a requesting device in response to receipt of the service access request message based at least in part upon the one or more-received authorization keys included in the service access request message.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to generate an access rights filter further based upon capabilities of the access rights management entity.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the generated access rights filter is further configured, when executed on the access rights management entity, to operate in Boolean combination with one or more additional access rights filters and determine service access rights based at least in part upon access rights determinations of the one or more additional access rights filters.

17. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one memory and stored computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to further cause the apparatus to:

cause a user interface for receiving a set of access rights settings to be provided; and

receive the set of one or more access rights settings via the user interface.

18. A method comprising:

receiving an access rights filter comprising executable code distributed by a filter generating entity, the access rights filter associated with at least one specified authorization key during generation of the access rights filter; and

executing, by a processor, the access rights filter, the executing comprising:

receiving, by the access rights filter, a service access request message comprising one or more received authorization keys;

determining, by the access rights filter, service access rights based on whether the one or more received authorization keys included in the service access request message matches the at least one specified authorization key; and

filtering, by the access rights filter, the service access request message based at least in part upon the determined service access rights.

19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the received service access request message further comprises a service access request type, and wherein determining service access rights comprises determining service access rights further based on the service access request type.

20. A method according to claim 18 , wherein filtering comprises filtering services provided to a requesting device in response to receipt of the service access request message based at least in part upon the one or more received authorization keys included in the service access request message.

21. A method according to claim 18 , wherein executing the access rights filter comprises executing the access rights filter in Boolean combination with one or more additional access rights filters, and wherein determining service access rights comprises determining service access rights further based on access rights determinations of the one or more additional access rights filters.