Michael W Hicks

Title: Michael W Hicks: Innovator in Authorization Policy Analysis

Introduction

Michael W Hicks is a notable inventor based in Silver Spring, MD (US), recognized for his contributions to the field of authorization policy analysis. With a total of three patents to his name, Hicks has developed innovative systems and methods that enhance the understanding and validation of authorization policies.

Latest Patents

One of Hicks' latest patents is titled "Authorization Policy Analysis." This invention presents a system and method for analyzing authorization policies through a policy analyzer that answers first-order questions. The analyzer reduces policies to Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT), allowing for a structured evaluation of policy behavior. The input includes a policy and a schema, and if the policy passes strict validation, the analyzer symbolically evaluates it to encode its semantics as an SMT expression. This expression is then used to formulate queries about policy behavior, such as identifying inputs on which two policies both evaluate to true. The reduction to SMT focuses on policies that pass strict validation, ensuring effective analysis for large-scale deployments.

Another significant patent by Hicks is "Authorization Policy Validation." This system and method involves a validator that takes an authorization policy and a schema specifying entity types and their attributes. The validator checks the policy's conformity to the schema, ensuring it is free of type errors and attribute access errors for any input that adheres to the schema.

Career Highlights

Throughout his career, Hicks has worked with prominent companies such as Amazon Technologies, Inc. and Correct Computation, Inc. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in developing advanced systems for policy analysis and validation.

Collaborations

Hicks has collaborated with talented individuals in his field, including Emina Torlak and Neha Rungta. These collaborations have likely enriched his work and led to further advancements in authorization policy technologies.

Conclusion

Michael W Hicks stands out as an innovator in the realm of authorization policy analysis, with a focus on creating systems that enhance policy validation and understanding. His contributions are significant in advancing the field and ensuring robust policy management.