I want to know and learn what is the concept and underlying technique behind creating a role based menu in an erp application. We have all seen it work. But I don't knwo how to implement it. For example take an Institute management System. It can have users belonging to three different roles, namely admin, faculty and students. When a user logs in by providing username and password he is presented with an appropriate menu depending on what role he has been assigned. For each role there is a different menu with admin having the maximum privelege and access to maximum resources and facilities and student having the least.

I would want to know how to create such a system. I want to know what are the tables I need to create and what data they should hold in what format and how to load different menus depending on the roles assigned to the user. It is all database centric. That is very obvious. But I can't fathom how to approach the task. Any reference or worked out example would be of massive help. Explanations with reference to the above mentioned institute management system would be of much help to me and massively appreciated.

Look forward to receiving some replies and help on this matter.

Many Thanks in advance.