MANAGEMENT-APPARATUS CARD, MEASURING APPARATUS, HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING VITAL SIGN DATA

• US 20090097641A1
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Futa, Yuichi, Yokota, Kaoru, Matsuzaki, Natsume, Harada, Shunji, Nonaka, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/88 Medical equipments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/30 Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy

Abstract

The management-apparatus card capable of being attached to a management apparatus receives, from the measuring apparatus, first unique information indicating the measuring apparatus, and identification information indentifying a user of the measuring apparatus; stores second unique information indicating the management-apparatus card; generates a decryption key corresponding to an encryption key, using the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information; stores the generated decryption key; receives encrypted vital sign data from the measuring apparatus; decrypts the received vital sign data using the stored decryption key; and obtains the decrypted vital sign data.

Claims

1. A management-apparatus card capable of being attached to a management apparatus, the management apparatus receiving encrypted vital sign data from a measuring apparatus and managing the received encrypted vital sign data, the measuring apparatus measuring vital sign data of a user of the measuring apparatus and encrypting the vital sign data using an encryption key, said management-apparatus card comprising:

an interface unit configured to receive, from the measuring apparatus, first unique information indicating the measuring apparatus, and identification information indentifying the user of the measuring apparatus;

a first storage unit configured to store second unique information indicating said management-apparatus card;

a generation unit configured to generate a decryption key corresponding to the encryption key, using the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

a second storage unit configured to store the generated decryption key; and

a control unit configured to;

receive the encrypted vital sign data from the measuring apparatus;

decrypt the received vital sign data using the stored decryption key; and

obtain the decrypted vital sign data.

2. The management-apparatus card according to claim 1,

wherein said interface unit is configured to receive the first unique information and the identification information from the measuring apparatus, when said management-apparatus card is attached to the measuring apparatus.

3. The management-apparatus card according to claim 1,

wherein said control unit is configured to receive the encrypted vital sign data from the measuring apparatus, when said management-apparatus card identifies the user based on the identification information and transmits to the measuring apparatus a request for the vital sign data corresponding to the identification information.

4. The management-apparatus card according to claim 1,

wherein said control unit is configured to receive the encrypted vital sign data from the measuring apparatus, when said management-apparatus card identifies the user based on the identification information and receives from the measuring apparatus a notification of transmission of the vital sign data corresponding to the identification information of the identified user.

5. The management-apparatus card according to claim 1,

wherein said control unit is configured to transmit the identification information to the measuring apparatus, and receive the encrypted vital sign data corresponding to the identification information from the measuring apparatus, when said management-apparatus card is detected within a predetermined range of the measuring apparatus.

6. The management-apparatus card according to claim 1,

wherein said control unit is further configured to transmit the decrypted vital sign data to the management apparatus.

7. The management-apparatus card according to claim 1,

wherein the encryption key is a public key, and the decryption key is a secret key corresponding to the public key, and

said generation unit is configured to generate the public key and the secret key, using the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information.

8. A measuring apparatus transmitting vital sign data to a management-apparatus card attached to a management apparatus, the management apparatus managing the vital sign data, said measuring apparatus comprising:

a measuring unit configured to measure vital sign data of a user of said measuring apparatus;

a storage unit configured to store first unique information indicating said measuring apparatus;

an interface unit configured to;

receive second unique information indicating a management-apparatus card from the management-apparatus card;

store, in said storage unit, the second unique information in association with identification information identifying the user; and

transmit the first unique information and the identification information to the management-apparatus card; and

a control unit configured to;

obtain, from said storage unit, the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

generate an encryption key based on the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

obtain the vital sign data corresponding to the user from said measuring unit;

encrypt the received vital sign data using the encryption key; and

transmit the encrypted vital sign data to the management-apparatus card.

9. The measuring apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising

a measuring-apparatus card attached to said measuring apparatus, the measuring-apparatus card being distinct from the management-apparatus card,

wherein the measuring-apparatus card includes said control unit configured to:

obtain, from said storage unit, the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

generate the encryption key based on the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

obtain the vital sign data corresponding to the user from said measuring unit;

encrypt the received vital sign data using the encryption key; and

transmit the encrypted vital sign data to the management-apparatus card.

10. The measuring apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising

a specifying unit configured to specify the user among a plurality of users of said measuring apparatus,

wherein said control unit is configured to encrypt the vital sign data corresponding to the user, using the encryption key generated based on the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information, when said specifying unit specifies the user.

11. The measuring apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein said interface unit is configured to transmit the first unique information and the identification information to the management-apparatus card, when the management-apparatus card is attached to said measuring apparatus.

12. The measuring apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein said control unit is configured to transmit the encrypted vital sign data to the management-apparatus card, when the management-apparatus card identifies the user based on the identification information and transmits to said measuring apparatus a request for the vital sign data corresponding to the identification information.

13. The measuring apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein said control unit is configured to:

identify the user based on the identification information;

transmit to the management-apparatus card a notification of transmission of the vital sign data corresponding to the identification information of the identified user; and

transmit the encrypted vital sign data to the management-apparatus card.

14. The measuring apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein said control unit is configured to receive the identification information from the management-apparatus card, and transmit the encrypted vital sign data corresponding to the identification information to the management-apparatus card, when the management-apparatus card is detected within a predetermined range of said measuring apparatus.

15. A health care system including a measuring apparatus, a measuring-apparatus card, and a management apparatus, the measuring apparatus measuring vital sign data, the measuring-apparatus card transmitting the vital sign data to a management-apparatus card attached to the measuring apparatus, and the management apparatus managing the vital sign data,

wherein said measuring apparatus includes:

a measuring unit configured to measure vital sign data of a user of said measuring apparatus;

a storage unit configured to store first unique information indicating said measuring apparatus; and

an interface unit configured to;

receive second unique information indicating the management-apparatus card from said management-apparatus card;

store, in said storage unit, the second unique information in association with identification information identifying the user; and

transmit the first unique information and the identification information to said management-apparatus card, and

said measuring-apparatus card includes a control unit configured to;

receive, from said measuring apparatus, the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

generate an encryption key based on the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

obtain from said measuring apparatus the vital sign data corresponding to the user;

encrypt the obtained vital sign data using the encryption key; and

transmit the encrypted vital sign data corresponding to the user to said management-apparatus card.

16. A health care system including a measuring apparatus, a management apparatus, a measuring-apparatus card, and a management-apparatus card, the measuring apparatus measuring vital sign data, the management apparatus managing the vital sign data, the measuring-apparatus card being attached to the measuring apparatus and transmitting the vital sign data to the management apparatus, and the management-apparatus card being attached to the management apparatus, receiving the vital sign data, and storing the received vital sign data in the management apparatus,

wherein said management-apparatus card includes:

a first interface unit configured to receive, from said measuring apparatus, first unique information indicating said measuring apparatus, and identification information indentifying a user of said measuring apparatus;

a first storage unit configured to store second unique information indicating said management-apparatus card;

a first control unit configured to generate a decryption key, using the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information; and

a second storage unit configured to store the generated decryption key,

said measuring apparatus includes;

a measuring unit configured to measure the vital sign data of the user of said measuring apparatus;

a third storage unit configured to store the first unique information; and

a second interface unit configured to receive the second unique information from said management-apparatus card, and transmit to said management-apparatus card the first unique information and the identification information,

said measuring-apparatus card includes a second control unit configured to;

receive, from said measuring apparatus, the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

generate an encryption key corresponding to the decryption key based on the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

receive the vital sign data corresponding to the user from said measuring apparatus;

encrypt the received vital sign data using the encryption key; and

transmit the encrypted vital sign data corresponding to the user to said management-apparatus card attached to said measuring apparatus, and

said first control unit is configured to decrypt the encrypted vital sign data using the decryption key stored in said second storage unit, and transmit the decrypted vital sign data to said management apparatus, when said management-apparatus card receives the encrypted vital sign data from said measuring-apparatus card.

17. The health care system according to claim 16,

wherein said measuring apparatus further includes:

an identification unit configured to identify the user among a plurality of users of said measuring apparatus, and

said second interface unit is configured to transmit, to said management-apparatus card, identification information of the user identified by said identification unit, when said management-apparatus card is attached to said second interface unit, and to transmit, to said measuring-apparatus card, vital sign data of the user identified by said identification unit, when said measuring-apparatus card is attached to said second interface unit.

18. The health care system according to claim 17,

wherein said identification unit is a button provided on said measuring apparatus.

19. A health care system including a measuring apparatus, a management apparatus, and a measuring-apparatus card, the measuring apparatus measuring vital sign data, the management apparatus managing the vital sign data, the measuring-apparatus card being attached to the measuring apparatus and transmitting the vital sign data to the management apparatus, and the management-apparatus card being attached to the management apparatus, receiving the vital sign data, and storing the received vital sign data in the management apparatus,

wherein said management-apparatus card includes:

a first interface unit configured to receive, from said measuring apparatus, first unique information indicating said measuring apparatus, and identification information indentifying a user of said measuring apparatus;

a first storage unit configured to store second unique information indicating said management-apparatus card;

a first control unit configured to generate a public key and a secret key, using the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information; and

a second storage unit configured to store the generated secret key,

said measuring apparatus includes;

a measuring unit configured to measure the vital sign data of the user of said measuring apparatus;

a third storage unit configured to store the first unique information; and

a second interface unit configured to transmit the first unique information and the identification information to said management-apparatus card, and receive the public key from said management-apparatus card, the public key being generated at said management-apparatus card by using the first unique information and the identification information transmitted by said second interface unit,

said measuring-apparatus card includes a second control unit configured to;

receive, from said measuring apparatus, the public key and the vital sign data corresponding to the user;

encrypt the received vital sign data using the public key; and

transmit the encrypted vital sign data corresponding to the user to said management-apparatus card, said measuring-apparatus card being attached to said measuring apparatus, and

said first control unit is configured to decrypt the encrypted vital sign data using the secret key stored in said second storage unit, and store the decrypted vital sign data in said management apparatus, when said management-apparatus card receives the encrypted vital sign data from said measuring-apparatus card.

20. A method for communicating vital sign data in a health care system, the health care system including a measuring apparatus, a management apparatus, a measuring-apparatus card, and a management-apparatus card, the measuring apparatus measuring vital sign data, the management apparatus managing the vital sign data, the measuring-apparatus card being attached to the measuring apparatus and transmitting the vital sign data to the management apparatus, the management-apparatus card being attached to the management apparatus, receiving the vital sign data, and storing the received vital sign data in the management apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, at the management-apparatus card from the measuring apparatus, first unique information indicating the measuring apparatus, and identification information identifying a user of the measuring apparatus;

generating at the management-apparatus card a decryption key using the first unique information, second unique information indicating the management-apparatus card, and the identification information;

measuring at the measuring apparatus the vital sign data of the user of the measuring apparatus;

receiving, at the measuring apparatus from the management-apparatus card, the second unique information;

transmitting, from the measuring apparatus to the management-apparatus card, the first unique information and the identification information;

receiving, at the measuring-apparatus card from the measuring apparatus, the vital sign data corresponding to the user from the measuring apparatus, together with the first unique information and the second unique information, when the measuring-apparatus card transmits the vital sign data corresponding to the user to the management-apparatus card attached to the measuring apparatus;

generating at the measuring-apparatus card an encryption key corresponding to the decryption key based on the first unique information, the second unique information, and the identification information;

encrypting at the measuring-apparatus card the received vital sign data using the encryption key;

transmitting, from the measuring-apparatus card to the management-apparatus card, the encrypted vital sign data; and

decrypting at the management-apparatus card the encrypted vital sign data using the generated decryption key and storing at the management-apparatus card the decrypted vital sign data in the management apparatus, when the management-apparatus card receives the encrypted vital sign data from the measuring-apparatus card.

21. A method for communicating vital sign data in a health care system, the health care system including a measuring apparatus, a management apparatus, a measuring-apparatus card, and a management-apparatus card, the measuring apparatus measuring vital sign data, the management apparatus managing the vital sign data, the measuring-apparatus card being attached to the measuring apparatus and transmitting the vital sign data to the management apparatus, the management-apparatus card being attached to the management apparatus, receiving the vital sign data, and storing the received vital sign data in the management apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, at the management-apparatus card from the measuring apparatus, first unique information indicating the measuring apparatus, and identification information identifying a user of the measuring apparatus;

generating at the management-apparatus card a public key and a secret key using the first unique information, second unique information indicating the management-apparatus card, and the identification information;

measuring at the measuring apparatus the vital sign data of the user of the measuring apparatus;

transmitting, from the measuring apparatus to the management-apparatus card, the first unique information and the identification information;

receiving, at the measuring apparatus from the management-apparatus card, the public key generated by using the first unique information and the identification information;

receiving, at the measuring-apparatus card from the measuring apparatus, the public key and the vital sign data corresponding to the user, when the measuring-apparatus card transmits the vital sign data corresponding to the user to the management-apparatus card attached to the measuring apparatus;

encrypting at the measuring-apparatus card the received vital sign data using the public key;

transmitting, from the measuring-apparatus card to the management-apparatus card, the encrypted vital sign data; and

decrypting at the management-apparatus card the encrypted vital sign data using the generated secret key and storing at the management-apparatus card the decrypted vital sign data in the management apparatus, when the management-apparatus card receives the encrypted vital sign data from the measuring-apparatus card.