System for Secure Mobile Healthcare Selection

• US 20100063930A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 23andme Incorporated (23andMe Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Expanse Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Eldering, Charles Anthony, Kenedy, Andrew Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

A method, system and device for secure mobile healthcare selection are presented in which a user can, from a mobile device, authorize the comparison of pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) data with data profiles corresponding to healthcare products, services and service providers to determine which are the most appropriate for a particular consumer. Data masking is used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data.

Claims

1. A mobile device for providing access to masked data, comprising:

a) a receiver for receiving a request requiring access to pangenetic data;

b) an authorization interface for granting access to the pangenetic data by generating an authorization associated with at least one pre-approved data mask; and

c) a transmitter for transmitting the authorization associated with the at least one pre-approved data mask.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the authorization interface generates the authorization if supplied with user input comprising at least one combination of characters that matches at least one combination of characters previously stored in association with the user, each of the characters being selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters and non-alphanumeric characters.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the authorization interface generates the authorization if supplied with user input comprising at least one combination of characters that matches at least one combination of characters randomly selected by software that interacts with the authorization interface, each of the characters being selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters and non-alphanumeric characters.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the authorization interface generates the authorization if supplied with user input comprising biometric data that matches biometric data previously stored in association with the user.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting in part (c) is to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the pangenetic data are selected from the group consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms, nucleotides, base pairs, nucleotide sequences, gene sequences, genomic sequences, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, epigenetic sequence patterns, and pangenetic based disorders, traits and conditions.

7. A computer based method for providing access to masked data in a mobile environment, comprising:

a) receiving a request requiring access to pangenetic data;

b) generating an authorization associated with at least one pre-approved data mask to grant access to the pangenetic data; and

c) transmitting the authorization associated with the at least one pre-approved data mask.

8. The computer based method of claim 7, wherein, in order for the authorization to be generated, a user is required to supply input comprising at least one combination of characters that matches at least one combination of characters previously stored in association with the user, each of the characters being selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters and non-alphanumeric characters.

9. The computer based method of claim 7, wherein, in order for the authorization to be generated, a user is required to supply input comprising at least one combination of characters that matches at least one combination of characters randomly selected by software interacting with the authorization interface, each of the characters being selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters and non-alphanumeric characters.

10. The computer based method of claim 7, wherein, in order for the authorization to be generated, a user is required to supply input comprising biometric data that matches biometric data previously stored in association with the user.

11. The computer based method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting in step (c) is to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.

12. The computer based method of claim 7, wherein the pangenetic data are selected from the group consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms, nucleotides, base pairs, nucleotide sequences, gene sequences, genomic sequences, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, epigenetic sequence patterns, and pangenetic based disorders, traits and conditions.

13. A computer system for providing access to masked pangenetic data in a mobile environment, comprising:

a) a receiving module for receiving a request requiring access to pangenetic data;

b) an authorization module for establishing a secure connection with a mobile device and for verifying the identity of a user of the mobile device; and

c) a communications module for authorizing transmission of pangenetic data to which a data mask has been applied based on the request and the verified identity of the user of the mobile device.

14. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising a data mask selection module for selecting the data mask for application to the pangenetic data based on the request and the verified identity of the user of the mobile device.

15. The computer system of claim 13, further comprising a data mask application module for applying the data mask to the pangenetic data based on the request and the verified identity of the user of the mobile device.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the authorization module also verifies application of the data mask to the pangenetic data.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein application of the data mask to the pangenetic data conceals one or more pangenetic features associated with one or more health conditions.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein application of the data mask to the pangenetic data conceals one or more pangenetic features associated with one or more disease predispositions.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the pangenetic data are selected from the group consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms, nucleotides, base pairs, nucleotide sequences, gene sequences, genomic sequences, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, epigenetic sequence patterns, and pangenetic based disorders, traits and conditions.

20. A computer based method for providing access to masked pangenetic data in a mobile environment, comprising:

a) receiving a request requiring access to pangenetic data;

b) establishing a secure connection with a mobile device;

c) verifying the identity of a user of the mobile device; and

d) authorizing transmission of pangenetic data to which a data mask has been applied based on the request and the verified identity of the user of the mobile device.

21. The computer based method of claim 20, further comprising a step of selecting the data mask for application to the pangenetic data based on the request and the verified identity of the user of the mobile device.

22. The computer based method of claim 20, further comprising a step of applying the data mask to the pangenetic data based on the request and the verified identity of the user of the mobile device.

23. The computer based method of claim 20, further comprising verifying the application of the data mask to the pangenetic data.

24. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein application of the data mask to the pangenetic data conceals one or more pangenetic features associated with one or more health conditions.

25. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein application of the data mask to the pangenetic data conceals one or more pangenetic features associated with one or more disease predispositions.

26. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein verifying the identity of the user of the mobile device comprises i) receiving at least one combination of characters input by the user and ii) determining whether the at least one combination of characters input by the user matches at least one combination of characters previously stored in association with the user, each of the characters being selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters and non-alphanumeric characters.

27. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein verifying the identity of the user of the mobile device comprises i) receiving at least one combination of characters input by the user and ii) determining whether the at least one combination of characters input by the user matches at least one combination of characters randomly selected by software that interacts with the authorization interface, each of the characters being selected from the group consisting of alphanumeric characters and non-alphanumeric characters.

28. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein verifying the identity of the user of the mobile device comprises i) receiving biometric data input by the user and ii) determining whether the biometric data input by the user matches biometric data previously stored in association with the user.

29. The computer based method of claim 20, wherein the pangenetic data are selected from the group consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms, nucleotides, base pairs, nucleotide sequences, gene sequences, genomic sequences, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, epigenetic sequence patterns, and pangenetic based disorders, traits and conditions.