Privacy Protection Based on Device Presence

• US 20150269318A1
• Filed: 03/20/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Neff, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,438,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a framework for facilitating privacy protection based on device presence. In accordance with one aspect, presence of a recording device is determined. A set of one or more privileges associated with the recording device may be retrieved. Based on the set of one or more privileges, the framework may control acquisition of personal health information (PHI) by the recording device, wherein the PHI is accessible via a PHI presentation device that is within a predetermined distance from the recording device.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating privacy protection, comprising:

a non-transitory memory device for storing computer readable program code; and

a processor in communication with the memory device, the processor being operative with the computer readable program code to;

determine presence of a recording device;

retrieve a set of one or more privileges associated with the recording device; and

control, based on the set of one or more privileges, acquisition of personal health information (PHI) by the recording device, wherein the PHI is accessible via a PHI presentation device that is within a predetermined distance from the recording device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording device comprises a smartphone or tablet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording device comprises a wearable computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative with the computer readable program code to register the recording device to override general lockouts in the recording device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the recording device is certified to comply with a standard privacy protocol.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is operative with the computer readable program code to determine presence of the recording device by performing an image recognition technique to recognize the recording device in surveillance image or video.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is operative with the computer readable program code to determine presence of the recording device by detecting a signal broadcast by the recording device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative with the computer readable program code to determine, based on sensor data, if the recording device is within the predetermined distance from the PHI presentation device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative with the computer readable program code to maintain a whitelist of devices that are associated with one or more privileges to access the PHI.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further operative with the computer readable program code to define at least one of the set of one or more privileges based on location data, time data or a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is operative with the computer readable program code to control acquisition of the PHI by controlling the recording device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is operative with the computer readable program code to control the recording device by communicating a control signal to the recording device and causing the recording device to disable the recording function.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is operative with the computer readable program code to control acquisition of the PHI by selectively removing or obfuscating any PHI data recorded by the recording device.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is operative with the computer readable program code to control acquisition of the PHI by controlling presentation of the PHI by the PHI presentation device.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the processor is operative with the computer readable program code to control the presentation of the PHI by communicating a control signal to the PHI presentation device and causing the PHI presentation device to selectively blank out the PHI data.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a program of instructions executable by machine to perform steps for facilitating privacy protection, the steps comprising:

determining presence of a recording device;

retrieving a set of one or more privileges associated with the recording device; and

controlling, based on the set of one or more privileges, acquisition of personal health information (PHI) by the recording device, wherein the PHI is accessible via a PHI presentation device that is within a predetermined distance from the recording device.

17. A method of privacy protection, comprising:

determining presence of a recording device;

retrieving a set of one or more privileges associated with the recording device; and

controlling, based on the set of one or more privileges, acquisition of personal health information (PHI) by the recording device, wherein the PHI is accessible via a PHI presentation device that is within a predetermined distance from the recording device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein controlling acquisition of the PHI comprises controlling a recording function of the recording device.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein controlling acquisition of the PHI comprises controlling presentation of the PHI by the PHI presentation device.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein controlling acquisition of the PHI comprises selectively removing or obfuscating any PHI data recorded by the recording device.