Proximity-Based Healthcare Management System With Automatic Access To Private Information

• US 20090206992A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Original Assignee: Proxense, LLC
• Inventors: Gallivan, Ryan, Yundt, Kent, Giobbi, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.740
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

A healthcare management system and method provide efficient and secure access to private information. A portable physical device, referred to herein as a Personal Digital Key or “PDK”, stores one or more profiles in memory. The biometric profile is acquired in a secure trusted process and is uniquely associated with an individual that is authorized to use and is associated with the PDK. The PDK can wirelessly transmit the identification information including a unique PDK identification number and the biometric profile over a secure wireless channel for use in an authentication process. The PDK is configured to wirelessly communicate with a reader. A provider interface coupled to the reader, and the reader is further configured to receive profile information from the PDK. The healthcare management system also includes an auto login server configured to communicate with the provider interface to allow access to information in a patient database.

Claims

1. A healthcare management system with automatic access to information, comprising:

a personal digital key (PDK) configured to wirelessly communicate with a reader, wherein the PDK includes a profile uniquely associated with an individual;

a provider interface coupled to the reader, wherein the reader is further configured to receive profile information from the PDK; and

an auto login server configured to communicate with the provider interface to allow access to information in a patient database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the auto login server further comprises:

a biometric authentication module to perform biometric authentication based on the received profile information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader further comprises:

a biometric reader obtain a representation of physical or behavioral characteristics derived from the individual.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the biometric reader is at least one of a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, an iris scanner, a face scanner, a palm scanner, a DNA analyzer, a signature analyzer, and a voice analyzer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the PDK further comprises:

a biometric reader obtain a representation of physical or behavioral characteristics derived from the individual.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the biometric reader is at least one of a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, an iris scanner, a face scanner, a palm scanner, a DNA analyzer, a signature analyzer, and a voice analyzer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the auto login server further comprises an access module for comparing the received data with data stored in a credentials database.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the reader is further adapted to detect a PDK in response to the PDK entering a proximity zone of the reader, and request the PDK to transmit the profile.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the auto login server further comprises a data retrieval module for retrieving data from a second PDK.

10. A method for automatic access to information in a healthcare management system, the method comprising:

establishing a connection between Reader and personal digital key (PDK), wherein the PDK includes a profile uniquely associated with an individual;

receiving profile information from the PDK;

allowing access to a patient database based on the received profile information from the PDK.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

performing biometric authentication based on the received profile information from the PDK.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

obtaining a representation of physical or behavioral characteristics derived from the individual.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the physical or behavioral characteristics is received from at least one of a fingerprint scanner, a retinal scanner, an iris scanner, a face scanner, a palm scanner, a DNA analyzer, a signature analyzer, and a voice analyzer.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the auto login server further comprises an access module for comparing the received data with data stored in a credentials database.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting a PDK in response to the PDK entering a proximity zone of the reader, and request the PDK to transmit the profile.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising receiving data from a second PDK.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the data received from the second PDK is associated with the first PDK.