Blockchain User Interface Log Validation via Hash Chains
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for logging and tracking user interactions in healthcare environments lack reliability and security, particularly in storing sensitive patient data, and do not adequately maintain privacy, relying on conventional methods like data downloads and screen dumps.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a blockchain-based system that logs user interface interactions into a digital chain of events, using a user tracking engine to derive and store session data into interaction tracking chains, with a validation blockchain to secure and verify the user interface software versions, ensuring secure and reliable storage and validation of user interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional logging methods (screen dumps, metadata) are used to track user interactions, then the system is simple to implement, but the reliability and security of stored patient data is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments user interaction data into discrete blocks that are individually hashed and linked together in a chain structure. Each block contains specific interaction events, creating modular units that can be independently verified while maintaining overall data integrity through cryptographic linking.
Solution Approach 2:
A blockchain intermediary layer is introduced between the user interaction capture and the final storage/verification system. This intermediary creates an immutable audit trail that mediates between data collection and validation, ensuring reliability without requiring complete system redesign.
2Loss of information
If detailed user interaction data is captured and stored, then the completeness of the audit trail is improved, but the privacy risk of stored information increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the data structure have different quality characteristics - the blockchain structure provides immutable, complete recording of all interactions, while the actual patient data can be stored with appropriate access controls and encryption. This allows information completeness in the audit trail while protecting privacy through localized security measures on sensitive data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the verification dimension (blockchain hash chains) from the data storage dimension (actual interaction records). This dimensional separation allows complete tracking in one dimension while enabling privacy protection mechanisms in another, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and privacy risk.
3Reliability
If blockchain technology is implemented to secure data storage, then the security and verification capability is improved, but the computing resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies blockchain technology partially - only to the critical audit trail components that require maximum security (the hash chains linking interactions), rather than applying full blockchain to all data storage. This partial application provides necessary security while avoiding the excessive computing resource requirements of complete blockchain implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing all actual interaction data in the blockchain (which would require excessive resources), the system stores cryptographic hashes and references as copies. The full data can be stored elsewhere with appropriate security, while the blockchain maintains a lightweight but secure verification copy through hashing.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are apparatus, systems, computer readable media, or methods wherein user interface user interactions may be electronically logged and stored based on various inputs and outputs of data from the user interface forming a digital chain of events and interactions (e.g., a blockchain). An interaction logging system is disclosed including a user tracking or logging engine configured to derive session data and user interface data storing the same into interaction tracking chains or blockchains. A validation blockchain may co-exist with a session blockchain that may be formed independently and include version data of user interface software acting as a secure verifiable history of the versions of the user interface. In a session block of the session blockchain, a pointer may be stored with the session data, wherein the pointer indicates a particular block on the validation blockchain that may assist in the validation of information stored in the session blockchain.