Selective Emergency Access to Protected Smartphone Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing authentication systems fail to provide limited access to protected information during emergencies, compromising user privacy and failing to establish appropriate access privileges for emergency responders.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses near-field communication to authenticate emergency responders, determining their type, and granting partial access to protected information based on their role, utilizing partitioned memory to ensure privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If full access to protected information is provided during emergencies, then emergency responders can obtain necessary information, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments protected information into multiple partitions with different access levels. Emergency responders only access the specific partition relevant to their role (e.g., medical information for medical responders), while other partitions remain protected. This resolves the contradiction by enabling necessary access without compromising overall privacy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different access privileges to different users based on their specific roles. Medical responders receive medical information access, while police responders receive different information access. This localized quality of access ensures each responder gets only what they need, balancing emergency needs with privacy protection.
2Device complexity
If authentication systems provide full access or block access, then security is simplified, but limited access for emergency responders cannot be established
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication system dynamically adjusts access privileges based on the responder's type and the specific emergency situation. Rather than static full or blocked access, the system adapts by granting appropriate partial access levels, resolving the contradiction between system simplicity and access versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system serves multiple functions: it authenticates users, determines responder types, establishes appropriate access levels, and manages different information partitions. This multi-functionality allows a single system to handle both security simplicity and access versatility requirements.
3Productivity
If emergency responders can access protected information, then emergency response effectiveness improves, but information security is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial access where emergency responders receive only the specific information they need for their response duties rather than complete access to all protected information. This partial action enables effective emergency response while maintaining information security for unrelated data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication system that mediates between emergency responders and protected information. This intermediary verifies responder credentials, determines appropriate access levels, and controls information disclosure, thereby enabling effective response while preserving security through controlled intermediary access.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables secure, selective disclosure of sensitive information to emergency responders, ensuring privacy by providing need-to-know access without exposing full information.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a credential from the second mobile device, using near-field communication
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for selective disclosure of protected information are provided. Embodiments provide a way to provide limited access to protected information during an emergency. A user may have a medical emergency, and may store protected information on a smartphone that may be useful for an emergency responder, such as certain medical information. The smartphone may provide selective access to only relevant medical information, or may allow a responder to call emergency contact numbers without exposing the actual number. Emergency responders have designated near-field communication chips or other electronic keys to unlock the protected information. Alternatively, near-field communication chips embedded in a wearable allow emergency responders to access protected information at a user's smartphone. Once the emergency responder has established his or her role, the user's smartphone unlocks and provides appropriate access until the responder indicates that access is done and the smartphone relocks.