Encrypted SIM Medical Identifiers for Private Emergency EHR Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for accessing electronic health records (EHR) during emergencies are complex and time-consuming, often requiring network operator involvement, which compromises privacy and security, and do not efficiently provide critical medical information to first responders.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an encrypted medical identifier stored on a mobile device, accessible only by emergency entities, which is included in emergency calls to quickly and securely forward EHR to responders, utilizing secure processors and network entities to manage access and location services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If electronic health records are accessed during emergencies using existing systems, then medical information can be retrieved, but the process is complex and time-consuming requiring network operator involvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the medical identifier from the complex network operator system and stores it directly in the mobile device's SIM card. This extraction eliminates the need for network operator involvement during emergencies, simplifying the system while enabling rapid access to electronic health records through direct querying by emergency services
Solution Approach 2:
The medical identifier is pre-stored in the SIM card during normal times, preparing the system in advance for emergency situations. This preliminary action ensures that when an emergency occurs, the identifier is immediately available without requiring complex real-time retrieval processes, thus reducing response time while maintaining system simplicity
2Reliability
If network operator involvement is used to access EHR, then medical information can be obtained, but privacy and security are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The SIM card acts as a secure intermediary that stores the medical identifier and provides it directly to emergency services without requiring network operator mediation. This intermediary approach maintains security and privacy by eliminating the need for network operators to access or process sensitive health information, while still enabling straightforward access to EHR during emergencies
3Adaptability or versatility
If emergency call setup is initiated without subscriber identity, then emergency calls can be made by anyone, but security credentials for accessing EHR are not available
Solution Approach 1:
The SIM card serves multiple functions: it provides subscriber identity for normal network access and stores the medical identifier for emergency EHR access. This multi-functionality ensures that the same device component can support both universal emergency call accessibility (where anyone can call without subscription) and secure EHR access (where the pre-stored medical identifier provides authentication credentials)
Data Source
AI summary
In an approach to locating a wireless device, the present invention receives a call at an emergency entity coupled to a service operating in a core network, requesting to perform a location estimation of the first wireless device. To do so, the present invention determines a set of mobile devices in the vicinity of the first wireless device, said devices being able to perform wireless distance measurements and/or angle estimations, sends a message to each mobile device of the determined set instructing to perform distance measurements with the first wireless device, and receives results of the measurements.