Digital Watermarking for Healthcare GUI Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited screen real estate in healthcare computer systems poses challenges in efficiently displaying patient information in context while maintaining patient privacy, especially in publicly viewable areas where personal information should not be divulged.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a digital watermark on a graphical user interface, where the background color and intensity value are used to calculate a watermark color, allowing the rendering of a patient identifier that blends with the background, thus preserving privacy and optimizing screen space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If patient name or identifier is displayed in a field on the screen along with patient data, then the information is placed in proper context, but valuable screen real estate is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the patient identifier from the main display area and embeds it as a digital watermark in the background. This separates the identification function from the data display function, allowing patient information to be contextualized without consuming valuable screen real estate for the identifier itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the patient identifier from the traditional two-dimensional screen space into a different dimension by using digital watermarking technology. The identifier is embedded within the background image itself, utilizing the background as a carrier rather than allocating separate display space
2Loss of information
If patient name is displayed along with patient data, then the information is placed in proper context, but patient privacy is compromised in publicly viewable areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color manipulation as part of the digital watermarking process. The watermark color is calculated based on the background color and intensity value, allowing the identifier to blend with the background while remaining detectable to authorized users. This enables context provision without obvious visual exposure of sensitive information
Solution Approach 2:
The digital watermark acts as an intermediary between the need for patient identification and the need for privacy protection. It provides contextual information about which patient the data belongs to while maintaining privacy by embedding the identifier in a way that is not immediately visible or readable by unauthorized persons
3Productivity
If screen real estate is used efficiently to display patient data, then more information can be presented, but the ability to maintain patient privacy in public areas is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the patient identifier with the background display by embedding it as a digital watermark. This combines the functional need for identification with the aesthetic and privacy-protective need for minimal visual output, allowing efficient use of screen space while maintaining privacy through the subtlety of the watermark implementation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for use in a computer system is provided that links a patient with patient-related data that is displayed on a graphical user interface. The method includes first determining if a digital watermark is required. If a digital watermark is required, the current background color for the display of patient-related data is obtained, along with an intensity value. The subject matter for the watermark is also obtained. The color of the digital watermark is calculated, based upon the obtained background color and intensity value. The digital watermark is then rendered on the display.