Digital Immunity Verification With Privacy-Preserving Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to provide a secure and efficient method for verifying patient immunity to pathogens, particularly during pandemics like COVID-19, leading to hospital overload and restricted civil liberties, while existing immunity databases do not adequately protect patient privacy.
Innovation Solution
A selectively accessible database system that stores patient-specific data, including exposure and vaccination history, allowing real-time verification of immunity through mobile devices or wearable technology, using dual-factor authentication and biometric security, and broadcasting immunity status via Bluetooth signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a centralized immunity database is implemented to verify patient immunity status, then the efficiency of immunity verification and access control is improved, but patient privacy security deteriorates due to centralized data storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized immunity database into distributed nodes across multiple healthcare facilities and authorized entities. Each node stores only the specific immunity data relevant to that facility, eliminating the need for a single centralized repository while maintaining verification capabilities across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic intermediaries including public-key infrastructure, digital signatures, and secure tokens that mediate between the need for data verification and privacy protection. These intermediaries enable authorized entities to verify immunity status without accessing underlying personal health data.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive patient data is stored to enable thorough immunity verification, then the accuracy of immunity status determination is improved, but data security risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts personally identifiable information (PII) from immunity verification data, storing only the necessary verification credentials (such as vaccination certificates or test results) without associated personal identifiers. This separation allows accurate verification while minimizing exposure of sensitive patient data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different levels of data access and verification detail at different healthcare facilities based on their specific needs and security requirements, rather than enforcing a uniform data storage standard across all entities.
3Speed
If real-time immunity verification is implemented to enable rapid access decisions, then the speed of access control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-processing and validating immunity data at the point of entry into the system, creating verified credentials that can be quickly authenticated later without requiring complex real-time analysis. This upfront validation simplifies subsequent verification operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital copies of immunity credentials (such as electronic vaccination certificates or test result tokens) that can be rapidly transmitted and verified without moving or accessing the original patient records, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining verification speed.
4Reliability
If selective access control is implemented to protect patient data, then patient privacy protection is improved, but verification accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal verification credentials that can be used across multiple healthcare facilities and authorized entities without requiring facility-specific access arrangements. A single verified immunity credential serves multiple purposes and locations, maintaining both privacy protection and broad accessibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for verifying a patient's immunity to a predetermined pathogen are provided. The contemplated system relies on at least one of patient-specific and exposure data, which could include immunization or vaccination data, to assess the patient's immunity to a predetermined pathogen. If immunity is verified, the patient is selectively issued a digital certificate real-time and/or on-demand used to allow access to a building, gain authorization to conduct predetermined activities, work, travel freely, etc. The immunity certificate may be renewed or revoked if predetermined events occur, such as a rise in body temperature over a predetermined level.