Portable Data Storage Device with Biometric Access Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals face challenges in securely carrying and accessing large amounts of private information, such as medical and financial data, due to its voluminous nature and lack of secure storage solutions that allow controlled access by third parties in emergency situations.

Innovation Solution

A portable data storage device with a secure memory and processing unit that allows individuals to specify access conditions for their private data, using technologies like smart cards and biometric authentication, enabling secure storage and controlled access by third parties based on predefined parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If private information is stored in paper format, then the information can be carried by the person, but the information occupies too much space and is difficult to carry

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of private informationVSAvoidphysical space occupied

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent stores private information in digital form on a portable mass storage device, creating a compact digital copy of what would otherwise require extensive paper documentation. This allows the person to carry all their private information (medical, financial, emergency) in a small portable device rather than multiple paper files.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If private information is stored in a portable device, then the information can be carried by the person, but the information is not secured and could be accessed by criminals if misplaced or stolen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveportability of informationVSAvoidsecurity of information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements access conditions and authorization parameters before any access occurs. The system is pre-configured with rules about who can access what information under what circumstances, so that even if the device is stolen or lost, the information remains protected until the predetermined conditions are met.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary access control system between the stored information and potential accessers. This intermediary layer evaluates access requests against predetermined conditions and authorization parameters, allowing or blocking access based on whether the conditions are satisfied, rather than providing direct access to the data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If private information is stored by third parties, then the information is maintained securely, but the person cannot exercise control over access conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure storage of informationVSAvoidcontrol over access conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having third parties control access to information and the person requesting access each time, the patent inverts the model: the person sets the access conditions and authorization parameters in advance, and the system automatically evaluates future access requests against these predetermined conditions. This gives the person control while maintaining secure storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If access control mechanisms are implemented, then the information is secured, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity of informationVSAvoidcomplexity of access control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal access control framework that handles multiple types of information (medical, financial, emergency) and multiple access scenarios through a single set of authorization parameters and access conditions. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be many separate access control mechanisms into one unified system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8219771B2Portable device for storing private information such as medical, financial or emergency information

Publication Date: 2012.07.10 STMICROELECTRONICS INT NV

AI summary

A portable housing capable of being carried by a certain person includes a circuit. The circuit includes a memory for storing private data concerning that certain person, a circuit operable to effectuate storage of the private data in the memory in a secure manner, and a processing unit operable to control access to the memory for purposes of reading private data concerning the certain person from the memory and storing private data concerning the certain person to the memory. The conditions under which access to the memory for read and write operations with respect to the private data is permitted are governed by parameters that are specified by the certain person to whom the stored private data concerns. A biometric sensor may also be included to capture identification information useful in implementing the operations for controlling access to the memory.