Portable Device Emergency Contact Access with Selective Password Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable electronic devices with password locks hinder emergency access to contact information and health-related data when the user is incapacitated or deceased, delaying communication with family and medical personnel.
Innovation Solution
A portable electronic device allows designated emergency contacts and health information to be displayed without entering a password, using authentication methods like docking stations for medical personnel, and providing options for emergency calls and alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a password lock is implemented on a portable electronic device to prevent unauthorized access, then device security is improved, but emergency access to contact information and health data is hindered when the user is incapacitated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device's information storage into multiple categories: password-protected information, emergency accessible information, and always-accessible information. This segmentation allows the password lock to protect sensitive data while permitting emergency contacts and critical health information to be accessed without the password, thus resolving the contradiction between security and emergency accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (emergency access feature) that mediates between the password protection system and emergency needs. When emergency services or contacts need access, they can bypass the password requirement for specific information categories, allowing security to be maintained for normal access while enabling emergency access when needed.
2Ease of operation
If all information is made accessible without a password to enable emergency access, then ease of operation during emergencies is improved, but device security and privacy protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different portions of the device's information storage have different access characteristics. Some information categories require password protection while others are accessible without password. This selective access control maintains security for sensitive information while enabling emergency access to critical information, resolving the contradiction between security and ease of emergency access.
3Ease of operation
If a welcome screen displays personal information to aid in device identification when lost, then ease of recovery is improved, but owner privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for device recovery (such as name and contact information) and places it on the welcome screen, while leaving more sensitive personal information password-protected. This selective extraction allows the device to be identified and recovered when lost without exposing the owner's full privacy, resolving the contradiction between ease of recovery and privacy protection.
Data Source
AI summary
Improved techniques for facilitating emergency access to one or more contacts stored on a portable electronic device are disclosed. One or more contacts on the portable electronic device are designated as emergency contacts. While the portable electronic device is password-locked, a request to display the one or more emergency contacts on the password-locked portable electronic device is received. Without requiring a password, the one or more emergency contacts are displayed on the portable electronic device.