Screen-Scraping Overlay for PHI Masking in Legacy HHM Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
HIPAA-restricted health management computer (HHM) interfaces face challenges in maintaining compatibility and user familiarity, leading to potential exposure of protected health information (PHI) and inefficient data entry workflows.
Innovation Solution
A computer system and method that performs screen scraping to create a screen-scraped image, compares it to a reference database, and overlays sensitive information with obscuration or guidance patterns to protect PHI and optimize data entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If screen scraping and overlay techniques are implemented to mask sensitive information, then security and privacy protection are improved, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary overlay system that sits between the user and the underlying HHM application interface. This overlay layer captures screen content, processes it through image recognition, and displays masked or guidance-enhanced versions without modifying the original application code, thus improving security while maintaining manageable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy of the display interface through screen scraping, then processes this copy to add masking or guidance overlays. By working with a copied visual representation rather than the original application data structures, the system achieves security improvements without deeply integrating into the complex existing system architecture
2Adaptability or versatility
If diverse HHM interfaces are maintained to support different applications, then application compatibility is improved, but user training requirements and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The overlay system is designed to be universally applicable across multiple different HHM applications. By using general image recognition and overlay techniques rather than application-specific integrations, a single system can enhance multiple diverse interfaces with consistent guidance patterns and masking behaviors, reducing the need for separate training for each application
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual changes through colored overlay indicators to guide user attention and indicate required actions across different applications. These universal visual cues (such as highlighting fields that need input or indicating completion status) provide consistent operational guidance regardless of the underlying application interface design
3Stability of the object's composition
If legacy HHM interfaces are maintained without modification, then system stability is improved, but PHI exposure risks and security vulnerabilities increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary protective action by overlaying masking indicators on sensitive information fields before potential unauthorized viewing or exposure can occur. The overlay layer proactively identifies and protects PHI by displaying masking patterns or indicators that prevent accidental exposure, while leaving the stable legacy interface unchanged
Data Source
AI summary
According to embodiments, a computer method for augmenting data includes keylogging a user interacting with a fillable form and/or capturing an at least momentary image of the fillable form, determining a format or indicia corresponding to a field of the fillable form, and causing display of the format or indicia over or in place of and registered to the field of the fillable form. Embodiments may enable protection of personally identifiable information and/or protected health information (PHI) from unauthorized eyes. Embodiments may identify errors in data entry. Embodiments may guide a user through a preferred form filling process.