Secure Co-browsing via Server Intermediary for Mobile Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in providing secure co-browsing of patient records on mobile devices with limited computing resources, which are not well-equipped to support co-browsing alongside audio and video communications, and require special permissions and capabilities from operating systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that initiates a communication session between devices, accesses patient data records from a server, sends a reference of the records to other devices, and requests the server to access the records, allowing secure co-browsing without persistently storing sensitive data outside clinical information systems, and encrypts data in transit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If co-browsing is implemented on mobile devices, then real-time sharing of patient data during audio or video calls is enabled, but mobile devices with limited computing resources are not well-equipped to support co-browsing along with audio and video communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that hosts the co-browsing functionality and patient data records. Mobile devices communicate with the server rather than directly with each other for data sharing. The server handles the computational burden of co-browsing operations, including rendering patient records and managing session state, while mobile devices only need to display content and capture user input. This mediator architecture enables co-browsing on resource-constrained mobile devices without requiring them to have sufficient computing power to run the full co-browsing system locally.
2Ease of operation
If co-browsing is implemented on mobile devices, then real-time sharing of patient data is enabled, but special permissions and capabilities from operating systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intermediary that manages all complex operations including data retrieval from electronic medical record systems, content rendering, and session management. Mobile device applications only need basic permissions to access the camera/microphone for video/audio calls and to display web content through a browser. The server handles authentication with medical record systems and manages data access permissions, eliminating the need for complex operating system permissions on mobile devices for co-browsing functionality.
3Productivity
If patient data records are shared during co-browsing, then real-time collaboration is improved, but security risks increase due to potential persistent storage outside clinical information systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses temporary copies of patient data records that are transmitted over secure connections and displayed in the browser's temporary memory. The patent explicitly states that data is not persistently stored on mobile devices or the server outside the clinical information system. After the co-browsing session ends, all temporary copies are automatically cleared from memory. This copying approach enables real-time collaboration while maintaining security by ensuring no persistent copies of sensitive patient data exist outside the controlled clinical environment.
4Productivity
If multiple patient data records are shared in a single co-browsing session, then comprehensive discussion is enabled, but data transmission and processing volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the essential display data for patient records rather than complete data sets. The server retrieves records from the electronic medical record system, extracts only the visual display content needed for co-browsing, and transmits this minimized data set to mobile devices for display. This extraction approach allows comprehensive discussion of multiple patient records while minimizing data transmission volume and processing requirements on mobile devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are provided for co-browsing of patient records on communication devices. The method includes setting up a communication session between a first communication device and one or more second communication devices, where the communication session is initiated by the first communication device. Further, the method includes accessing one or more patient records via a server, where the one or more patient records are accessed at the first communication device. The method further includes sending a reference of the one or more patient records to the one or more second communication devices, where the reference is sent from the first communication device.