Hardware Token Emergency Access for Health Records
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current health data management systems face challenges in providing secure and timely access to medical records during emergency situations, as existing access control mechanisms struggle to distinguish between genuine emergencies and malicious attempts, potentially infringing on user privacy and failing to provide critical health information to emergency responders.
Innovation Solution
A server system and hardware token-based solution that uses a sequence of secrets shared with a hardware token, combined with user authentication and encryption, to grant controlled and temporary access to medical records, ensuring only authorized personnel can access the data, with features like automated verification of user consciousness and limited-time access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If emergency override access is granted based on credentials alone, then access speed is improved, but security is worsened due to inability to distinguish genuine emergencies from malicious attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-distributing hardware tokens to authorized emergency personnel and pre-configuring the PHR server with emergency access policies. When an emergency occurs, the token-based authentication mechanism is already in place, allowing immediate verification without requiring real-time credential validation or administrative approval, thus achieving both fast access and maintained security
Solution Approach 2:
The hardware token acts as an intermediary between the emergency personnel and the PHR server. Instead of directly validating credentials or trusting emergency override requests, the system uses the hardware token as a trusted mediator that proves the identity and authorization of the requester. The token contains cryptographic elements that enable the server to verify authenticity without exposing sensitive credential information, resolving the contradiction between speed and security
2Reliability
If pre-defined access control policies are enforced, then security is improved, but access availability is worsened during genuine emergencies when users cannot provide passwords
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts access control based on the situation. During normal operations, standard password-based access control is enforced. During emergencies, when a hardware token is presented, the system dynamically switches to token-based authentication that automatically grants access without requiring user interaction. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain security policies while adapting to emergency conditions where users cannot provide passwords
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the authentication factor from the user by using hardware tokens that independently verify identity. Instead of requiring the user to actively provide credentials (password, biometric), the hardware token contains and presents authentication information autonomously. This extraction of authentication capability from the user resolves the contradiction by maintaining security verification while eliminating the need for user action during emergencies
3Productivity
If health data is made accessible during emergencies, then emergency response effectiveness is improved, but user privacy is worsened due to potential malicious access
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different access rights and data visibility to different users and situations. During genuine emergencies verified by hardware tokens, authorized personnel can access necessary health data. However, the system maintains local quality control by limiting access to only the specific PHR records relevant to the emergency situation and by applying different access levels based on the user's role and the emergency context. This selective access approach improves emergency response while minimizing privacy infringement
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms including automated logging of all emergency access events, tracking which personnel accessed which data and when. This feedback is used for post-emergency auditing to verify that access was legitimate. The feedback loop allows the system to maintain open access during emergencies while providing continuous monitoring and verification to prevent and detect malicious access, thus resolving the contradiction between emergency effectiveness and privacy protection
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a server system, a user terminal and a hardware token, for providing secure access to a data record. The server system comprises storage means (1) for storing a plurality of data records, a data record (2) having associated therewith a sequence of secrets (14) shared with a hardware token (60) corresponding to the data record (2), the server system (100) further being arranged for storing user authentication information (3). User authenticating means (10) are provided for receiving authentication credentials (11) of a user from a user terminal (200) and authenticating the user as an authorized user, based on the authentication credentials (11) of the user and the stored authentication information (3). Secret-receiving means (9) are provided for receiving a representation of a secret (13) revealed by a hardware token (60) and information identifying the data record corresponding to the hardware token from the terminal. Marking means (12) are provided for marking the unused secret (s3) as used.