Ventilator Remote Adjustment With Authenticated Secure Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation systems lack secure and reliable methods for remote adjustment of ventilators, which can lead to unauthorized access, data interception, accidental corruption, and unsuitable setting changes, compromising the integrity and functionality of the ventilator.

Innovation Solution

A method for secure communication between a ventilator and a server involves authentication, encryption, data integrity verification, timestamping, and user-specific setting options, along with user confirmation and access control, ensuring the integrity and suitability of remote adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If remote adjustment of ventilator settings is enabled, then ease of operation is improved, but security and reliability deteriorate due to unauthorized access and data interception risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote adjustment capabilityVSAvoidsecurity integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary authentication of the ventilator and server before allowing remote adjustments. Authentication codes are generated and verified in advance, ensuring that only authorized devices can communicate. This preliminary security check prevents unauthorized access while maintaining remote adjustment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces encryption as an intermediary layer between the ventilator and server communication. Data is encrypted before transmission and decrypted only by authorized parties, acting as a mediator that protects against interception while enabling remote communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If data transmission is enabled for remote settings, then productivity is improved, but data integrity deteriorates due to accidental corruption during communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote configuration efficiencyVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements verification of data integrity through feedback mechanisms. Checksum verification and confirmation protocols ensure that transmitted settings are received correctly and not corrupted. The ventilator confirms receipt and proper interpretation of settings before applying them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary verification of setting suitability before transmission. The system checks whether received settings are appropriate for the specific ventilator model and configuration, preventing corruption from incompatible or erroneous data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If access control measures are implemented, then security is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple authentication and verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetamper protectionVSAvoidauthentication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The authentication system is designed to be universal, using standardized protocols that can be implemented across different ventilator models and server platforms. This multi-functionality approach allows robust security without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same authentication mechanism serves multiple purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If encryption is applied to communication, then confidentiality is improved, but processing time increases due to encryption and decryption operations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconfidentialityVSAvoidcommunication delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies encryption selectively to only the critical portions of communication that require confidentiality, rather than encrypting all data transmissions. This partial application of encryption maintains security for sensitive information while minimizing the time loss associated with encryption operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4112109B1Method for secure communication in a ventilation system
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 LOWENSTEIN MEDICAL TECH SA
  • EP4112109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4112109B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4112109B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for secure communication in a ventilation system during remote adjustment of a ventilator by a server.