Patent Application Titled “Biometric Authentication for Access to Medical Information on a Distributed Ledger” Published Online (USPTO 20210183480)

2021 JUL 01 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a patent application by the inventors Iapalucci, Mike (Carrollton, TX, US); Johnson, Lars (Brooklyn, NY, US); Swarnam, Umayal Roja (Aurora, IL, US), filed on December 13, 2019, was made available online on June 17, 2021.

The assignee for this patent application is AT&T Intellectual Property I L.P. (Atlanta, Georgia, United States).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Blockchain is emerging as a preeminent distributed ledger and is receiving increasing attention from researchers, practitioners, organizations, and the public. Initially, blockchain was developed to address the “double spending” problem in cryptocurrencies, but recently, many new applications of blockchain have been proposed or are being developed. Blockchain allows sharing data in a decentralized, transparent and immutable way, using a peer-to-peer network, without the need to trust any particular entity.

“Blockchain is receiving growing attention not just as the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies, but also as a public ledger in various domains. Financial institutions, for example, are examining the use of blockchain as a ledger for financial transactions to cut out the middleman to reduce costs and to expedite processing transactions. Blockchain also can be used to maintain digital assets, such as stocks, bonds, land titles, and the like. Stored transactions record the transfer of assets between users. Blockchain can store data and documents, either in full or merely a digest of the data (e.g., a cryptographic hash like SHA-256), to provide evidence of the existence of data or documents, such as contracts, patents, scientific publications, deeds, insurance policies, and the like. Blockchain also can be used for identity management through hashed features of a person (e.g., verifiable attributes of the person) stored with a public key or some other means to electronically sign documents, or access remote services to protect people from identity theft and fraudulent impersonation. Blockchain has the potential to provide a secure infrastructure for smart cities and could facilitate the creation of a marketplace of social data where people share their private data for public benefit. Blockchain also has commercial uses, such as for tracking diamonds from mines to market, managing data provenance in Internet of Things (“IoT”) systems, providing transparency in product manufacturing and supply chain management, and supporting vehicle provenance.

“Health data is considered one of the most sensitive types of data about an individual, and under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) in the United States, must be protected with confidentiality. While hospitals and other medical facilities may use walled gardens to control access to patient health data, a more recent approach is to allow health care professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses, radiography technicians, etc.) access to patient health data that has been pseudo-anonymized. After patient health data are anonymized and can no longer be linked to a specific patient, the patient health data may be rendered useless to a malicious attacker. However, access to patient health data is crucial in emergency situations, and the anonymity of patient health data may prove troublesome if the patient is unable to provide identification when they require immediate treatment. Certain health data may be vital for first responders or for doctors to provide an immediate, accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. While the need for accurate health data for care is clear, threats from identity theft and lawsuits have made it critical to protect patient’s personal information throughout the diagnostic and treatment processes.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to biometric authentication for access to medical information on a distributed ledger. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a biometric authentication device can be used to identify a patient. The biometric authentication device can include one or more biometric sensors. The patient can be identified, at least in part, via biometric data obtained by the biometric sensor(s). A device can execute a blockchain application to connect the device to a peer node. In some embodiment, the device is or includes the biometric authentication device. The peer node can host a chaincode and a ledger. The ledger can store health data associated with the patient. The device can generate a proposal directed to the peer node. The proposal can be used to invoke the chaincode to interact with the ledger with regard to the health data. For example, the proposal may be to query the ledger for at least a portion of the health data, or to update the ledger such as to add, remove, and/or modify at least a portion of the health data. The device can send the proposal to the peer node. The device can receive a proposal response from the peer node. The proposal response can include a query result that includes the portion of the health data identified in the proposal. Alternatively, the proposal response can include a proposed ledger update.

“In some embodiments, the ledger can be associated with a specific channel of a plurality of channels associated with the health data. A plurality of peer nodes, including the peer node, and the blockchain application can be associated with the specific channel. The ledger can include different types of health data. For example, the ledger can include medical history data associated with the patient, patient prescription history data associated with the patient, or remote patient monitoring device data associated with the patient.

“In some embodiments, in response to the device receiving the proposed ledger update, the device can send the proposed ledger update to a plurality of endorser peer nodes. The device can receive, from the plurality of endorser peer nodes, endorsements of the proposed ledger update. If the device receives an endorsements from each of the plurality of endorser peer nodes, the device can determine that consensus among the plurality of endorser peer nodes has been achieved, and the proposed ledger update should be realized. If consensus is achieved, the device can generate and send a transaction order request to an orderer node. The orderer node can generate one or more transaction blocks based upon the transaction order request. The transaction blocks can be used to update the ledger in accordance with the proposed ledger update. The device can receive a ledger update event to indicate that the ledger has been updated by the peer node in accordance with the proposed ledger.

“According to another aspect disclosed herein, a permissioned blockchain network can include at least one organization. The organization can include a plurality of peer nodes and an orderer node. A first peer node of the plurality of peer nodes can be associated with a first group of users such as a plurality of patients. A second peer node of the plurality of peer nodes can be associated with a second group of users. The second group of users can include a plurality of medical professionals. A third peer node of the plurality of peer nodes can be associated with a third group of users. The third group of users can include a plurality of caregivers.

“The permissioned blockchain network also can include a plurality of channels through which the plurality of peer nodes communicate to update a plurality of ledgers. Each ledger of the plurality of ledgers can be associated with one channel of the plurality of channels. For example, a first ledger of the plurality of ledgers can include medical history data associated with the plurality of patients. A second ledger of the plurality of ledgers can include prescription history data associated with the plurality of patients. A third ledger of plurality of ledgers can include remote patient monitoring device data associated with the plurality of patients.

“The permissioned blockchain network can include a device. The device can include a processor that executes a blockchain application to perform operations. In particular, the blockchain application can connect the device to a specific peer node of the plurality of peer nodes. The blockchain application can generate a proposal directed to the specific peer node. The proposal can be used to invoke a specific chaincode to interact with a specific ledger. The blockchain application can send the proposal to the specific peer node. The blockchain application can receive a proposal response from the specific peer node.

“The permissioned blockchain network can include a biometric authentication device. The biometric authentication device can be used to identify a specific patient of the plurality of patients via biometric data obtained from a biometric sensor of the biometric authentication device. The biometric authentication device can be part of the device that executes the blockchain application or a standalone device.

“In some embodiments, the proposal is to query the specific ledger for at least a portion of health data stored by the specific ledger. The health data can include the medical history data associated with the specific patient, the prescription history data associated with the specific patient, or the remote patient monitoring device data associated with the specific patient. In these embodiments, the proposal response can include a query result that includes at least the portion of the health data.

“In some embodiments, the proposal is to update the specific ledger. For example, the proposal may be to add, remove, or modify at least the portion of the health data. In these embodiments, the device can execute a blockchain application to receive the proposal response that includes a proposed ledger update. The blockchain application can send the proposed ledger update to a plurality of endorser peer nodes. The blockchain application can receive, from the plurality of endorser peer nodes, endorsements of the proposed ledger update such that consensus among the plurality of endorser peer nodes is achieved. The blockchain application can generate and send a transaction order request to the orderer node. The orderer node generates a transaction block based upon the transaction order request to update the specific ledger in accordance with the proposed ledger update. The blockchain application can receive a ledger update event to indicate that the specific ledger has been updated by the specific peer node in accordance with the proposed ledger update.

“It should be appreciated that the above-described subject matter may be implemented as a computer-controlled apparatus, a computer process, a computing system, or as an article of manufacture such as a computer-readable storage medium. These and various other features will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description and a review of the associated drawings.

“This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended that this Summary be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A method comprising: receiving, by a device comprising a processor, biometric data identifying a patient, wherein a biometric authentication device identifies the patient and provides the biometric data; executing, by the device, a blockchain application to connect the device to a peer node, wherein the peer node hosts a chaincode and a ledger, and wherein the ledger stores health data associated with the patient; generating, by the device, a proposal directed to the peer node, wherein the proposal is to invoke the chaincode to interact with the ledger with regard to the health data; sending, by the device, the proposal to the peer node; and receiving, by the device, a proposal response from the peer node.

“2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric authentication device is a standalone device.

“3. The method of claim 1, wherein the biometric authentication device is part of the device executing the blockchain application.

“4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ledger is associated with a specific channel of a plurality of channels associated with the health data; and wherein a plurality of peer nodes comprising the peer node, and the blockchain application are associated with the specific channel.

“5. The method of claim 4, wherein the ledger comprises: medical history data associated with the patient; patient prescription history data associated with the patient; or remote patient monitoring device data associated with the patient.

“6. The method of claim 5, wherein the proposal is to query the ledger for at least a portion of the health data stored by the ledger; and wherein the proposal response comprises a query result comprising at least the portion of the health data.

“7. The method of claim 5, wherein the proposal is to update the ledger; and further comprising: receiving, by the device, the proposal response comprising a proposed ledger update; sending, by the device, the proposed ledger update to a plurality of endorser peer nodes; receiving, by the device, from the plurality of endorser peer nodes, endorsements of the proposed ledger update such that consensus among the plurality of endorser peer nodes is achieved; generating and sending, by the device, a transaction order request to an orderer node, wherein the orderer node generates a transaction block based upon the transaction order request to update the ledger in accordance with the proposed ledger update; and receiving, by the device, a ledger update event to indicate that the ledger has been updated by the peer node in accordance with the proposed ledger update.

“8. A permissioned blockchain network comprising: an organization comprising a plurality of peer nodes and an orderer node; a first peer node of the plurality of peer nodes associated with a first group of users, wherein the first group of users comprises a plurality of patients; a second peer node of the plurality of peer nodes associated with a second group of users, wherein the second group of users comprises a plurality of medical professionals; a third peer node of the plurality of peer nodes associated with a third group of users, wherein the third group of users comprises a plurality of caregivers; and a plurality of channels through which the plurality of peer nodes communicate to update a plurality of ledgers, wherein one ledger of the plurality of ledgers is associated with one channel of the plurality of channels, wherein a first ledger of the plurality of ledgers comprises medical history data associated with the plurality of patients, wherein a second ledger of the plurality of ledgers comprises prescription history data associated with the plurality of patients, and wherein a third ledger of plurality of ledgers comprises remote patient monitoring device data associated with the plurality of patients.

“9. The permissioned blockchain network of claim 8, further comprising: a device comprising a processor executing a blockchain application to perform operations comprising connecting the device to a specific peer node of the plurality of peer nodes; generating a proposal directed to the specific peer node, wherein the proposal is to invoke a specific chaincode to interact with a specific ledger; sending the proposal to the specific peer node; and receiving a proposal response from the specific peer node.

“10. The permissioned blockchain network of claim 9, further comprising: a biometric authentication device comprising a further processor executing instructions to perform operations comprising identifying a specific patient of the plurality of patients via biometric data obtained from a biometric sensor of the biometric authentication device.

“11. The permissioned blockchain network of claim 10, wherein the biometric authentication device is part of the device executing the blockchain application.

“12. The permissioned blockchain network of claim 10, wherein the proposal is to query the specific ledger for at least a portion of health data stored by the specific ledger, wherein the health data comprises the medical history data associated with the specific patient, the prescription history data associated with the specific patient, or the remote patient monitoring device data associated with the specific patient; and wherein the proposal response comprises a query result comprising at least the portion of the health data.

“13. The permissioned blockchain network of claim 10, wherein the proposal is to update the specific ledger; and wherein the device executes the blockchain application to perform operations further comprising: receiving the proposal response comprising a proposed ledger update; sending proposed ledger update to a plurality of endorser peer nodes; receiving, from the plurality of endorser peer nodes, endorsements of the proposed ledger update such that consensus among the plurality of endorser peer nodes is achieved; generating and sending a transaction order request to the orderer node, wherein the orderer node generates a transaction block based upon the transaction order request to update the specific ledger in accordance with the proposed ledger update; and receiving a ledger update event to indicate that the specific ledger has been updated by the specific peer node in accordance with the proposed ledger update.

“14. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions of a blockchain application that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: connecting to a peer node, wherein the peer node hosts a chaincode and a ledger, and wherein the ledger stores health data associated with a patient; generating a proposal directed to the peer node, wherein the proposal is to invoke the chaincode to interact with the ledger with regard to the health data; sending the proposal to the peer node; and receiving a proposal response from the peer node.

“15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise identifying the patient based upon biometric data obtained by a biometric sensor.

“16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the ledger is associated with a specific channel of a plurality of channels associated with the health data; and wherein a plurality of peer nodes comprising the peer node, and the blockchain application are associated with the specific channel.

“17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the ledger comprises: medical history data associated with the patient; patient prescription history data associated with the patient; or remote patient monitoring device data associated with the patient.

“18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the proposal is to query the ledger for at least a portion of the health data stored by the ledger; and wherein the proposal response comprises a query result comprising at least the portion of the health data.

“19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the proposal is to update the ledger; and wherein the operations further comprise: receiving the proposal response comprising a proposed ledger update; sending the proposed ledger update to a plurality of endorser peer nodes; receiving, from the plurality of endorser peer nodes endorsements of the proposed ledger update such that consensus among the plurality of endorser peer nodes is achieved; generating and sending a transaction order request to an orderer node, wherein the orderer node generates a transaction block based upon the transaction order request to update the ledger in accordance with the proposed ledger update; and receiving a ledger update event to indicate that the ledger has been updated by the peer node in accordance with the proposed ledger update.

“20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the proposed ledger update comprises adding, removing, or modifying at least a portion of the ledger based upon input received by a medical professional.”

For more information, see this patent application: Iapalucci, Mike; Johnson, Lars; Swarnam, Umayal Roja. Biometric Authentication for Access to Medical Information on a Distributed Ledger. Filed December 13, 2019 and posted June 17, 2021. Patent URL: https://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220210183480%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20210183480&RS=DN/20210183480

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)