US 2019/0158472 A1 · PRIVACY-PROTECTING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS MEDICAL DEVICES

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for protecting the privacy of wireless enabled medical device (WEMD) communications, particularly against traffic-analysis attacks. In an exemplary method, a WEMD measures a physiological parameter and conveys that physiological parameter to a WEMD-receiver using messages that simulate at least one message from a cover device, for example by embedding physiological data in a message from a simulated cover device. In some embodiments, the WEMD sends messages that simulate traffic patterns of the cover device. The cover device may be a device not associated with serious medical conditions, such as a fitness-oriented heart rate monitor. In some embodiments, the simulation is discontinued under emergency conditions or in particular regions that are deemed to be safe.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of concealing a device type of a first wireless communication device, the method comprising:

detecting at least one device type of at least one second wireless communication device in a neighborhood of the first wireless communication device;
selecting a cover device type based at least in part on the at least one detected device type;
and
wirelessly transmitting data from the first wireless communication device by encapsulating the data in a message having a message type associated with the selected cover device type to simulate the selected cover device type.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

16/258,278Filed 25 Jan 2019

Priority

6 Jul 2015

Published

23 May 2019

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

H04L 63/0492
Wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload: by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field…
A61B 5/0031
Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network: implanted circuitry
A61N 1/37254
Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data: pacemaker or…
G16H 10/65
For patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records: stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD

Family

Application62/189,042Us provisional application · filed 6 Jul 2015

Application15/739,638Continuation · filed 22 Dec 2017

Application16/258,278Continuation

US 10,230,699 B2Related patent

US 10,862,875 B2Related patent

US 2018/0191693 A1Published application

US 2019/0158472 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Privacy-protecting system and method for wireless medical devices

Life of this patent

Privacy-protecting system and method for wireless medical devices

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20