Portable device for secure storage of user provided data

Abstract

A personal electronic carrier device (PECD) comprising means for receiving PECD data; means for storing PECD data; means for transmitting PECD data directly or indirectly PECD; and operating software means to affect the displaying, verifying, receiving, storing and transmitting the PECD data. The PECD is part of a network having a plurality of data stations and preferably a main data base. A method when use with the PECD that maintains master information or database of an individual and is integral to internetworking and interoperability of data consisting of medical, particularly insurance information, drug information, medical records; educational and identification data. The method of data exchange in association with the PECD within and between networks provide for the efficacious and convenient handling of data. Overall, it presents a method that provides an efficient and effective way of data exchange and interoperability by leveraging the master data in the PECDs of individuals.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A portable device for secure storage of user provided data, the portable device comprising:
 (a) a planar body having a portion defining an aperture;   (b) an interface for communicating with an external device; and   (c) data storage accessible via the interface, the storage comprising a data section operable for storage of the user provided data, the data section having operating software to effect the receiving, storing and transmitting of the data,   wherein the data storage is retained within the aperture in coplanar alignment with the planar body.   
     
     
         2 . The portable device of  claim 1  further wherein the user provided data comprises biometric data of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The portable device of  claim 2  wherein the interface communicates with the external device wirelessly. 
     
     
         4 . The portable device of  claim 3  wherein the planar body is a smartcard. 
     
     
         5 . The portable device of  claim 4  wherein the data storage comprises a memory chip receiving member and a memory chip disposed within the memory chip receiving member. 
     
     
         6 . The portable device of  claim 5  wherein the memory chip receiving member is rotatably retained within the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The portable device of  claim 6  where the data storage further comprises an elongate memory chip retaining member extending through the memory chip receiving member and engaging the planar body to rotatably retain the memory chip receiving member within the aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The portable device of  claim 7  wherein the retaining member is formed of a metal, a plastics material or carbon fiber. 
     
     
         9 . The portable device of  claim 8  wherein the resiliently flexible member is located within planar body and the memory chip receiving member whereby after displacement of the memory chip receiving member out of coplanar alignment with the planar body under the action of a displacing force, the resiliently flexible member effects return of the memory chip receiving member to the coplanar alignment when the displacing force is removed. 
     
     
         10 . The portable device of  claim 9  wherein the resiliently flexible member is made of rubber. 
     
     
         11 . The portable device of  claim 10  wherein the planar body has a thickness of less than 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . A network for receiving, storing and transmitting user defined data comprising
 (a) a portable device for secure storage of the first set of user defined data, the portable device comprising an interface for communicating with an external device and data storage accessible via the interface, the data storage comprising a data section operable for storage of the first set of user provided data and having operating software to effect the receiving, storing and transmitting of data;   (b) a first data station having a first data station interface for communicating with the portable device and a first data storage accessible via the first data station interface, the first data station storage comprising a first data station storage section operable for storage of a second set of user defined data and having operating software to effect the receiving, storing and transmitting of data;   (c) a second data station having a second data station interface for communicating with the portable device and a second data storage accessible via the second data station interface, the second data station storage comprising a second station data station storage section operable for storage of a third set of user defined data having operating software to effect the receiving, storing and transmitting data;   wherein the portable device communicates with the first and second data station so as to receive the second and third sets of user defined data and updating the first set of user defined data to include the second and third sets of user defined data.   
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 12  wherein the portable device communicates with the first data station so as to transmitt the first, second and third sets of user defined data to the first data station and the first data station updates the second set of user defined data to include the first and third sets of user defined data. 
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 13  wherein the portable device communicates with the second data station so as to transmitt the first, second and third sets of user defined data to the second data station and the second data station updates the third set of user defined data to include the first and second sets of user defined data. 
     
     
         15 . The network of  claim 14  wherein the first or the second data station is a centralized computer database. 
     
     
         16 . The network of  claim 15  wherein the first data station cannot directly communicate with the second data station. 
     
     
         17 . The network of  claim 16  wherein the first and second data station comprises means for transmitting the second and third user defined data to the portable device. 
     
     
         18 . The network of  claim 17  wherein the user defined data is selected from the group consisting of medical, vetininary, educational, personal and identification data. 
     
     
         19 . The network of  claim 18  wherein the portable storage device, the first data station and the second data station are interoperable. 
     
     
         20 . The network of  claim 19  wherein the first set of user defined data contains a master data record of the user. 
     
     
         21 . The network of  claim 16  wherein the first data station cannot communicate with the second data station. 
     
     
         22 . The network of  claim 21  wherein the second data station cannot communicate with the first data station. 
     
     
         23 . The network of  claim 20  wherein the portable device provides data and network interoperability by providing information exchange in specific format that satisfies system, network, industry standards and regulatory requirements. 
     
     
         24 . The network of  claim 23  wherein the portable device further comprises a planar body having a portion defining an aperture and the data storage is retained within the aperture in coplanar alignment with the planar body.