Apple patents health data logging to track who views patient records
Apple describes a system where a service provider stores health data in encrypted blocks called nodes. When a medical professional requests this data, the system creates a transaction record that links the specific data node to the professional's identity and the patient's file. This allows institutions to audit exactly which records were accessed by whom.
In the filing’s own words
A server system implemented by a service provider may store health data of a user according to a multi-node data structure, which may be accessed from a computer system. Responsive to a request for health data stored by the service provider, the service provider may provide node information for an encrypted node. A transaction record may be generated that represents requests for access to the encrypted node. Records associated with a patient and accessed by a user (e.g., medical professional) can be logged and shared to track access.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving a cryptographic key and a unique data identifier from an electronic health record (EHR) system; sending, to a service provider, a request for health data associated with a user, the request comprising a unique data identifier that identifies an encrypted data node of a multi-node data structure used by the service provider to store the health data; receiving, from the service provider, node information representative of the encrypted data node; receiving, from the service provider, access information corresponding to the request and the node information; generating a transaction record based at least in part on the node information and the accessing information, the transaction record identifying (i) the unique data identifier, (ii) a user identifier associated with a user of a health institution who requested the health data, and (iii) metadata associated with the request; comparing the transaction record with a mapping comprising user identifiers and patient identifiers; and identifying a set of records of a particular patient accessed by the user based at least in part on the comparing.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- PRIVACY PRESERVING LOGGING
- Publication number
- US20260278157A1
- Application number
- 19671097
- Filed
- May 7, 2026
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 21/6245 Physics & computingG16H 10/60 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Security & privacy
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.