Efficient database and web service design for confidential patient data in the TEMONICS project

Abstract

The national cooperative project TEMONICS deals with Telemonitoring of patients with cardio respiratory diseases. Due to its complexity, the project is divided up into separate subprojects. These are: sensor-integration in smart textiles, signal admission and signal analysis, data transfer and data security. The Chair of Production Systems' (LPS) telemedicine group has its main focus on the area of data transfer and storage. For efficient maintenance of patient data, a database with an individual structure for medical applications has been developed. This structure contains predefined user profiles which not only allow user authentication, but also support complex, completely customizable user authorization using e.g. different roles. In addition, a web service has been implemented which ensures the basic principles of a service-oriented architecture for this software solution. This leads to full remote access regarding the maintenance and evaluation of the patient data. In order to optimize security aspects, data is being stored in the Micro System Data Exchange Format (MSD), which has been developed specifically for applications in the Homecare area. Through encapsulation of different measurements within separate sections, the file size can be minimized; thereby the data transfer efficiency can be increased. Security is a major factor in dealing with sensitive patient data, so all transport is further protected using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) via a Site-To-End connection. In collaboration with different project partners, the web service has been realized and a web service client for an existing medical application has been developed. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.