IP Library Granted Patent US 11,558,178
Granted Patent B2
US 11,558,178 · App. 16/262,671 · Granted Jan 17, 2023

System and method for prescription security and authentication

Inventors: John J. O'brien (Farmington, AR); David M. Nelms (Rogers, AR)
Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC
H04L9/0637B64C39/024G06Q20/065G07F17/0092G16H10/00G16H20/10H04L9/006H04L9/0643B64C2201/128H04L9/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,558,178
App. No.
16/262,671
Granted
Jan 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for receiving, from an issuer, an electronic prescription for a patient, then fulfilling that prescription using a blockchain/distributed ledger verification system. The system receives multiple public keys, combines them, then performs a hash function (or other encryption) on that combination. The resulting output is then transmitted to a pharmacy for prescription fulfillment.

Claims (77)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from an issuer, an electronic prescription for a patient;

receiving a first public key associated with the issuer, the first public key:

being associated with a blockchain;

forming a first alphanumeric code; and

being formed via a first algorithmic transformation, executed using a first private key associated with the issuer, of:

an identification of the issuer;

contact information of the issuer; and

an identification of a restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription;

receiving a second public key associated with the patient, the second public key:

being associated with the blockchain;

forming a second alphanumeric code; and

being formed via a second algorithmic transformation, executed using a second private key associated with the patient, of:

an identification of the patient;

contact information of the patient; and

the identification of the restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription;

generating, via processor, a combined public key by combining, via the processor, the first public key and the second public key sequentially, the combined public key including at least one or more portions of the first public key and at least one or more portions of the second public key;

generating, via the processor, a hash value by executing, via the processor, a hash function on: information regarding the restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription, information regarding at least one additional product not associated with the electronic prescription, and the combined public key; and

transmitting, via the processor, at least the hash value to a pharmacy, wherein the hash value is added to the blockchain.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first algorithmic transformation further includes digital currency information for the issuer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second algorithmic transformation further includes digital currency information for the patient.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein execution of the hash function further comprises encrypting the combined public key.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the combined public key further includes instructions regarding delivery to a home address of the patient.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blockchain allows the combined public key to be used only once with the electronic prescription.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the combined public key to a delivery drone associated with the pharmacy.

8. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from an issuer, an electronic prescription for a patient;

receiving a first public key associated with the issuer, the first public key:

being associated with a blockchain;

forming a first alphanumeric code; and

being formed via a first algorithmic transformation, executed using a first private key associated with the issuer, of:

an identification of the issuer;

contact information of the issuer; and

an identification of a restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription;

receiving a second public key associated with the patient, the second public key being associated with the blockchain;

forming a second alphanumeric code; and

being formed via a second algorithmic transformation, executed using a second private key associated with the patient, of:

an identification of the patient;

contact information of the patient; and

the identification of the restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription;

generating a combined public key by combining the first public key and the second public key sequentially, the combined public key including at least one or more portions of the first public key and at least one or more portions of the second public key;

generating a hash value by executing a hash function on: information regarding the restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription, information regarding at least one additional product not associated with the electronic prescription, and the combined public key; and

transmitting at least the hash value to a pharmacy, wherein the hash value is added to the blockchain.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first algorithmic transformation further includes digital currency information for the issuer.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second algorithmic transformation further includes digital currency information for the patient.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein execution of the hash function further comprises encrypting the combined public key.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the combined public key further includes instructions regarding delivery to a home address of the patient.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the blockchain allows the combined public key to be used only once with the electronic prescription.

14. The system of claim 8 , the computer-readable storage medium having additional instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

transmitting the combined public key to a delivery drone associated with the pharmacy.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from an issuer, an electronic prescription for a patient;

receiving a first public key associated with the issuer, the first public key:

being associated with a blockchain;

forming a first alphanumeric code; and

being formed via a first algorithmic transformation, executed using a first private key associated with the issuer, of:

an identification of the issuer;

contact information of the issuer; and

an identification of a restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription;

receiving a second public key associated with the patient, the second public key:

being associated with the blockchain;

forming a second alphanumeric code; and

being formed via a second algorithmic transformation, executed using a second private key associated with the patient, of:

an identification of the patient;

contact information of the patient; and

the identification of the restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription;

generating a combined public key by combining the first public key and the second public key sequentially, the combined public key including at least one or more portions of the first public key and at least one or more portions of the second public key;

generating a hash value by executing a hash function on: information regarding the restricted pharmaceutical associated with the electronic prescription, information regarding at least one additional product not associated with the electronic prescription, and the combined public key; and

transmitting at least the hash value to a pharmacy, wherein the hash value is added to the blockchain.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the first algorithmic transformation further includes digital currency information for the issuer.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the second algorithmic transformation further includes digital currency information for the patient.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein execution of the hash function further comprises encrypting the combined public key.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the combined public key further includes instructions regarding delivery to a home address of the patient.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the blockchain allows the combined public key to be used only once with the electronic prescription.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 12, 2022
From: O'BRIEN, JOHN J.; NELMS, DAVID M.
To: WALMART APOLLO, LLC
Reel/Frame 062059/0996 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62624711 · Jan 31, 2018
Related Publication 20190237176A1 · Aug 1, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,609,841 US 12,609,842