Information record infrastructure, system and method

Abstract

A data security apparatus and method for controlling access to records provided within automated electronic databases, each record having an associated set of access rules, comprising: receiving, by a security processor, a request for access to records associated with at least one of an entity, attribute, and datum from a requestor; determining a set of records associated with the requested entity, attribute, or datum, contained in the automated electronic databases; authorizing access to the records within the determined set of records based on compliance with the associated set of access rules; defining an economic compensation rule, satisfaction of which is required for qualification for access to the set of records; selectively permitting access to records in dependence on satisfaction of the compensation rule; communicating the access permissions to the host automated electronic databases; and logging the request for retrieval and a respective access of each record.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A data security method for controlling access to a plurality of records provided within a plurality of automated electronic databases, each record having an associated set of access rules, comprising:
 receiving, by a security processor, a request for access to one or more records associated with at least one of an entity, attribute, and datum from a requestor;   determining a set of records associated with at least one of the requested entity, attribute, or datum, contained in the plurality of automated electronic databases;   authorizing access to the set of records within the determined set of records based on compliance with the associated set of access rules by at least a requestor;   communicating the access permissions to the host automated electronic databases; and   logging the request for retrieval and a respective access of each record.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said selectively permitting access further implements a requirement of a restriction on redistribution of at least one record of the authorized set of records. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the security processor determines a set of records associated with a common entity based on the received request for access to one or more records relating to that entity. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the security processor receives the request through an internet connection. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said determining step comprises defining a query based on the received request, sending the defined query to the plurality of automated electronic databases, receiving responses from the plurality of electronic databases, and formulating a set of records based on the received responses. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said authorizing step comprises receiving from a respective electronic database storing a record at least one access rule associated with that record, and applying the received access rule to determine compliance therewith by the requestor. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the access permissions are communicated in the form of at least one electronic token communicated to the host automated electronic databases. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a record is accessed through a cryptographic wrapper, wherein an access of a respective record generates an on-line transaction. 
     
     
         9 . A data security apparatus adapted for controlling access to a plurality of records provided within a plurality of automated electronic databases, each record having an associated set of access rules, comprising:
 a security processor, having an input adapted for receiving a request for access to one or more records associated with at least one of an entity, attribute, and datum from a requestor, and a communications port adapted to communicate with the plurality of automated databases;   the security processor automatically:
 determining a set of records associated with at least one of the requested entity, attribute, or datum, contained in the plurality of automated electronic databases; 
 authorizing access to the set of records within the determined set of records based on compliance with the associated set of access rules by at least a requestor; 
 selectively communicating, through the communications port, access permissions to the host automated electronic databases adapted to permit access to each record within the authorized set of records; and 
 logging the request for retrieval and a respective access of each record. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said security processor requires a restriction on redistribution of at least one record of the authorized set of records as a part of its authorizing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the security processor determines a set of records associated with a common entity based on the received request for access to one or more records relating to that entity. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the security processor receives the request through an Internet connection. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said security processor defines a query based on the received request, sends the defined query to the plurality of automated electronic databases, receives responses from the plurality of electronic databases, and formulates a set of records based on the received responses. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said security processor receives from a respective electronic database storing a record at least one access rule associated with that record, and applies the received access rule to determine compliance therewith by the requestor. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the security processor communicates access permissions in the form of at least one electronic token communicated to the host automated electronic databases. 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions for controlling a programmable computer to perform a data security method for controlling access to a plurality of records provided within a plurality of automated electronic databases, each record having an associated set of access rules, comprising:
 receiving, by a security processor, a request for access to one or more records associated with at least one of an entity, attribute, and datum from a requestor;   determining a set of records associated with at least one of the requested entity, attribute, or datum, contained in the plurality of automated electronic databases;   authorizing access to the set of records within the determined set of records based on compliance with the associated set of access rules by at least a requestor;   selectively permitting access to each record within the authorized set of records;   communicating the access permissions to the host automated electronic databases; and   logging the request for retrieval and a respective access of each record.