Abstract: A system and method for remotely programming a patient medical device (PMD) is presented. Programming instructions specified remotely are translated into commands formatted for a PMD to control functionality thereof. Correctness of the PMD-formatted commands is checked. Patient consent to modify the functionality of the PMD is confirmed. Application of the PMD-formatted commands to the PMD is controlled during a programming session initiated and performed remotely. The application of the PMD-formatted commands is confirmed through interrogation of the PMD to verify the functionality modified.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a secure feature set distribution infrastructure for medical device management is presented. A unique association is mapped for data download between a medical device and a communications device transiently coupleable to the medical device. A configuration catalog is maintained, including operational characteristics of at least one of the medical device and the communications device. The operational characteristics as maintained in the configuration catalog are periodically checked against a database storing downloadable sets of features and one or more feature sets including changed operational characteristics are identified for distribution. The one or more feature sets are digitally signed and the one or more feature sets are provided to the communications device over a plurality of networks. The one or more feature sets are authenticated and their integrity is checked over a chain of trust originating with a trusted source and terminating at the communications device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system of encryption, including embedding reconfiguration information within a ciphertext block destined for a decryptor. The decryptor identifies the reconfiguration information, extracts such information, and uses it to alter a pre-cipher, which is used for decryption. The encryptor alters its pre-cipher synchronously with the decryptor.