Method and apparatus for data management authentication in a clinical analyzer

Claim 1

A clinical analyzer (10) with means for validating data transmissions comprising: sensor means (32) for receiving a user sample; processor means (52) for performing a predefined test sequence for measuring a predefined parameter value; memory means (54) coupled to said processor means (52) for storing said predefined parameter data values; communication means (62) coupled to said processor means (52) for transferring data to a computer system (64); wherein said communication means (62) and/or said processor means (52) are adapted such that each said data transfer (500) includes an authentication password (504) and said predefined parameter data values; and said processor means (52) is furthermore adapted to generate automatically said authentication password (504) utilizing exclusively predetermined information (402, 404, 406, 408) in each data transfer (500), and said processor means (52) is furthermore adapted to automatically generate said predetermined information , and said processor means (52) is furthermore adapted to generate automatically said authentication password (504) such that said authentication password (504) can be used by said computer system (64) to identify said clinical analyzer (10)as to its validity, characterized in that , said processor means (52) is adapted to generate said authentication password (504) as a signed integer of 16 bit value, the eight least significant bits of said 16 bit value being based on predetermined information (402, 404, 406) and such that the eight most significant bits of said 16 bit value can be ignored by the computer system receiving the data transferred when validating a data transfer.

Claim 9

A method for validating each data transmission including each data transfer (500) from a clinical analyzer (10) to a computer system (64) comprising the steps of: providing the clinical analyzer (10) with a sensor (32) for receiving a user sample and a processor (52) for performing a predefined test sequence for measuring a predefined parameter value; storing said predefined parameter values, and transferring stored data to a computer system (64); each said data transfer including the step of calculating an authentication password (504), and transferring said authentication password (504) and said predefined parameter data values; said authentication password (504) used by said computer system (64) to validate each said data transfer (500), wherein said authentication password (504) is generated automatically by said processor means (52) utilizing exclusively predetermined information (402, 404, 406, 408) in each data transfer (500), and said predetermined information is generated automatically by said processor means (52), and characterized in that said authentication password is a signed integer of 16 bit value, the eight least significant bits of said 16 bit value being based on predetermined information (402, 404, 406) and the eight most significant bits of said 16 bit value being ignored by the computer system receiving the data transferred when validating a data transfer.