# US 2017/0286478 A1 · Method and computing device for modifying a query that includes at least one temporal expression > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0286478 A1 - Document ID: US20170286478A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/086,633 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Change Healthcare LLC - Applicants: Change Healthcare LLC - Inventors: Michael Altmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170286478A1 ## CPC - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G06F 16/242: Query formulation - G06F 16/2477: {Temporal data queries} - G16H 40/60: for the operation of medical equipment or devices - G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems - G16H 50/70: for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method, computer device and computer program product are provided to modify a query that includes at least one temporal expression to identify a point in time at which the query is to be reevaluated. In the context of a method, a modified query is constructed from the query that includes at least one temporal expression. The modified query also identifies a next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. The method also executes the modified query to determine a result of the query and to also determine the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. The method further includes scheduling the modified query to again be executed at the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for modifying a query that includes at least one temporal expression to identify a point in time at which the query is to be reevaluated, the method comprising: constructing a modified query from the query that includes at least one temporal expression, wherein the modified query that is constructed is also configured to define a manner in which a next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change is to be identified; executing, with processing circuitry, the modified query to determine a result of the query and to also determine the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; and scheduling the modified query to again be executed at the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein executing the modified query comprises executing the modified query so as to identify the next point in time from among a union of the points in time at which the result of the respective temporal expressions is able to change. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein executing the modified query comprises executing the modified query so as to identify the next point in time as an earliest point in time, subsequent to a current time, at which the result of any of the temporal expressions is able to change. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein executing the modified query comprises executing the modified query so as to determine the next point in time as either a minimum or a maximum of the next points in time at which the results of the respective temporal expressions are able to change based upon a manner in which the two or more temporal expressions are combined. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising: newly receiving historical data to be evaluated by the query; defining a clock to have a value based upon a time associated with an earliest of the historical data; and executing the modified query to determine the result based upon the data associated with a time that is no later than the value of the clock, wherein execution of the modified query also determines the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method according to claim 5 further comprising: advancing the value of the clock to equal the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; again executing the modified query to determine the result based upon the data associated with a time that is no later than the value of the clock following its advancement, wherein execution of the modified query also determines the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; and repeating the advancement and execution until the next point in time that is determined is later than a current time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1 further comprising refraining from execution of the modified query following the scheduling until the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 8 A computing device for modifying a query that includes at least one temporal expression to identify a point in time at which the query is to be reevaluated, the computing device comprising processing circuitry configured to: construct a modified query from the query that includes at least one temporal expression, wherein the modified query that is constructed is also configured to define a manner in which a next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change is to be identified; execute the modified query to determine a result of the query and to also determine the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; and schedule the modified query to again be executed at the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A computing device according to claim 8 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the modified query by executing the modified query so as to identify the next point in time from among a union of the points in time at which the result of the respective temporal expressions is able to change. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A computing device according to claim 8 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein the processing circuitry is configured execute the modified query by executing the modified query so as to identify the next point in time as an earliest point in time, subsequent to a current time, at which the result of any of the temporal expressions is able to change. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A computing device according to claim 8 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the modified query by executing the modified query so as to determine the next point in time as either a minimum or a maximum of the next points in time at which the results of the respective temporal expressions are able to change based upon a manner in which the two or more temporal expressions are combined. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A computing device according to claim 8 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: newly receive historical data to be evaluated by the query; define a clock to have a value based upon a time associated with an earliest of the historical data; and execute the modified query to determine the result based upon the data associated with a time that is no later than the value of the clock, wherein execution of the modified query also determines the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A computing device according to claim 12 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: advance the value of the clock to equal the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; again execute the modified query to determine the result based upon the data associated with a time that is no later than the value of the clock following its advancement, wherein execution of the modified query also determines the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; and repeat the advancement and execution until the next point in time that is determined is later than a current time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A computing device according to claim 8 wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to refrain from execution of the modified query following the scheduling until the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 15 A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for modifying a query that includes at least one temporal expression to identify a point in time at which the query is to be reevaluated, the at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured, when executed, to cause an apparatus to: construct a modified query from the query that includes at least one temporal expression, wherein the modified query that is constructed is also configured to define a manner in which a next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change is to be identified; execute the modified query to determine a result of the query and to also determine the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; and schedule the modified query to again be executed at the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein the computer-executable instructions configured to execute the modified query comprise computer-executable instructions configured to execute the modified query so as to identify the next point in time from among a union of the points in time at which the result of the respective temporal expressions is able to change. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein the computer-executable instructions configured to execute the modified query comprise computer-executable instructions configured to execute the modified query so as to identify the next point in time as an earliest point in time, subsequent to a current time, at which the result of any of the temporal expressions is able to change. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the query includes a combination of two or more temporal expressions, wherein the computer-executable instructions configured to execute the modified query comprise computer-executable instructions configured to execute the modified query so as to determine the next point in time as either a minimum or a maximum of the next points in time at which the results of the respective temporal expressions are able to change based upon a manner in which the two or more temporal expressions are combined. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to: newly receive historical data to be evaluated by the query; define a clock to have a value based upon a time associated with an earliest of the historical data; and execute the modified query to determine the result based upon the data associated with a time that is no later than the value of the clock, wherein execution of the modified query also determines the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) A computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to: advance the value of the clock to equal the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; again execute the modified query to determine the result based upon the data associated with a time that is no later than the value of the clock following its advancement, wherein execution of the modified query also determines the next point in time at which the result of the query is able to change; and repeat the advancement and execution until the next point in time that is determined is later than a current time.