US 5,148,366 AGranted

Computer-assisted documentation system for enhancing or replacing the process of dictating and transcribing

AssigneeMedical Documenting Systems, Inc.

InventorsKen Buchanan, John A. Dowdle

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Abstract

A document generation system is provided for enhancing or replacing the dictation and transcription process. More particularly, a computer-based documentation system utilizing a document structure manipulated by a user interface is provided. The document structure or "boiler plate" includes phrase fields containing user-definable phrases and option-text fields. The option-text fields include a plurality of option-text segments. Through the use of the user interface, desired modifications to the user-modifiable phrases and option-text segments can be accomplished. The user interface further enables selecting of at least one option-text segment from within an option-text field. Subsequently, the system generates a document comprising at least one user-definable phrase and at least one selected option-text segment.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A computer-assisted documentation system for enhancing or replacing the process of dictating and transcribing in the generation of a document, comprising:

(a) a document database, comprising:
(i) first database means for processing one or more user-definable document structures to be used as templates for the generation of a document, wherein each document structure is associated with a particular document style, each document structure comprising:
a) a plurality of phrase fields for electronically storing user-definable phrases;
b) a plurality of option-text fields;
and
c) field linkage means for linking phrase fields to option-text fields;
(ii) second database means for accessing option-text lists associated with said option-text fields, wherein each option-text list comprises one or more user-definable option-text expressions;
and
(iii) third database means for processing at least one selection data file, wherein each of said selection data fields is associated with a particular document structure and a particular matter identifier and wherein each of said selection data fields comprises pointers to option-text expressions within said option-text lists;
b) user interface means for manipulating data within the document database, the user interface means comprising:
(i) display means for displaying a menu of option-text expressions associated with a particular option-text list;
and
(ii) selecting means for selecting preferred option-text expressions from the menu of option-text expressions displayed by the display means, said selecting means comprising selection data interface means for storing, in the selection data file associated with the document structure and matter identifier corresponding to the document to be generated, a pointer associated with each option-text expression selected;
and
(c) document generation means comprising option-text expression control means for generating, as a function of matter identifier, document structure and selection data file, a document in which the selected preferred option-text expressions are inserted into the appropriate option-text fields.

12 more elements

A computer-based method of generating a document, comprising:

(a) providing a document structure including a phrase field linked to an option-text field;
(b) providing an option-text list associated with said option-text field, wherein said option-text list comprises a plurality of option-text segments including a first option-text segment;
(c) providing a database structure relating a plurality of selection data files to particular document structures and particular matter identifiers;
and
(d) providing user interface means for selecting an option-text segment, the user interface means comprising:
(i) display means for displaying a menu of items;
and
(ii) selection means for selecting one or more of the items displayed on the display means;
(e) displaying a menu of items representative of said plurality of option-text segments, wherein said menu comprises a first menu item associated with said first option-text segment;
(d) storing, to one of a plurality of selection data files and in response to the selection of said first menu item, a first pointer associated with said option-text field and said first option-text segment;
and
(e) generating a document in which said first option-text segment is inserted into said option-text field.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.