US 5,899,998 AGranted

Method and system for maintaining and updating computerized medical records

AssigneeMedcard Systems, Inc.

InventorsJames L. McGauley, Christopher Krumme

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Abstract

A distributed database architecture stores medical information in a self-updating system that employs point-of-service stations disposed at convenient medical service locations. Each patient carries a portable data carrier such as a smart card that contains the patient's complete medical history. Interaction between the portable data carriers and the point-of-service stations effects a virtual communication link that ties the distributed databases together without the need for online or live data connections. The point-of-service stations are also interconnected over a communications network through a switching station that likewise does not rely on online, live communication. The database system uses an object-oriented update object to distribute data that has been generated when a portable data carrier is not physically present and to automatically distribute data without the necessity of accessing a masterfile.

Claims76

Dependent claims

A computer system for maintaining the currency of data in distributed databases, comprising:

a data communication network;
a plurality of physically separate databases, each of said databases including means for communicating with said data communication network, said databases collectively defining said distributed databases;
a processor having interface for supplying an input instruction to modify the contents of the distributed databases;
said processor being coupled to said data communication network;
said processor being operable to generate an update object in response to said instruction and to place said update object in said data communication network;
said update object having a self-contained processing tag for causing said update object to be intelligently routed along said data communication network to at least one of said plurality of databases and for causing said one of said plurality of databases to automatically modify its contents in accordance with said input instruction;
said update object further having an object-oriented data structure that defines independently created field objects and record objects, said field objects and said field objects each having stored attributes that record information about processes performed on those objects;
said data structure encapsulating data for storing information independent of said distributed databases, said data structure defining a nested, hierarchial relationship such that said field objects are encapsulated within said record objects and wherein said record objects encapsulated within said update object;
said update object thereby being configured to automatically store data and to automatically store in said attributes an historic record of processes performed on said data as said update object is routed anywhere throughout said communication network.

6 more elements

A computer-implemented method of maintaining the currency of data in distributed databases consisting of a plurality of physically separate databases, comprising:

receiving an input instruction corresponding to a request to modify data in said distributed databases;
using said input instruction to generate an update object that includes a self-contained processing tag;
said update object further having an object-oriented data structure that defines independently created field objects and record objects, said field objects and said field objects each having stored attributes that record information about processes performed on those objects;
said data structure encapsulating data for storing information independent of said distributed databases, said data structure defining a nested, hierarchial relationship such that said field objects are encapsulated within said record objects and wherein said record objects encapsulated within said update object;
said update object thereby being configured to automatically store data and to automatically store in said attributes an historic record of processes performed on said data as said update object is routed anywhere throughout said communication network;
conveying said update object to at least a selected one of said plurality of databases using said processing tag to cause said update object to be intelligently routed to said selected one of said databases;
further using said processing tag to cause said selected one of said databases to automatically modify its respective contents in accordance with said input instruction.

4 more elements

An information system for maintaining the currency of computerized records, comprising:

a first processor with associated first memory for storing a first database of computerized records;
a second processor with second memory for storing a second database of computerized records;
said first and second memories being disposed at physically separate locations;
a smart card having an embedded third processor and associated third memory for storing a third database of computerized records;
said first and second processors each having a port for interfacing with said smart card;
said smart card being:
operable as a client and server to said first and second databases;
physically transportable between said first and second databases;
and
operable to propagate information between said first and second databases such that the currency of computerized records is maintained in said first, second and third databases;
wherein said first processor generates an update object for routing an element of information to said second database;
said update object further having an object-oriented data structure that defines independently created field objects and record objects, said field objects and said field objects each having stored attributes that record information about processes performed on those objects;
said data structure encapsulating data for storing information independent of said distributed databases, said data structure defining a nested, hierarchial relationship such that said field objects are encapsulated within said record objects and wherein said record objects encapsulated within said update object;
said update object thereby being configured to automatically store data and to automatically store in said attributes an historic record of processes performed on said data as said update object is routed anywhere throughout said communication network.

11 more elements

A self-updating computer-implemented database system for storing elements of information comprising:

a computer-implemented system for generating an update object that stores an element of information and that includes a processing tag for specifying at least one of a plurality of predefined data manipulation processes and for causing said update object to be intelligently routed to at least one destination;
a second database with associated second processor for receiving said update object;
a second database with associated second processor for receiving said update object;
said update object further having an object-oriented data structure that defines independently created field objects and record objects, said field objects and said field objects each having stored attributes that record information about processes performed on those objects;
said data structure encapsulating data for storing information independent of said distributed databases, said data structure defining a nested, hierarchial relationship such that said field objects are encapsulated within said record objects and wherein said record objects encapsulated within said update object;
said update object thereby being configured to automatically store data and to automatically store in said attributes an historic record of processes performed on said data as said update object is routed anywhere throughout said communication network,
said first processor being responsive to the processing tag of said update object to:
(a) modify the contents of said first database in accordance with the data manipulation process specified by said processing tag;
(b) store said update object in said first database;
and
(c) convey said update object to said second database in accordance with the destination specified by said processing tag;
said second processor being operative to:
(i) modify the contents of said second database in accordance with the data manipulation process specified by said processing tag;
and
(ii) send an acknowledgment of receipt of said update object to said first processor;
said first processor being operative to initiate deletion of said update object from said first database in response to receipt of said acknowledgment from said second processor.

13 more elements

An information system for maintaining the currency of computerized records, comprising:

a first processor with associated first database of computerized records;
a second processor with associated second database of computerized records;
said first and second databases being disposed at physically separate locations;
a portable data carrier having a third processor and associated third database of computerized records;
said first and second processors each having a port for interfacing with said portable data carrier;
said portable data carrier being operable as a client and server to said first and second databases and physically transportable being said first and second processors to define a first communication channel that is operable to propagate information between said first and second databases;
at least one of said first and second processors having a routing rules set forth for causing at least one of said first and second processors to propagate information between said first and second databases over a second communication channel;
whereby said first and second communication channels collectively operate such that currency of computerized records is maintained in said first, second and third databases;
wherein said first processor generates an update object that is propagated over at least one of said first and second communication channels;
said update object further having an object-oriented data structure that defines independently created field objects and record objects, said field objects and said field objects each having stored attributes that record information about processes performed on those objects;
said data structure encapsulating data for storing information independent of said distributed databases, said data structure defining a nested, hierarchial relationship such that said field objects are encapsulated within said record objects and wherein said record objects encapsulated within said update object;
said update object thereby being configured to automatically store data and to automatically store in said attributes an historic record of processes performed on said data as said update object is routed anywhere throughout said communication network.

9 more elements

An information system for maintaining the currency of computerized records in distributed databases, comprising:

a first database with associated first processor;
a second database with associated second processor;
said first and second databases being disposed at physically separate locations;
a first communication channel comprising a portable data carrier having a third database with associated third processor, the portable data carrier being operable as a client and server to said first and second databases and physically transportable between said first and second processors to propagate information between said first and second databases;
a second communication channel accessible by said first and second processors;
a first system for collectively updating said first, second and third databases, wherein:
(a) at least one of said first and third processors is operable to mutually update said first and third databases;
and
(b) at least one of said second and third processors is operable to mutually update said second and third databases;
a second system for collectively updating said first and second databases, wherein:
(a) said first processor generates an update object having a processing tag for specifying at least one of a plurality of predefined data manipulation processes and for specifying at least one destination;
said update object further having an object-oriented data structure that defines independently created field objects and record objects, said field objects and said field objects each having stored attributes that record information about processes performed on those objects;
said data structure encapsulating data for storing information independent of said distributed databases, said data structure defining a nested, hierarchial relationship such that said field objects are encapsulated within said record objects and wherein said record objects encapsulated within said update object;
said update object thereby being configured to automatically store data and to automatically store in said attributes an historic record of processes performed on said data as said update object is routed anywhere throughout said communication network,
(b) said first processor modifies the contents of said first database in accordance with the data manipulation process specified by said processing tag;
(c) said first processor propagates said update object to said second processor along said second communication channel in accordance with the destination specified by said processing tag;
(d) said second processor modifies the contents of said second database in accordance with the data manipulation process specified by said processing tag;
whereby the currency of computerized records in said first, second and third databases are maintained current.

15 more elements

A self-updating, computer-implemented distributed database system for storing elements of information comprising:

a computer system for generating and storing data objects that include:
(a) a record object for storing an element of information;
(b) an update object for defining a relationship with at least one associated record object, said update object storing a processing tag;
said update object further having an object-oriented data structure that defines independently created field objects and record objects, said field objects and said field objects each having stored attributes that record information about processes performed on those objects;
said data structure encapsulating data for storing information independent of said distributed databases, said data structure defining a nested, hierarchial relationship such that said field objects are encapsulated within said record objects and wherein said record objects encapsulated within said update objects;
said update object thereby being configured to automatically store data and to automatically store in said attributes an historic record of processes performed on said data as said update object is routed anywhere throughout said communication network,
said computer system further generating a database system that comprises a collection of record objects that define a persistent portion of the database and a collection of update objects that define a transient portion of the database;
the database system being responsive to said processing tag for automatically updating the persistent portion of said database;
the database system further including a feedback mechanism comprising a second update object for systematically purging said update objects from the transient portion of the database.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.