System and method for creating a book of reports over a computer network

• US 20010037334A1
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edmund L. Valentine
• Original Assignee: Edmund L. Valentine
• Inventors: Valentine, Edmund L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,315,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/914 Video
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/915 Image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/959 Network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method is disclosed wherein a server receives and stores report definitions. A user instructs the server to create a book and associate the report definitions with the book. Thereafter, the user requests that the server generate and transmit the book to his client. The server generates and transmits a report for each of the report definitions to the user. Another method is disclosed wherein a server generates and transmits to a user a general table of contents including category headings related to a query for reports. The user selects particular category headings and transmits his selection to the server. The server then generates and transmits to the user a detailed table of contents including titles of reports related to the selected category headings. The user selects particular reports and transmits his selection to the server, thereby creating a book of reports. The user may then request one or more reports from the book of reports.

Claims

1. A method for creating and transmitting a book of reports over a computer network, comprising:

storing at least two report definitions in a storage device of a server;

creating a book with which the at least two report definitions are to be associated;

associating the at least two report definitions with the book;

receiving a request for the book from a user;

generating a report for each of the at least two report definitions associated with the book, resulting in a book of reports; and

transmitting the book of reports to the user.

2. A method as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of receiving the at least two report definitions from the user, wherein the report definitions were created with routines selected from the group comprising a report definition routine and a product query routine.

3. A method as recited in

claim 2

, wherein the report definition routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a filters routine, a columns routine, a countries routine, and an options routine.

4. A method as recited in

claim 3

, wherein the filters routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a diagnosis filter routine, an MOA filter routine, a marketer filter routine, a lifecycle filter routine, and a status filter routine.

5. A method as recited in

claim 2

, wherein a report definition created by the report definition routine produces a chart when processed by the server.

6. A method as recited in

claim 2

, wherein the product query routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a diagnosis filter routine, an MOA filter routine, a marketer filter routine, a lifecycle filter routine, a status filter routine, and a countries routine.

7. A method as recited in

claim 2

, wherein a report definition created by the product query routine produces a product specification when processed by the server.

8. A method as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising the steps of generating a table of contents for the book including titles of the reports and transmitting the table of contents to the user.

9. A method as recited in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of formatting descriptive headings in each of the reports prior to transmitting the book of reports to the user, the descriptive headings being useful for generating a table of contents by a client.

10. A method as recited in

claim 1

, wherein the reports are selected from the group comprising documents, articles, abstracts, product specifications, charts, still images, video clips, and audio clips.

11. A computer system for creating and transmitting a book of reports over a computer network, comprising:

a processor in communication with a storage device, wherein the processor is operative to

store at least two report definitions in the storage device;

create a book with which the at least two report definitions are to be associated;

associate the at least two report definitions with the book;

receive a request for the book from a user;

generate a report for each of the at least two report definitions associated with the book, resulting in a book of reports; and

transmit the book of reports to the user.

12. A computer system as recited in

claim 11

, wherein the processor is further operative to receive the at least two report definitions from the user, wherein the report definitions were created with routines selected from the group comprising a report definition routine and a product query routine.

13. A computer system as recited in

claim 12

, wherein the report definition routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a filters routine, a columns routine, a countries routine, and an options routine.

14. A computer system as recited in

claim 13

, wherein the filters routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a diagnosis filter routine, an MOA filter routine, a marketer filter routine, a lifecycle filter routine, and a status filter routine.

15. A computer system as recited in

claim 12

, wherein a report definition created by the report definition routine produces a chart when processed by the server.

16. A computer system as recited in

claim 12

, wherein the product query routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a diagnosis filter routine, an MOA filter routine, a marketer filter routine, a lifecycle filter routine, a status filter routine, and a countries routine.

17. A computer system as recited in

claim 12

, wherein a report definition created by the product query routine produces a product specification when processed by the server.

18. A computer system as recited in

claim 11

, wherein the processor is further operative to generate a table of contents for the book including titles of the reports and transmitting the table of contents to the user.

19. A computer system as recited in

claim 11

, wherein the processor is further operative to format descriptive headings in each of the reports prior to transmitting the book of reports to the user, the descriptive headings being useful for generating a table of contents by a client.

20. A computer system as recited in

claim 11

, wherein the reports are selected from the group comprising documents, articles, abstracts, product specifications, charts, still images, video clips, and audio clips.

21. A method for creating and transmitting a book of reports over a computer network, comprising:

selecting criterior for creating two or more report definitions;

transmitting the criterior to a server for storage;

transmitting instructions to create a book and to associate the at least two report definitions with the book;

transmitting instructions to generate the book, thereby resulting in a book of reports; and

receiving the book of reports from the server.

22. A method as recited in

claim 21

, wherein the report definitions are created with routines selected from the group comprising a report definition routine and a product query routine.

23. A method as recited in

claim 22

, wherein the report definition routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a filters routine, a columns routine, a countries routine, and an options routine.

24. A method as recited in

claim 23

, wherein the filters routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a diagnosis filter routine, an MOA filter routine, a marketer filter routine, a lifecycle filter routine, and a status filter routine.

25. A method as recited in

claim 22

, wherein a report definition created by the report definition routine produces a chart when processed by the server.

26. A method as recited in

claim 22

, wherein the product query routine includes routines selected from the group comprising a diagnosis filter routine, an MOA filter routine, a marketer filter routine, a lifecycle filter routine, a status filter routine, and a countries routine.

27. A method as recited in

claim 22

, wherein a report definition created by the product query routine produces a product specification when processed by the server.

28. A method for creating and transmitting a book of reports over a computer network, comprising:

receiving a query for reports from a user;

transmitting to the user a general table of contents that includes category headings related to the query for reports;

receiving data identifying category headings selected by the user from the general table of contents;

transmitting to the user a detailed table of contents that includes titles of reports related to the selected category headings; and

receiving data identifying reports selected by the user from the detailed table of contents, wherein the reports compose a book of reports.

29. A method as recited in

claim 28

, further comprising the step of transmitting to the user one or more titles of book definitions previously created by the user, wherein each previously created book definition includes a query for reports, selected category headings, and the titles of selected reports.

30. A method as recited in

claim 29

, further comprising the steps of receiving data identifying a title of a book definition previously created by the user, and transmitting to the user the previously created book definition.

31. A method as recited in

claim 28

, wherein the query for reports includes information selected from the group comprising medical profile information, medication information, and insurance information.

32. A method as recited in

claim 31

, further comprising the step of transmitting an anatomical guide to the user to facilitate preparation of the medical profile information.

33. A method as recited in

claim 28

, wherein the category headings are selected from the group comprising diagnosis, tests/screens for diagnosis, treatment/therapy alternatives, drugs, healthcare plan coverage, alternative medications, medical equipment and supplies, and prognosis.

34. A method as recited in

claim 28

, further comprising the steps of correlating the query for reports, selected category headings, and the titles of selected reports with a book definition title, and storing the query for reports, selected category headings, and the titles of selected reports in a storage device.

35. A method as recited in

claim 28

, further comprising the step of generating the general table of contents including the category headings related to the query for reports.

36. A method as recited in

claim 28

, further comprising the step of generating the detailed table of contents including the titles of reports related to the selected category headings.

37. A method as recited in

claim 28

, wherein the detailed table of contents includes an abstract of each report.

38. A method as recited in

claim 28

, wherein the reports are selected from the group comprising documents, articles, abstracts, specifications, charts, still images, video clips, and audio clips.

39. A method as recited in

claim 28

, further comprising the steps of receiving a request for one or more reports from the book of reports, and transmitting the one or more reports to the user.

40. A method as recited in

claim 39

, wherein the book of reports includes a table of contents listing the selected category headings and the titles of selected reports.

41. A method as recited in

claim 28

, further comprising the step of making the book of reports available to a healthcare professional identified by the user.

42. A method as recited in

claim 41

, further comprising the step of transmitting an e-mail to the healthcare professional that indicates the book of reports is available.

43. A method as recited in

claim 28

, further comprising the step of making the book of reports available to a patient identified by the user.

44. A method as recited in

claim 43

, further comprising the step of transmitting an e-mail to the patient that indicates the book of reports is available.

45. A computer system for creating and transmitting a book of reports over a computer network, comprising:

a processor in communication with a storage device, wherein the processor is operative to

receive a query for reports from a user;

transmit to the user a general table of contents that includes category headings related to the query for reports;

receive data identifying category headings selected by the user from the general table of contents;

transmit to the user a detailed table of contents that includes titles of reports related to the selected category headings; and

receive data identifying reports selected by the user from the detailed table of contents, wherein the reports compose a book of reports.

46. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the processor is further operative to transmit to the user one or more titles of book definitions previously created by the user, wherein each previously created book definition includes a query for reports, selected category headings, and titles of selected reports.

47. A computer system as recited in

claim 46

, wherein the processor is further operative to receive data identifying a title of a book definition previously created by the user, and transmit to the user the previously created book definition.

48. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the query for reports includes information selected from the group comprising medical profile information, medication information, and insurance information.

49. A computer system as recited in

claim 48

, wherein the processor is further operative to transmit an anatomical guide to the user to facilitate preparation of the medical profile information.

50. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the category headings are selected from the group comprising diagnosis, tests/screens for diagnosis, treatment/therapy alternatives, drugs, healthcare plan coverage, alternative medications, medical equipment and supplies, and prognosis.

51. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the processor is further operative to correlate the query for reports, selected category headings, and the titles of selected reports with a book definition title, and store the query for reports, selected category headings, and the titles of selected reports in the storage device.

52. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the processor is further operative to generate the general table of contents including the category headings related to the query for reports.

53. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the processor is further operative to generate the detailed table of contents including the titles of reports related to the selected category headings.

54. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the detailed table of contents includes an abstract of each report.

55. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the reports are selected from the group comprising documents, articles, abstracts, specifications, charts, still images, video clips, and audio clips.

56. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the processor is further operative to receive a request for one or more reports from the book of reports, and transmit the one or more reports to the user.

57. A computer system as recited in

claim 56

, wherein the book of reports includes a table of contents listing the selected category headings and the titles of selected reports.

58. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the processor is further operative to make the book of reports available to a healthcare professional identified by the user.

59. A computer system as recited in

claim 58

, wherein the processor is further operative to transmit an e-mail to the healthcare professional that indicates the book of reports is available.

60. A computer system as recited in

claim 45

, wherein the processor is further operative to make the book of reports available to a patient identified by the user.

61. A computer system as recited in

claim 60

, wherein the processor is further operative to transmit an e-mail to the patient that indicates the book of reports is available.

62. A method for creating and transmitting a book of reports over a computer network, comprising:

transmitting a query for reports to a server;

receiving a general table of contents that includes category headings related to the query for reports;

transmitting to the server data identifying category headings selected from the general table of contents;

receiving a detailed table of contents that includes titles of reports related to the selected category headings; and

transmitting to the server data identifying reports selected from the detailed table of contents, wherein the reports compose a book of reports.

63. A method as recited in

claim 62

, wherein the query for reports includes information selected from the group comprising medical profile information, medication information, and insurance information.

64. A method as recited in

claim 62

, wherein the reports are selected from the group comprising documents, articles, abstracts, specifications, charts, still images, video clips, and audio clips.

65. A method as recited in

claim 62

, further comprising the steps of transmitting to the server a request for the book of reports, and receiving the book of reports.

66. A method as recited in

claim 62

, further comprising the step of specifying that the book of reports is available to a healthcare professional.