System and user interface supporting task schedule configuration

• US 20030050800A1
• Filed: 08/05/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerner Innovation, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Brandt, Samuel I., DeHaan, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present inventions, a work flow process may be generated by decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete tasks including an individual task associated with a first pre-configured executable procedure for implementing the individual task and associating a user selectable image element with the pre-configured first executable procedure used in implementing the individual task. In a currently envisioned embodiment, integratable work flow processes according to the present invention may be provided to a vertical application system. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. ) A method for use in generating a work flow process, the work flow process comprising a task performed using a plurality of corresponding executable procedures in response to user command, the method comprising the steps of:

a. decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete tasks including an individual task associated with a first executable procedure for implementing the individual task, the first executable procedure being pre-configured by being associated with an identifier of the individual task; and

b. associating a user selectable image element with the pre-configured first executable procedure used in implementing the individual task.

2. ) A method according to claim 1, wherein:

a. the functions of the clinical information system include at least one of (i) processing an order associated with medical treatment of a patient, (ii) processing results of a test performed for a patient, (iii) documenting clinical findings associated with a patient, (iv) scheduling a service to be performed for a patient, (v) managing resources associated with treatment of a patient, and (vi) managing personnel associated with treatment of a patient.

29. ) A computer program embodied within a computer-readable medium created using the method of claim 1.

3. ) A method for providing a user interface supporting user creation of a work flow, the work flow comprising one or more tasks performed in response to user command, wherein an individual task comprises a corresponding executable procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

a. initiating display of a plurality of task representative image elements;

b. selecting, in response to a user command, a user selectable displayed image element being used in implementing a particular task of the work flow;

c. incorporating the particular task into data representing the work flow; and

d. enabling an executable application used in implementing the work flow to initiate execution of the first executable procedure using the identifier, the incorporation of the particular task into the data representing the work flow being performed in response to user selection of the displayed image element associated with the particular task;

e. wherein;

i. the particular task is selectable from a set of tasks derived by decomposing functions of a clinical information system into discrete tasks including the individual task; and

ii. the first executable procedure is pre-configured by being associated with an identifier.

4. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the work flow executable procedure comprises at least one of (i) an input parameter relevant to the particular task and (ii) an output parameter to be generated by the work flow executable procedure upon performance of the particular task.

5. ) A method according to claim 4, wherein:

a. the input parameter comprises a predetermined input parameter value.

6. ) A method according to claim 5, wherein:

a. the predetermined input parameter value comprises an expression, the expression comprising a variable of a process definition in which the work flow executable procedure is incorporated.

7. ) A method according to claim 4, wherein:

a. the input parameter and its predetermined input parameter value are hidden from the user.

8. ) A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

a. establishing a parameter for the input parameter, the parameter being required for initiating a communication link with a second software application program.

9. ) A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

a. initiating a communication link with another application element; and

b. using the communication link for at least one of (i) providing the input parameter to the particular task and (ii) receiving the output parameter provided in response to performance of the particular task.

10. ) A method according to claim 4, wherein:

a. the input parameter further comprises a configurable attribute comprising at least one of (i) data type, (ii) data length, (iii) default value, (iv) required input parameter, and (v) optional input parameter; and

b. the output parameter further comprises a configurable attribute comprising at least one of (i) data type, (ii) data length, and (iii) default value.

11. ) A method according to claim 4, wherein:

a. the input parameter further comprises an address of a source for the input parameter; and

b. the output parameter further comprises an address of a destination for the output parameter.

12. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the work flow executable procedure is configured by being associated with the particular task that is associated with a role performed by an individual.

13. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the pre-configured work flow executable procedure further comprises a executable procedure definition comprising a software component associated with a task to be performed by at least one of (i) the second software application program and (ii) a user of the second software application program.

14. ) A method according of claim 3, wherein:

a. the work flow executable procedure is configured to be associated with a unique task of the one or more tasks.

15. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the image element comprises a displayable element comprising at least one of (i) a prompt element, (ii) an icon, (iii) a menu item, (iv) text, (v) a symbol, (vi) a graphical element, and (vii) a selectable region of a display.

16. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the particular task comprises triggering an event.

17. ) A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

a. creating a record for use in identifying the input parameter and the output parameter, the record to be used by the work flow executable procedure in acquiring the input parameter and exporting the output parameter.

18. ) A method according to claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

a. prompting a user to perform the particular task; and

b. recording user progress in accomplishing the particular task.

19. ) A method according to claim 4, further including the step of:

a. storing a parameter for use in performing the particular task, the parameter being useful for automatically establishing a communication link for acquiring the input parameter and for exporting the output parameter in response to initiation of performance of the particular task.

20. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the value of a variable of a process definition in which the work flow executable procedure is incorporated is definable as an expression comprising one or more output parameters of the work flow executable procedure.

21. ) A method according to claim 20, wherein:

a. a value of the process definition variable is automatically assigned to a parameter of the work flow executable procedure that has a name that is the same as the name of a process definition variable.

22. ) A method according to claim 21, wherein:

a. a process definition variable is automatically created and given the name of an work flow executable procedure parameter.

23. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the incorporating the particular task into a particular work flow further comprises incorporating an item representing a task in to data representing the particular work flow.

24. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the data representing the particular work flow comprise at least one of (i) a flowchart and (ii) a script.

25. ) A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of:

a. initiating display of a menu indicating a task schedule.

26. ) A method according to claim 25, wherein:

a. the task schedule is associated with a role performed by an individual.

27. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the particular task data comprise data representative of a work flow for performance by healthcare personnel.

28. ) A method according to claim 3, wherein:

a. the executable application further comprises at least one of (i) an executable method, (ii) an executable procedure, (iii) a grouping of executable software, (iv) a software object, and (v) executable code for implementing a function of the executable application.

30. ) A method for generating a user selectable image element for a work flow process, the work flow process comprising tasks and a plurality of work flow executable procedures wherein an individual work flow executable procedure corresponds to a unique one of the tasks, comprising the steps of:

a. configuring a work flow executable procedure to be associated with a particular work flow task by associating the work flow executable procedure with (i) a task identifier and (ii) a predetermined executable application for initiating the work flow executable procedure for implementing the particular task; and

b. associating a user selectable image element with the configured work flow executable procedure in response to at least one of a user command entered via a displayed user interface and a command from the predetermined executable application.

31. ) A method of providing work flow integration of a pre-configured work flow executable procedure into an second software application system, comprising:

a. for a desired work step, creating a work flow executable procedure;

b. embedding, within the work flow executable procedure, a predetermined set of parameters required to invoke appropriate functionality desired by the designer;

c. exposing parameters that must be passed into the executable procedure as public parameters;

d. exposing returns that must be passed back to the process in which the work step will be configured;

e. using a property page for the executable procedure to expose a predetermined set of public attributes that can be set at design time;

f. creating an image element representation for the executable procedure; and

g. including the resultant image element and its associated executable procedure in a library as part of a customized environment for the second software application system.

32. ) A method according to claim 31, further comprising:

a. securing the executable procedure, thereby making its internal configuration inaccessible to an end user of an application system.

33. ) A method according to claim 31, further comprising:

a. allowing the end user of the second software application system to utilize the customized environment by dragging an image element provided by the designer onto a work flow design;

b. allowing the end user of the second software application system to configure the property pages; and

c. allowing the end user of the second software application system to specify parameters to be set at runtime.

34. ) A method according to claim 31, wherein:

a. the image element is at least one of a graphical element and a text element.

35. ) A method according to claim 31, further comprising the step of:

a. incorporating the work flow executable procedure into a process definition; and

b. defining a value of a variable of the process definition in which the work flow executable procedure is incorporated as an expression comprising one or more output parameters of the work flow executable procedure.

36. ) A method according to claim 31, wherein:

a. the functionality desired by the designer comprises functions representative of a work flow for performance by healthcare personnel.

37. ) A computer program embodied within a computer-readable medium created using the method of claim 31.

38. ) A system for integratably providing work flow functionality within a second software application that does not have a native work flow engine, comprising:

a. a work flow engine;

b. a display;

c. a source of work flow executable procedure capable of being integrated into the second software application and further capable of providing work flow functionality to the second software application;

d. a source of image elements displayable on the display, wherein an image element provides a pre-configured interface to one or more of the work flow executable procedure, the image element further comprising a programmatic call to the second application system, processing within the second application system, and a return from the second application system;

e. an image element interface displayable on the display, the image element interface useful for allowing user selection of a predetermined set of work flow functions and a predetermined set of image elements; and

f. a work flow process configuration environment, further comprising an interface, the interface comprising an atomic, encapsulated image element that exposes functionality of the second software application to an end user of the second software application, the interface being further capable of providing configuration functionality with respect to work flow configuration.

39. ) A method of providing integratable work flow processes to a second application system, comprising:

a. creating a work flow engine;

b. providing a general image element interface to one or more executable processes of the work flow engine; and

c. creating an image element interface for a predetermined set of work flow functions for the second application system, the image element interface representing a programmatic call to the second application system, processing within the second application system, and a return from the second application system.

40. ) A method for creating a library of user selectable image elements supporting user creation of a work flow comprising a plurality of tasks performed using a corresponding plurality of work flow executable procedures in response to a user command, comprising the steps of:

a. pre-configuring a predetermined work flow executable procedure to be associated with (i) an identifier for a particular task and (ii) an executable application for initiating the work flow executable procedure for implementing the particular task, wherein the work flow executable procedure is useable in implementing the particular task in a work flow; and

b. installing the pre-configured work flow executable procedure into a library of retrievable, pre-configured work flow executable procedure.

41. ) A method according to claim 40, further comprising the steps of:

a. allowing access to the library by a designer from a work flow user interface; and

b. allowing the user to retrieve a desired pre-configured work flow executable procedure from the library.

42. ) A method according to claim 41, wherein the access to the library is read-only.

43. ) A method according to claim 41, further comprising the steps of:

a. displaying the identifier for a predetermined number of pre-configured work flow executable procedure; and

b. allowing the user to retrieve a desired pre-configured work flow executable procedure from the library by user selection of the displayed identifier.

44. ) A method according to claim 40, wherein:

a. the particular task is to be performed by a predetermined user role.

45. ) A method according to claim 40, wherein:

a. the library is a file structure.