System and apparatus for efficiently utilizing network capacity in a healthcare setting
First Claim
1. A method for efficiently updating in an asynchronous environment the data stored in portable computing devices with corresponding data stored in a database at a server or accessed via a server, the portable computing devices and database both being configured for use in a healthcare setting and comprising patient data, the method comprising the steps of:
- establishing a connection between a portable computing device or PCD and the server;
sending a request for synchronization from the PCD to the server;
starting a response timer;
waiting for a response from the server within a selected wait time;
retransmitting the request for synchronization if a response was not received from the server within the selected wait time;
determining whether the PCD and server need synchronization, if the server successfully receives the request for synchronization, and generating a response for the PCD indicating either a need for synchronization or no need for synchronization; and
transmitting the response from the server to the PCD.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld or portable computing device is provided and capable of providing efficient maintenance of information maintained or stored within a healthcare information system such as an LIS (laboratory information system). Periodically updating information with the server allows the user to perform many specimen collection related tasks efficiently. The handheld device and related system provide improved monitoring of diagnostic sample collection errors and further provides efficient network management of accessing and updating the information on a server through communications with the network such as ping synchronization communications and use of a valid data timer element.
77 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method for efficiently updating in an asynchronous environment the data stored in portable computing devices with corresponding data stored in a database at a server or accessed via a server, the portable computing devices and database both being configured for use in a healthcare setting and comprising patient data, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a connection between a portable computing device or PCD and the server;
sending a request for synchronization from the PCD to the server;
starting a response timer;
waiting for a response from the server within a selected wait time;
retransmitting the request for synchronization if a response was not received from the server within the selected wait time;
determining whether the PCD and server need synchronization, if the server successfully receives the request for synchronization, and generating a response for the PCD indicating either a need for synchronization or no need for synchronization; and
transmitting the response from the server to the PCD. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for efficiently updating in an asynchronous environment the data stored in portable computing devices with corresponding data stored in a database at a server or accessed via a server, the portable computing devices and database both being configured for use in a healthcare setting and comprising patient information, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a connection between a portable computing device or PCD and the server for sending patient data thereto;
generating a structured data stream at the PCD comprising different types of patient data and corresponding state data that can be used to determine if the different types of the patient data were changed in a PCD memory device;
transmitting data comprising at least a portion of the patient data stored at the PCD and the structured data stream from the PCD to the server;
analyzing the data from the PCD received at the server for compatibility by determining if at least a portion of the structured data stream is recognized therein;
generating and transmitting from the server an order to the PCD to synchronize at least a portion of the patient data stored therein with corresponding patient data stored in the database if the server determines that the data is not in a compatible format; and
extracting state data from the data sent from the PCD to the server for comparison with corresponding data stored in a database at the server or accessed via the server and determining whether the PCD should synchronize with the database if the data is in a compatible format for the server. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A method for efficiently updating in an asynchronous environment the data stored in portable computing devices with corresponding data stored in a database at a server or accessed via a server, the method comprising the steps of:
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establishing a connection between a portable computing device or PCD and the server for sending data thereto;
generating a structured data stream at the PCD comprising different data field types and state data that can be used to determine if the data for a corresponding data field type was changed in a PCD memory device;
transmitting data from the PCD to the server, the data comprising the structured data stream;
receiving the data from the PCD at the server;
analyzing at the server at least a portion of the state data received from the PCD to determine if the PCD changed the data, changes to the data comprising at least one of modifications to at least an existing selected portion of the data stored in the PCD and the addition of new data to the PCD;
sending an instruction from the server to the PCD to commence synchronization if the server determines that changes were made to the data stored in the PCD;
sending a response from the server to the PCD indicating that the PCD need not synchronize if the server determines that no changes were made to the data stored in the PCD and that the data stored in the PCT is current with respect to the corresponding data in the database or accessed via the server; and
sending an instruction from the server to the PCD to commence synchronization if the server determines that no changes were made to the data stored in the PCD but the data stored in the PCD is not current with respect to the corresponding data stored in the database or accessed via the server. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for efficiently updating in an asynchronous environment the data stored in portable-computing systems with corresponding data stored in a database at a server or accessed via a server, the method comprising the steps of:
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forwarding a query from a PCD to the server to determine if either the server or the network connecting the server to the PCD is unavailable;
when the PCD is unable to connect to the server, forwarding at least one other query from the PCD to the server after the occurrence of at least one of a predetermined interval of time and a predetermined event; and
when the PCD connects to the server, generating and sending a structured data stream to the server, the server being configured to extract data from the data stream sent from the PCD and determine if the PCD should synchronize with the server. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A portable computing device or PCD for use in a healthcare setting comprising:
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an input module for entering patient information;
a memory module for storing patient information;
a communication module for allowing the portable computing device to communicate with at least one of a server and a healthcare information database, the communication module comprising at least one of a wireless interface and a wireline interface for connecting to at least one other computing device or network of computing devices, the other computing device or network of computing devices comprising at least one of the server and the healthcare information database;
a cradle interface element for connecting the PCD to a cradle when placed therein, the cradle being configured for connection to at least the other computing device or network of computing devices;
a processing module connected to the memory, the input module, the cradle interface element and the communication module, and being programmable to automatically initiate synchronization of at least a portion of the patient information stored in the memory module with corresponding patient information stored in at least one of the server and the healthcare information database for updating, the synchronization being initiated when selected events occur, the selected events being selected from the group consisting of the placement of the portable computing device in the cradle and wireless communication with at least the other computing system to allow intermittent synchronization, the processing module being programmable to provide at least one of the server and the healthcare information database with state data corresponding to selected patient information in the memory module for the determination of whether the information in the memory module is in need of updating or not in need of updating. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A portable computing device (PCD) operating in a healthcare environment comprising:
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a input module for receiving data relating to a patient;
a memory module for storing the data, the data comprising at least one physical location in which the PCD is assigned for use, patient identification data for at least the patients located at the physical location assigned to the PCD, and at least a subset of patient healthcare information comprising healthcare data for the patients located at the physical location assigned to the PCD, the healthcare data being selected from the group consisting of specimen sample data, patient identifiers, specimen collection orders, cancellation order codes, and specimen collection container identifiers, user identifiers, and physical location identifiers;
a processing module programmable, when PCD is placed in a cradle, to initiate synchronization with a server to update at least one of the patient identification data and the patient healthcare information stored in the memory module when the data therein is not current, and to defer synchronization to a subsequent time when the data therein is current. - View Dependent Claims (60)
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Specification