Methods and apparatus for providing decision support

• US 20060200549A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terumo Medical Corporation (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Iocent LLC
• Inventors: Spertus, John Albert, Soto, Gabriel Enrique
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for providing decision support includes using a programmed computer to input a regression model specification, and to repeat the input a plurality of times to obtain and store a plurality of regression model specifications. The method further includes using the programmed computer to analyze selected regression model specifications to determine at least one of common variables and functions of common variables, to thereby determine a reduced-redundancy request for input of variables, when a plurality of the stored regression model specifications are selected for use.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium or media having instructions recorded thereon that are configured to instruct a processor to:

(a) input a regression model specification;

(b) repeat (a) a plurality of times to obtain and store a plurality of the regression model specifications; and

(c) when a plurality of the stored regression model specifications are selected for use, analyze the selected regression model specifications to determine at least one of common variables and functions of common variables, to thereby determine a reduced-redundancy request for input of variables.

2. A machine readable medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct a processor to:

display a set of stored regression model specifications;

accept a selection of the displayed regression model specifications for use;

display a reduced-redundancy request for input of variables for the selected regression model specifications;

accept input values for the variables requested; and

use the accepted input values to determine and display results of the selected stored regression model specifications.

3. A machine readable medium in accordance with claim 2 wherein the software instructions are further configured to store accepted variable values in a database with an indication of person or object to which they apply, to retrieve the stored variable values from the database when a different regression model specification is selected for use for the same person or object, and to provide, as default values, the stored variable values for the same person or object for the different regression specification that is selected.

4. A machine readable medium in accordance with claim 2 wherein the instructions are configured to print the results using customizable content stored in a memory or database, and wherein the results comprise a visual representation of a statistical range.

5. A machine readable medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein to obtain coefficients associated with the selected regression model specifications, the instructions are further configured to instruct the processor to retrieve variable values from a database and perform a regression using the retrieved variable values.

6. A machine readable medium in accordance with claim 1 wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the processor to display a visual selection of mathematical variable transforms for at least some variables and to accept a selection of the mathematical variable transforms and store the selection in a memory.

7. A method for providing decision support, the method comprising using a programmed computer to:

(a) input a regression model specification;

(b) repeat (a) a plurality of times to obtain and store a plurality of the regression model specifications; and

(c) when a plurality of the stored regression model specifications are selected for use, analyze the selected regression model specifications to determine at least one of common variables and functions of common variables, to thereby determine a reduced-redundancy request for input of variables.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising using the computer to:

display a set of stored regression model specifications;

accept a selection of the displayed regression model specifications for use;

display a reduced-redundancy request for input of variables for the selection of regression model specifications;

accept input values for the variables requested; and

use the accepted input values to determine and display results of the selected stored regression model specifications.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising using the computer to store accepted variable values in a database with an indication of person or object to which they apply, to retrieve the stored variable values from the database when a different regression model specification is selected for use for the same person or object, and to provide, as default values, the stored variable values for the same person or object for the different regression specification that is selected.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising using the computer to display results of the selected regression model specifications, and to print the results using customizable content stored in a memory or database, and wherein the results comprise a visual representation of a statistical range.

11. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the displayed results comprise a visual representation of a statistical range.

12. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein to obtain coefficients associated with the selected regression model specifications, the instructions are further configured to instruct the processor to retrieve variables from a database and perform a regression using the retrieved variable values.

13. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising using the computer to display a visual selection of mathematical variable transforms for at least some variables and to accept a selection of the mathematical variable transforms and store the selection in a memory.

14. A computer network comprising:

a server computer and a server module, the server computer including a processor, and a memory;

a first client computer, not necessarily different from the server computer, the first client computer having a first user display device, a first user input device, and a client module;

a second client computer, not necessarily different from the first client computer or the server computer, the second client computer having a second user display device not necessarily different from the first user display device, a second user input device not necessarily different from the first user input device, and a second client module;

wherein the server module comprises instruction code are configured to instruct the processor to;

(a) communicate common regression models to the first client module and store a regression model specification received from the first client module;

(b) repeat (a) a plurality of times to obtain and store a plurality of the regression model specifications; and

(c) when a plurality of the stored regression model specifications are selected for use, analyze the selected regression model specifications to determine at least one of common variables and functions of common variables, to thereby determine a reduced-redundancy request for input of variables.

15. A computer network in accordance with claim 14 wherein instruction code are further configured to instruct the processor to:

communicate a set of stored regression model specifications to the second client module;

receive selection regression model specifications communicated from the second client module;

communicate a reduced-redundancy request for input of variables for the selected regression model specifications to the second client module;

accept variables input to the second client module in response to the request for input of variables; and

communicate results of the selected regression model specifications to the second client module.

16. A computer network in accordance with claim 15 wherein the server module is further configured to store accepted variable values in a database with an indication of person or object to which they apply, to retrieve the stored variable values from the database when a different regression model specification is selected for use for the same person or object, and to provide, as default values, the stored variable values for the same person or object for the different regression specification that is selected.

17. A computer network in accordance with claim 15 wherein the server module are configured to communicate results of the selected regression model specifications to the second client module in a customizable letterhead format.

18. A computer network in accordance with claim 15 wherein the communicated results include a visual representation of a statistical range.

19. A computer network in accordance with claim 14 wherein to obtain coefficients associated with the selected regression model specifications, the server module is further configured to instruct the processor to retrieve variables from a database and perform a regression using the retrieved variable values.

20. A computer network in accordance with claim 17 wherein the server module are further configured to instruct the processor to communicate a visual selection of mathematical variable transforms for at least some variables to the first client module and to accept a selection of the mathematical variable transforms to store in the memory.