SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR A NETWORK APPLICATION FRAMEWORK SYSTEM

• US 20080126119A1
• Filed: 11/24/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hogan, Joseph M., Barlow, Marc, Sirohey, Saad Ahmed, Avinash, Gopal B., Bembenek, Tamanna N.
• Application Number:
  US11/563,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments a central computer provides a communication path between a customer computer, a vendor computer and an expert computer. In some embodiments, a tiered fee structure that includes one or more incentive is transmitted between the computers.

Claims

1. A web-based plurality of operably coupled computers comprising:

at least one server, having healthcare image processing applications; and

at least one client,

wherein a data structure identifying a tiered fee structure and at least one incentive is included in at least one of the at least one server and the at least one client.

2. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 1, wherein the healthcare image processing applications further comprise:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

3. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 1, wherein the tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

4. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 3, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

5. The application service provider system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

6. A method of healthcare image processing performed by a first processor, the method comprising:

sending healthcare image data to a second processor without reference to an initiation command received from a human operator or the first processor;

sending to the second processor, service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer describing a first level of service by the second processor;

receiving from the second processor, an indication of availability of data at the second processor;

sending to the second processor, the initiation command for processing data;

receiving from the second processor, results of the service-order based structured processing applications on the healthcare image data by the second processor;

creating a report in reference to the healthcare image data and in reference to the results; and

receiving from the second processor, an invoice in accordance with the first level of service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the service-order based structured application further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

8. A method of healthcare image processing performed by a first processor, the method comprising:

sending healthcare image data to a second processor;

sending to the second processor, service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer selecting a second level of service by the second processor and selecting a method of communication for results;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, results of the service-order based automated structured processing applications on the healthcare image data by the second processor;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, a report in reference to the healthcare image data and in reference to the results; and

receiving from the second processor, an invoice in accordance with the second level of service.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the service-order based automated structured application further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the method of communication further comprises one of:

email, DICOM SR, fax, page, and WiFi to wireless.

11. A method of healthcare image processing performed by a first processor, the method comprising:

sending healthcare image data to a second processor;

sending to the second processor, service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer selecting a second level of service that requires technician supervision of processing by the second processor and selecting a method of communication for results;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, results of the service-order based structured processing applications supervised by technician on the healthcare image by the second processor;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, a report in reference to the healthcare image data and in reference to the results; and

receiving from the second processor, an invoice in accordance with the second level of service.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method of communication further comprises one of:

email, DICOM SR, fax, page, and WiFi to wireless.

13. A method of healthcare image processing performed by a first processor, the method comprising:

sending healthcare image data to a second processor;

sending to the second processor, service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer selecting a third level of service that requires expert supervision of processing by the second processor and selecting a method of communication for results;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, results of the service-order based structured processing applications supervised by an expert on the healthcare image data by the second processor;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, a report in reference to the healthcare image data and in reference to the results; and

receiving from the second processor, an invoice in accordance with the third level of service.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the method of communication further comprises one of:

email, DICOM SR, fax, page, and WiFi to wireless.

15. A method of healthcare image processing performed by a first processor, the method comprising:

sending healthcare image data to a second processor;

sending to the second processor, service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer selecting a fourth level of service that requires a first expert supervision of processing by the second processor and a second expert collaboration on processed results and selecting a method of communication for results;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, results of the service-order based structured processing applications supervised by a first expert on the healthcare image by the second processor;

receiving from the second processor through the method of communication, a report in reference to the healthcare image data and in reference to the results;

receiving from the second processor an on-line collaboration with the second expert through a third processor; and

receiving from the second processor, an invoice in accordance with the fourth level of service.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method of communication further comprises one of:

email, DICOM SR, fax, page, and WiFi to wireless.

17. A system that supports collaboration between a customer and a healthcare expert, the system comprising:

a secure server component to moderate the exchange between the customer and the healthcare expert using a structured processing application component;

a secure-communication component operable to communicate with the customer and the healthcare expert; and

a collaborative component operable to exchange data between the customer and the healthcare expert through the secure-communication component, the exchange consisting essentially of between the customer and the healthcare expert.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the data further comprises:

healthcare image data received from the customer; and

results of neuro-degenerative disease severity index processing of the healthcare image data.

19. An application service provider system that supports collaboration between a customer, a vendor and a healthcare expert, the application service provider system comprising:

a customer secure-communication component operable to communicate with the customer;

a vendor secure-communication component operable to communicate with a vendor;

an expert secure-communication component operable to communicate with a healthcare domain expert, the healthcare domain expert being a clinical luminary having in-depth knowledge in interpreting results generated by a healthcare application, the healthcare application including a healthcare image post-processing software operable to analyze image data for a specific clinical healthcare need; and

a transactional component operable to exchange data between the secure-communication components.

20. The application service provider system of claim 19, wherein the healthcare image post-processing software operable to analyze image data for a specific clinical healthcare need further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application.

21. The application service provider system of claim 19, wherein the customer secure-communication component, the vendor secure-communication component and the expert secure-communication component are comprised of a singular secure-communication component.

22. A web-based plurality of operably coupled computers comprising:

at least one server, having healthcare image processing applications;

at least one computer operably coupled to the at least one server and operated by an expert of medical services; and

at least one computer operably coupled to the at least one server and operated by a customer of the medical services,

wherein a data structure identifying a tiered fee structure and at least one incentive is transmitted through the at least one server from the at least one computer that is operated by the expert of medical services to the least one computer operated by the customer of the medical services.

23. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 22, wherein the healthcare image processing applications further comprise:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

24. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 22, wherein the tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

25. A client of a network application framework system, the client comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a client component operable to send healthcare data to a server through the secure-communication component and the client component further operable to receive processing application results from the server through the secure-communication component;

a graphical user-interface component operable to present the results received from the server;

an expert interface component further operable to receive healthcare recommendations; and

a component operable to receive at least one incentive through the secure-communication component.

26. The client of claim 25 wherein the at least one incentive further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer operating the client provides consultancy, and the at least one incentive further comprises gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with the healthcare data, and the at least one incentive further comprises a lowest discount if the customer provides healthcare data alone.

27. The client of claim 25 wherein the processing application further comprises:

one of an image processing application and a medical image processing application and a structured medical processing application.

28. A client of a network application framework system, the client comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a client component operable to send healthcare data to a server through the secure-communication component and the client component further operable to receive results from the server through the secure-communication component;

a graphical user-interface component operable to present the results received from the server;

an expert interface component further operable to receive recommendations; and

a collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of the results.

29. The client of the network application framework system of claim 28 further comprising a transactional component further is further operable to receive a tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive, the tiered fee structure further comprising:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

30. The client of the network application framework system of claim 29, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

31. The client of the network application framework system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

32. A computer of a network application framework system, the computer comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a component operable to receive healthcare imaging data from a server through the secure-communication component;

a graphical user-interface component operable to present the healthcare imaging data received from the server;

an expert interface component further operable to receive recommendations from an operator of the computer; and

a collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of results of healthcare image processing of the data.

33. The computer of claim 32 further comprising a healthcare image processing application that is further comprised of:

one of a healthcare image processing application and a structured healthcare processing application.

34. The computer of claim 33, wherein the structured healthcare processing application further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

35. A network application framework system comprising a client and a server, the client further comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a client component operable to send data to the server through the client secure-communication component and the client component further operable to receive results from the server through the client secure-communication component;

an expert interface component operable to present the results received from the server, and the expert interface component further operable to receive recommendations; and

a client collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of the results and the recommendations, and the server further comprising;

a secure-communication component;

a server component operable to receive the data from the client through the secure-communication component;

a healthcare application component operable to process the data and operable to generate the results;

the server component further operable to send the results to the client through the server secure-communication component; and

a collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of the results.

36. The network application framework system of claim 35, wherein the healthcare application component further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

37. A network application framework system comprising a client, a server and a computer for an expert:

the client further comprising;

a secure-communication component;

a client component operable to send healthcare data to the server through the client secure-communication component and the client component further operable to receive results from the server through the client secure-communication component;

a expert interface component operable to present the results received from the server, and the expert interface component further operable to receive recommendations; and

a client collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of the results and the recommendations,

the server further comprising;

a secure-communication component;

a server component operable to receive the healthcare data from the client through the secure-communication component;

a healthcare application component operable to process the healthcare data and operable to generate the results;

the server component further operable to send the results to the client through the server secure-communication component; and

a collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of the results, and

the expert computer further comprising;

a secure-communication component;

a component operable to visually present the healthcare data to a user;

a component operable to communicate recommendations from an operator of the expert computer; and

a component operable to send the recommendations through the secure-communication component.

38. The network application framework system of claim 37, wherein the healthcare application component further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

39. A web-based plurality of operably coupled computers comprising:

at least one server, having healthcare image processing applications;

at least one computer operably coupled to the at least one server and operated by a vendor of medical services; and

at least one computer operably coupled to the at least one server and operated by an expert of the medical services,

wherein a data structure identifying at least one expert recommendation is transmitted from the at least one computer that is operated by the expert of medical services to the at least one server, and then the data structure transmitted from the at least one server to the least one computer operated by the vendor of the medical services.

40. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 39, wherein the healthcare image processing applications further comprise:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

41. A network application framework system comprising a client and a server:

the client further comprising;

a secure-communication component;

a client component operable to send data to the server through the secure-communication component and the client component further operable to receive results from the server through the secure-communication component;

an expert interface component operable to present the results received from the server, and the expert interface component further operable to receive recommendations; and

a client transactional component operable to receive at least one incentive to an entity that operates the client, and

the server further comprising;

a secure-communication component;

a server component operable to receive the data from the client through the secure-communication component;

a healthcare application component operable to process the data and operable to generate the results;

the server component further operable to send the results to the client through the secure-communication component; and

a transactional component operable to provide a tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive.

42. The network application framework system of claim 41, wherein the tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

43. The network application framework system of claim 42, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

44. The network application framework system of claim 42, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

45. The network application framework system of claim 44 wherein the data is one of image data and medical image data and structured medical data and structured medical image data.

46. A client of a network application framework system, the client comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a client component operable to send healthcare data to a server through the secure-communication component and the client component further operable to receive results from the server through the secure-communication component;

a graphical user-interface component operable to present the results received from the server, and the expert interface component further operable to receive recommendations; and

a component operable to receive a plurality of incentives for expert advice to an entity that operates the client.

47. The client in claim 46 wherein the healthcare data is one of healthcare image data and healthcare image data and structured healthcare data and structured healthcare image data

48. The client of claim 46, wherein the plurality of incentives further comprise:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

49. The client of claim 48, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

50. The network application framework system of claim 48, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

51. A network application framework system comprising a client and a server,

the client further comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a client component operable to send data to the server through the secure-communication component and the client component further operable to receive results from the server through the secure-communication component;

an expert interface component operable to present the results received from the server, and the expert interface component further operable to provide recommendations; and

a client transactional component operable to receive a plurality of incentives for expert advice to an entity that operates the server; and

the server further comprising;

a secure-communication component;

a server component operable to receive the data from the client through the secure-communication component;

a healthcare application component operable to process the data and operable to generate the results;

the server component further operable to send the results to the client through the server secure-communication component; and

a transactional component operable to provide the plurality of incentives.

52. The network application framework system of claim 51, wherein the plurality of incentives further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

53. The network application framework system of claim 52, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

54. The network application framework system of claim 53, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

55. The network application framework system of claim 54, wherein the first billing discount further comprises a 10% billing discount;

the second billing discount further comprises a 20% billing discount and;

the third billing discount further comprises a 50% billing discount.

56. A method to support collaboration between a customer, a healthcare vendor and a healthcare-expert, the method comprising:

receiving healthcare-expert service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer, wherein the account status includes a plurality of billing discounts and a plurality of customer services further comprises;

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data,

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome, and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis; and

sending the healthcare service order requisition data to a vendor.

57. A method to support between a healthcare vendor and a healthcare-expert, the method comprising:

receiving an order with data from a client regarding healthcare-expert service-order requisition;

presenting the result to the healthcare-expert;

receiving a response from the healthcare-expert; and

sending the response to the healthcare vendor.

58. A web-based plurality of operably coupled computers comprising:

at least one server, having healthcare image processing applications;

at least one computer operably coupled to the at least one server and operated by a vendor of medical services;

at least one computer operably coupled to the at least one server and operated by a customer of the medical services; and

at least one computer operably coupled to the at least one server and operated by a expert of the medical services,

wherein a data structure identifying at least one expert recommendation is transmitted from the at least one computer that is operated by the expert of medical services to the at least one server, and then the data structure transmitted from the at least one server to the least one computer operated by the vendor of the medical services,

wherein a data structure identifying a tiered fee structure and at least one incentive is transmitted through the at least one server from the at least one computer that is operated by the vendor of medical services to the least one computer operated by the customer of the medical services.

59. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 58, wherein the healthcare image processing applications further comprise:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

60. The web-based plurality of operably coupled computers of claim 58, wherein the tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

61. A method to support collaboration between a customer, a healthcare vendor and a healthcare-expert, the method comprising:

transmitting an order-requisition-form to an entity selected from a group consisting of a human, a computer, a human technician and a human expert;

the sending being performed by an entity selected from a group consisting of the human and the computer;

providing a healthcare image processing application in accordance with the order-requisition-form, the healthcare image processing application being performed by an entity selected from the group consisting of the human, the computer, the human technician and the human expert;

analyzing results of the processing of the healthcare image processing application in accordance with the order-requisition-form, the analyzing being performed by an entity selected from a group consisting of the human, the computer, the human expert and a human collaborator; and

reporting results of the analyzing, the reporting being performed by the entity selected from the group consisting of the human, the computer, the human expert and the human collaborator.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the healthcare image processing application further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising:

providing a tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

65. An application service provider system comprising:

a secure-communication component operable to communicate with a customer;

an application component operable to receive an order-requisition-form from the customer through the secure-communication component and operable to perform a healthcare application in reference to the order-requisition-form to provide results to the customer; and

a transactional component operable to provide a tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive.

66. The application service provider system of claim 65, wherein the tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

67. The application service provider system of claim 66, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

68. The application service provider system of claim 67, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

69. The application service provider system of claim 65 further comprising:

a transactional component operable to provide a plurality of incentives for expert advice to an entity that operates the application service provider system.

70. The application service provider system of claim 65 further comprising:

a collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of the results.

71. The application service provider system of claim 65 further comprising:

an administrative component operable to route the order requisition form and operable to schedule personnel in reference to tasks of the order requisition form.

72. The application service provider system of claim 65, wherein the healthcare application further comprises:

one of an image processing application and a medical image processing application and a structured medical processing application.

73. A server of a network application framework system, the server comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a server component operable to receive data from a client through the secure-communication component; and

a healthcare application component operable to process the data and operable to generate results;

the server component further operable to send the results to the client through the secure-communication component;

a transactional component operable to provide a tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive.

74. The server of claim 73 wherein the data to be processed is one of image data and medical image data.

75. The server of the network application framework system of claim 73, the healthcare application component further comprising:

post-processing software operable to analyze image data for a specific clinical need.

76. The server of claim 73, wherein the tiered fee structure that includes at least one incentive further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

77. The server of claim 76, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

78. The application service provider system of claim 76, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

79. A server of a network application framework system, the server comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a server component operable to receive data from a client through the secure-communication component;

a healthcare application component operable to process the data and operable to generate results;

the server component further operable to send the results to the client through the secure-communication component;

a transactional component operable to provide a plurality of incentive driven data.

80. The server of claim 79 wherein the incentive driven data is one of data, data plus outcome and data plus outcome plus consultancy.

81. The server of claim 80 wherein the incentive driven further comprises:

a plurality of billing discounts, each of the billing discounts associated with one of a plurality of customer services.

82. The network application framework system of claim 81, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a maximum discount if a customer provides consultancy with gradually decreasing discounts if the customer provides clinical outcome with data and a lowest discount if the customer provides data alone.

83. The network application framework system of claim 81, wherein the plurality of billing discounts and the plurality of customer services further comprises:

a first billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data;

a second billing discount associated with a customer service of providing image data and a clinical outcome; and

a third billing discount associated with a customer service of providing consultancy on clinical image analysis.

84. A server of a network application framework system, the server comprising:

a secure-communication component;

a server component operable to receive data from a client through the secure-communication component;

a healthcare application component operable to process the data and operable to generate results;

the server component further operable to send the results to the client through the secure-communication component; and

a collaboration component operable to facilitate collaboration in clarification of the results.

85. An apparatus comprising:

a processing algorithm component;

reference data accessible to the processing algorithm component;

a disease severity knowledgebase accessible to the processing algorithm component;

a secure-communication layer operably coupled to the processing algorithm component;

an administration layer operably coupled to the processing algorithm component;

an Internet access component further comprising a graphical user interface, the Internet access component operably coupled to the processing algorithm component.

86. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the processing algorithm component further comprises at least one of:

a 3D-SSP processing algorithm component;

a SPM processing algorithm component; and

a AMI processing algorithm component.

87. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the reference data further comprises at least one of:

normalized reference data with reference to at least one tracer;

age-segregated reference data; and

reference data segregated with reference to non-age criteria.

88. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the secure-communication layer further comprises at least one of:

a DICOM secure-communication layer; and

a web-based secure-communication layer.

89. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the administration layer further comprises at least one of:

an account management administration layer;

an access control administration layer;

a security administration layer; and

a scheduling administration layer.

90. The apparatus of claim 85 wherein the Internet access component further comprises at least one of:

an application Internet access component; and

an infrastructure Internet access component.

91. A method to support collaboration between a customer, a healthcare vendor and a healthcare-expert, the method comprising:

receiving healthcare-expert service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer;

routing the healthcare-expert service-order requisition data to an appropriate healthcare application;

scheduling personnel in reference to the healthcare-expert service-order requisition data;

receiving a result from the appropriate healthcare application;

sending the result to the healthcare-expert; and

receiving a response from the healthcare-expert.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the appropriate healthcare application further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application.

93. A method of healthcare image processing performed by a first processor, the method comprising:

sending healthcare image data to a second processor in reference to an initiation command received from a human operator or the first processor;

sending to the second processor, service-order requisition data in reference to an account status of the customer describing a first level of service by the second processor;

receiving from the second processor, results of the service-order based structured processing applications on the healthcare image data by the second processor;

creating a report in reference to the healthcare image data and in reference to the results; and

receiving from the second processor, an invoice in accordance with the first level of service.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein the service-order based structured application further comprises:

a neuro-degenerative disease severity indexing application that references a disease severity knowledgebase.