Relational database compiled/stored on a memory structure providing improved access through use of redundant representation of data

• US 6,519,601 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Den Bosch, Bart Van, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
• Original Assignee: Bart Van Den Bosch, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven
• Inventors: Bosch, Bart Van Den
• Primary Examiner(s): Homere, Jean R.
• Application Number:
  US09/194,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/2, 707/100, 707/203, 707/102, 705/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2282 Tablespace storage structures; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A relational database compiled/stored on a computer environment for storing data about units of work includes a first set of tables and a second set of tables. The first set of tables includes first columns and first tuples and a first dataset containing first data included in the first columns and first tuples. The second set of tables includes second columns and second tuples and a second dataset consisting of second data. The data included in the second columns and second tuples being second data. The units of work including first services, final services and current services. The unit of work having a status being inactive, active or terminated. The second data is a redundant representation of a part of the first data.

Claims

1. A relational database compiled/stored on a computer environment for storing and querying data about units of work, said relational database comprising:

a first set of tables comprising first columns and first tuples and a first dataset containing first data comprised in said first columns and first tuples; and

a second set of tables comprising second columns and second tuples and a second dataset consisting of second data, all the data comprised in said second columns and second tuples being second data, said units of work comprising first services, final services and current services, said unit of work having a status being inactive, active or terminated, wherein said second data is a redundant representation of a part of said first data.

2. The relational database of claim 1, wherein the second data is identical to the first data comprised in at least one first tuple.

3. The relational database of claim 1, wherein the second data is derived from the first data by an adaptation of a part of the first data comprised in at least one first tuple.

4. The relational database of claim 1, wherein the second data is derived from the first data by an operation on a part of the first data comprised in at least one first tuple.

5. The relational database of claim 1, wherein said first data comprises all said services of all units of work having an active or terminated status, and said part of said first data consists of all the current services of all units of work having an active status.

6. The relational database of claim 1, wherein said second data support a query within said first data whereby the performance of said query within said first data is increased.

7. The relational database of claim 6, wherein application programs executing the query are compiled/stored on said computer environment and said relational database is adapted for access by said application programs.

8. The relational database of claim 7, further comprising programs being executed while data is added to a selected table of said first set of tables whereby said program generates said second data of said second set of tables.

9. The relational database of claim 1, wherein said first set of tables comprises a physical level, a conceptual level or an application level.

10. The relational database of claim 9, wherein each of said data is an electronic message capable of representing contents of electronic forms.

11. The relational database of claim 10, wherein said electronic messages represent essences consisting of a group of processes, operations, services, acts, objects and persons within a defined world.

12. The relational database of claim 11, wherein said defined world is a hospital.

13. The relational database of claim 10, wherein a set of messages is related as a unit of work.

14. The relational database of claim 13, wherein said unit is represented by at least one tuple in said second set of tables, said tuple representing said unit within said second set of tables being deletable.

15. The relational database of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second data is in one tuple, each of said first data being permanently stored in one tuple being added to a table of said first set of tables, whereby the first set of tables is deletionless and additive.

16. The relational database of claim 15, wherein said tuples containing said first data are labeled according to the operation creating said first data, said operations selected from a group including inserting, omitting and correcting said first data.

17. The relational database of claim 16, wherein said tuples containing said first data are labeled according to a creator creating said first data, and according to the date of the operation creating said first data and according to the link between a new version of said first data and an old version of said first data.

18. A method of constructing a relational database for speeding up the execution of a predefined query within said relational database, said relational database comprising data concerning units of work, said units of work comprising subsequent services, said services comprising a first service, a final service and a current service, said unit of work further having a status, said status being inactive, active or terminated, and said predefined query being a query at least partly within an unit of work having an active status, said method comprising:

creating simultaneously a first and a second set of tables, said first set of tables comprising first columns and first tuples and a first dataset comprising first data located in said first columns and first tuples, and said second set of tables comprising second columns and second tuples and a second dataset consisting of second data located in said second columns and second tuples, said second data being a redundant representation of a selected part of said first data; and

storing said first and second dataset on a computer environment, wherein said first data comprises all said services of all units of work having an active or terminated status, and said selected part of said first data comprises all the current services of all units of work having an active status.

19. A method of executing queries within a relational database comprising,

a first set of tables comprising first columns and first tuples and a first dataset containing first data located in said first columns and first tuples;

and

a second set of tables comprising second columns and second tuples and a second dataset comprising of second data, all the data located in said second columns and second tuples being second data, said units of work comprising first services, final services and current services, said unit of work having a status being inactive, active or terminated, wherein said second data is a redundant representation of a part of said first data, the method comprising;

selecting tuples in said second set of tables, and

reading out the tuples of said first set of tables corresponding to said selected tuples of said second tables.

20. A method of executing queries within the relational database comprising,

a first set of tables comprising first columns and first tuples and a first dataset containing first data located in said first columns and first tuples, and

a second set of tables comprising second columns and second tuples and a second dataset comprising second data, all the data located in said second columns and second tuples being second data, said units of work comprising first services, final services and current services, said unit of work having a status being inactive, active or terminated, wherein said second data is a redundant representation of a part of said first data, each of said data is an electronic message capable of representing contents of electronic forms, a set of messages being related as a unit of work, the method comprising:

selecting tuples of said second set of tables corresponding to said unit; and

reading out the attributes corresponding to one column and one tuple of said first set of tables corresponding to said selected tuples of said second tables corresponding to said unit.

21. A database access system compiled on a computer environment, comprising:

a relational database configured to be accessible by application programs executing a query including;

a first set of tables with first columns and tuples containing first data,

a second set of tables with second columns and tuples containing second data, each of said second data being a redundant representation of at least one of said first data;

said database being adapted for access by application programs executing a query in said database;

a meta-data; and

means for optimizing the accessing of said database, said means comprising tools for retaining a set of meta-data after said first data is inserted in said database, said meta-data verifying errors in an insertion of next first data in said database.

22. A system for developing software for an application to be compiled on a set of computers, said system comprising:

a relational database configured to be accessible by application programs executing a query comprising;

a first set of tables with first columns and tuples containing first data, said first data being electronic messages representing contents of electronic forms, and

a second set of tables with second columns and tuples containing second data, each of said second data representing at least one of said first data;

first tools supporting a user interface;

second tools accessing said database; and

third tools implementing said electronic messages and linking said database with said user interface to thereby store said electronic messages and linking said database with said user interface to thereby store said electronic messages as data in said database and whereby said electronic messages can be entered or accessed via said user interface.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising means for adding, omitting and correcting said electronic messages.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein said means include a rulebase comprising first rules for checking data integrity before adding said data, second rules for executing the steps of omitting and adding data after corrected data are entered, and third rules for closing said user interface.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said electronic messages represent essences consisting of the group of processes, operations, services, acts, objects, and persons within a defined world.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein said second tools comprise tools for entering said electronic messages in said database as tuples with columns in a specific table.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein said relational database is a Sybase type of database, said user interface is a workstation or a terminal and said tools are developed in Prolog.

28. The system of claim 22, further comprising modules being specific for one application according to one of said essences within said defined world.

29. The system of claim 22, wherein a set of the first data being comprised in said database is displayed on said user interface.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said first tools comprise means for maintaining a subset of said set of first data on said user interface while storing said set of first data.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said set of first data is represented as a graph with nodes representing parts of said set of first data and arcs representing the inter-relationships of said parts.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for browsing said graph.

33. The system of claim 22, further comprising fourth tools for developing a specific application including means for generating database objects associated with said electronic forms.

34. A clinical workstation implementing on a computer environment a representation of a group of processes, operation, services, acts, objects and persons within a hospital comprising:

a relational database configured to be accessible by application programs executing a query comprising;

a first set of tables with first columns and tuples containing first data, said first data being electronic messages being the contents of electronic forms wherein said first set of tables is organized as a set of generalized tables according to the different types of said operations, and

a second set of tables with second columns and tuples containing second data, each of said second data being a redundant representation of at least one of said first data;

software modules, integrating a medically logical unit of said hospital;

a user interface including a dashboard and integrating said modules; and

a generator stored on said computer environment comprising;

first tools supporting a user interface;

second tools accessing said database; and

third tools implementing said electronic messages and linking said database with said user interface whereby said messages can be entered or accessed via said user interface.

35. The clinical workstation of claim 34, wherein said user interface includes a dashboard on a computer screen, said dashboard comprising a palette with buttons representing said objects, persons, processes, services, operations or acts within said hospital.

36. The clinical workstation of claim 34, wherein said set of generalized first tables comprise a standard, fixed and variable part.

37. The clinical workstation of claim 36, wherein said standard part is determined by the type of operation, said fixed part is determined by a specific service, and said variable part is determined by said service.

38. The clinical workstation of claim 34, further comprising units of work linked to said third tools for checking integrity of said messages.

39. A hospital information system stored on a network of computers and workstations comprising:

a relational database stored on at least one computer of said network and configured to be accessible by application programs executing a query comprising;

a first set of tables with first columns and tuples containing first data, said first data being electronic messages being the contents of electronic forms, and

a second set of tables with second columns and tuples containing second data, each of said second data representing at least one of said first data;

a generator stored on at least one computer of said network comprising;

first tools supporting a user interface;

second tools accessing said database;

third tools implementing said electronic messages and linking said database with said user interface whereby said messages are stored as data in said database and whereby said messages can be entered or accessed via said user interface; and

at least one clinical workstation comprising said user interface and modules allowing for entry of essences consisting of the group of processes, operations, services, acts and objects related to a patient'"'"'s medical file within the hospital.

40. The hospital information system of claim 39, further comprising data related to a patient'"'"'s administrative file within the hospital.