System for dynamic information exchange

• US 7,325,076 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Navinet Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Navimedix, Inc.
• Inventors: Dupre, David N., Morrison, Thomas G., Daly, Jeffrey S., Huang, Stanley Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Osman; Ramy M
• Application Number:
  US09/711,618
• Time in Patent Office: 2,633 Days
• Field of Search: 709217-219, 709/203, 709/202, 709/228, 709/230, 709/246, 709/223, 707/10, 705/2, 705/3, 705/4
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/06 Notations for structuring of protocol data, e.g. abstract syntax notation one [ASN.1]

Abstract

The communication bridge enables trading partner customers to mass customize their interactions with their affiliated trading partners by controlling workflow and data presentation. A method and system allows the integration of standard and proprietary content, such as data and “look-and-feel” elements, from trading partners to be presented via a standard interface for the purpose of conducting mass customized interactions (transactions, communications). There is a high degree of variability in screen and workflow presentation. A particular Application Programming Interface (API) facilitates the dynamic exchange of information between disparate trading partners and end users.

Claims

1. A system for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising:

a user interface for interacting with the user, the user interface receiving input data from the user;

a plurality of remote transaction systems, each remote transaction system associated with a health care trading partner, each remote transaction system independently managing a respective database, and each remote transaction system not directly connected to other remote transaction systems in the plurality; and

a communication bridge in connection with the user interface and remote transaction systems, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

a first interaction system using a first set of data formatted for communicating with the user interface and displaying a first form associated with a selected remote transaction system and a second form associated with a different remote transaction system; and

a second interaction system for communicating with the selected remote transaction system using a second set of data formatted for communicating with the selected remote transaction system and its respective database, the communication bridge operating on the first and second sets of data and handling conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data communicating with the user interface and (b) the format of the second set of data communicating with the selected remote transaction system and its respective database.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is a graphical user interface.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the graphical user interface includes a browser.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the databases are disparate.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the selected remote transaction system includes processing logic responsive to the input data.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the processing logic determines additional data to be input by the user.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a store of display forms, each display form soliciting input data from the user, the second form resulting from input data of the first form.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a specific display form is communicated to the user interface in response to a business model of the selected remote transaction system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the specific display form is determined from input data.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first interaction system includes an Internet protocol.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the second interaction system includes a messaging protocol.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the communication bridge includes a third interaction system for communicating with a second selected remote transaction system.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface displays a transaction log, each entry in the transaction log associated with one of the remote transaction systems.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein for a selected entry in the transaction log, the system derives a trading partner associated with the transaction and displays a proprietary form associated with the trading partner.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the remote transaction systems are health care trading partners and the user is a supplier of health care services.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interaction system employs a HyperText Markup Language.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second interaction system employs an eXtensible Markup language.

18. A system for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising:

a plurality of end user systems, each end user system having a user interface for presenting virtual forms for data collection and data display;

a plurality of remote transaction systems, each transaction system associated with a health care trading partner, each remote transaction system having data stored in a database and a set of rules for using a plurality of forms to collect data for the database, and each remote transaction system not directly connected to other remote transaction systems in the plurality; and

a communication bridge in communication with the end user systems and the transaction systems, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

a first data communication server having a first interaction system using a first set of data formatted for communicating with the remote transaction systems and their respective databases, and displaying a first form associated with a selected remote transaction system and a second form associated with a different remote transaction system;

a second data communication server having a second interaction system for communicating with the end user system using a second set of data formatted for communicating with the end user system; and

a network structure connecting the first server with the second server, the communication bridge operating on the first and second sets of data and handling conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data for communicating with the remote transaction systems and their respective databases and (b) the format of the second set of data communicating with the end user systems.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein a virtual form is presented to the user under command of the set of rules of a specific remote transaction system.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein input data collected from the user by the virtual form is stored in the database of the specific remote transaction system.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the communication bridge derives the specific remote transaction system from input data collected from the user by a previously presented virtual form.

22. The system of claim 18 wherein the second server is an Internet web server.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the first server includes a conversational interface to the remote transaction systems.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the communication bridge exchanges of information between one end user system and many remote transaction systems.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the one-to-many relationship completes a single transaction for the end user system.

26. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote transaction system includes a legacy transaction system.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the remote transaction system further includes a transaction server in communication with the first server.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the transaction server directly updates data on the legacy transaction system.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the transaction server stores updates to data for delayed forwarding to the legacy transaction system.

30. A computer system for exchanging data between a user and a plurality of database transaction systems, comprising:

on a client computer, an application program for displaying forms for exchanging information with the user under control of a remote communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems, each disparate transaction system associated with a health care trading partner and its database, and each disparate transaction system not directly connected to the other disparate transaction systems;

a first set of programming instructions received from the communication bridge and executed by the application program to display a first specific form, wherein the first specific form is associated with a first disparate transaction system, the communication bridge operating on (i) a first set of data formatted for communicating with the application program to display the first specific form and to display a second form associated with another disparate transaction system different from the first transaction system, and (ii) a second set of data formatted for communicating with the first disparate transaction system and its database, and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data communicating with the application program as executed on the client computer and (b) the format of the second set of data communicating with the first disparate transaction system and its database.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the application program is an Internet web browser.

32. The system of claim 30 further comprising a second set of instructions received from the communication bridge to display a second specific form, the second specific form being a result of input data to the first specific form.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the second specific form is associated with a second disparate transaction system.

34. A method for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising:

interacting with the user through a user interface, the user interface receiving input data from the user;

independently managing respective databases on a plurality of transaction systems, wherein each remote transaction system is not directly connected to other remote transaction systems in the plurality, and wherein each remote transaction system is associated with a health care trading partner and its respective database; and

connecting a communication bridge with the user interface and remote transaction systems, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different remote transaction systems and including;

communicating with the user interface using a first interaction system using a first set of data formatted for communicating with the user interface, and displaying a first form associated with a selected remote transaction system and its respective database and a second form associated with a different remote transaction system and its respective database; and

communicating with the selected remote transaction system using a second interaction system including a second set of data formatted for communicating with the selected remote transaction system and its respective database, the communication bridge operating on the first and second sets of data and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data for communicating with the user interface and (b) the format of the second set of data formatted for communicating with the selected remote transaction system and its respective database.

35. The method of claim 34 where the user interface is a graphical user interface.

36. The method of claim 35 where the graphical user interface includes a browser.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the databases are disparate.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the selected remote transaction system includes processing logic responsive to the input data.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the processing logic determines additional data to be input by the user.

40. The method of claim 34 further comprising a store of display forms, each display form soliciting input data from the user.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein a specific display form is communicated to the user interface in response to a business model of the selected remote transaction system.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the specific display form is determined from input data.

43. The method of claim 34 wherein the first interaction system includes an Internet protocol.

44. The method of claim 34 wherein the second interaction system includes a messaging protocol.

45. The method of claim 34 wherein the communication bridge includes a third interaction system for communicating with a second selected remote transaction system.

46. A method for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising:

for a plurality of end user systems, providing each end user system with a user interface for presenting virtual forms for data collection and data display;

providing a plurality of remote transaction systems with data stored in respective databases and a set of rules for using a plurality of forms to collect data for the respective databases, wherein each remote transaction system is not directly connected to other remote transaction systems in the plurality, and wherein each remote transaction system is associated with a health care trading partner; and

disposing a communication bridge in communication with the end user systems and the remote transaction systems, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

communicating with the remote transaction systems with a first data communication server using a first set of data formatted for communicating with the remote transaction systems and their respective databases, and displaying a first form associated with a selected remote transaction system and a second form associated with a different remote transaction system;

communicating with the end user systems with a second data communication server using a second set of data formatted for communicating with the end user systems; and

connecting a network structure with the first server and the second server, the communication bridge operating on the first and second sets of data and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data communicating with the remote transaction systems and their respective databases and (b) the format of the second set of data communicating with the end user systems.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein a virtual form is presented to the user under command of the set of rules of a specific remote transaction system.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein input data collected from the user by the virtual form is stored in the database of the specific remote transaction system.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein the communication bridge derives the specific remote transaction system from input data collected from the user by a previously presented virtual form.

50. The method of claim 46 wherein the second server is an Internet web server.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the first server includes a conversational interface to the remote transaction systems.

52. The method of claim 46 wherein the communication bridge manages exchanges of information between one end user system and many remote transaction systems.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the one-to-many relationship completes a single transaction for the end user system.

54. The method of claim 46 wherein the remote transaction system includes a legacy transaction system.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the remote transaction system further includes a transaction server in communication with the first server.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the transaction server directly updates data on the legacy transaction system.

57. The method of claim 55 wherein the transaction server stores updates to data for delayed forwarding to the legacy transaction system.

58. A computer method for exchanging data between a user and a plurality of database transaction systems, comprising:

on a client computer, providing an application program for displaying forms for exchanging information with the user under control of a remote communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and their respective databases, each disparate transaction system associated with a health care trading partner, and each disparate transaction system not directly connected to the other disparate transaction systems and their respective databases;

receiving a first set of programming instructions from the communication bridge; and

in the application program, executing the first set of programming instructions to display a first specific form, wherein the first specific form is associated with a first disparate transaction system, the communication bridge operating on (i) a first set of data formatted for communicating with the application program to display the first specific form and a second form associated with another disparate transaction system different from the first disparate transaction system, and (ii) a second set of data formatted for communicating with the first disparate transaction system and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data communicating with the client computer application program and (b) the format of the second set of data communicating with the first disparate transaction system and its respective database.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the application program is an Internet web browser.

60. The method of claim 58 further comprising a second set of instructions received from the communication bridge to display a second specific form, the second specific form being a result of input data to the first specific form.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the second specific form is associated with a second disparate transaction system.

62. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer storage readable medium; and

a set of instructions carried on the medium for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising instructions for;

interacting with the user through a user interface, the user interface receiving input data from the user;

independently managing respective databases on a plurality of remote transaction systems, wherein each remote transaction system is not directly connected to other remote transaction systems in the plurality, and wherein each remote transaction system is associated with a health care trading partner; and

connecting a communication bridge with the user interface and remote transaction systems, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

communicating with the user interface using a first interaction system having a first set of data formatted for communicating with the user interface, and displaying a first form associated with a selected transaction system and a second form associated with a different transaction system; and

communicating with the selected remote transaction system using a second interaction system having a second set of data formatted for communicating with the selected remote transaction system and its respective database, the communication bridge operating on the first and second sets of data and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data communicating with the user interface and (b) the format of the second set of data communicating with the selected remote transaction system and its respective database.

63. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer storage readable medium, and

a set of instructions carried on the medium for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising instructions for;

providing for a plurality of end user systems, each of a plurality of end user systems with a user interface for presenting virtual forms for data collection and data display;

providing each of a plurality of transaction systems with data stored in respective databases and a set of rules for using a plurality of forms to collect data for the databases, each transaction system associated with a health care trading partner, and each transaction system not directly connected to other transaction systems in the plurality; and

disposing a communication bridge in communication with the end user systems and the transaction systems, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

communicating with the transaction systems with a first data communication server using a first set of data formatted for communicating with the transaction systems and their respective databases, and displaying a first form associated with a selected transaction system and a second form associated with another transaction system;

communicating with the end user systems with a second data communication server using a second set of data formatted for communicating with the end user systems; and

connecting a network structure with the first server and the second server, the communication bridge operating on the first and second sets of data and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data communicating with the transaction systems and their respective databases and (b) the format of the second set of data for communicating with the end user systems.

64. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer storage readable medium; and

a set of instructions carried on the medium for exchanging data between a user and a plurality of database transaction systems, wherein each database transaction system is not directly connected to other database transaction systems in the plurality, and wherein each database transaction system is associated with a health care trading partner, comprising instructions for;

on a client computer, operating an application program for displaying forms for exchanging information with the user under control of remote communication bridge operable with disparate database transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate database transaction systems;

receiving a first set of programming instructions from the communication bridge; and

in the application program, executing the first set of programming instructions to display a first specific form, wherein the first specific form is associated with a first database transaction system, the communication bridge operating on (i) a first set of data formatted for communicating with the application program to display the first specific form and a second form associated with another database transaction system different from the first database transaction system, and (ii) a second set of data formatted for communicating with the first database transaction system and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the first set of data communicating with the application program and (b) the format of the second set of data communicating with the first database transaction system.

65. The article of claim 64 wherein the application program is an Internet web browser.

66. The article of claim 64 further comprising a second set of instructions received from the communication bridge to display a second specific form, the second specific form being a result of input data to the first specific form.

67. The article of claim 66 wherein the second specific form is associated with a second database transaction system.

68. A system for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising:

a graphical user interface for interacting with the user, the graphical user interface receiving input data from the user, the user being a supplier of health care services;

a plurality of remote health care trading partners, each health care trading partner independently managing a respective database, the databases being disparate and not directly connected to the databases of other health care trading partners in the plurality;

a store of display forms, each display form soliciting input from the user, a specific display form determined from input data is communicated to the graphical user interface in response to rules and procedures of the selected health care trading partner; and

a communication bridge in connection with the user interface and the health care trading partners, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

a first interaction system including an Internet protocol set of data formatted for communicating with the user interface, and displaying a first form associated with a selected transaction system and a second form associated with another transaction system, the selected transaction system being of a certain health care trading partner; and

a second interaction system including a messaging protocol set of data formatted for communicating with the certain health care trading partner and its respective database, the communication bridge operating on the sets of data of the first and second interaction systems and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the Internet protocol set of data communicating with the user interface and (b) the format of the messaging protocol set of data communicating with the certain health care trading partner and its respective database.

69. A method for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising:

interacting with the user through a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface receiving input data from the user, the user being a supplier of health care services;

on a plurality of remote health care trading partners, independently managing a respective database on each health care trading partner, the databases being disparate and not directly connected to the databases of other health care trading partners in the plurality;

storing display forms, each display form soliciting input data from the user, a specific display form determined from input communicated to the graphical user interface in response to rules and procedures of the selected health care trading partner; and

connecting a communication bridge with the user interface and health care trading partners, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

communicating with the user interface using a first interaction system including an Internet protocol set of data, and displaying a first form associated with a selected transaction system and a second form associated with another transaction system, the selected transaction system being of a certain health care trading partner; and

communicating with the certain health care trading partner using a second interaction system including a messaging protocol set of data, the communication bridge operating on the sets of data of the first and second interaction systems and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the Internet protocol set of data communicating with the user interface and (b) the format of the messaging protocol set of data communicating with the certain health care trading partner and its respective database.

70. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer storage readable medium; and

a set of instructions carried on the medium for exchanging data between a user and a database, comprising instructions for;

interacting with the user through a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface receiving input data from the user, the user being a supplier of health care services;

on a plurality of remote health care trading partners, independently managing a respective database, the databases being disparate and not directly connected to the databases of other health care trading partners in the plurality;

storing display forms, each display form soliciting input data from the user, a specific display form determined from input communicated to the graphical user interface in response to rules and procedures of the selected health care trading partner; and

connecting a communication bridge with the user interface and health care trading partners, the communication bridge operable with disparate transaction systems in a manner using one query to support multiple transactions with different disparate transaction systems and including;

communicating with the user interface using a first interaction system including an Internet protocol set of data, and displaying a first form associated with a selected transaction system and a second form associated with another transaction system, the selected transaction system being of a certain health care trading partner; and

communicating with the certain health care trading partner and its respective database using a second interaction system including a messaging protocol set of data, the communication bridge operating on the sets of data of the first and second interaction systems and handling data conversion between (a) the format of the Internet protocol set of data communicating with the user interface and (b) the format of the messaging protocol set of data communicating with the certain health care trading partner and its respective database.