Technique for selectively accessing events within merged histories

• US 7,398,277 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Lin, Jenche
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Kuen S.
• Application Number:
  US11/022,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method is provided for selectively accessing first and second event histories that are merged together. A graphical user interface displays events within the merged history. Access may be selectively provided to a last event immediately preceding a merge juncture within the sequential history associated with the first or the second history via the graphical user interface when the merged event is accessed. In addition or in the alternative, access may be selectively provided to the merged event via the graphical user interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed. Additional interrelated methods, apparatuses, computer program products and computer systems are described.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to events associated with an object, the method comprising the steps of:

merging a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged;

providing a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history;

allowing a user to access the merge juncture;

when the merge juncture is accessed, providing the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture; and

selectively providing access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.

2. A method for providing access to events associated with an object that are the result of merging a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history;

allowing a user to access the merge juncture;

when the merge juncture is accessed, providing the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture; and

selectively providing access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.

3. An apparatus to provide access to events associated with an object, the apparatus comprising:

a merge unit to merge a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged;

an interface unit to provide a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history; and

an access unit, the access unit allowing a user to access the merge juncture, and when the merge juncture is accessed, the access unit providing the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture, the access unit further selectively providing access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.

4. An apparatus to provide access to events associated with an object that are the result of merging a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged, the apparatus comprising:

an interface unit to provide a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history; and

an access unit, the access unit allowing a user to access the merge juncture, and when the merge juncture is accessed, the access unit providing the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture, the access unit further selectively providing access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.

5. A computer program product for providing access to events associated with an object, embodied on a computer readable storage medium, that includes executable instructions for causing a computer system to:

merge a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged;

provide a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history;

allow a user to access the merge juncture;

when the merge juncture is accessed, provide the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture; and

selectively provide access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.

6. A computer program product for providing access to events associated with an object that are the result of merging a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged, the computer program product being embodied on a computer readable storage medium and including executable instructions for causing a computer system to:

provide a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history;

allow a user to access the merge juncture;

when the merge juncture is accessed, provide the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture; and

selectively provide access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.

7. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory encoding one or more programs, the one or more programs causing the processor to perform a method for providing access to events associated with an object according to the steps of;

merging a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged;

providing a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history;

allowing a user to access the merge juncture;

when the merge juncture is accessed, providing the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture; and

selectively providing access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.

8. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory encoding one or more programs, the one or more programs causing the processor to perform a method for providing access to events associated with an object that are the result of merging a first history of sequential linked events with a second history of sequential linked events to form a merged history, wherein the merged history includes a segregation of the first and second histories up to a merge juncture and a unified history of sequential linked events thereafter, the merge juncture representing a point at which the first and second histories are merged, the method performed according to the steps of;

providing a graphical user interface to display the events within the merged history;

allowing a user to access the merge juncture;

when the merge juncture is accessed, providing the user, via the graphical user interface, an option of accessing an event in the first history that immediately precedes the merge juncture or an event in the second history that immediately precedes the merge juncture; and

selectively providing access to the merge juncture via the graphical interface when the last event associated with the first or second history is accessed.