Healthcare virtual private network methods and systems

• US 7,440,567 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wellons, David L., Turcan, Diane Brown
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US10/353,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20040146156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,094 Days
• Field of Search: 379/219, 37926501-26514, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 705/1, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 379/265.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13384 Inter-PBX traffic, PBX networks, e.g. corporate networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13399 Virtual channel/circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 for connecting to private branch exchanges

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for enabling a healthcare virtual private network (VPN) that leverages the assets of a shared, interconnected network of legacy systems. A data connection is established with a rule-based application dataserver of a telecommunications network facility to control access, sharing, notification, security, and/or management of electronic healthcare communications and/or data exchanged between or among a non-participant and a legacy system of a participant. Typically, the rule-based application dataserver is associated with a central office (“CO”), a mobile telephone switching center (“MTSO”), or a combination CO/MTSO. Methods and systems related to healthcare VPN billing are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an electronic healthcare communication to a communications system, the electronic healthcare communication associated with at least one legacy system;

categorizing the electronic healthcare communication as at least one of (1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with a security agent, (3) data associated a messaging/communications agent, (4) data associated with a transactional agent, and (5) data associated with a troubleshooting agent; and

processing the electronic healthcare communication within the at least one legacy system according to the category;

selecting a transaction reply for delivery to a sender communication device associated with a non-participant communication device when the categorization applies a sender rule; and

routing the transaction reply to the non-participant communication device,

wherein the communications system enables an exchange of at least one of the electronic healthcare communication and selected data between one or more networks of communications devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting a transaction notification for delivery to a receiver communication device associated with the legacy system when the categorization applies a receiver notification rule; and

routing the transaction notification to the receiver communications device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein categorizing the electronic healthcare communication further comprises:

accessing at least one rule-based application dataserver associated with a communications network, the rule-based application dataserver providing a rule-based engine to interpret the electronic healthcare communication; and

utilizing the rule-based application dataserver to categorize the electronic healthcare communication.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the rule-based application dataserver comprises an application server having at least one of an access agent, a security agent, a messaging/communications agent, a transactional agent, and a troubleshooting agent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein categorizing the electronic healthcare communication using the rule-based engine comprises:

verifying the electronic healthcare communication meets authenticity requirements of the at least one legacy system; and

verifying the electronic healthcare communication meets security requirements of the at least one legacy system.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

managing the rule-based application dataserver associated with the communications network to control access to the at least one legacy system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the electronic healthcare communication within the at least one legacy system comprises:

converting the electronic healthcare communication from a first data format associated with the non-participant communications device to a compatible second data format associated with the at least one legacy system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first data format is one of a printed text format, a voice data format, a video data format, a dual tone multi-frequency data format, and a digital data format.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second data format is one of a printed text format, a voice data format, a video data format, a dual tone multi-frequency data format, and a digital data format.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital data format is ASCII.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein processing the electronic healthcare communication within the at least one legacy system further comprises at least one of (i) sending the compatible second data format to a storage device associated with a communications service provider, (ii) archiving the compatible second data format, (iii) encrypting the compatible second data format, (iv) copying the compatible second data format, and (v) associating the compatible second data format with related data in the receiver legacy system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein processing the electronic healthcare communication within the at least one legacy system further comprises communicating the compatible second data format to an Internet Protocol address of the one or more communications devices, the communications devices comprising at least one of the following:

a wireless communications device,

a mobile phone,

a cellular phone,

a WAP phone,

a satellite phone

a computer,

a modem,

a pager,

a digital music device,

a digital recording device,

a personal digital assistant,

an interactive television,

a digital signal processor, and

a Global Positioning System device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein communicating the compatible second data format comprises communicating the compatible second data format via at least one of the following:

an analog line;

a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL);

an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) line;

an ATM Sonet;

a SmartRing service line;

a Frame Relay service line; and

a local loop of a telecommunications network.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein communicating the compatible second data format comprises communicating the compatible second data format via means for optically transmitting data.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein communicating the compatible second data format comprises communicating the compatible second data format via wireless transmission.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein categorizing the electronic healthcare communication comprises accessing at least one rule-based application dataserver associated with a telecommunications facility, the telecommunications facility comprising at least one of telephone switching equipment and mobile telephone switching equipment.

17. A method, comprising:

establishing a first data connection between a communications device and a communications system;

establishing a second data connection between a legacy system and the communications system, the second data connection using a rule-based application dataserver hosted by a service provider to control access to and from the legacy system, the rule-based application dataserver comprising rules for categorizing electronic healthcare data according to the following;

(1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with a security agent, (3) data associated a messaging/communications agent, (4) data associated with a transactional agent, and (5) data associated with a troubleshooting agent;

communicating the electronic healthcare data via the first data connection and the second data connection, wherein a communication address of the first data connection is detected and decoded to route the electronic healthcare data;

selecting a transaction reply for delivery to a sender communication device associated with a network of non-participant communications devices when the categorization applies a sender reply rule; and

routing the transaction reply to a non-participant communications device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising allowing a user to manage a rule-based engine associated with the rule-based application dataserver.

19. A method of billing for an electronic healthcare communication, comprising:

receiving information related to an originating address of an electronic healthcare communication to a communications system, the electronic healthcare communication associated with at least one legacy system;

receiving information related to a termination address, the termination address determined by selecting a category of the electronic healthcare communication comprising (1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with a security agent, (3) data associated a messaging/communications agent, (4) data associated with a transactional agent, and (5) data associated with a troubleshooting agent;

transmitting the originating address information to a billing element of the communications system;

transmitting the termination address to the billing element of the communications system;

communicating the electronic healthcare communication to the termination address;

transmitting categorization information to the billing element of the communications system, the categorization information describing the selected category for the electronic healthcare communication;

transmitting a call record to a billing database; and

billing a participant for communicating the electronic healthcare communication to the termination address.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the call record contains information for the electronic healthcare communication comprising at least one of geographic information, minutes of use, method of routing the electronic healthcare communication, call features, and troubleshooting information.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the originating number further comprises a portable telephone number.

22. A storage media on which is encoded instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic healthcare communication to a communications system, the electronic healthcare communication associated with at least one legacy system, wherein the communications system enables an exchange of at least one of the electronic healthcare communication and selected data between one or more networks of communications devices associated with at least one telecommunications service provider,

categorizing the electronic healthcare communication as at least one of (1) data associated with an access agent, (2) data associated with a security agent, (3) data associated with a messaging/communications agent, (4) data associated with a transactional agent, and (5) data associated with a troubleshooting agent, wherein the data associated with the messaging/communications agent comprises a communications address of the electronic healthcare communication, the communications address for muting the electronic healthcare communication;

processing the electronic healthcare communication within the at least one legacy system according to the category;

selecting a transaction reply for delivery to a sender communication device associated with a network of non-participant communication devices when the categorization applies a sender rule; and

routing the transaction reply to a non-participant communication device.