Processing method for data which is combined to form a plurality of data records, using a plurality of applications

• US 7,526,488 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Herold, Gerold
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US10/463,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/102, 707/8, 707/104.1, 707/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/482 Application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

A computer executes quasi-simultaneously a plurality of applications which process data combined to form data records. Only data of a single data record is processed at one time. If an application loads data of another data record, this is transferred to a central management component which forms a list of the applications in which descriptions of the functionalities which are executed by the applications are also stored. The management component causes the other applications to terminate the processing of the data of the first data record.

Claims

1. A processing method for data combined to form a plurality of data records, using a plurality of applications, comprising:

executing the applications quasi-simultaneously via a single computer;

processing data, assigned to a first data record, via the applications at one time; and

determining a changeover from the first data record to a second data record has occurred when data of the second data record is loaded into one of the applications, wherein the changeover is determined by a central management component and indicates a second data record is loaded into one of the applications;

storing a list of the applications; and

causing the other applications to terminate the processing of the data of the first data record in response to the determined changeover, and

wherein at least descriptions of the functionalities executed by the applications are also stored in the list,

wherein, when there is the changeover from the first data record to the second data record, an activation command is transferred to selected applications of the applications, on the basis of which activation command the data of the second data record is to be processed and the nonselected applications do not begin to process data of the second data record.

2. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein descriptions of interfaces of the applications are also stored in the list.

3. The processing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the applications sign on at the management component when the applications start and sign off when the applications end.

4. The processing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the central management component determines the selected applications automatically by reference to the second data record.

5. The processing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the selected applications of the central management component are predefined by a user via s user interface.

6. The processing method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the selected applications of the central management component are predefined by the application which first loads data of the second data record.

7. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applications sign on with the central management component when the applications start and sign off when the applications end.

8. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applications are at least one of entered into the list, and removed from the list by a user of the computer, via a user interface.

9. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a central management component determines the selected applications automatically by reference to the second data record.

10. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selected applications of the central management component are predefined by a user via a user interface.

11. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selected applications of the central management component are predefined by the application which first loads data of the second data record.

12. The processing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the selected applications of the application which first loads data of the second data record are predefined by a user via a user interface.

13. The processing method as chimed in claim 12, wherein the activation command is transferred to the selected applications via a central management component.

14. The processing method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the activation command of the application which first loads data of the second data record is transferred to the selected applications.

15. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation command is transferred to the selected applications via the central management component.

16. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the activation command of the application which first loads data of the second data record is transferred to the selected applications.

17. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the information indicating which applications are to be selected always is stored in the central management component.

18. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central management component is embodied as a work flow manager.

19. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central management component stores the list of applications and on request, the central management component transfers the list of applications to the application which first loads data of the second data record.

20. The processing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data records are person-specific, medical data records.

21. A computer program product including executable instructions, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

executing the applications quasi-simultaneously via a single computer;

processing data, assigned to a first data record, via the applications at one time; and

determining a changeover from the first data record to a second data record has occurred when data of the second data record is loaded into one of the applications, wherein the changeover is determined by a central management component and indicates a second data record is loaded into one of the applications;

storing a list of the applications; and

causing the other applications to terminate the processing of the data of the first data record in response to the determined changeover, and

wherein at least descriptions of the functionalities executed by the applications are also stored in the list,

wherein, when there is the changeover from the first data record to the second data record, an activation command is transferred to selected applications of the applications, on the basis of which activation command the data of the second data record is to be processed and the nonselected applications do not begin to process data of the second data record.

22. A computer program product storing executable instructions, which when executed by a computer executing a plurality of applications, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving an indication that an application previously processing a first data record has loaded a second data record for processing;

determining a changeover has occurred in response to the loading of the second data record by the application, the changeover indicating the second data record is loaded into the application;

forming, at a central management component, a list of the applications processing the first data record; and

causing the applications included in the list to terminate the processing of data of the first data record in response to the determined changeover

wherein, when there is the changeover, an activation command is transferred to applications in the list of applications and other applications of the plurality of applications do not begin to process data of the second data record.

23. The computer program product as claimed in claim 22, wherein the formed list includes descriptions of the functionalities executed by the applications and interfaces of the applications.

24. A computer comprising:

a central management component configured to determine a changeover from a first data record to a second data record has occurred when data of the second data record is loaded in one of a plurality of applications previously processing data of the first data record, and to cause other applications of the plurality of applications to terminate processing of data of the first data record,

wherein the changeover indicates the second data record is loaded in one of the plurality of applications, and when there is the changeover from the first data record to the second data record, an activation command is transferred to selected applications of the plurality of applications based on data of the second data record to be processed, and the nonselected applications do not begin to process data of the second data record.

25. The computer as claimed in claim 24, wherein the central management component stores a list of the plurality applications and at least descriptions of functionalities executed by the applications are stored in the list.

26. The computer as claimed in claim 24, wherein the central management component determines the selected applications automatically by reference to the second data record.

27. The computer as claimed in claim 24, wherein the selected applications of the central management component are predefined by the application which first loads data of the second data record.