Method and apparatus for using a graphical user interface to create, edit, and test expert system rules for a clinical database

• US 7,970,725 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Page, John Thuin, Michels, Raymond John, Davis, Glen Richard, Armstrong, Robert Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): STARKS, WILBERT L
• Application Number:
  US11/811,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 706/47
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/025 Extracting rules from data

Abstract

A rules system for creating rules to an expert system is provided, the rules system providing a user-friendly, guided process for creating such rules.

Claims

1. A rules system for use with an expert system, the rules system comprising:

a clinical database comprising a finite set of data, a rule editor for creating, editing, or creating and editing at least one rule expression for checking the database for information stored on the database, wherein the rules editor comprises pre-determined text-based rules expressions for generating the at least one rule expression, where the rule expression comprises at least one condition or action input by a user;

a block manager for verifying the logic of the rule expression;

a rule manager for converting the rule expression into a rule interpretable by the expert system;

a test scenario facility for executing the interpretable rule with sample data values that are a subset of the data on the database and for providing an output, wherein, if the output is acceptable, the interpretable rule is promoted to an enabled rule authorized to modify real data; and

a graphical user interface through which (a) the rule editor presents the display for creating, editing, or creating and editing the at least one rule expression, (b) the sample data is entered into a test scenario template and (c) the results of the executed interpretable rule are displayed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the test scenario facility has a test mode setting that is assigned to the interpretable rule and wherein the interpretable rule with this setting is not authorized to modify real data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of interpretable rules and the test scenario facility executes the plurality of interpretable rules in an order and the order of the interpretable rules is selectable by the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the rule expression comprises a plurality of conditions and actions, wherein the conditions pertain to real data features found in the database, and wherein the actions are performed when the conditions set in the rule expression are met.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the test scenario facility creates a template into which sample data values are entered manually by the user or automatically by the rule editor from a clinical database.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the manually entered and automatically provided template sample data is modified by the user for further evaluation of the rule expression.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the automatically-provided sample data is selected from the clinical database based on the conditions in the rule expression.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the block manager comprises an indicator for indicating whether the at least one condition or action in a rule expression is verified.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the indicator indicates whether the at least one condition or action have passed or have failed the verification.

10. The expert system of claim 8, wherein the indicator is a text message, an audible alert, a visual indicator or any combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a block editor for controlling the graphical presentation of the rule expression, wherein the block manager uses a block editor definition to define the proper combinations of conditions and actions for a logically correct rule expression.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the block editor definition further defines specifications for the output to the rule manager.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the rule editor responds to conditions input by the user by providing to the user logical input choices that are determined appropriate by the system for editing or creation of the rule expression.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises:

a processor and an input device; and

a display that responds to commands from the processor wherein the commands are based on user inputs from the input device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor hosts the rule editor, the block manager, the rule manager, and the test scenario facility;

and the processor is adapted to communicate with the database.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor, an input device, and an output device.

17. A method for creating or editing a rule in a rules system, for use with an expert system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an expert system comprising a clinical database and a rules system;

inputting at least one condition or action into the expert system, wherein the at least one condition or action forms a rule expression;

converting the rule expression to a rule interpretable by the expert system using the rules system;

setting the rule to a test rule, wherein the test rule is not authorized to modify actual data in the clinical database;

presenting a set of one or more logical conditions or action choices using the rules system;

selecting at least one additional condition or action from the set of one or more logical conditions or action choices presented by the rules system, wherein the selection contributes to the rule expression;

creating a test scenario for testing the conditions and actions of the rule expression by populating a test scenario template with sample data;

initiating execution of the test scenario;

promoting the rule to an enabled rule, wherein the enabled rule is authorized to modify real data stored in the clinical database.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of repeating the inputting and selecting steps until the rules system presents a final choice for a logical condition or action for the rule expression.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one condition or action comprises a plurality of conditions and actions.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing further includes providing a graphical user interface that uses an IF-THEN logical block format and wherein the inputting and the repeating steps further comprise inputting the conditions or actions or a combination thereof into the graphical user interface using the IF-THEN logical block format.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising setting the priority of a plurality of enabled rules.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising overwriting standard rules of the expert system.

23. A rules system for use with an expert system, the rules system comprising:

a clinical database comprising a finite set of data, a rules editor for creating, editing, or creating and editing at least one rule expression for checking the database for information stored on the database, wherein the rules editor comprises pre-determined text-based rules expressions for generating the at least one rule expression, where the rule expression comprises a plurality of conditions and actions, wherein the conditions pertain to real data features found in the database, and wherein the actions are performed when the conditions set in the rule expression are met;

a block manager for verifying the logic of the rule expression;

a rule manager for converting the rule expression into a rule interpretable by the expert system; and

a test scenario facility for executing the interpretable rule with sample data values that are a subset of the data on the database and for providing an output, wherein, if the output is acceptable, the interpretable rule is promoted to an enabled rule authorized to modify real data.

24. A rules system for use with an expert system, the rules system comprising:

a clinical database comprising a finite set of data, a rules editor for creating, editing, or creating and editing at least one rule expression for checking the database for information stored on the database, wherein the rules editor comprises pre-determined text-based rules expressions for generating the at least one rule expression, where the rule expression comprises at least one condition or action input by a user;

a block manager for verifying the logic of the rule expression;

a rule manager for converting the rule expression into a rule interpretable by the expert system; and

a test scenario facility for creating a template into which sample data values are entered manually by the user or automatically by the rule editor from a clinical database and that executes the interpretable rule with the sample data values that are a subset of the data on the database and for providing an output, wherein, if the output is acceptable, the interpretable rule is promoted to an enabled rule authorized to modify real data.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the manually entered and automatically provided template sample data is modified by the user for further evaluation of the rule expression.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the automatically-provided sample data is selected from the clinical database based on the conditions in the rule expression.