System and method for deriving a hierarchical event based database optimized for pharmaceutical analysis

• US 7,970,759 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2007
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hennessy, Richard A., Kraemer, James R., Friedlander, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Miranda
• Application Number:
  US11/678,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20080208832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707/104.1, 705/2
• US Class Current: 707/723
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for inferring a probability of a first inference absent from a database at which a query regarding the inference is received. Each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database. Each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key. The associated metadata includes data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum. The query is used as a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for inferring a probability of a first inference relating to a drug, the computer implemented method comprising:

importing additional data into the plurality of data, wherein the additional data initially is not associated with metadata and the additional data does not conform to the dimensions of the database;

conforming the additional data to the dimensions of the database;

associating metadata and a key with each datum of the additional data;

receiving a query at a database regarding a fact related to the drug, wherein the first inference is absent from the database, wherein the database comprises a plurality of divergent data, wherein the plurality of divergent data includes a plurality of cohort data, wherein each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database, wherein each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key, wherein the associated metadata comprises data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum;

establishing the fact as a frame of reference for the query;

determining an I^th set of rules using a J^th set of rules, wherein the J^th set of rules, wherein J=1 is the first iteration of a recursion process and I-1 is the J^th iteration of the recursion process, wherein the I^th set of rules is a first set of rules, and wherein the J^th set of rules is a second set of rules;

applying the first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules are determined for the query according to the second set of rules, wherein the frame of reference serves as an anchor for generating associations among the plurality of cohort data and is used to determine rules for limiting the plurality of divergent data that is searched, wherein the first set of rules determine how the plurality of divergent data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determine a search space for the query;

executing the query to create the first inference and the probability of the first inference, wherein the probability of the first inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, wherein the probability of the first inference is based on factors selected from the group consisting of;

a timing of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a source of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a trustworthiness of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a relevance of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a reliability of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, an importance of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a data integrity of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, and cohort information of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, wherein a combination of the factors has a synergistic effect on the probability of the first inference; and

storing the probability of the first inference, wherein subsequently viewing the first inference is accessible to individuals having one of a set of different security access clearances based on the probability of the first inference having a higher or lower threshold of certainty probabilities of inferences when the inference implicates medical privacy laws, wherein first ones the individuals having a first one of the set of different security access clearances are permitted to viewing the first inference, and, wherein second ones the individuals having a second one of the set of different security access clearances are not permitted to viewing the first inference.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to testing of the drug.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to identifying an unknown side effect of the drug.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to identifying a new use for the drug.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to identifying the drug as being useful for treating a pre-selected medical condition.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to identifying at least one interaction of the drug with at least one additional drug.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to identifying at least one interaction of the drug with at least one environmental factor.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to identifying at least one interaction of the drug with a combination of at least one additional drug and at least one environmental factor.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference is further related to identifying an efficacy of the drug.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

entering the first inference into the database as a first additional datum;

entering the probability of the first inference into the database as a second additional datum;

entering a categorization of the first inference into the database as a third additional datum; and

entering a categorization of the probability of the first inference into the database as a fourth additional datum.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10 further comprising:

executing a second query to create a second probability of a second inference relating to the drug, wherein the second probability of the second inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the set of rules.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to receiving an additional datum in the database, establishing a second query;

applying a third set of rules to the query, wherein the third set of rules are determined for the second query according to a fourth set of rules, and wherein the third set of rules determine how the plurality of data are to be compared to the fact; and

executing the second query to create a second probability of a second inference relating to the drug, wherein the second probability of the second inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the third set of rules.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first inference comprises at least one of an event, a fact, a pattern of events, a group of events, a group of facts, an affect of the drug, and a proximal affect of the drug.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the set of rules includes rules for adjusting the probability of the inference based on background data.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 1 wherein the additional data is imported according to a technique selected from the group consisting of federation and extraction, transformation, and loading.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the first set of rules to the query further comprises:

applying the first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules are determined for the query according to the second set of rules, wherein the frame of reference serves as an anchor for generating associations among the plurality of cohort data and is used to determine rules for limiting the plurality of divergent data that is searched, wherein the first set of rules determine how the plurality of divergent data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determine a search space for the query.

16. A database stored in a computer readable storage medium, the database comprising:

a plurality of divergent data stored in a data structure on the computer readable storage medium, wherein the plurality of divergent data includes a plurality of cohort data, wherein each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database, wherein each datum of the plurality of data has an associated metadata and an associated key, wherein the associated metadata comprises data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum;

computer program code for importing additional data into the plurality of data, wherein the additional data initially is not associated with metadata and the additional data does not conform to the dimensions of the database;

computer program code for conforming the additional data to the dimensions of the database;

computer program code for associating metadata and a key with each datum of the additional data;

computer usable program code for establishing a fact relating to drug, received in a query relating to the drug, as a frame of reference for the query;

computer program code for determining an I^th set of rules using a J^th set of rules, wherein the J^th set of rules, wherein J=1 is the first iteration of a recursion process and I-1 is the J^th iteration of the recursion process, wherein the I^th set of rules is a first set of rules, and wherein the J^th set of rules is a second set of rules;

computer program code for applying the first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules are determined for the query according to the second set of rules, wherein the frame of reference serves as an anchor for generating associations among the plurality of cohort data and is used to determine rules for limiting the plurality of divergent data that is searched, wherein the first set of rules determine how the plurality of divergent data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determine a search space for the query;

computer program code for executing the query to create the first inference and a probability of a first inference, wherein the probability of the first inference is determined from comparing the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, wherein the probability of the first inference is based on factors selected from the group consisting of;

a timing of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a source of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a trustworthiness of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a relevance of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a reliability of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, an importance of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, a data integrity of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, and cohort information of the plurality of data according to the first set of rules, wherein a combination of the factors has a synergistic effect on the probability of the first inference; and

computer program code for storing the probability of the first inference, wherein subsequently viewing the first inference is accessible to individuals having one of a set of different security access clearances based on the probability of the first inference having a higher or lower threshold of certainty probabilities of inferences when the inference implicates medical privacy laws, wherein first ones the individuals having a first one of the set of different security access clearances are permitted to viewing the first inference, and, wherein second ones the individuals having a second one of the set of different security access clearances are not permitted to viewing the first inference.

19. The database of claim 16, wherein the computer program code for applying the first set of rules to the query further comprises:

computer program code for applying the first set of rules to the query, wherein the first set of rules are determined for the query according to the second set of rules, wherein the frame of reference serves as an anchor for generating associations among the plurality of cohort data and is used to determine rules for limiting the plurality of divergent data that is searched, wherein the first set of rules determine how the plurality of divergent data are to be compared to the fact, and wherein the first set of rules determine a search space for the query.

17. The database of claim wherein the first inference is 16 further related to one of testing of the drug, identifying an unknown side effect of the drug, identifying a new use for the drug, identifying the drug as being useful for treating a pre-selected medical condition, identifying at least one interaction of the drug with at least one additional drug, identifying at least one interaction of the drug with at least one environmental factor, identifying at least one interaction of the drug with a combination of at least one additional drug and at least one environmental factor, or identifying an efficacy of the drug.