Method and apparatus for integrated communication services provisioning for health care community
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- receiving, from a user, a request to initiate access to a network, the network including;
a plurality of point-of-care terminals;
at least one integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) database server;
at least one database associated with the ICC database server; and
a plurality of network servers;
granting the user access to the network;
selecting a channel to establish a communication link between the network and the user, wherein the selecting further comprises;
searching for a desired network destination in a local memory;
setting a destination server based on results of the search for the desired network destination in a local memory;
attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server;
determining whether or not the communications link is established; and
processing at least one data entry form based on whether or not the communications link is established, wherein the processing further comprises;
when the communications link is determined to not be established, storing the at least one data entry form;
when the communications link is determined to be established;
if the destination server is equal to the ICC database server;
transferring the at least one data entry form to the ICC database server;
searching for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device;
printing an error message if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device does not reveal a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server; and
if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device reveals a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server;
setting the destination server equal to the desired network destination server;
attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server; and
if the attempted communications link is not established, storing the at least one data entry form;
exchanging data with the user via the selected channel; and
terminating the communication link according to at least one of a demand from the user or a technical demand of the communication link.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an integrated communication services (ICS) network that permits data subscribers to share information on a hospital campus using wireless or wireline local area networks, or to seamlessly tap into the facility'"'"'s central database while in transit away from the hospital. The central database, referred to as the integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) is adapted to store a communication profile for every network server on the ICS network. The ICC also maintains a Global Patient Profile (GPP), consisting of a patient profile for every patient on the network. The GPP provides the ICC with the capability of providing aggregated data and demographic information, creating “live” public health statistics through a single query to a central server. The actual selection of a particular channel to access the ICS will be service-dependent and a function of user whereabouts, desired quality of the connection, and costs of the connection.
26 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from a user, a request to initiate access to a network, the network including; a plurality of point-of-care terminals; at least one integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) database server; at least one database associated with the ICC database server; and a plurality of network servers; granting the user access to the network; selecting a channel to establish a communication link between the network and the user, wherein the selecting further comprises; searching for a desired network destination in a local memory; setting a destination server based on results of the search for the desired network destination in a local memory; attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server; determining whether or not the communications link is established; and processing at least one data entry form based on whether or not the communications link is established, wherein the processing further comprises; when the communications link is determined to not be established, storing the at least one data entry form; when the communications link is determined to be established; if the destination server is equal to the ICC database server;
transferring the at least one data entry form to the ICC database server;
searching for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device;
printing an error message if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device does not reveal a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server; and
if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device reveals a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server;
setting the destination server equal to the desired network destination server;
attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server; and
if the attempted communications link is not established, storing the at least one data entry form;exchanging data with the user via the selected channel; and terminating the communication link according to at least one of a demand from the user or a technical demand of the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system comprising:
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an antenna for wireless communication; an integrated communications services (ICS) module including a memory device containing stored instructions; and at least one electronic processor coupled to the memory device and executing instructions to enable; receiving, from a user, a request to initiate access to a network, the network including; a plurality of point-of-care terminals; at least one integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) database server; at least one database associated with the ICC database server; and a plurality of network servers; granting the user access to the network; selecting a channel to establish a communication link between the network and the user selecting a channel to establish a communication link between the network and the user, wherein the selecting further comprises; searching for a desired network destination in a local memory; setting a destination server based on results of the search for the desired network destination in a local memory; attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server; determining whether or not the communications link is established; and processing at least one data entry form based on whether or not the communications link is established, wherein the processing further comprises; when the communications link is determined to not be established, storing the received form; when the communications link is determined to be established; if the destination server is equal to the ICC database server;
transferring the at least one data entry form to the ICC database server;
searching for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device;
printing an error message if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device does not reveal a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server; and
if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device reveals a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server;
setting the destination server equal to the desired network destination server;
attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server; and
if the attempted communications link is not established, storing the received form;exchanging data with the user via the selected channel; and terminating the communication link according to at least one of a demand from the user or a technical demand of the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, from a care-provider providing care to a patient, a request to initiate access to a network, the network including; a plurality of point-of-care terminals; at least one integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) database server; at least one database associated with the ICC database server, the database including data relating to patients at least one medical institution; and a plurality of network servers; granting the care-provider access to the network; selecting a channel to establish a communication link between the network and the care-provider, wherein the selecting further comprises; searching for a desired network destination in a local memory; setting a destination server based on results of the search for the desired network destination in a local memory; attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server; determining whether or not the communications link is established; and processing at least one data entry form based on whether or not the communications link is established, wherein the processing further comprises; when the communications link is determined to not be established, storing the at least one data entry form; when the communications link is determined to be established; if the destination server is equal to the ICC database server;
transferring the at least one data entry form to the ICC database server;
searching for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device;
printing an error message if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device does not reveal a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server; and
if the search for the desired network destination in a secondary storage device reveals a communications profile corresponding to the desired network server;
setting the destination server equal to the desired network destination server;
attempting to establish a communications link with the destination server; and
if the attempted communications link is not established, storing the at least one data entry form;exchanging data with the care-provider via the selected channel, at least a portion of the exchanged data relating to at least one of the patient or the care provided to the patient; and terminating the communication link according to at least one of a demand from the care-provider or a technical demand of the communication link. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification