Automated report generation system using a structured lexicon of active lexemes and method

• US 8,706,680 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Macfarlane
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Macfarlane
• Inventors: Macfarlane, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hung Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Black, Linh
• Application Number:
  US10/907,548
• Time in Patent Office: 3,304 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/104.1, 707/603
• US Class Current: 707/603
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3349 Reuse of stored results of previous queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/131 Fragmentation of text files, e.g. creating reusable text-blocks; Linking to fragments, e.g. using XInclude; Namespaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof

Abstract

A computer system and database adapted to help with the synthesis and assembly of informational units (lexemes) required for the preparation of professional reports. The system works iteratively, and uses certain characteristics of professional reports to predict which lexemes a user is likely to need at each iteration, allowing the user to select the most useful lexemes from a very large number of lexemes stored in a lexicon for this purpose. The characteristics of professional reports that enable the process of selection include context, predicance and coherence. The report, consisting of an assembly of lexemes, can be exported as text files having different linguistic styles, or as computer code permitting efficient retrieval and computerized analysis of the content of the report for billing, administration, or research.

Claims

1. An automated method that enables a user to prepare a report using a computer system having a processor, an input interface, and an output interface, said method comprising:

entering context information into the input interface;

displaying a single lexeme query and associated lexeme responses from a lexicon containing a plurality of such queries and associated responses on the computer system'"'"'s output interface;

allowing the user to select a response to the lexeme query from the display wherein the queries are displayed iteratively one-at-a-time in an order established by the system'"'"'s coherence and predicance, and wherein the user is constrained to respond to the queries in the order they are presented by the system;

determining whether the selected lexeme response instructs the system to move forward to the next section of the report, and if so, moving the system forward to the next section of the report;

determining whether the selected lexeme is an active lexeme, and if so, executing the task associated with the active lexeme;

determining whether the selected lexeme sets new predicants to be true, and if so, adding the predicants to a predicant list stored by the system;

determining the next lexeme query in the order established by the coherence of the lexicon which contains one or more predicants matching the current predicant list and displaying this next lexeme query on the computer system'"'"'s output interface;

iterating this process until the report is complete; and

concatenating and exporting the content of the selected lexeme responses in one or more styles.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the system chooses to display lexeme queries and responses based on context information.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the system displays lexeme queries and responses only if there is at least one match between the predicants stored with the lexeme query and the current predicant list.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the context information sets at least some of the predicant information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the system chooses to display lexeme queries and responses based on coherence information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the lexeme query is displayed in the form of a question.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of entering text into the report manually.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the text is automatically submitted to a central editorial office for consideration of incorporation in subsequent lexicons.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the report can be printed in one or more styles.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the report can be electronically stored in one or more styles.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the report can be electronically transmitted in one or more styles.

12. A system for generating a report whereby a user selects a response from a plurality of lexeme responses in response to a lexeme query, said system comprising:

a processor;

an input interface configured to receive data input from the user and an output interface coupled to said processor;

a memory;

a lexicon comprising of a plurality of lexeme queries and associated responses stored in said memory which lexeme queries and associated responses are accessible by said processor;

wherein said user interface is configured to receive context information from the user which is processed to determine which lexeme query to display on the output interface;

wherein the user is able to select the desired response using the input interface; and

wherein the system determines which lexeme query and associated responses to display based on context, predicance, and coherence;

wherein the queries are displayed iteratively one-at-a-time in an order established by the system'"'"'s coherence and predicance; and

wherein the user is constrained to respond to the queries in the order they are presented by the system.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the system further comprises at least one response—

which relates to the displayed lexeme query.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the system is adapted to print, send, and store information in a variety of styles.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the lexeme query is presented on the output interface in the form of a question.

16. A system for generating a report for a user, said system comprising:

a processor;

an input interface configured to receive data input from a user and an output interface coupled to said processor;

a memory;

a lexicon having a plurality of sections, each section having a plurality of entries constructed in coherence order, wherein each entry of the lexicon comprises;

a lexeme query associated with one or more predicants, wherein at least one predicant must match a predicant list stored in the system for the system to select the lexicon entry to be presented to the user;

displayable information associated with the lexeme query that prompts the user to address the subject matter of the entry;

one or more lexeme responses which, when selected by the user, will cause the system to export the associated lexeme in one or more styles, add any associated predicants to the current predicant list, execute any associated actions, and execute any instruction to move the system forward to the next section of the lexicon in coherence order;

wherein the queries are displayed iteratively one-at-a-time in an order established by the system'"'"'s coherence and predicance; and

wherein the user is constrained to respond to the queries in the order they are presented by the system.

17. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for generating a report, said method comprising:

a computer system having a processor, an input interface, and an output interface;

entering context information into the input interface;

displaying a single lexeme query and associated lexeme responses from a lexicon containing a plurality of such queries and associated responses on the computer system'"'"'s output interface;

allowing the user to select a response to the lexeme query from the display wherein the queries are displayed iteratively one-at-a-time in an order established by the system'"'"'s coherence and predicance, and wherein the user is constrained to respond to the queries in the order they are presented by the system;

determining whether the selected lexeme response instructs the system to move forward to the next section of the report, and if so, moving the system forward to the next section of the report;

determining whether the selected lexeme query is an active lexeme, and if so, executing the task associated with the active lexeme;

determining whether the selected lexeme sets new predicants to be true, and if so, adding the predicants to a predicant list stored by the system;

determining the next lexeme query in the predetermined order established by the system'"'"'s coherence within the lexicon which contains one or more predicants currently set to true and displaying that next lexeme query on the computer system'"'"'s output interface;

iterating this process until the report is complete; and

exporting the selected lexeme responses in one or more styles.