Method and apparatus for limited online access to restricted documentation

• US 6,609,115 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Technology Services, Inc. (General Electric Company), GE Technology Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Mehring, Dave, Frowein, Rick, Zettel, Hubert A., Palliyal, Sunil Melepatt, Ploetz, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEUNG, MARY DA ZHI WANG
• Application Number:
  US09/475,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51-53, 705/64, 713/200-202, 707/9-10
• US Class Current: 705/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for providing access over a computer network to system documentation at an online central service facility. A user is required to enter identifying indicia prior to accessing the online central service facility, the facility having at least one documentation database containing product and/or service data therein. The identifying indicia can include a user identification and a password, for example, and are matched with user data stored in a user database in the online central service facility to authenticate the user before providing user access into a document management system. Also, the user is checked to further determine what particular product and/or service data the user is entitled to. Such particular product or service data is then delivered to the user.

Claims

1. A document delivery method for providing online access to system documentation comprising the steps of:

requiring a user to enter identifying indicia over a computer network and via a user interface so as to match the user with user data stored in at least one user database for authentication checking by an online central service facility, the online central service facility having at least one documentation database having therein product/service data;

authenticating the user for access into a document management system based on the identifying indicia;

checking the user data once the user is authenticated to determine what particular product/service data the user is entitled to from the document management system for delivery to the user;

delivering the particular product/service data to the user; and

sorting product/service data into restricted and unrestricted product/service data, wherein the user is entitled to all unrestricted product/service data and provided limited access to restricted product/service data based on what the user is determined to be entitled to from the document management system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the product/service data is restricted product/service data and the identifying indicia is further defined to comprise at least a password to gain access to the restricted product/service data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of checking the user data is further defined to include confirming a user profile, the user profile created from the user data and comprising a user type, an operative user modality, and a user status.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of checking the user data is further defined to include confirming a user contract profile, the contract profile created from the user data and comprising a user contract status and defining what particular product/service data the user is entitled to from the document management system.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of sorting the restricted product/service data into multiple levels of restricted data, each requiring another security level to access.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a list of eligible content from the restricted data from which the user may select particular product/service data; and

delivering such selected particular product/service data to the user.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of providing a list of eligible content is based on a user contract and what particular products the user has at a particular facility.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of personalizing the user interface for access by the user, the personalizing including browser specifications and use of a personal user name.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the browser specifications include color scheme.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing unrestricted access to unrestricted product/service data to any users determined to be authenticated.

11. A document delivery method for providing online access to system documentation comprising the steps of:

requiring a user to enter identifying indicia over a computer network and via a user interface so as to match the user with user data stored in at least one user database for authentication checking by an online central service facility, the online central service facility having at least one documentation database having therein product/service data;

authenticating the user for access into a document management system based on the identifying indicia;

checking the user data once the user is authenticated to determine what particular product/service data the user is entitled to from the document management system for delivery to the user;

delivering the particular product/service data to the user; and

wherein the step of checking the user data is further defined to include checking a system profile, the system profile created from the user data and comprising information pertaining to a particular system used by the user including modality and product version information, wherein the particular system is a medical device and the modality is selected from one of;

a MRI system, an ultrasound imaging system, and x-ray system, a PET system, and a CT system.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of checking the user data is further defined to include confirming a user contract profile, the contract profile created from the user data and comprising a user contract status and defining what particular product/service data the user is entitled to from the document management system.

13. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, the signal representing a sequence of instructions to provide limited user access over a computer network and a document management system, the sequence of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

connect a user accessible computer to an online central service facility via a computer network;

transmit a user identification over the computer network so as to match a user with user data stored in at least one user database of the online central service facility;

authenticate the user for access into a document management system in the online central service facility;

specify what particular product/service data the user is entitled to based on user parameters stored within the document management system; and

wherein the product/service data is sorted into restricted and unrestricted product/service data, and wherein the user is entitled to all unrestricted product/service data and provided limited access to restricted product/service data based on a level of security determined by the user identification.

14. The computer data signal of claim 13 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to transmit the particular product/service data to the user.

15. The computer data signal of claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the product/service data is restricted product/service data and the user identification comprises at least a password to gain access to the restricted product/service data.

16. The computer data signal of claim 13 wherein the user parameters used to authenticate the user include at least one of:

a user profile, a user contract profile, and a user system profile, each profile created from the user data stored in the at least one user database.

17. The computer data signal of claim 13 wherein the one or more processors are further caused to provide a list of eligible content to the user from the restricted product/service data and requires the user to select desired restricted product/service data from the list of eligible content.

18. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, the signal representing a sequence of instructions to provide limited user access over a computer network to a document management system, the sequence of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:

connect a user accessible computer to an online central service facility via a computer network;

transmit a user identification over the computer network so as to match a user with user data stored in at least one user database of the online central service facility;

authenticate the user for access into a document management system in the online central service facility;

specify what particular product/service data the user is entitled to based on user parameters stored within the document management system;

wherein the user parameters used to authenticate the user include at least one of;

a user profile, a user contract profile, and a user system profile, each profile created from the user data stored in the at least one user database; and

wherein the user profile comprises a user type, user modality, and user status, wherein the user contract profile comprises a user contract status, wherein the user system profile comprises information pertaining specific system used by the user including modality, product version information, and wherein the particular system is a medical device and the modality is selected from one of;

a MRI system, an ultrasound imaging system, an x-ray system, a PET system, and a CT system.

19. A document management system to provide product/service data based on a level of security for a particular user comprising:

at least one online central service facility having access to product/service data and having at least one computer and at least one database; and

a server communicatively linked to the online central service facility and capable of connection to a user accessible computer to allow user access to the online central service facility;

wherein the at least one database contains product/service data and user data and the at least one computer of the online central service facility is programed to;

authenticate the user for access into a document management system in the at least one online central service facility;

specify what particular product/service data the user is entitled to based on user parameters stored within the document management system; and

wherein the system sorts the product/service data into restricted and unrestricted product/service data, wherein the user is entitled to all unrestricted product/service data and provided limited access to restricted product/service data based on what the user is determined to be entitled to, and wherein the restricted product/service data is sorted into multiple levels of restricted product/service data, each requiring another security level to access.

20. The document management system of claim 19 wherein the user provides a user identification comprising at least a password, wherein the system authenticates the user based on the user identification so that the online central service facility can determine a level of security based on the user identification.

21. The document management system of claim 19 wherein user, once so authenticated by the system, is further checked by the system based on the user data stored in the at least one database before the user may access any restricted product/service data in the online documentation system.

23. The document management system of claim 19 wherein the user selects particular product/service data from a list of eligible content provided by the user and the system delivers such selected particular product/service data.

24. The document management system of claim 19 wherein the system comprises a search engine feature to permit the user to search for particular product/service data.

22. A document management system to provide product/service data based on a level of security for a particular user comprising:

at least one online central service facility having access to product/service data and having at least one computer and at least one database; and

a server communicatively linked to the online central service facility and capable of connection to a user accessible computer to allow user access to the online central service facility;

wherein the at least one database contains product/service data and user data and the at least one computer of the online central service facility is programmed to;

authenticate the user for access into a document management system in the at least one online central service facility;

specify what particular product/service data the user is entitled to based on user parameters stored within the document management system;

wherein the user provides a user identification comprising at least a password, wherein the system authenticates the user based on the user identification so that the online central service facility can determine a level of security based on the user identification; and

wherein the user, having been authenticated and further checked by the system, accesses particular product/service data pertaining to a user'"'"'s particular modality, and the user'"'"'s particular modality is selected from one of;

a MRI system, an ultrasound imaging system, an x-ray system, a PET system, and a CT system.