Method and apparatus for integrated communication services provisioning for health care community

• US 7,899,910 B1
• Filed: 08/30/1999
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Stanley, Richard A., Mosleh, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOMERS, MARC S
• Application Number:
  US09/385,299
• Time in Patent Office: 4,201 Days
• Field of Search: 709/313, 709/314, 709/227, 709/228, 707/1, 707/4, 707/10, 707/109.1, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method and system of accessing an information system using a portable access device is provided. The method includes identifying a communication profile associated with a first network server, attempting, by the portable access device, to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the first network server using communication channel that is selected by the portable access device based on the communication profile, a location of the portable access device with respect to the first network server, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, attempting to establish the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information, and capturing data received by the portable access device in a memory located in the portable access device in accordance with a failed attempt to establish the communication link.

Claims

1. A method of accessing an information system using a portable access device, the method comprising:

receiving a request from said portable access device to access a network server;

identifying a communication profile associated with said network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

transmitting said communication profile to said portable access device;

establishing a communication link between said portable access device and said network server using a communication channel that is selected based on said communication profile, a location of said portable access device with respect to said network server, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, the communication link being established by using the selected communication channel when no user action is required to establish the communication link, wherein said communication channel is selected from the group consisting of;

local wireless LAN, remote wireless LAN, wireline LAN, and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and establishing the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information; and

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of configuring said portable access device to capture data in memory in accordance with a failed attempt to establish said communication link.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of identifying a communication profile associated with said network device further comprises the following steps:

accessing a central database;

searching said central database for a communication profile associated with said network server; and

retrieving said communication profile.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of establishing communication between said portable access device and said network server is further comprised of the following steps:

configuring said portable access device to transmit using one of a plurality of communication channels in accordance with said communication profile;

verifying the availability of said communication channel; and

initiating communication between said portable access device and said network server using one of said communication channels.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing a communication link comprises:

transmitting a first request to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.

6. A method of accessing an information system using a portable access device, the method comprising:

identifying a communication profile associated with a first network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

attempting, by the portable access device, to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the first network server using communication channel that is selected by the portable access device based on the communication profile, a location of the portable access device with respect to the first network server, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, wherein the communication channel is selected from the group consisting of;

a local wireless LAN, a remote wireless LAN, a wireline LAN, and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and attempting to establish the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information;

capturing data received by the portable access device in a memory located in the portable access device in accordance with a failed attempt to establish the communication link;

establishing the communication link by using the selected communication channel when no user action is required to establish the communication link; and

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of identifying a communication profile associated with said network server further comprises the following steps:

searching an internal database for a communication profile associated with the first network server; and

retrieving said communication profile from the internal database.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of attempting to establish a communication link with said first network server is further comprised of the following steps:

configuring said portable access device to transmit using one of a plurality of communication channels, in accordance with said communication profile;

verifying the availability of said communication channel; and

initiating communication between said portable access device and said network server along said communication channel.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein attempting to

establish a communication link server comprises:

transmitting a first request from said portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from said portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

requesting a connection to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the identifying comprises:

searching an internal database of the portable access device for the communication profile associated with the first network server;

transmitting from the portable access device to a second network server, a request to access the first network server when the communication profile cannot be found in the internal database; and

retrieving the communication profile server from the second network server.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein transmitting a request from the portable access device to the second network server comprises:

transmitting a first request from the portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from the portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with the local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting the portable access device to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) when a communication link cannot be established with the remote wireless transceiver.

12. A method of access an information system using a portable access device, the method comprising:

transmitting from said portable access device to a first network server, a request to access a second network server;

receiving said request at said first network server;

identifying a communication profile associated with said second network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

transmitting said communication profile from said first network server to said portable access device;

establishing a communication link between said portable access device and said second network server using a communication channel that is selected based on said communication profile, a location of said portable access device with respect to said second network server, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, the communication link being established by using the selected communication channel when no user action is required to establish the communication link, wherein said communication channel is selected from the group consisting of;

local wireless LAN, remote wireless LAN, wireline LAN, and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and establishing the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information;

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of configuring said portable access device to capture data in memory in accordance with a failed attempt to establish said communication link.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of transmitting from a portable access device to a first network server is further comprised of the following steps:

transmitting a first request from a portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from said portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting said portable access device to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein identifying a communication profile further comprises:

accessing a central database; and

retrieving a communication profile that corresponds to said second network server.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein establishing a communication link comprises:

configuring said portable access device to transmit using one of a plurality of communication channels in accordance with said communication profile;

verifying the availability of a communication channel; and

initiating communication between said portable access device and said second network server along said communication channel.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein establishing a communication link comprises:

transmitting a first request to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.

18. A method of accessing an information system using a portable access device, the method comprising:

identifying, by the portable access device, a communication profile associated with a first network server, wherein the identifying a comprises;

searching an internal database for the communication profile;

transmitting from the portable access device to a second network server, a request to access the first network server when the communication profile cannot be found in the internal database; and

retrieving the communication profile from the second network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

attempting, by the portable access device, to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the first network server using one of a plurality of communication media, in accordance with the communication profile, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, wherein the one of a plurality of communication media is selected from the group consisting of;

a local wireless LAN, a remote wireless LAN, a wireline LAN, and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and attempting to establish the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information;

capturing data in a memory location in accordance with a failed attempt to establish the communication link;

establishing the communication link by using the selected communication media when no user action is required to establish the communication link; and

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein transmitting a request from the portable access device to the second network server comprises:

transmitting a first request from the portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from the portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with the local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting the portable access device to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) when a communication link cannot be established with the remote wireless transceiver.

20. A method of accessing information using an access device, the method comprising:

identifying, by the access device, a communication profile associated with a first server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

attempting, by the access device, to establish a communication link between the access device and the first server, in accordance with the communication profile, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, wherein the attempting includes initiating a first attempt to establish communication with the first server via a local wireless network, initiating a second attempt to establish communication via a remote wireless network if the first attempt fails, and initiating a third attempt to establish communication via a public switched telephone network if the second attempt fails;

establishing the communication link when no user action is required to establish the communication link, wherein establishing the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information;

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link; and

accessing the information from the first server when the communication link is established.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein identifying a communication profile comprises:

determining, by the access device, whether or not the communication profile is stored locally by the access device; and

establishing communication with a second server to retrieve the communication profile, if the communication profile is not stored locally.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein establishing communication with the second server comprises:

initiating a first attempt to establish communication via a local wireless network, initiating a second attempt to establish communication via a remote wireless network if the first attempt fails, and initiating a third attempt to establish communication via a public switched telephone network if the second attempt fails.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

configuring the access device to operate in a local capture mode such that data received by the access device is stored in a memory located in the access device, if the third attempt fails.

24. A computer-readable storage device containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for accessing an information system comprising an access device and a plurality of network servers, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a portable access device to access a network server;

identifying a communication profile associated with said network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

transmitting said communication profile to said portable access device;

establishing a communication link between said portable access device and said network server using one of a plurality of communication channels that is selected based on said communication profile, a location of said portable access device with respect to said network server, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, the communication link being established by using the selected communication channel when no user action is required to establish the communication link, wherein said communication channel is selected from the group consisting of;

local wireless LAN, remote wireless LAN, wireline LAN, and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and establishing the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information; and

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

25. The computer-readable storage device of claim 24 further comprising the step of configuring said portable access device to capture data in memory in accordance with a failed attempt to establish said communication link.

26. The computer-readable storage device of claim 24 wherein said step of identifying a communication profile associated with said network device further comprises the following steps:

accessing a central database;

searching said central database for a communication profile associated with said network server; and

retrieving said communication profile.

27. The computer-readable storage device of claim 24 wherein said step of establishing communication between said portable access device and said network server further comprises of the following steps:

configuring said portable access device to transmit using one of a plurality of communication channels in accordance with said communication profile;

verifying the availability of said communication channel; and

initiating communication between said portable access device and said network server using one of said communication channels.

28. The computer-readable storage device of claim 24 wherein establishing communication comprises:

transmitting a first request to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.

29. A computer-readable storage device containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for accessing an information system comprising a portable access device and a plurality of network servers, the method comprising:

identifying a communication profile associated with a first network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

attempting, by the portable access device, to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the first network server using a communication channel that is selected by the portable access device based on the communication profile, a location of the portable access device with respect to the first network server, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, wherein the communication channel is selected from the group consisting of;

a local wireless LAN, a remote wireless LAN, a wireline LAN, and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and attempting to establish the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information;

capturing data received by the portable access device in a memory located in the portable access device in accordance with a failed attempt to establish the communication link;

establishing the communication link by using the selected communication channel when no user action is required to establish the communication link; and

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

30. The computer-readable storage device of claim 29 wherein said step of identifying a communication profile associated with said network server further comprises the following steps:

searching an internal database for a communication profile associated with the first network server; and

retrieving said communication profile from the internal database.

31. The computer-readable storage device of claim 29 wherein said step of attempting to establish a communication link with said first network server is further comprised of the following steps:

configuring said portable access device to transmit using one of a plurality of communication channels, in accordance with said communication profile;

verifying the availability of said communication channel; and

initiating communication between said portable access device and said first network server along said communication channel.

32. The computer-readable storage device of claim 29 wherein attempting to establish a communication link comprises:

transmitting a first request from said portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from said portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

requesting a connection to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.

33. The computer-readable storage device of claim 29 wherein identifying a communication profile further comprises:

searching an internal database of the portable access device for the communication profile;

transmitting from the portable access device to a second network server, a request to access the first network server when the communication profile cannot be found in the internal database; and

retrieving the communication profile from the second network server.

34. The computer-readable storage device of claim 33 wherein transmitting a request from a portable access device to the second network server comprises:

transmitting a first request from the portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from the portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with the local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting the portable access device to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with the remote wireless transceiver.

35. A computer-readable storage device containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for accessing an information system comprising a portable access device and a plurality of network servers, the method comprising:

identifying, by the portable access device, a communication profile associated with a first network server, wherein identifying a communication profile further comprises;

searching an internal database for the communication profile;

transmitting from the portable access device to a second network server, a request to access said first network server when said communication profile cannot be found in said internal database; and

retrieving the communication profile from said second network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

attempting, by the portable access device, to establish a communication link between the portable access device and the first network server using one of a plurality of communication media, in accordance with the communication profile, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, wherein the one of a plurality of communication media is selected from the group consisting of;

a local wireless LAN, a remote wireless LAN, a wireline LAN, and a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and attempting to establish the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information;

capturing data in a memory location in accordance with a failed attempt to establish the communication link;

establishing the communication link by using the selected communication channel when no user action is required to establish the communication link; and

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

36. The computer-readable storage device of claim 35 wherein transmitting a request from the portable access device to the second network server comprises:

transmitting a first request from the portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from the portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with the local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting the portable access device to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with the remote wireless transceiver.

37. A computer-readable storage device containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for accessing an information system comprising an access device and a plurality of network servers, the method comprising:

transmitting from a portable access device to a first network server, a request to access a second network server;

receiving said request at said first network server;

identifying a communication profile associated with said second network server, the communication profile including description information corresponding to a data compression format and a forward error correction toggle;

transmitting said communication profile to said portable access device;

establishing a communication link between said portable access device and said second network server using a communication channel that is selected based on said communication profile, a location of the portable access device with respect to said second network server, a desired quality of the communication link, and a cost of the communication link, the communication link being established by using the selected communication channel when no user action is required to establish the communication link, wherein establishing the communication link includes using at least a portion of the description information; and

displaying a notification to instruct a user to perform a user action to establish the communication link when the user action is required to establish the communication link.

38. The computer-readable storage device of claim 37 further comprising the step of configuring said portable access device to capture data in memory in accordance with a failed attempt to establish said communication link.

39. The computer-readable storage device of claim 37 wherein said step of transmitting from a portable access device to a first network server is further comprised of the following steps:

transmitting a first request from a portable access device to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request from said portable access device to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting said portable access device to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.

40. The computer-readable storage device of claim 37 wherein identifying a communication profile further comprises:

accessing a central database; and

retrieving a communication profile that corresponds to said second network server.

41. The computer-readable storage device of claim 37 wherein establishing a communication link comprises:

configuring said portable access device to transmit using one of a plurality of communication channels in accordance with said communication profile;

verifying the availability of a communication channel; and

initiating communication between said profile access device and said second network server along said communication channel.

42. The computer-readable storage device of claim 37 wherein establishing a communication link comprises:

transmitting a first request to a local wireless LAN transceiver;

transmitting a second request to a remote wireless transceiver when a communication link cannot be established with said local wireless LAN transceiver; and

connecting to a PSTN when a communication link cannot be established with said remote wireless transceiver.