Method and apparatus for generating a data-entry form
A hierarchically structured knowledge base containing hierarchically ordered data elements is provided ( 101 ). One also provides ( 102 ) an interactive user interface, wherein the interactive user interface is operably coupled to the hierarchically structured knowledge base. One then generates ( 103 ) a data-entry form that is displayable on the interactive user interface using the hierarchically structured knowledge base, wherein the data-entry form contains a plurality of data-entry columns of data-entry opportunities. In a preferred but optional approach, the data-entry opportunities are not necessarily ordered in a manner conforming to the hierarchical order that characterizes the hierarchically structured knowledge base.
1 . A method comprising:
providing a hierarchically structured knowledge base comprising hierarchically ordered data elements;
providing an interactive user interface operably coupled to the hierarchically structured knowledge base;
generating a data-entry form that is displayable on the interactive user interface using the hierarchically structured knowledge base, wherein the data-entry form comprises a plurality of data-entry columns of data-entry opportunities.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the data-entry opportunities are not necessarily ordered in a manner that conforms with a hierarchical order as characterizes the hierarchically structured knowledge base.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the data-entry opportunities comprises a multi-entry data-entry opportunity.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the multi-entry data-entry opportunity comprises a link to a secondary data-entry opportunity.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein the secondary data-entry opportunity comprises a secondary data-entry form.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the secondary data-entry form at least partially overlies the data-entry form upon selecting the multi-entry data-entry opportunity as corresponds thereto.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating the data-entry form comprises dynamically generating the data-entry form in response to detecting, via the interactive user interface, that a user needs to enter data using the interactive user interface.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating the data-entry form comprises automatically selecting particular data elements from the hierarchically structured data base to use when generating the data-entry form as a function, at least in part, of determining a kind of data reporting activity to be supported through use of the data-entry form.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein automatically selecting particular data elements from the hierarchically structured data base to use when generating the data-entry form as a function, at least in part, of determining a kind of data reporting activity to be supported through use of the data-entry form further comprises automatically selecting a first set of data elements when the kind of data reporting activity comprises a human medical condition syndrome-based reporting activity.
10 . The method of claim 8 wherein automatically selecting particular data elements from the hierarchically structured data base to use when generating the data-entry form as a function, at least in part, of determining a kind of data reporting activity to be supported through use of the data-entry form further comprises automatically selecting a first set of data elements when the kind of data reporting activity comprises a human medical condition disorder-based reporting activity.
11 . The method of claim 8 wherein automatically selecting particular data elements from the hierarchically structured data base to use when generating the data-entry form as a function, at least in part, of determining a kind of data reporting activity to be supported through use of the data-entry form further comprises automatically selecting a first set of data elements when the kind of data reporting activity comprises a human anatomy-based reporting activity.
12 . The method of claim 8 wherein automatically selecting particular data elements from the hierarchically structured data base to use when generating the data-entry form as a function, at least in part, of determining a kind of data reporting activity to be supported through use of the data-entry form further comprises automatically selecting a first set of data elements when the kind of data reporting activity comprises a human disease state-based reporting activity.
13 . The method of claim 8 wherein automatically selecting particular data elements from the hierarchically structured data base to use when generating the data-entry form as a function, at least in part, of determining a kind of data reporting activity to be supported through use of the data-entry form further comprises automatically selecting a first set of data elements when the kind of data reporting activity comprises a medical procedure-based reporting activity.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating a data-entry form comprises generating a human medical condition syndrome-based reporting data-entry form.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating a data-entry form comprises generating a human medical condition disorder-based reporting data-entry form.
16 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating a data-entry form comprises generating a human anatomy-based reporting data-entry form.
17 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating a data-entry form comprises generating a human disease state-based reporting data-entry form.
18 . The method of claim 1 wherein generating a data-entry form comprises generating a medical procedure-based reporting data-entry form.
19 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying the data-entry form via the interactive user interface to provide a displayed data-entry form.
20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising:
receiving user data entries via the displayed data-entry form.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising:
storing the user data entries in a findings database as part of a corresponding report.
22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising:
displaying the user data entries as part of a corresponding report.
23 . The method of claim 22 further comprising:
detecting selection of a user data entry from a displayed corresponding report;
in response to detecting selecting of the user data entry form from the displayed corresponding report, displaying a data-entry form that was used to enter the selected user data entry.
24 . The method of claim 22 wherein the corresponding report further comprises at least one free-text entry.
25 . The method of claim 22 wherein displaying the user data entries as part of a corresponding report further comprises displaying a corresponding report comprising at least one placeholder marker wherein the placeholder marker represents a user data entry that has not yet been user entered.
26 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:
detecting user selection of the placeholder marker;
in response to detecting user selection of the placeholder marker, displaying a corresponding user data entry opportunity to facilitate user entry of the user data entry as corresponds to the placeholder marker.
27 . The method of claim 21 wherein the corresponding report comprises at least one of:
a human medical condition syndrome-based report;
a human medical condition disorder-based report;
a human anatomy-based report;
a human disease state-based report;
a medical procedure-based report.
28 . The method of claim 27 wherein generating a data-entry form comprises receiving input from a user via the interactive user interface and selecting a particular kind of corresponding report based, at least in part, upon the input from the user.
29 . The method of claim 19 wherein displaying the data-entry form via the interactive user interface further comprises also displaying at least one navigation opportunity.
30 . The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one navigation opportunity provides access to at least one part of the hierarchically structured knowledge base.
31 . The method of claim 30 wherein the access to the at least one part of the hierarchically structured knowledge base comprises a non-data-entry point of access.
32 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
displaying, via the interactive user interface, at least a portion of a given data-entry opportunity in conjunction with a non-alphanumeric graphic element.
33 . The method of claim 32 wherein the non-alphanumeric graphic element comprises a graphic representation of a data element as corresponds to subject matter of the given data-entry opportunity.
34 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the data-entry opportunities comprises a non-alphanumeric graphic element.
35 . The method of claim 34 wherein the non-alphanumeric graphic element comprises at least one selectable portion that corresponds to entry of a particular corresponding data element.
36 . The method of claim 1 wherein the data-entry opportunities comprise, at least in part, a set of non-alphanumeric graphic elements depicting subject matter as corresponds to the data-entry opportunities and with which a user interacts to enter data.
37 . The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an information transmitting device wherein the device communicates with at least one of the data-entry opportunities.
38 . An apparatus comprising:
a memory having a hierarchically structured knowledge base comprising hierarchically ordered data elements stored therein;
an interactive user interface;
data-entry form generator having an input operably coupled to the memory and having an output operably coupled to the interactive user interface comprises a data-entry form comprising a plurality of data-entry columns of data-entry opportunities.
39 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the data-entry form generator comprises means for generating a data-entry form that is displayable on the interactive user interface using the hierarchically structured knowledge base, wherein the data-entry form comprises a plurality of data-entry columns of data-entry opportunities.
40 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein at least one of the data-entry opportunities comprises a multi-entry data-entry opportunity.
41 . The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the multi-entry data-entry opportunity comprises a link to a secondary data-entry opportunity.
42 . The apparatus of claim 41 wherein the secondary data-entry opportunity comprises a secondary data-entry form.
43 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the data-entry form generator dynamically generates the data-entry form in response to detecting, via the interactive user interface, that a user needs to enter data using the interactive user interface.
44 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the data-entry form generator automatically selects particular data elements from the hierarchically structured data base to use when generating the data-entry form as a function, at least in part, of determining a kind of data reporting activity to be supported through use of the data entry form.
45 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the interactive user interface displays at least a portion of a given data-entry opportunity in conjunction with a non-alphanumeric graphic element.
46 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein at least one of the data-entry opportunities comprises a non-alphanumeric graphic element.
47 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the data-entry opportunities comprise, at least in part, a set of non-alphanumeric graphic elements depicting subject matter as corresponds to the data-entry opportunities and with which a user interacts to enter data.
48 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein at least one of the data-entry opportunities is populated by a predetermined set of data.
49 . The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the data-entry form generator is operably coupled to an information transmitting device separate from the apparatus.