The emergence of global communication networks such as the Internet and major cellular networks has precipitated interaction between users and other network entities. Today cellular and IP networks are a principal form of communications, and a central means for interacting with other users for various activities. For example, a computing system interfaced to the Internet, by way of wire or wireless technology, can provide a user with a channel for nearly instantaneous access to a wealth of information from a repository of web sites and servers located around the world. Such a system, as well, allows a user to not only gather information, but also to provide information to disparate sources. As such, online data storing and management has become increasingly popular.
This has led to the development of an increasing number of applications designed to operate over an Internet (and/or World Wide Web) connection. Such applications can include functionality such as tracking personal finances by storing information regarding transactions, for example. Such data can include credit card transactions, bank account transfers, and general information such as account numbers, status, authentication used to gather data from a central bank repository, and the like. Accordingly, network users now have mechanisms for searching and or socializing on virtually any topic of interest. Such vast resource of information can also be an impediment for easily locating information as it continues to grow with no end in sight. This presents a formidable challenge when trying to find the information desired; or to locate other users who have similar points of interest.
An example of a network entity that provides social interaction around common subjects is the social network. Social network theory focuses on the relationships and links between individuals or groups of individuals within the network, rather than the attributes of individuals or entities. Generally, a social network can be described as a structure of nodes that represent individuals or groups of individuals (e.g., organizations). Social networking can also refer to a category of network applications that facilitate connecting friends, business partners, or other entities or groups of entities together.
In general, collaborative social networking websites enable users to create remotely stored profiles including personal data such as age, gender, schools attended, graduating class, places of employment, and the like. Such sites subsequently allow other users to search based on designated criteria and try to locate other users; such as finding a companion with similar interests or locate a long lost friend from high school. According to a further example, banking websites enable users to remotely store information concerning bills to be paid. Accordingly, users can automatically schedule bill payments from their bank account, which is then automatically debited when the payment is scheduled. Such allows simultaneous electronic management of account balancing and bill paying that mitigates manual tasks such as entering checks into the register of their checkbook. However, given the already vast amount of information available on such networks, increasing number of new data sources coming online and the differing types of data being provided, interacting with such services can become cumbersome.
For example, complex authentications are typically required in protocol specific ways before information can be accessed. Moreover, sharing of an authorization space is typically not readily supported by non-HTTP GET based communications to access data in storage platforms. Such further limits access to health care related information through portable units.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects described herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the claimed subject matter. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the claimed subject matter nor delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject innovation provides an authorization agnostic access in web service environments to a user's privileged information, via employing a query component that specifies how a call is to be made to a data store and predefines the data that is retrievable in response to a query defined thereby (e.g., thru HTTPS, java script, and the like). Such query component can employ a plurality of filters that are implemented as part thereof, to customize retrieval for a predetermined portion of the data for a designated period, and encompass an end-to-end scenario from the browser up to the storage. In a related aspect, the query component can generate a URL that corresponds to a query ID. Retrieval of information can then occur based on such query ID employed as part of a table look up to reconstruct and supply the data. The retrieved data can be in form of raw results that can be transformed and rendered as part of a display for a portable unit, which can be carried by a user. Accordingly, relatively simple HTTP GET based mechanisms can be employed that executes predefined query to access data, and mitigates a requirement of complex authentication procedures (e.g., protocol specific).
In a related aspect, the predefined query can be passed among a plurality of third parties, wherein a shared pin can be employed to properly execute the query against the data store of the data platform, and obtain the data that is authorized for retrieval. The data can be dynamic in nature (e.g., blood pressure that requires constant monitoring), wherein the predetermined query can supply continuous access to such dynamic data.
According to a related methodology, initially a query can be defined that includes defining authentication levels for such query, for a formation thereof. Subsequently, third parties can define the query on behalf of the user, who has so granted permission for access to privileged data. Next, by employing the predetermined query authentication and authorization mechanism related to access of data via an associated data platform can typically be mitigated.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the claimed subject matter are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of various ways in which the subject matter may be practiced, all of which are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features may become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The various aspects of the subject innovation are now described with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding elements throughout. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description relating thereto are not intended to limit the claimed subject matter to the particular form disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter.
The client application 111 can employ a request component 102 can specify a request for data retrieval, data storage, and the like to an API of the data platform 130. Retrieval of information can then occur based on the query ID employed as part of a table look up to reconstruct and supply the data. The retrieved data can be in form of raw results that can be transformed and rendered as part of a display for a portable unit, which can be carried by a user.
The data platform 130 can interpret the request and query a back-end data component 106 based on the request. The back-end data component 106 can then respond to the API, which can return a result to the request component 102, via employing the query component 110. The request component 102 can be any device capable of communicating with the API of the data platform 130. Request generated by the request component 102 can include: requests for storage of data, retrieval of data, modification of data, and any value-add service to the data, addition of data units, retrieval and application of styles and schemas regarding the format of the data, user interface and layout of the data and the like, for example. Accordingly, the API of the data platform 130 can be employed to interpret requests from the request component 102, and facilitate communication with the back-end data component 106. Moreover, requests forwarded by the request component 102 can be in form of calls made via XML over hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), calls made directly to the API, or calls made to a wrapper around the API or a combination thereof. Employing XML typically enables for an extensible data model where the structure can change and not require new code, for example.
Moreover, the data storage system 116 can include schematized health related data. For example, the data can be an item including a record corresponding to health related data such as a medical diagnosis; the data can come from many sources including an application used at a doctor's office, or a type of automated diagnosis device such as a home pregnancy test. Moreover, data from such different types of sources can be taken and conform to a single schema that is operable in a centralized health integration network. The data stored in the data storage system 116 can also be related to a new application that desires to register with the health integration network. For instance, the data can include information regarding the name of the application, devices able to access the application, authorization rules for data of the applications, different data types defined and useable by the application; this information can be stored according the schema described herein. Moreover, the data can also be other data related to a user, specifically concerning account information, such as user name, password, and the like. Information such as insurance info, medical history, allergies, and the like can be defined as the individual health records described.
The subject innovation can also implement built in known filter modules in a predetermined query environment that enables callers to further restrict such query. For example, such can employ a known filter module referred to as “topn” to control the number of entries to be returned. Hence, the open query call can be implemented as http://server/openquery.ashx?id=GUIDHERE&topn=20 to limit the returned data to 20 items. It is to be appreciated that other possible filter modules can be employed, such as filters that include dates, time of day, and the like.
In a related aspect, and as further illustrated in
The open_query_id is the unique id that can be employed for identifying a particular open query. Such id typically is considered to be unique across users/applications and can typically be generated automatically by the database. Likewise, the application_id identifies the application that created the OpenQuery, and the person_id identifies the account that created the OpenQuery. Similarly, header_xml specifies the header to be used in conjunction with the query (info_xml and info_xml specifies the actual query that will be executed on the database. The note—comment/note is attached by the OpenQuery creator, and pin_code—if exists, is a PIN used to protect access to the OpenQuery. The date_created indicates the date/time the OpenQuery was created, and expires_minutes indicates lifetime of the OpenQuery in minutes. The open query id is returned to the caller and is used to create a URL http://<server>/openquery.ashx?id=GUIDHERE where <server> is the domain name used by the health integration platform and GUIDHERE is the id that can be returned by the SaveOpenQuery call.
Accordingly, the user can access the predefined query using the URL. When the platform obtains such URL, it looks up the OpenQuery using the id provided. Subsequently, it can construct an internal webservice call using the contents of the header_xml and info_xml. Next, the result of such webservice call can be returned to the user in the form of an XML blob, wherein the blob can be formatted using an XML transform that is could be specified during the OpenQuery creation. Moreover a predetermined query or an OpenQuery can be deleted by a direct deletion using DeleteOpenQuery or it can be deleted by the system when it expires, for example.
As illustrated, the application 202 that makes a request to at least one of retrieve, store, modify, or otherwise access data from a health integration network 204. The request can be sent to the API 214 through the Internet 208 using an HTTP protocol specifying the request in XML format, for example. The API 214 can include an Interpreter 214 to derive the request parameters from the request sent by the application 202. Requests for data can be submitted to the API and can, for example, specify the person ID (if the requesting party is different from the user whose information is sought, for example, a doctor accessing patient records), record ID, an authentication token for the user, a language specification, a country specification, a message creation time and expire time, and/or any parameters required by the method. An exemplary API can include;
SaveOpenQuery
SaveOpenQuery method can be employed for an application to create an open query method. The API allows the creator to specify a timeout period, a note, a PIN number, and the query needed to access the data. For sensitive blobs (privacy), a password-protected-package can serve as an envelope to such blob and contain required information needed to decrypt the blob. Moreover, once the predetermined query (e.g., open query is created), a typical browser can call http://<server>/openquery.ashx?id=GUIDHERE and receive the results of the query.
DeleteOpenQuery
DeleteOpenQuery enables the custodian of a record to delete an existing OpenQuery by specifying an OpenQuery identifier.
GetSaveOpenQueryInfo
GetSaveOpenQueryInfo allows the caller to get basic information on open queries. This allows applications to query relevant information about an OpenQuery (or a list of OpenQueries) to help it and users decide on actions to take. Such API does not typically return the actual OpenQuery or the results of the OpenQuery. For example, the information returned can include data as to whether a pin is required, Expiration date, Creation date, name of the application that created the open query, and the like.
Initially and at 310 a query can be issued by an application and forwarded to a data store as part of a data platform in a stateless environment. Such stateless environment (e.g., stateless web service or web farm where any request can be forwarded to any server) of the subject innovation typically lacks persisted connections (e.g., lacks an active directory that employs a virtual list and maintenance of states on a server), and hence each request to the server can be considered unique and new with no ties to other requests. Accordingly, a client typically assumes responsibility to maintain contextual information to retrieve any additional information. Next, and at 320 the single request forwarded to the data store of the data platform can be processed to obtain requested data. At 330, the retrieved data can be supplied to the application. Upon review of such retrieved data, the application can decide if addition retrieval of information is required as related to the single request. Accordingly, the methodology 300 can reduce total amount of data transferred at any given portion of the query, and supply an option to retrieve more detailed information related to data requested by the query. Accordingly, an application requesting data thru a query can initially be supplied with a limited number of data, which can be followed by additional data items returned as unique identifiers.
In a related aspect, when interacting with the API 400, a requesting entity, such as a device, application 440, device running on the application 440, legacy device attached to a system with an application, and the like, can initiate a request for data to the API 400, which is picked up by the receiver component 402. The request can relate to an access personal health and/or fitness related data, for example, such as prescription information. Accordingly, the receiver component 402 can receive the request and sends it to the interpreter component 404. The interpreter component 404 determines the type of request, for example for retrieval of data, storage of data, or modification of data, and determines the record or type being requested. The interpreter component 404 can leverage the authorization component 406 to determine if the requesting entity has sufficient privileges to access the requested data for the type of request presented, and the URL associated with the predetermined query. For example, a party may not have sufficient access to change or even view a medical diagnosis of their spouse. Authorization rules can be set by many parties, including the person to whom the data directly relates, medical professionals, etc. If the entity is denied access, the return component 410 can send a resulting error notification (in XML format, for example) back to the requesting entity.
The AI component 630 can employ any of a variety of suitable AI-based schemes as described supra in connection with facilitating various aspects of the herein described invention. For example, a process for learning explicitly or implicitly how data and predefined queries are to be correlated can be facilitated via an automatic classification system and process. Classification can employ a probabilistic and/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysis utilities and costs) to prognose or infer an action that a user desires to be automatically performed. For example, a support vector machine (SVM) classifier can be employed. Other classification approaches include Bayesian networks, decision trees, and probabilistic classification models providing different patterns of independence can be employed. Classification as used herein also is inclusive of statistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.
As will be readily appreciated from the subject specification, the subject innovation can employ classifiers that are explicitly trained (e.g., via a generic training data) as well as implicitly trained (e.g., via observing user behavior, receiving extrinsic information) so that the classifier is used to automatically determine according to a predetermined criteria which answer to return to a question. For example, with respect to SVM's that are well understood, SVM's are configured via a learning or training phase within a classifier constructor and feature selection module. A classifier is a function that maps an input attribute vector, x=(x1, x2, x3, x4, xn), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class—that is, f(x)=confidence(class).
Accordingly, the query component can generate a URL that corresponds to a query ID. Retrieval of information can then occur based on such query ID employed as part of a table look up to reconstruct and supply the data. The retrieved data can be in form of raw results that can be transformed and rendered as part of a display for a portable unit, which can be carried by a user.
According to one particular aspect, a protocol component 706 can further specify application 710 specific data within a header of a data envelope for the data, to enable data modification (e.g., edit, write, and the like). The application specific data can include information regarding methods requested, record identifiers for requested data, user ids, and the like. While incrementally receiving the data envelope, the protocol component 708 can extract information from the header and interact with the health integration network 702 to make preliminary decisions regarding the request for data access and/or data modifications. If a decision is made that the request is not desirable, communication can be closed with the application 710 either permanently, temporarily and the like.
Data requested from the application 710 to the health integration network can be to retrieve, store, modify, or otherwise access, for example, data relating to health such as blood pressure readings, insurance information, prescriptions, family history, personal medical history, diagnoses, allergies, X-rays, blood tests, and the like. Additionally, the data can be fitness related, such as exercise routines, exercise goals, diets, virtual expeditions based on exercise routines, competitions, and the like. It is to be appreciated that the protocol component 706 and can be a stand-alone component and/or can at least partially reside within an application or system. For example, the protocol component 706 can be part of the health integration network 702. The query component 750 can generate a URL that corresponds to a query ID. Retrieval of information can then occur based on such query ID employed as part of a table look up to reconstruct and supply the data.
The protocol component 808 can conform request data to a protocol for submission to a remote source such as an API 802. Upon receiving the data content request from protocol component 808, the API 802 can be employed to request and store data within a health integration network 812. It is to be appreciated that the API 802 can synchronously or asynchronously communicate with a plurality of applications 810, through protocol component 808, of similar or different types. The API 802 can also include a software layer 802 to leverage in interpreting and processing the request. The software layer 804 can be separated out as shown, or it can be integrated within the API 802, the health integration network 812, or both. Upon interpreting and processing a request from the application 810, the software layer 804 can access the health integration network 812 for any necessary data or to store necessary data to fulfill the request. The software layer 804 can also provide value-add to the data such as assembling data from the health integration network 812, applying business models or processes in conjunction with data, caching data, and/or applying transformations or additional information to/with the data. It is to be appreciated that there can exist a plurality of APIs 802 and software layers 804 connecting to a centralized health integration network 812, wherein such network can be a single system or distributed across multiple systems, platforms, and the like. The health integration network 812 can comprise a plurality of data stores including a record database 806, a directory database 818, and a dictionary database 810. It is to be appreciated that the health integration network 812 is exemplary in nature and can further comprise other systems and/or layers to facilitate data management and transfer. Furthermore, the databases can be redundant such that multiple versions of the respective databases are available for other APIs and applications and/or a back-up source for other versions of the databases. Additionally, the databases can be logically partitioned among various physical data stores to allow efficient access for highly accessed systems. Moreover, the databases can be hierarchically based, such as XML and/or relationally based. The record database 806 can be highly distributed and comprise personal health related data records for a plurality of users. The records can be of different formats and can comprise any kind of data (single instance, structured or unstructured). Such can include plain data, data and associated type information, self-describing data (by way of associated schemas), data with associated templates (by way of stylesheets for example), data with units (such as data with conversion instructions, binary data), and the like. Moreover, the record database 806 can keep an audit trail of changes made to the records for tracking and restoration purposes. Additionally, any data type or related instances of the foregoing information can be stored in a disparate database such as the dictionary database 810 described infra. The record database 806 can be partitioned, distributed, and/or segmented based on a number of factors including performance, logical grouping of users (e.g. users of the same company, family, and the like).
The directory database 818 can store information such as user account data, which can include user name, authentication credentials, the existence of records for the user, and the like. The directory database 818 can also house information about records themselves including the user to whom they belong, where the record is held (in a distributed record database 806 configuration), and the like. For example, a user can specify that a spouse have access only to the user's fitness related data, and not medical health related data. Accordingly, a user can protect predetermined data while allowing appropriate parties (such as spouse, doctor, insurance company, personal trainer, and the like) or applications/devices (blood pressure machine, pacemaker, fitness watch, and the like) to have access to relevant data. In addition, the directory database 808 can comprise data regarding configuring applications 810 to interact with the health integration network 802. Likewise, applications 810 can be required to register with the health integration network 802, and thus, the application data in the directory database 818 includes the registration information.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Similarly, examples are provided herein solely for purposes of clarity and understanding and are not meant to limit the subject innovation or portion thereof in any manner. It is to be appreciated that a myriad of additional or alternate examples could have been presented, but have been omitted for purposes of brevity.
As used in this application, the terms “component”, “system”, are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components can reside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a component can be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers.
Furthermore, all or portions of the subject innovation can be implemented as a system, method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement the disclosed innovation. For example, computer readable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips . . . ), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD) . . . ), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, key drive . . . ). Additionally it should be appreciated that a carrier wave can be employed to carry computer-readable electronic data such as those used in transmitting and receiving electronic mail or in accessing a network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter.
In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the disclosed subject matter,
With reference to
The system bus 918 can be any of several types of bus structure(s) including the memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus or external bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of available bus architectures including, but not limited to, 11-bit bus, Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA (EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory Card International Association bus (PCMCIA), and Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI).
The system memory 916 includes volatile memory 920 and nonvolatile memory 922. The basic input/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routines to transfer information between elements within the computer 912, such as during start-up, is stored in nonvolatile memory 922. For example, nonvolatile memory 922 can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory 920 includes random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).
Computer 912 also includes removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media.
It is to be appreciated that
A user enters commands or information into the computer 912 through input device(s) 936. Input devices 936 include, but are not limited to, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad, keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TV tuner card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and the like. These and other input devices connect to the processing unit 914 through the system bus 918 via interface port(s) 938. Interface port(s) 938 include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, and a universal serial bus (USB). Output device(s) 940 use some of the same type of ports as input device(s) 936. Thus, for example, a USB port may be used to provide input to computer 912, and to output information from computer 912 to an output device 940. Output adapter 942 is provided to illustrate that there are some output devices 940 like monitors, speakers, and printers, among other output devices 940 that require special adapters. The output adapters 942 include, by way of illustration and not limitation, video and sound cards that provide a means of connection between the output device 940 and the system bus 918. It should be noted that other devices and/or systems of devices provide both input and output capabilities such as remote computer(s) 944.
Computer 912 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s) 944. The remote computer(s) 944 can be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, a peer device or other common network node and the like, and typically includes many or all of the elements described relative to computer 912. For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 946 is illustrated with remote computer(s) 944. Remote computer(s) 944 is logically connected to computer 912 through a network interface 948 and then physically connected via communication connection 950. Network interface 948 encompasses communication networks such as local-area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN). LAN technologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Copper Distributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet/IEEE 802.3, Token Ring/IEEE 802.5 and the like. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links, circuit switching networks like Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL).
Communication connection(s) 950 refers to the hardware/software employed to connect the network interface 948 to the bus 918. While communication connection 950 is shown for illustrative clarity inside computer 912, it can also be external to computer 912. The hardware/software necessary for connection to the network interface 948 includes, for exemplary purposes only, internal and external technologies such as, modems including regular telephone grade modems, cable modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.
What has been described above includes various exemplary aspects. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing these aspects, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the aspects described herein are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.