Abstract: The present invention generally is directed to a method, system and article of manufacture for controlling the access to data granted to a requesting entity based upon data accessed by the entity in the past. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention allow for access control independent from the particular manner in which the data is physically represented. Generally, abstraction layers are provided to represent various data sources available for use by an application and to compose queries used by the application to access and/or update information contained in these data sources. A runtime component is responsible for resolving an abstract query into concrete data access requests to one or more data repositories using information contained in a data repository abstraction component (one of the abstraction layers). Typically, data is organized into a series of domains. Within each domain, data is associated with an account.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention allow a user to obtain information regarding the possible effects of invoking a user-selectable component provided by a software application, such as a user selected menu function or a database query element that may be added to a database query. Generally, a user selected component is analyzed to determine the expected execution characteristic of the component, and an expected execution characteristic may be associated with a graphical display component used to access the user-selectable component.

Abstract: A code optimizer is used to optimize a computer program that references a database by reading database metadata and making suitable optimizations based on the metadata. By taking into account the metadata of a database referenced in the computer program, the optimizer may make suitable optimizations to the computer program. Such optimizations include, without limitation, removing unnecessary calls to the database, removing unnecessary loops, removing unnecessary database operations, providing compile-time errors, and replacing dynamic calls with static data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a mechanism for selecting an authorization filter to apply when executing a database query, based on the focus of the database query. Based on the focus specified for a given of the query, different conditions may be added during query processing to a database query. Doing so provides a flexible approach to managing data access requests where queries may focus on the same underlying data from many different perspectives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing a continuum of data as a rolling column within a relational model is disclosed. Data from a continuous data source may be used to populate a rolling column. Metadata defining the rolling column specifies the correct portion of data from the continuum of data that should be used to populate the rolling column. Whenever data from the rolling column is included in a data access request, such as a database query, a database management system may be configured to update the rolling column, according to the metadata.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture to process database queries are disclosed. One embodiment comprises receiving an abstract query against a database having a multiplicity of data records. The abstract query identifies a model entity that defines a focus of the abstract query. The method further comprises receiving a limitation request configured to restrict a result set for the abstract query. The limitation request specifies a limitation on data records that are returned for one or more instances of the underlying model entity. From the abstract query, an executable query capable of being executed by a query engine is generated. The executable query is modified on the basis of the limitation request. The modified executable query is executed against the database to obtain the result set, whereby the result set is restricted as requested by the limitation request.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for managing presentation of query results. One embodiment comprises receiving, from a requesting entity, a query having at least (i) one result field for which data from one or more databases is to be returned, (ii) one or more conditions for filtering which of the data contained in the one or more databases is returned for each result field, and (iii) a conditions object defining at least one expression for at least one of the conditions. The query is executed against the one or more databases to obtain a query result having one or more data records. The query result is returned in a format relating the data records to respective expressions on the basis of which conditions the data records satisfy. Thereby, it is exposed which of the data records satisfy respective conditions having defined expressions in the conditions object.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for processing a database query. Database queries are submitted with an indication of a selected output format, To process the query, data records are retrieved and formatted according to the selected output format, as well as formatted for additional output formats supported by a given a query application. Once returned, query results may be presented in the selected format. A user may switch the presentation of the query result from the selected format to others, without having to re-execute the database query.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for data processing and more particularly for managing access to data in a database that should be available for a limited number of accesses. One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving, from a requesting entity, a query against a database having consumable data that is configured to be accessible for only a predefined number of accesses. The query is configured to access the consumable data and is executed against the database to obtain a query result that includes the consumable data. The method further comprises determining whether the predefined number of accesses is reached as a result of the execution of the query against the database. If so, the consumable data is made inaccessible. The obtained query result is returned to the requesting entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow the results of a query to an operational datastore to be augmented with relevant data that may be stored in a staging area datastore. Upon receiving a query to the operational datastore, it is determined whether data relevant to the query is present in the staging area datastore. If relevant data is present, such data may be transformed, transferred and combined with data in the operational datastore. The query is then run against the combined data and the results displayed to the user.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for processing rule sets and, more particularly, for processing abstract rule sets having one or more abstract rules. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of generating recommendations using a suitable rules engine. The method comprises retrieving an abstract rule having a conditional statement and a consequential statement. The consequential statement defines a particular recommendation that is returned when the conditional statement is satisfied. The conditional statement and the consequential statement are defined using logical field definitions defined in an abstraction model that models underlying physical data in a manner making a schema of the physical data transparent to a user of the abstraction model. The method further comprises transforming the abstract rule into a transformed rule; and executing, by the rules engine, the transformed rule.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for processing and storing medical episode data with workflow status designations. In one embodiment, a patient episode data is moved from differentiated data stores, via an information broker, to assigned data handlers. The data handlers then pass their respective data to a loader and shredder application. The shredder application is tasked with storing the episode data in the database repository and updating each episode's status.

Abstract: A semantic link is established in a document in connection with content being inserted into first and second portions of a document. Content in the first portion includes a linguistic expression, and is logically related to the content in the second portion. A semantic link is generated in the document that logically links the content of the first portion of the document to the content of the second portion of the document. The semantic link is configured to initiate performance of an action on content in either of the first or second portions of the document in response to a determination that a content modification made to content in the other of the first or second portions of the document is a semantic modification that creates a semantic inconsistency, based at least in part upon a meaning of the linguistic expression, between the first and second portions of the document.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for processing rule sets and, more particularly, for processing abstract rule sets. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of managing execution of an analysis routine on input data. The method comprises receiving input and receiving user-selection of an analysis routine for processing the received input. The analysis routine is defined by at least one abstract rule set having one or more abstract rules each having a conditional statement and a consequential statement. The method further comprises executing the analysis routine on the received input, comprising (i) identifying all required inputs for each abstract rule of the analysis routine, (ii) determining whether the received input includes data for all required inputs, and (iii) if the received input does not include data for one or more of the required inputs, retrieving suitable data for the one or more of the required inputs from the database.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for processing rule sets and, more particularly, for processing abstract rule sets. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of managing execution of an analysis routine configured to process one or more inputs. The analysis routine is defined by at least one abstract rule set having one or more abstract rules each having a conditional statement and a consequential statement. The method comprises determining, from the retrieved analysis routine, a predefined validating condition that needs to be satisfied by at least one of the inputs, and validating a particular data value defining the at least one of the inputs on the basis of the predefined validating condition. If the particular data value is not validated, a predefined action configured to avoid execution of the analysis routine on invalid inputs is performed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow verification of query language by providing a natural language description for the query language. A natural language description is generated for each query component along with selectable text representing the query component. Upon selection of the selectable text, the query component is rendered for editing.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for processing abstract queries and, more particularly, for generating input to statistical analysis routines. One embodiment comprises receiving an abstract query including a measurement field and a chronological reference condition. The abstract query is transformed into an executable query which is executed by a query engine, whereby result data is determined including an available measurement value for the measurement field. The available measurement value was taken at a point in time different from a point in time that satisfies the chronological reference condition. The method further comprises determining a variance value corresponding to a time variance between the point in time that satisfies the chronological reference condition and the other point in time at which the available measurement value was taken. As a result set for the abstract query, the available measurement value and the variance value are returned.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for protecting sensitive data in databases and, more particularly, for managing access to sensitive data in a database. One embodiment comprises receiving a query against the data in the database comprising at least (i) a result field specification, and (ii) a sorting instruction. The method further comprises retrieving a result set from the database, and filtering the retrieved result set on the basis of predefined filtering rules to remove selected data from a selected result field of at least one data record included with the retrieved result set. The filtered result set is sorted according to the sorting instruction to produce the sorted result set, whereby the sorting is done independently of the removed selected data so that the sorted result set places the at least one data record at a position which is non-indicative of a value of the removed selected data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided to optimize the time and effort required to locate all data on a given entity that may span multiple data nodes in a distributed environment. For example, embodiments of the invention may be used to locate nodes within the distributed environment that store electronic healthcare records. A poll request from a first node to a second node may include electronic records existence data indicating data nodes known to have, or not have, records related to a given individual. This information is used to minimize the number of nodes that need to be polled to arrive at the complete aggregation of patient records that exist within a given set of nodes.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for generating fees on the basis of accesses to health records. In one embodiment, requests are received to access one or more electronic health records of a plurality of electronic health records stored in a network-accessible storage repository. The plurality of electronic health records contain health data for a plurality of individuals and wherein the plurality of electronic health records were received from a plurality of health-related entities. For each request a fee to be charged for processing the request is determined.