System and method for collecting data from data sources using data collection tools

Abstract

A system and a method for collecting data from a data source that includes a database containing a tool for collecting data from the data source and creating a data record, a tool selector in communication with the database for selecting the tool from the database, a tool processor for executing the tool, and a communication channel for communicating between the database and the tool processor. The tool is selected from the database by the tool selector and transmitted via the communication channel to the tool processor for use in creating a data record that is transmitted to the database via the communication channel.

1 . A system for collecting data from a data source comprising: 
 a database containing at least one tool for collecting data from said data source to create a data record;    a tool selector in communication with said database for selecting said tool from said database;    a tool processor for executing said tool; and    a communication channel for communicating between said database and said tool processor;    whereby said tool is selected from said data base by said tool selector and transmitted to said tool processor for use in creating said data record that is transmitted to said database via said communication channel.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a communication system in communication with said database and said tool processor for transmitting said tool to said data base and receiving said data record from said tool processor.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a data store within said tool processor for storing said data record.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a tool parsing engine within said tool processor for parsing instructions of said tool.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an application processor in communication with said database, said application processor having a tool selector functionality whereby tools are selected from said database.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a data set associated with said data tool, said data set containing parameters useful in the execution of said data tool.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said communication contains a tool transmitter for transmitting said data tool to said data base.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said communication contains a tool data receiver for receiving said data record from said tool processor.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said application processor contains authentication functionality for determining a tool set to be assembled.  
   
   
       10 . A method for collecting data from a data source comprising the steps of: 
 providing a database containing at least one data tool for collecting data from said data source to create a record;    providing a selector for selecting said tool from said database;    providing a processor for executing said tool;    providing a transmitter for transmitting said tool from said database to said processor;    providing a communication channel for communicating between said database and said processor;    selecting said tool from said database;    transmitting said tool from said database to said processor by way of said communication channel;    collecting data from said data source;    creating a record based on said data; and    transmitting said record from said processor to said database.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 building a tool set based on a data collection assignment.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of: 
 transmitting said tool set to said processor.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1   0 , further comprising the step of: 
 authenticating an operator of said processor.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of: 
 executing said tool on said processor.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of: 
 fetching an assignment based on authentication of a human operator.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of: 
 fetching an assignment based on authentication of an interface application.    
   
   
       17 . A system for collecting data from a data source comprising: 
 a server with a database containing at least one tool for collecting data from said data source to create a data record;    a tool processor for executing said tool;    an application processor in communication with said database and said tool processor, said application processor having a tool selector for selecting said tool from said database;    a communication system in communication with said server and said tool processor for communicating said tool to said tool processor and communicating data record to said database.    a communication channel for communicating between said communication system and said tool processor;    whereby said tool is selected from said database by said tool selector and transmitted to said tool processor for use in creating said data record.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said application processor contains authentication functionality for determining a tool set to be assembled.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said database contains a data set associated with said data tool, said data set containing parameters useful in the execution of said data tool.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a tool parsing engine within said tool processor for parsing instructions of said tool.    
   
   
       21 . A method for collecting data from a data source comprising the steps of: 
 providing a database containing at least one data tool for collecting data from said data source to create a record and a selector for selecting said tool from said database;    providing a tool processor for executing said tool and an application processor for building a tool set based on data collection assignment;    selecting said tool from said database;    building a tool set based on data collection assignment;    transmitting said tool set to said processor;    collecting data from said data source using said tool set;    creating a record based on said data; and    transmitting said record from said tool processor to said database.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an interface between said tool processor and said data source.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said interface is a human operator.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said interface is a computer program.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said collecting step is performed by a human operator.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said collecting step is performed by a computer program.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 an interface between said tool processor and said data source.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said interface is a human operator.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said interface is a computer program.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said collecting step is performed by a human operator.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said collecting step is performed by a computer program.  
   
   
       32 . A method for collecting data from a data source comprising the steps of: 
 providing an interface program configured to monitor a communication channel between a data storage system and a source of input data;    providing a tool processor in communication with a database and said interface program, said tool processor configured to execute at least one data collection tool;    monitoring said communication channel for data related to services that match at least one predetermined criterion;    determining whether said monitored service data contains said predetermined criterion using said data collection tool; and    creating a data record based on at least a portion of said monitored service data.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of: 
 transmitting said data record to said database.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said data storage system is a medical records system.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said services are medical services.