USOO9202084B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9.202,084 B2 M00re (45) Date of Patent: Dec. 1, 2015

(54) SECURITY FACILITY FOR MAINTAINING 21/6254; G06F 17/30867; G06F 17/3089; HEALTHCARE DATAPOOLS G06F 17/30923; G06F 19/326; G06F 19/3406; G06F 19/3443; G06F 21/602; G06Q 50/24: (71) Applicant: Newsilike Media Group, Inc., Lincoln, H04L 2209/60; H04L 67/02; H04L 67/26; MA (US) H04L 2209/88: H04L 63/105 USPC ...... 726/1, 28, 30, 2, 27; 713/166; 705/51 (72) Inventor: James F. Moore, Lincoln, MA (US) See application file for complete search history. 73) Assignee: NEWSILIKE MEDIA GROUP, INC., (73) 9. Lincoln, MA (US) 9 (56) References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 5,664,109 A 9, 1997 Johnson et al. U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. 5,673,316 A * 9/1997 Auerbach et al...... 705/51 (Continued) (21) Appl. No.: 13/933,475 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (22) Filed: Jul. 2, 2013 DE 226868 9, 1984 (65) Prior Publication Data DE 4434369 A1 3, 1996 US 2013/0291060A1 Oct. 31, 2013 (Continued) Related U.S. Application Data OTHER PUBLICATIONS (63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, Brown, Alan, Simon Johnston, and Kevin Kelly. “Using service filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of oriented architecture and component-based development to build application No. 1 1/223,826, filed on Sep. 10, 2005, web service applications.” Rational Software Corporation (2002).* now Pat. No. 8,200,775, application No. 13/933,475, (Continued) (Continued) Primary Examiner — Michael Simitoski (51) Int. Cl. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — GTC Law Group LLP & G06F 7/30 (2006.01) Affiliates H04L 29/06 (2006.01) (Continued) (57) ABSTRACT (52) U.S. Cl. Disclosed herein are SVstemsy and methods for SVndicationy CPC ...... G06F 21/6245 (2013.01); G06F 17/3089 and management of structured and unstructured data to assist (2013.01); G06F 17/30867 (2013.01);s G06F institutional healthcare delivery,ry healthcare providers’p pprac 17/30923 (2013.01); G06F 19/322 (2013.01); tices, healthcare providers' group practices, collaborative G06F 19/326 (2013.01); academic research and decision making in healthcare, includ (Continued) ing through the utilization of medical devices and healthcare pools. (58) Field of Classification Search CPC ...... G06F 21/6245; G06F 19/322; G06F 20 Claims, 34 Drawing Sheets

PCOLD

PERSONAL PCOL) NFORMATICN MEDICAL RELATE TO TH IMFORMATICN MEDICAL INFORMATION E238

E230 MEDICAL EWICE E2026

SECUrTYFACILITY E232

s23441 -1 US 9.202,084 B2 Page 2

Related U.S. Application Data tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a which is a continuation-in-part of application No. continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, 1 1/380,923, filed on Apr. 29, 2006, which is a contin which is a continuation-in-part of application No. uation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, filed on 11/223,826, said application No. 1 1/828.903 is a con Sep. 10, 2005, now Pat. No. 8,200,775, and a continu tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/557.271, filed ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, filed on on Nov. 7, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of Feb. 1, 2006, now Pat. No. 8,200,700, which is a con application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continua application No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation-in-part of tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said appli application No. 1 1/346,586, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, now cation No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in-part of Pat. No. 8,347,088, and a continuation-in-part of appli application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part cation No. 1 1/346,587, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which is of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continua a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said appli application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation cation No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in-part of in-part of application No. 1 1/615,030, filed on Dec. 22, application No. 1 1/380,923, which is a continuation 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of application in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continu No. 1 1/223,826, application No. 13/933,475, which is ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/615,039, continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part said application No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation-in of application No. 1 1/223,826, application No. part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continua 13/933,475, which is a continuation-in-part of appli tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a cation No. 1 1/615,087, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation part of application No. 1 1/458,092, which is a continu in-part of application No. 1 1/615,161, filed on Dec. 22, ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a con 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of application tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which No. 1 1/223,826, application No. 13/933,475, which is is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/615,165, 826, said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continu of application No. 1 1/223,826, application No. ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a 13/933,475, which is a continuation-in-part of appli continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, cation No. 1 1/615,224, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, in-part of application No. 1 1/828,939, filed on Jul. 26, application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of application in-part of application No. 1 1/615,451, filed on Dec. 22, No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of applica 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of application tion No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of No. 1 1/223,826, application No. 13/933,475, which is application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/828,903, 1 1/828,939 is a continuation-in-part of application No. filed on Jul. 26, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of application of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of ap part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continu plication No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/828, ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said 939 is a continuation of application No. 1 1/380,923, application No. 1 1/828.903 is a continuation-in-part of which is a continuation-in-part of application No. application No. 1 1/346,586, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, now 11/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of application Pat. No. 8,347,088, and a continuation-in-part of appli No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of cation No. 1 1/346,587, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which is application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, 1 1/380,923 is a continuation-in-part of application No. said application No. 1 1/828.903 is a continuation-in 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of application part of application No. 1 1/380,923, filed on Apr. 29. No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of ap 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of application plication No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/828, No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of applica 939 is a continuation-in-part of application No. tion No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of 11/750.301, and a continuation-in-part of application application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. No. 1 1/458,092, which is a continuation-in-part of ap 1 1/828.903 is a continuation-in-part of application No. plication No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of application of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continu No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of ap ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said plication No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/828, application No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation-in-part of 903 is a continuation-in-part of application No. application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part 11/750,301, filed on May 17, 2007, said application of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continua No. 1 1/828.903 is a continuation-in-part of application tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said appli No. 1 1/458,092, filed on Jul. 17, 2006, which is a cation No. 1 1/828,939 is a continuation-in-part of continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, application No. 1 1/557.271, which is a continuation and a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346, in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continu 588, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a 11/223,826, said application No. 1 1/458,092 is a con continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, US 9.202,084 B2 Page 3

Related U.S. Application Data is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, 826, said application No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continu part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continua ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in part of application No. 1 1/380,923, which is a continu part of application No. 1 1/458,092, and a continua ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a con tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a con tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, 826, said application No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation 826, said application No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continu in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continu ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation part of application No. 1 1/458,092, and a continua in-part of application No. 1 1/951.307, filed on Dec. 5, tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a con 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of application tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of applica is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, tion No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of 826, said application No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continu 11/951.307 is a continuation-in-part of application No. ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of application continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of ap application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation plication No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/951, in-part of application No. 1 1/828,949, filed on Jul. 26, 307 is a continuation-in-part of application No. 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of application 1 1/380,923, which is a continuation-in-part of appli No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of applica cation No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of tion No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application 1 1/828,949 is a continuation-in-part of application No. No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation-in-part of application 1 1/346,586, and a continuation of application No. No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of applica 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of appli tion No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of cation No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/828, application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 949 is a continuation-in-part of application No. 11/951.307 is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/380,923, and a continuation-in-part of application 11/750.301, and a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of applica No. 1 1/458,092, which is a continuation-in-part of ap tion No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of plication No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continu 1 1/380,923 is a continuation-in-part of application No. ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of application application No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation-in-part of No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of ap application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part plication No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/828, of application No. 1 1/346,597, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, 949 is a continuation-in-part of application No. which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 11/750.301, and a continuation-in-part of application 11/223,826, said application No. 11/951.307 is a con No. 1 1/458,092, which is a continuation-in-part of ap tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/557.271, which plication No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continu 826, and a continuation-in-part of application No. ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of appli application No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation-in-part of cation No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/557, application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part 271 is a continuation-in-part of application No. of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continua 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of application tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said appli No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of ap cation No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation-in-part of plication No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/557, application No. 1 1/557.271, which is a continuation 271 is a continuation-in-part of application No. in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continu 1 1/380,923, which is a continuation-in-part of appli ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a cation No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continua No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation-in-part of application tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of applica continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, tion No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. part of application No. 1 1/380,923, which is a continu 11/951.301 is a continuation-in-part of application No. ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a con 1 1/458,092, which is a continuation-in-part of appli tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which cation No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of US 9.202,084 B2 Page 4

Related U.S. Application Data tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation 826, said application No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 1 1/458,092 is a continuation-in-part of application in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continu No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of applica ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a tion No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation 11/951.307 is a continuation-in-part of application No. in-part of application No. 12/393,170, filed on Feb. 26, 1 1/828,949, which is a continuation-in-part of appli 2009, which is a continuation of application No. cation No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of appli application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation cation No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 12/393, in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application 170 is a continuation-in-part of application No. No. 1 1/828,949 is a continuation-in-part of application 11/223,826, application No. 13/933,475, which is a No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of applica continuation-in-part of application No. 13/396.966, tion No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of filed on Feb. 15, 2012, which is a continuation of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. application No. 12/233,266, filed on Sep. 18, 2008, 1 1/828,949 is a continuation-in-part of application No. application No. 13/933,475, which is a continuation 1 1/380,923, which is a continuation-in-part of appli in-part of application No. 13/682,815, filed on Nov. 21, cation No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part of 2012, which is a continuation of application No. application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continuation 11/346,586. in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said application (60) Provisional application No. 60/649,311, filed on Feb. No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation-in-part of application 1, 2005, provisional application No. 60/649.312, filed No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part of applica on Feb. 1, 2005, provisional application No. 60/649. tion No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continuation-in-part of 504, filed on Feb. 2, 2005, provisional application No. application No. 1 1/223,826, said application No. 60/649,502, filed on Feb. 2, 2005, provisional applica 1 1/828,949 is a continuation-in-part of application No. tion No. 60/657,840, filed on Mar. 1, 2005, provisional 11/750.301, and a continuation-in-part of application application No. 60/594,298, filed on Mar. 26, 2005, No. 1 1/458,092, which is a continuation-in-part of ap provisional application No. 60/594,416, filed on Apr. plication No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in-part 6, 2005, provisional application No. 60/669,666, filed of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a continu on Apr. 8, 2005, provisional application No. 60/594, ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said 456, filed on Apr. 10, 2005, provisional application No. application No. 1 1/828,949 is a continuation-in-part of 60/594.478, filed on Apr. 12, 2005, provisional appli application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part cation No. 60/673,661, filed on Apr. 20, 2005, provi of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continua sional application No. 60/680,879, filed on May 13, tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said appli 2005, provisional application No. 60/684,092, filed on cation No. 1 1/828,949 is a continuation-in-part of May 23, 2005, provisional application No. 60/685, application No. 1 1/557.271, and a continuation-in-part 904, filed on May 31, 2005, provisional application of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continuation-in No. 60/686,630, filed on Jun. 2, 2005, provisional ap part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a contin plication No. 60/688,826, filed on Jun. 9, 2005, provi uation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said sional application No. 60/694,080, filed on Jun. 24, application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in-part of 2005, provisional application No. 60/695,029, filed on application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continuation-in-part Jun. 28, 2005, provisional application No. 60/699,631, of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a continua filed on Jul. 15, 2005, provisional application No. tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, said appli 60/700,122, filed on Jul. 18, 2005, provisional appli cation No. 1 1/828,949 is a continuation-in-part of cation No. 60/702.467, filed on Jul. 26, 2005, provi application No. 1 1/557.271, which is a continuation sional application No. 60/703,688, filed on Jul. 29, in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a continu 2005, provisional application No. 60/703,535, filed on ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which is a Jul. 29, 2005, provisional application No. 60/703.544, continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, filed on Jul. 29, 2005, provisional application No. said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in 60/709,683, filed on Aug. 19, 2005, provisional appli part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continua cation No. 60/719,283, filed on Sep. 21, 2005, provi tion-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a sional application No. 60/719.284, filed on Sep. 21, continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, 2005, provisional application No. 60/720,250, filed on said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in Sep. 22, 2005, provisional application No. 60/721,803, part of application No. 1 1/380,923, which is a continu filed on Sep. 28, 2005, provisional application No. ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a con 60/722,021, filed on Sep. 29, 2005, provisional appli tinuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,588, which cation No. 60/724,956, filed on Oct. 7, 2005, provi is a continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223, sional application No. 60/725,166, filed on Oct. 7, 826, said application No. 1 1/380,923 is a continuation 2005, provisional application No. 60/726,542, filed on in-part of application No. 1 1/346,586, and a continu Oct. 14, 2005, provisional application No. 60/726,731, ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/346,587, which is a filed on Oct. 14, 2005, provisional application No. continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, 60/726,727, filed on Oct. 14, 2005, provisional appli said application No. 1 1/557.271 is a continuation-in cation No. 60/734,187, filed on Nov. 6, 2005, provi part of application No. 1 1/458,092, which is a continu sional application No. 60/734,156, filed on Nov. 6, ation-in-part of application No. 1 1/223,826, and a con 2005, provisional application No. 60/735,712, filed on US 9.202,084 B2 Page 5

Related U.S. Application Data (56) References Cited Nov. 11, 2005, provisional application No. 60/741, U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 770, filed on Dec. 1, 2005, provisional application No. 5,758,095 5, 1998 Albaum et al. 60/741,958, filed on Dec. 2, 2005, provisional appli 5,784,635 7, 1998 McCallum cation No. 60/742,975, filed on Dec. 6, 2005, provi 5,845,255 12, 1998 Mayaud sional application No. 60/749,757, filed on Dec. 13, 5,930,764 7, 1999 Melchione et al. 2005, provisional application No. 60/750,291, filed on 5,931,946 8, 1999 Terada et al. 5,933,136 8, 1999 Brown Dec. 14, 2005, provisional application No. 60/751, 6,022,315 2, 2000 Iliff 254, filed on Dec. 15, 2005, provisional application 6,029,195 2, 2000 Herz No. 60/751.249, filed on Dec. 16, 2005, provisional 6,070,189 5/2000 Bender et al. 6,131,085 10, 2000 Rossides application No. 60/753,959, filed on Dec. 23, 2005, 6,163,774 12, 2000 Lore et al. provisional application No. 60/756,774, filed on Jan. 6,199,082 3, 2001 Ferrel et al. 6, 2006, provisional application No. 60/759,483, filed 6,233,618 5/2001 Shannon on Jan. 16, 2006, provisional application No. 60/764, 6.253,210 6, 2001 Smith et al. 6,311,194 10, 2001 Sheth et al. 484, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, provisional application No. 6,442,333 8, 2002 Izawa 60/777,444, filed on Feb. 27, 2006, provisional appli 6,484, 182 11, 2002 Dunphy et al. cation No. 60/784,906, filed on Mar. 21, 2006, provi 6,523,009 * 2/2003 Wilkins ...... 705/3 6,551,243 4/2003 Bocionek et al. sional application No. 60/788,011, filed on Mar. 31, 6,598, 161 T/2003 Kluttz et al. 2006, provisional application No. 60/747,425, filed on 6,671,805 * 12/2003 Brown et al...... 713, 176 May 17, 2006, provisional application No. 60/820, 6,678,764 1, 2004 Parvulescu et al. 481, filed on Jul. 26, 2006, provisional application No. 6,693,947 2, 2004 Schroeder 6,732,080 5, 2004 Blants 60/835,570, filed on Aug. 4, 2006, provisional appli 6,734,886 5, 2004 Hagan et al. cation No. 60/820,485, filed on Jul. 27, 2006, provi 6,804,656 10, 2004 Rosenfeld et al. sional application No. 60/822.551, filed on Aug. 16, 6,904,461 6, 2005 Randhava et al. 2006, provisional application No. 60/823,767, filed on 6,931,532 * 8, 2005 Davis et al...... 713/167 6,941,459 * 9/2005 Hind et al. T13, 167 Aug. 29, 2006, provisional application No. 60/823, 6,954,532 * 10/2005 Handley et al...... 380.54 780, filed on Aug. 29, 2006, provisional application 6,961,858 11/2005 Fransdonk No. 60/862,600, filed on Oct. 23, 2006, provisional 6,988,075 * 1/2006 Hacker ...... 705/3 6,993,522 1/2006 Chen et al. application No. 60/866,864, filed on Nov. 22, 2006, 7,010,681 * 3, 2006 Fletcher et al...... T13,154 provisional application No. 60/872,118, filed on Dec. 7,020,635 3, 2006 Hamilton et al. 1, 2006, provisional application No. 60/868,548, filed 7,058,710 6, 2006 McCall et al. on Dec. 5, 2006, provisional application No. 60/884, 7,072,932 T/2006 Stahl 667, filed on Jan. 12, 2007, provisional application No. 7,072,934 T/2006 Helgeson et al. 7,080,049 T/2006 Truitt et al. 60/887,316, filed on Jan. 30, 2007, provisional appli 7,090,128 8, 2006 Farley et al. cation No. 60/890,813, filed on Feb. 20, 2007, provi 7,107.462 9, 2006 Fransdonk sional application No. 60/914,107, filed on Apr. 26, 7,117,504 10, 2006 Smith et al. 2007, provisional application No. 60/914.228, filed on 7,127,328 10, 2006 Ransom Apr. 26, 2007, provisional application No. 60/950,726, 7,142,691 11, 2006 Levy 7,146,415 12, 2006 Doi filed on Jul. 19, 2007, provisional application No. 7,149,813 12, 2006 Flanagin et al. 60/862,004, filed on Oct. 18, 2006, provisional appli 7,150,045 12, 2006 Koelle et al. cation No. 60/957,059, filed on Aug. 21, 2007, provi 7,188,144 3, 2007 Fuisz sional application No. 60/968,906, filed on Aug. 30, 7,269,664 9, 2007 Hutsch et al. 7,296,077 11/2007 Harmon et al. 2007, provisional application No. 60/973,480, filed on 7,302,567 11/2007 Hearn et al. Sep.19, 2007, provisional application No. 61/082,802, 7,308.477 12, 2007 Gress et al. filed on Jul. 22, 2008, provisional application No. 7,321,861 * 1/2008 Oon ...... 705/3 60/973,480, filed on Sep. 19, 2007. 7.340,484 3, 2008 Set al. 7,406.427 T/2008 Guyan et al. Int. C. 7,412,534 8, 2008 Tsang et al. (51) 7,421,155 9, 2008 King et al. G06F2L/62 (2013.01) 7,451,147 11/2008 Kao et al. G06O 50/24 (2012.01) 7,472,349 12, 2008 Srivastava et al. H04L 29/08 (2006.01) 7,519,591 4/2009 Landi et al. G06F 9/00 (2011.01) 7,565.410 T/2009 Stickler G06F2L/60 (2013.01) 7.584,208 9, 2009 Spivack et al. 7,587,502 9, 2009 Crawford et al. (52) U.S. C. 7,620,606 11/2009 Gentry et al. CPC ...... G06F 19/3406 (2013.01); G06F 19/3443 7,640, 184 * 12/2009 Lunt ...... 709/217 (2013.01); G06F 21/602 (2013.01); G06F 7,711,586 5, 2010 Aggarwal et al. 7,865,511 1, 2011 Kahn et al. 21/6227 (2013.01); G06F 21/6254 (2013.01); 7,904,367 3, 2011 Chung et al. G06O 50/24 (2013.01); H04L 63/105 7,949,666 5, 2011 Wolff et al. (2013.01); H04L 67/02 (2013.01); H04L 67/26 7,953,725 5, 2011 Burris et al. (2013.01); G06F 222 1/2107 (2013.01) 8,010,282 8, 2011 Barry et al. US 9.202,084 B2 Page 6

(56) References Cited 2005/0038717 A1* 2/2005 McQueen et al...... 705/27 2005/0039034 A1* 2/2005 Doyle et al...... T13, 193 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2005/00553O8 A1 3/2005 Meyer et al. 2005, 0108057 A1 5/2005 Cohen et al. 8, 140,482 B2 3/2012 Moore 2005/01175.27 A1 6/2005 Williams et al. 8,200,700 B2 6, 2012 Moore et al. 2005, 0120300 A1 6/2005 Schwager et al. 8,200,775 B2 6, 2012 Moore 2005/0132048 A1* 6/2005 Kogan et al...... 709,225 8,316,005 B2 11/2012 Moore 2005, 013811.0 A1* 6/2005 Redlich et al...... TO9,201 8,347,088 B2 1/2013 Moore et al. 2005, 0160065 A1 7/2005 Seeman 8.447,738 B1* 5/2013 Binkowski et al...... TO7/688 2005. O165615 A1 7, 2005 Minar 8,566,115 B2 10/2013 Moore 2005/0165623 A1* 7/2005 Landi et al...... 705/2 8,700,738 B2 4/2014 Moore et al. 2005, 0198021 A1 9, 2005 Wilcox et al. 8,768,731 B2 7, 2014 Moore 2005/02O3917 A1 9/2005 Freeberg et al. 8,832,033 B2 9, 2014 Moore 2005/0216315 A1 9, 2005 Andersson 2001 OO16851 A1 8/2001 Gramsamer et al. 2005/023474.0 A1* 10/2005 Krishnan et al...... 705/2 2001/0051881 A1 12, 2001 Filler 2005/025.7055 A1* 11/2005 Anderson ...... 713/17O 2001/0052933 A1 12/2001 Nybo et al. 2005, O262340 A1 11/2005 Rabb 2001.0056359 A1 12, 2001 Abreu. 2005/0267973 A1 12/2005 Carlson et al. 2002fOO 10616 A1 1/2002 Itzhaki 2005/0289468 A1 12/2005 Kahn et al. 2002/0010764 A1 1/2002 Spicer 2006/0004588 A1 1/2006 Ananda ...... 705/1 2002/0029157 A1 3/2002 Marchosky 2006/0004691 A1 1/2006 Sifry 2002fOO32742 A1 3/2002 Anderson 2006,0004764 A1 1/2006 Kurhekar et al. 2002fOO3831.6 A1 3/2002 Onyonet al. 2006/0010251 A1 1/2006 Mrsic-Flogel et al. 2002.00496.14 A1 4/2002 Rice et al. 2006/00 15471 A1 1/2006 Wu ...... 707/1 2002fOO59049 A1 5/2002 Bradbury et al. 2006, OO52089 A1 3/2006 Khurana et al. 2002/00593.99 A1 5, 2002 Learmonth 2006.005315.6 A1 3/2006 Kaushansky et al. 2002fOO5942.5 A1 5, 2002 Belfiore et al. 2006/0059208 A1 3, 2006 Chen et al. 2002/009 1734 A1 7, 2002 Redlich et al. 2006, OO64320 A1 3, 2006 PoStrel 2002/0138467 A1 9, 2002 Jacobson et al. 2006/0064326 A1 3/2006 Tucker 2002/0143742 A1 10, 2002 Nonomura et al. 2006/0073812 A1* 4/2006 Punaganti Venkata 2002/0143819 A1 10, 2002 Han et al. et al...... 455,412.1 2002/0152210 A1 10, 2002 Johnson et al. 2006, OO74980 A1 4, 2006 Sarkar 2002/0152318 A1 10, 2002 Menon et al. 2006/0075426 A1 4/2006 Koch et al. 2002fO154178 A1 10, 2002 Barnett et al. 2006/008016.6 A1 4/2006 Takahashi 2002fO157023 A1 10, 2002 Callahan et al. 2006/00854.12 A1 4/2006 Johnson et al. 2002/0188522 A1 12, 2002 McCall et al. 2006/0085788 A1 4/2006 Amir et al. 2003/0046434 A1 3/2003 Flanagin et al. 2006, OO95507 A1 5. 2006 Watson 2003/0050801 A1 3/2003 Ries et al. 2006/0095628 A1 5/2006 Ludwig et al. 2003/0051129 A1 3f2003 Razdan et al...... T13/151 2006/0101035 A1 5/2006 Mustakallio et al...... 7O7/1OO 2003/0055818 A1 3/2003 Faybishenko et al. 2006/0106655 A1 5/2006 Lettovsky et al. 2003/0055825 A1 3/2003 Chen et al. 2006/0106748 A1 5, 2006 Chafleet al. 2003, OO61404 A1 3/2003 Atwal et al. 2006/01 11938 A1 5, 2006 Vitiello 2003, OO69751 A1 4/2003 Lichtenstein et al. 2006/01 12076 A1* 5/2006 Burris et al...... 707/3 2003/0074352 A1 4/2003 Raboczi et al. 2006/0129445 A1 6, 2006 McCallum 2003/0088,544 A1 5, 2003 Kan et al. 2006, O136259 A1 6/2006 Weiner et al. 2003, OO88784 A1 5, 2003 Ginter et al. 2006/0149591 A1* 7/2006 Hanfetal...... 705/2 2003/0126120 A1 7/2003 Faybishenko et al. 2006/0155698 A1* 7/2006 Vayssiere ...... 707/6 2003/0191669 A1 * 10/2003 Fitzgerald et al...... 705/2 2006.0167860 A1 7/2006 Eliashberg et al. 2003/0217047 A1 11, 2003 Marchisio 2006/0173985 A1 8, 2006 Moore 2003/0225718 A1 12/2003 Shmulewich et al. 2006/01789 10 A1* 8/2006 Eisenberger et al...... 705/3 2003,0229692 A1 12, 2003 Vo 2006/0178918 A1 8, 2006 Mikurak 2004.0002966 A1 1/2004 Perkowski 2006, O184617 A1 8, 2006 Nicholas et al. 2004/0034550 A1 2/2004 Menschik et al. 2006, O188327 A1 8, 2006 Moon 2004.0054675 A1 3, 2004 Li 2006/0200380 A1 9, 2006 Ho et al. 2004.0054722 A1 3, 2004 DeFloor et al. 2006/0200478 A1 9, 2006 Pasztor et al. 2004, OO64428 A1 4/2004 Larkin et al. 2006/0221076 A1 10, 2006 Takahashi et al. 2004/0073661 A1 4/2004 Eibach et al. 2006/0229911 A1 10/2006 Gropper et al. 2004f0078231 A1 4/2004 Wilkes et al. 2006/0230011 A1 10, 2006 Tuttle et al. 2004/0078236 A1 4/2004 Stoodley et al. 2006/0230021 A1 10, 2006 Diabet al. 2004/0093412 A1 5, 2004 Chen et al. 2006/0230221 A1 10, 2006 HSu et al. 2004/O128163 A1* 7/2004 Goodman et al...... 705/2 2006, O247961 A1 11, 2006 Klemow 2004/O133580 A1 7, 2004 Liu et al. 2006/0265489 A1 11, 2006 Moore 2004/O13.9317 A1 7/2004 Fronberg 2006/0265508 A1 1 1/2006 Angel et al. 2004/01393.27 A1* 7/2004 Brown et al...... 713, 176 2006/0288011 A1 12/2006 Gandhi et al. 2004.0143623 A1 7/2004 Fukui et al. 2006/0288.329 A1 12/2006 Gandhi et al. 2004/0172423 A1 9, 2004 Kaasten et al. 2007.0011665 A1 1/2007 Gandhi et al. 2004/0181679 A1* 9/2004 Dettinger et al...... T13, 193 2007/0011710 A1 1, 2007 Chiu 2004/0199765 A1 10, 2004 Kohane et al. 2007/0027710 A1 2/2007 Mohr 2004/0199781 A1* 10, 2004 Erickson et al...... T13/200 2007/0038712 A1 2/2007 Affronti et al. 2004/0207659 A1 10, 2004 Goodman et al. 2007/0050446 A1 3, 2007 Moore 2004/0221226 A1 11/2004 Lin et al. 2007/0061266 A1 3/2007 Moore 2004/0224674 A1 11/2004 O'Farrell et al. 2007/0061393 A1 3/2007 Moore 2004/0230674 A1 11/2004 Pourheidari et al. 2007/0061487 A1 3/2007 Moore et al. 2004/0254816 A1 12/2004 Myers 2007/0073934 A1* 3/2007 Rogers ...... 71 Of 59 2004/0260767 A1 12/2004 Kedem et al. 2007/OO79237 A1 4/2007 Abrams et al. 2004/026761.0 A1 12/2004 Gossett et al. 2007/0O81550 A1 4/2007 Moore 2005/0O27567 A1 2, 2005 Taha 2007/0O88807 A1 4/2007 Moore 2005/0O27871 A1 2/2005 Bradley et al. 2007/OO94156 A1 4/2007 Isaacs 2005/0033657 A1* 2/2005 Herrington et al...... 705/26 2007/OO94350 A1 4/2007 Moore US 9.202,084 B2 Page 7

(56) References Cited “Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine(DICOM), Part 10: Media Storage and File Format for Media Interchange', PS Mar. U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 10, 2004, National Electronics Manufactures Association, Rosslyn, Virginia, Oct. 2004, pp. 1-33. 2007/0094.365 A1 4/2007 Nussey et al. “Drugs and Herbs'. WebMD Health Drug, available at Indexhttp:// 2007/OO94389 A1 4/2007 Nussey et al. 2007/01OO900 A1* 5/2007 Gibbins ...... 707/2O1 web.archive.org/web/20051 101101459/http://www.webmd.com/ 2007/01OO959 A1 5, 2007 Eichstaedt et al. drugs/index-drugs.aspx, (accessed online Jul. 11, 2011), Nov. 2005, 2007/0106536 A1 5, 2007 Moore 45 pages. 2007/0106537 A1 5, 2007 Moore “Outline Processor Markup Language, OPML 1.0 Specification'. 2007/0106649 A1 5, 2007 Moore available at http://www.opml.org/spec, (accessed online Jul. 5, 2007/0106650 A1 5, 2007 Moore 2011), Sep. 9, 2000, 6 pages. 2007/0106750 A1 5, 2007 Moore “RSS'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS, 8 Pages. 2007/0106751 A1 5, 2007 Moore 2007/0106752 A1 5, 2007 Moore “Serve'. Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. London: Chambers 2007/0106753 A1 5, 2007 Moore Harrap. Credo Reference online retrieved on Jul. 10, 2011, 2001, 2007/0106754 A1 5, 2007 Moore 1 page. 2007, 0116036 A1 5, 2007 Moore “Service'. Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. London: Chambers 2007/0116037 A1 5, 2007 Moore Harrap. Credo Reference. online retrieved on Jul. 10, 2011, 2001, 2007/O130457 A1 6, 2007 Kamat et al. 1 page. 2007. O1391.82 A1 6, 2007 Oconnor et al. 2007.0143215 A1 6, 2007 Willems “The DICOM Standard', available at http://www.cabiatl.com/ 2007. O1504.82 A1 6/2007 Taylor et al. mricro?clicom/index.html, (acessed online Oct. 3, 2012), 6 pages. 2007/O1568.09 A1 7/2007 Dickinson et al. “W3Schools Online Web Tutorials”, 2002, 6 pages. 2007. O168461 A1 7, 2007 Moore U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/458,092, “USPTO, U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/458,092, 2007/02O7782 A1 9, 2007 Tran Non-Final Office Action mailed Jun. 9, 2008”, OARN. 22 pages. 2007/022001.6 A1 9, 2007 Estrada et al. U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/615,030, U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/615,030 Non Final 2007/0225,047 A1 9, 2007 Bakos Office Action mailed Jan. 23, 2008, all, Jan. 23, 2008, 15 pages. 2007/0245020 A1 10/2007 Ott, IV Appnel, Timothy, “RSS: The Web Services We Already Have”, 2008.0005086 A1 1/2008 Moore http://www.oreillynet.com/xml/blog/2003/01/rss the web ser 2008/004O151 A1 2/2008 Moore vice we already.html, (accessed online May 29, 2008), Jan. 22. 2008, 0046369 A1 2, 2008 Wood 2003, 2 pages. 2008, 0046437 A1 2, 2008 Wood Definition, “application programming interface'. Computer Dictio 2008, 0046471 A1 2/2008 Moore et al. nary, 5th Edition, Microsoft Press, Redmond, WA.May 1, 2002, pp. 2008/0052162 A1 2, 2008 Wood 33, 3 pages. 2008/0052343 A1 2, 2008 Wood 2008/O126178 A1 5, 2008 Moore Definition, “graphical user interface'. Computer Dictionary, 5th Edi 2008/O126476 A1 5, 2008 Nicholas et al. tion, Microsoft Press, Redmond, WA.May 1, 2002, pp. 239, 3 pages. 2008. O141.126 A1 6/2008 Johnson et al. Definition, “interface'. Computer Dictionary, 5th Edition, Microsoft 2008. O195483 A1 8, 2008 Moore Press, Redmond, WA. May 1, 2002, pp. 279-280, 4 pages. 2008/0244091 A1 10/2008 Moore et al. Definition, "Metadata'. Webster's New World Computer Dictionary, 2009 OO19063 A1 1/2009 Gandhi et al. 2003, 1 page. 2009/0172773 A1 7, 2009 Moore FEMA, “FEMA: Federal Disaster Declarations RSS”. FEMA.gov, 2012. O150813 A1 6, 2012 Moore available at http://web.archive.org/web/20050413031904/http:// 2013, O104251 A1 4/2013 Moore fema.gov/news . . . . (accessed online Dec. 29, 2010), 1 page. FEMA, "FEMA: News Releases', available at web.archive.org/web/ FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 20050403173.625/www.fema.gov/news/recentnews rss.fema, (accessed online Jul. 5, 2011), Apr. 3, 2005, 2 pages. EP OSO4774 A2 9, 1992 FEMA, “FEMA: RSS(Really Simple Syndication)', available at GB 901723. A T 1962 web.archive.org/web/20050416033644/http://www.fema.gov/help? JP O6347169 A 12/1994 rss.shtm, (accessed online Jul. 5, 2011), Apr. 16, 2005, 2 pages. JP 09145249. A 6, 1997 Gawlick, Dieter et al., “Using the Oracle Database as a Declarative WO 8304161 A1 12/1983 RSS Hub', International Conference on Management of Data, Pro WO O3077558 A2 9, 2003 ceedings of the 2006 ACM SIGMOD international conference on WO 2004O15742 A2 2, 2004 Management of data, 2006, p. 722. WO 2006083958 A2 8, 2006 Hammond, Tony et al., “The Role of RSS in Science Publishing”. WO 200701 1917 A2 1, 2007 WO 200713O865 A2 11/2007 D-Lib Magazine, vol. 10, No. 12, Dec. 2004, pp. 1-17. WO 20071371.45 A2 11/2007 Kifer, Michael et al., “Database Systems: An Application-Oriented WO 2008O36464 A2 3, 2008 Approach'. Second Edition, Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc., 2005, pp. 1151-1152. Krill, Paul “Microsoft to demo CRM-RSS”, http://weblog. OTHER PUBLICATIONS infoWorld.com/techwatch/archives/003933.html , (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), Sep. 7, 2005, 3 pages. Crampton, Jason. Applying hierarchical and role-based access con Lewin, James, “An Introduction to RSS news feeds: Using open trol to XML documents.” Proceedings of the 2004 workshop on formats for content syndication', available at http://www. Secure web service. ACM, 2004.* opensourcetutorials.com/tutorials/Server-Side-Coding/Perl/perl Miller, Marcel Lucas, et al. "Cross-institutional data exchange using rSS-news-feed/page1.html, (accessed online Jul. 5, 2011), Apr. 5, the clinical document architecture (CDA).” International journal of 2004. 11 pages. Lund, Ben. “Using Urchin, Notes for Webmasters', Urchin version medical informatics 74.2 (2005): 245-256.* 0.8, 2003, 8 pages. Ueckert, Frank, et al. "Empowerment of patients and communication Marshall, James, “HTTP Made Really Easy”. A Practical Guide to with health care professionals through an electronic health record.” Writing Clients and Servers, available at http:www.jmarshall.com/ International journal of medical informatics 70.2 (2003): 99-108.* easy/http?, (accessed online Jul. 12, 2011), Aug. 15, 1997, 21 pages. “Customer'. Roget's II The New Thesaurus. Boston: Houghton Mif Nakano, Yusuke et al., “A proposal of RSS WebCrawler model of flin. Credo Reference. online retrieved on Jul. 10, 2011, 2003, 1 product information', IEEE, Proceedings of the 2005 International page. Conference on Active Media Technology, May 2005, pp. 147-151. US 9.202,084 B2 Page 8

(56) References Cited Ponnekanti, Shankar R. et al., “SWORD: A Developer Toolkit for Web Service Composition', available at http://www2002.org/ OTHER PUBLICATIONS CDROM/alternate 786, (accessed online Jul. 5, 2011), 2002, pp. 1-22. Oaiss, “UDDI Version 2.04 API Specification”, UDDI Spec TC, Roszkowski, et al., “A Distributed Architecture for Resource Discov available at http://www.uddi.org/pubs/ProgrammerSAPI-V2.04 ery Using Metadata”, D-Lib Magazine, Jun. 1998, pp. 1-11. Scheier, Bruce, "Applied Cryptography: Protocols, Algorithms, and Published 20020719.htm, accessed online Jul. 5, 2011, Jul. 19, Source Code in C. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Second Edition, 1996, 2002, pp. 1-66. pp. 584-587. Pande, Nitin , "System.xml.xmlSerializer”, as found on the Sourceforge.Net, “Urchin RSS Aggregator, version 0.92', available EggheadCafe.Com website, http://www.eggheadcafe.com/articles/ at http://urchin. Sourceforge.net/index.html, accessed online Jun. 2. system.xml.xml serialization.asp. (accessed online Nov. 5, 2012), 2009, 2004, pp. 1-5. Dec. 8, 2004, 4 pages. Stal, Michael, “Web Services: Beyond Component Based Comput PCT/US2006/003544, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ ing Seeking a Better Solution to the Application Integration Prob S2006/003544.'. International Search Report mailed, Sep. 17. lem'. Communications of the ACM. vol. 45, No. 10, Oct. 2002, pp. 008, 3 pages. T1-76. W3C, “RDF Primer, W3C Recommendation, available at http:// CT/US2006/003544, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ www.w3.org/TR/rdf-syntax/, (accessed online Jul. 5, 2011), Feb. 10, S2006/003544.'. Written Opinion mailed, Sep. 17, 2008, 3 pages. 2004, pp. 1-73. CT/US2006/003544, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ W3C, "XML Encryption Syntax and Processing”, W3C Recommen S2006/003544.'. International Preliminary Report on Patentability dation, available at: http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlenc-core?, (accessed mailed, Sep. 17, 2008, 7 pages. online Nov. 5, 2012), Dec. 10, 2002, 46. CT/US2006/027794, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Winer, Dave, "OPML(Outline Processor Markup Language) About S2006/027794, International Search Report mailed, Nov. 26, Page', available at http://ww.opml.org/about, (accessed online Jul. 5, 007, 3 pages. 2011), Nov. 7, 2000, 2 pages. Wood, Charlie . “Adoption Salesforce.com via RSS'. http:// CT/US2006/027794, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ globellogger.com/item.php?id=294, (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), S2006/027794, Written Opinion mailed, Nov. 26, 2007, 6 pages. Feb. 6, 2005, 3 pages. CT/US2006/027794, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Wood, Charlie, "Adoption Using RSS to Track Sales Leads'. http:// S2006/027794, International Preliminary Report on Patentability globellogger.com/item.php?id=285, (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), sued, Jan. 16, 2008, 7 pages. Jan. 28, 2005, 3 pages. CT/US2006/034944, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Wood, Charlie, “Blog of SubscribeYour Calendar to Your Salesforce. S2006/034944.”. International Search Report mailed, Mar. 19, com Events'. http://globellogger.com/item.php?id=660, (accessed 007, 5 pages. online Jun. 25, 2007), May 12, 2006, 2 pages. CT/US2006/034944, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Wood, Charlie , “Introducing Spanning Feed Builder for S2006/034944.”. Written Opinion mailed, Mar. 19, 2007, 7 pages. AppExchange'. http://www.spanningpartners.com/2006/07/intro CT/US2006/034944, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ ducing spa.html, (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), Jul. 2, 2006, 3 S2006/034944.”. International Preliminary Report on Patentability pageS. sued, Mar. 11, 2008, 8 pages. Wood, Charlie, “Introducing Spanning Salesforce 2.0', http://www. CT/US2007/067643, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ spanningpartners.com/2005/08/introducing spa.html , (accessed S2007/067643”, International Search Report mailed, Jun. 30, 2008, online Aug. 21, 2007), Aug. 28, 2005, 4 pages. page. Wood, Charlie, "Latest Spanning Salesforce Release'. http://www. CT/US2007/067643, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ spanningpartners.com/2006/04/latest spanning.html , (accessed S2007/067643', Written Opinion mailed, Jun. 20, 2008, 5 pages. online Jun. 25, 2007), Apr. 5, 2006, 3 pages. CT/US2007/067643, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Wood, Charlie, “New Spanning Salesforce Feeds and Features'. S2007/067643”, International Preliminary Report on Patentability http://globellogger.com/item.php?id=606. (accessed online Jun. 25. sued, Nov. 4, 2008, 6 pages. 2007), Mar. 14, 2006, 2 pages. CT/US2007/069 195, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Wood, Charlie, “On Creating Real Business Value with RSS'. http:// S2007/069 195”, International Search Report mailed, Sep. 2, 2008, www.spanningpartners.com/2006/02/on creating rea.html pageS. (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), Feb. 23, 2006, 3 pages. CT/US2007/069 195, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Wood, Charlie, “RSS-Enabled AppExchange Applications'. http:// S2007/069 195”, Written Opinion mailed, Sep. 2, 2008, 5 pages. www.spanningpartners.com/2006/05/spanning partne 1.html , CT/US2007/069 195, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), May 30, 2006, 3 pages. S2007/069 195”, International Preliminary Report on Patentability Wood, Charlie, "Spanning Salesforce 2.0 is Live'. http://globelog sued, Nov. 18, 2008, 6 pages. ger.com/item.php?id=466, (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), Aug. 28. CT/US2007/074475, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ 2005, 2 pages. S2007/074475”, International Search Report mailed, Jun. 30, 2008, Wood, Charlie, "Spanning Salesforce Goes Public'. http://globelog page. ger.com/item.php?id=285, (accessed online Jun. 25, 2007), Jul. 17. CT/US2007/074475, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ 2005, 3 pages. S2007/074475”, Written Opinion mailed, Jun. 30, 2008, 3 pages. Wood, Charlie, "Subscribe Your Calendar to Your Salesforce.com CT/US2007/074475, “International Application Serial No. PCT/ Events'. http://www.spanningpartners.com/2006/05/subscribe S2007/074475”, International Preliminary Report on Patentability your.html, (accessed online Jul. 12, 2011), May 12, 2006, 1 page. Issued, Jan. 27, 2009, 4 pages. Gralla, “How the Internet Works'. Millennium Edition, Que Corpo Pilgrim, Mark, “How to consume RSS safely', available at http:// ration, Indianapolis, IN, 1999, 35 pages. diveintomark.org/archives/2003/06/12/how to consume rss safely, (accessed on Jul. 5, 2011), 2003, pp. 1-28. * cited by examiner U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 1 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

S U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 2 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

S s U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 3 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

00€ U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 4 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

APPLICATIONS 406

OTHER SERVICES o408

INFRASTRUCTURE o16

SOURCES

4O2

FIG. 4 U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 6 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

s S

S

S.

CO S O D Y CO g S g U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

00/ U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 8 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

ElBMITABHISMEN

009 ELILL??][] D D [] [] [] D [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] D U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

E

006 |puOMASSB) 3AeS, U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

Z||0

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

XA?JOAALEN y^ U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

w C CN U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 17 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

w w C ()C

S

2.Z - H - S SSOS ZLa > CO

w 1. SCN

w w C C CN CN U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 19 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

w C CN U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 21 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 22 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 26 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

S

A

s S

Y O s SBS(N CD CD

CC s t O U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 27 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

s S

S

w O) Otc U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 28 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

|Y| 1i s S

Y O H CC CD Y S CD CD

CC

CN s C CN O

w w C C CN CN t U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 30 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

:

S U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 31 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

s S

S U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

U.S. Patent Dec. 1, 2015 Sheet 33 of 34 US 9.202,084 B2

OOZE'

CJETIOOd 0925

U.S. Patent US 9.202,084 B2

OOZE N

US 9,202,084 B2 1. 2 SECURITY FACILITY FOR MAINTAINING xviii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/695,029, filed on HEALTHCARE DATA POOLS Jun. 28, 2005, and entitled EVALUATION OF DATA FEED CONTENT: CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED xix) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/699,631, filed on Jul. APPLICATIONS 15, 2005, and entitled OPML SEARCH ENGINES AND SUPERSERVICES; This application is a continuation-in-part of the following XX) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/700,122, filed on Jul. commonly-owned U.S. patent applications, all of which are 18, 2005, and entitled WEB SUPERSERVICES; incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: xxi) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/702,467, filed on Jul. 1) U.S. patent application US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346, 10 26, 2005, and entitled VERTICAL MARKETS AND 587) entitled “Management of health care data filed on FEATURES FOR ENHANCED WEB SYSTEMS; Feb. 1, 2006, which xxii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/703,688, filed on Jul. a) claims the benefit of the following provisional applica 29, 2005, and entitled OPML SYSTEMS; tions: 15 xxiii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/703,535, filed on i) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/649,311, filed on Feb. 1, Jul. 29, 2005, and entitled OPML CONVERTER: 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM MANAGE xxiv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/703.544, filed on Jul. MENT: 29, 2005, and entitled OPML SEARCH ENGINE: ii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/649.312, filedon Feb. 1, and 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM MANAGE XXV) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/709,683, filed on MENT SOFTWARE; Aug. 19, 2005, and entitled USER INTERFACES iii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/649,504, filed on Feb. FOR OPML SEARCH ENGINES, and 2, 2005, and entitled RSS MEDIA PROCESSING xxvi) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/719,073, entitled SYSTEMS; WEB SUPERSERVICES, filed on Sep. 21, 2005; iv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/649,502, filed on Feb. 25 xxvii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/719,283, entitled 2, 2005, and entitled SEMANTIC PROCESSING: HEALTH CARE INFORMATION MANAGE v) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/657,840, filed on Mar. MENT, filed on Sep. 21, 2005; 1, 2005, and entitled USER INTERFACES AND xxviii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/719,284, entitled WORKFLOWS FOR USE WITH DATA STREAM OPML ROUTERS, filed on Sep. 21, 2005; 30 xxix) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/720,250, entitled MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS; BEHAVIORAL METADATA IN SYNDICATION vi) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/594,298, filed on Mar. AND STRUCTURED DATA ENVIRONMENTS, 26, 2005, and entitled USES OF METADATA INA filed on Sep. 22, 2005; STRUCTURED DATA FEED ENVIRONMENT: XXX) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/721,803, entitled vii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/594,416, filed on Apr. 35 WEB SUPERSERVICES, filed on Sep. 28, 2005; 6, 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM MANAGE XXXi) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/722,021, entitled MENT: INFORMATION POOLS, filed on Sep. 29, 2005; viii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/669,666, filed on Apr. XXXii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/724,956, entitled 8, 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM MANAGE HEATHCARE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, MENT: 40 filed on Oct. 7, 2005; ix) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/594,456, filed on Apr. XXXiii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/725,166, entitled 10, 2005, and entitled FUNCTIONAL SEARCH COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR SEARCH, MAN OUTLINES; AGEMENT ANDUSE OF OUTLINES, filed on Oct. x) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/594,478, filed on Apr. 7, 2005; 12, 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM MANAGE 45 XXXiv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/726,542, entitled MENT: RSS ENABLED DEVICES, filed on Oct. 14, 2005; xi) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/673,661, filed on Apr. XXXV) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/726,731, entitled 20, 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM MANAGE SEMICONDUCTER-BASED SYNCIDATION MENT: AND OUTLINING, filed on Oct. 14, 2005; xii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/680,879, filed on May 50 XXXvi) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/726,727, entitled 13, 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM SECURITY SYNDICATION FILTERS, filed on Oct. 14, 2005; SYSTEMS; XXXvii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/734,187, entitled xiii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/684,092, filedon May OPML SYSTEMS, filed on Nov. 6, 2005; 23, 2005, and entitled FUNCTIONAL SEARCH XXXviii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/734,156, entitled OUTLINES; 55 NOTIFICATION SERVICES FOR USE WITH xiv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/685,904, filed on May OUTLINING AND SYNDICATION, filed on Nov. 6, 31, 2005, and entitled WIRELESS DELIVERY OF 2005; RSS CONTENT: XXXix) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/735,712, entitled Xv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/686,630, filed on Jun. OPML PROCESSING MODULES AND SYS 2, 2005, and entitled DATA STREAM ADVERTIS 60 TEMS, filed on Nov. 11, 2005; ING: xl) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/741,770, entitled xvi.) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/688,826, filed on Jun. NAVIGATION AND MANIPULATION OF DIS 9, 2005, and entitled USES OF OUTLINES AND TRIBUTED CONTENT, filed on Dec. 1, 2005; STRUCTURED DATA: xli) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/741,958, entitled xvii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/694,080, filed on Jun. 65 DATABASES USING OPML-BASED CONTENT 24, 2005, and entitled USES OF LISTS, OUTLINES POOLS AND SYNDICATED CONTENT, filed on AND STRUCTURED DATA; Dec. 2, 2005; US 9,202,084 B2 3 4 xlii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/742,975, entitled 3) U.S. patent application US20070116036 (Ser. No. 1 1/615, SYNDICATED DATA IN MEDICAL DECISION 030) entitled “Patient records using syndicated video MAKING, filed on Dec. 6, 2005; feeds, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is— xliii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/749,757, entitled AN a) a continuation of U.S. patent application ENTERPRISE PLATFORM FOR ENHANCED 5 US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man SYNDICATION, filed on Dec. 13, 2005; agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; xliv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/750,291, entitled i) U.S. patent application US20070061393 (Ser. No. CREATING AND MANAGING VIEWS OF SYN 1 1/346,587) is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent DICATED INFORMATION, filed on Dec. 14, 2005; application US20060173985 (Ser. No. 1 1/223,826) Xlv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/751,254, entitled 10 entitled “Enhanced syndication filed on Sep. 10, SYNDICATED TELECOMMUNICATION SER 2005, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,775 on Jun. VICES, filed on Dec. 15, 2005; 12, 2012: xlvi) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/751.249, entitled 4) U.S. patent application US20070106750 (Ser. No. 1 1/615, USE OF SYNDICATED DATAWITHIN INSTITU 15 039) entitled “Data pools for health care video filed on TIONAL HEALTHCARE PRACTICES, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is Dec. 16, 2005; a) a continuation of U.S. patent application xlvii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/753,959, entitled US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CREATING agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; AND MANAGING VIEWS OF SYNDICATED 5) U.S. patent application US20070106536 (Ser. No. 1 1/615, INFORMATION VIA A COMMUNICATIONS 087) entitled “OPML-based patient records, filed on Dec. NETWORK, filed on Dec. 23, 2005; 22, 2006, which is xlviii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/756,774, entitled a) a continuation of U.S. patent application COMPOSITE SERVICE VISUALIZATION US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man TOOLS, filed on Jan. 6, 2006; and 25 agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; xlix) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/759.483, entitled 6) U.S. patent application US20070106751 (Ser. No. 1 1/615, USE OF SYNDICATED DATA WITHIN HEALTH 161) entitled “Syndicating ultrasound echo data in a CARE PROVIDER AND GROUP PRACTICES, healthcare environment, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which filed on Jan. 16, 2006; 1S 30 a) a continuation of U.S. patent application 2) U.S. patent application US20060265489 (Ser. No. 1 1/380, US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man 923) entitled "Disaster management using an enhanced agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006: syndication platform.” filed on Apr. 29, 2006, which is— 7) U.S. patent application US20070106752 (Ser. No. 1 1/615, a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 165) entitled “Patient viewer for health care data pools.” US20060173985 (Ser. No. 1 1/223,826) entitled 35 filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is— “Enhanced syndication.” filed on Sep. 10, 2005, which a) a continuation of U.S. patent application issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,775 on Jun. 12, 2012: US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man b) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; US20070061487 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,588) entitled “Sys 8) U.S. patent application US20070116037 (Ser. No. 1 1/615, tems and methods for use of structured and unstructured 40 224) entitled “Syndicating CT data in a healthcare envi distributed data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as ronment, filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is— U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,700 on Jun. 12, 2012: a) a continuation of U.S. patent application c) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; US20070061266 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,586) entitled “Secu 45 9) U.S. patent application US20070106754 (Ser. No. 1 1/615, rity systems and methods for use with structured and 451) entitled “Security facility for maintaining health care unstructured data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as data pools.” filed on Dec. 22, 2006, which is U.S. Pat. No. 8,347,088 on Jan. 1, 2013; and a) a continuation of U.S. patent application d) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man 50 agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; 10) U.S. patent application US20080126178 (Ser. No. e) referring back to U.S. patent application 1 1/828,903) entitled “Surge-based online advertising.” US20060265489 (Ser. No. 1 1/380,923), it also claims filed on Jul. 26, 2007, which is— the benefit of: a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application i) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/764,484, filed on Feb. 1, 55 US20060173985 (Ser. No. 1 1/223,826) entitled 2006 and entitled USES OF MANAGED HEALTH “Enhanced syndication filed on Sep. 10, 2005, which CARE DATA: issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,775 on Jun. 12, 2012: b) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application ii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/777,444, filed on Feb. US20070061487 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,588) entitled “Sys 27, 2006 and entitled PINGBACK SERVICES; 60 tems and methods for use of structured and unstructured iii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/784,906 filed on Mar. distributed data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as 21, 2006 and entitled SYSTEMS AND METHOD U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,700 on Jun. 12, 2012, FOR USE OF STRUCTURED AND UNSTRUC c) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application TURED DISTRIBUTED DATA; and US20070061266 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,586) entitled “Secu iv) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/788,011 filed on Mar. 65 rity systems and methods for use with structured and 31, 2006 and entitled SYNDICATED CONTENT unstructured data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: U.S. Pat. No. 8,347,088 on Jan. 1, 2013; US 9,202,084 B2 5 6 d) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application b) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man US20070061487 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,588) entitled “Sys agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; tems and methods for use of structured and unstructured e) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application distributed data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as US20060265489 (Ser. No. 1 1/380,923) entitled “Disas U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,700 on Jun. 12, 2012: ter management using an enhanced syndication plat c) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application form filed on Apr. 29, 2006: US20070061266 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,586) entitled “Secu f) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application rity systems and methods for use with structured and US2008.0005086 (Ser. No. 1 1/750,301) entitled “Cer unstructured data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as tificate-based search,” filed on May 17, 2007: 10 U.S. Pat. No. 8,347,088 on Jan. 1, 2013; g) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application d) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man US20070050446 (Ser. No. 1 1/458,092) entitled “Man agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; aging network-accessible resources.” filed on Jul. 17. e) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 2006; 15 US20060265489 (Ser. No. 1 1/380,923) entitled “Disas h) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application ter management using an enhanced syndication plat US20080040151 (Ser. No. 1 1/557.271) entitled “Uses form.” filed on Apr. 29, 2006: of managed health care data.” filed on Nov. 7, 2006, f) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application which in turn US2008.0005086 (Ser. No. 1 1/750,301) entitled “Cer i) claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. tificate-based search,” filed on May 17, 2007: 60/747,425, entitled CERTIFICATE-BASED g) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application SEARCH, filed on May 17, 2006; US20070050446 (Ser. No. 1 1/458,092) entitled “Man i) and referring back to U.S. patent application aging network-accessible resources.” filed on Jul. 17. US20080126178 (Ser. No. 1 1/828,903), it further 2006; directly claimed the benefit of: 25 h) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application (1) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/820,481, entitled US20080040151 (Ser. No. 1 1/557.271) entitled “Uses SURGE-BASED ONLINE ADVERTISING, filed on of managed health care data, filed on Nov. 7, 2006; Jul. 26, 2006; i) and referring back to U.S. patent application (2) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/835,570, entitled US20080244091 (Ser. No. 1 1/828,939), it claims the INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT OF STRUC 30 benefit of U.S. Provisional App. Nos.: (1) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/820,481, entitled TURE AND CONTENT, filed on Aug. 4, 2006; SURGE-BASED ONLINE ADVERTISING, filed on (3) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/866,864, entitled DIS Jul. 26, 2006; TRIBUTED STORAGE OF DATA AND PRO (2) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/820,485, entitled CESSES, filed on Nov. 22, 2006; 35 APPLICATION CONNECTORS USING RSS, filed (4) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/872,118, entitled WID on Jul. 27, 2006; GET MANAGEMENTSOFTWARE, filed on Dec. 1, (3) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/835,570, entitled 2006; INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT OF STRUC (5) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/868,548, entitled WID TURE AND CONTENT, filed on Aug. 4, 2006; GET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND ADVER 40 (4) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/822,551, entitled TISING SYSTEMS RELATED THERETO, filed on WEB-BASED CALENDAR SYNCHRONIZA Dec. 5, 2006; TION, filed on Aug. 16, 2006: (6) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/884,667, entitled (5) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/823,767, entitled USER-CUSTOMIZABLE INTERACTION WITH APPLICATION CONNECTORS USING RSS, filed DISTRIBUTED DATA, filed on Jan. 12, 2007: 45 on Aug. 29, 2006; (7) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/887,316, entitled (6) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/823,780, entitled MODEL-BASED ABSTRACTION OF DISTRIB PASSWORD MANAGEMENT FOR SYNDICA UTED CONTENT, filed on Jan. 30, 2007: TION-ORIENTED APPLICATION INTEGRA (8) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/890,813, entitled TION, filed on Aug. 29, 2006: MANAGING NETWORK-ACCESSIBLE 50 (7) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/862,004, entitled EVENTS, filed on Feb. 20, 2007: CALENDAR-BASED ADVERTISING, filed on Oct. 18, 2006; (9) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/914,107, entitled (8) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/862,600, entitled ARCHIVAL RSS FORMATS, filed on Apr. 26, 2007; USAGE-BASED POST PRIORITIZATION, filed on (10) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/914.228, entitled 55 Oct. 23, 2006; RULES-BASED MANAGEMENT OF CONTENT, (9) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/866,864, entitled DIS filed on Apr. 26, 2007; and TRIBUTED STORAGE OF DATA AND PRO (11) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/950,726, entitled CESSES, filed Nov. 22, 2006; RULE PROCESSING AND DATA MANAGE (10) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/868,548, entitled MENT, filed on Jul. 19, 2007: 60 WIDGET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND 11) U.S. patent application US20080244091 (Ser. No. ADVERTISING SYSTEMS RELATED THERETO, 11/828,939) entitled “Dynamic feed generation.” filed on filed Dec. 5, 2006; Jul. 26, 2007, which is— (11) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/872,118, entitled a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application WIDGET MANAGEMENT, filed Dec. 1, 2006; US20060173985 (Ser. No. 1 1/223,826) entitled 65 (12) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/884,667, entitled “Enhanced syndication.” filed on Sep. 10, 2005, which USER-CUSTOMIZABLE INTERACTION WITH issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,775 on Jun. 12, 2012: DISTRIBUTED DATA, filed Jan. 12, 2007: US 9,202,084 B2 7 8 (13) U.S. Provisional App. 60/887,316, entitled d) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application MODEL-BASED ABSTRACTION OF DISTRIB US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man UTED CONTENT, filed Jan. 30, 2007; agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; (14) U.S. Provisional App. 60/890,813, entitled MAN e) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application AGING NETWORK-ACCESSIBLE EVENTS, filed 5 US20060265489 (Ser. No. 1 1/380,923) entitled “Disas Feb. 20, 2007: ter management using an enhanced syndication plat (15) U.S. Provisional App. 60/914,107, entitled ARCHI form.” filed on Apr. 29, 2006: VAL RSS FORMATS, filed Apr. 26, 2007; f) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application (16) U.S. Provisional 60/914.228, entitled RULES US2008.0005086 (Ser. No. 1 1/750,301) entitled “Cer 10 tificate-based search,” filed on May 17, 2007: BASEDMANAGEMENT OF CONTENT, filed Apr. g) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 26, 2007; and US20070050446 (Ser. No. 1 1/458,092) entitled “Man (17) U.S. Provisional 60/950,726, entitled RULE PRO aging network-accessible resources.” filed on Jul. 17. CESSING AND DATA MANAGEMENT, filed Jul. 2006; 19, 2007; 15 h) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 12) U.S. patent application US20080046471 (Ser. No. US20080040151 (Ser. No. 1 1/557.271) entitled “Uses 1 1/828,949) entitled “Calendar synchronization using syn of managed health care data, filed on Nov. 7, 2006; dicated data, filed on Jul. 26, 2007, which is— i) and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application US20080046471 (Ser. No. 1 1/828,949) entitled “Calen US20060173985 (Ser. No. 1 1/223,826) entitled dar synchronization using syndicated data, filed on Jul. “Enhanced syndication.” filed on Sep. 10, 2005, which 26, 2007; issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,775 on Jun. 12, 2012: j) and referring back to U.S. patent application b) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application US20080195483 (Ser. No. 11/951,307), it claims the US20070061487 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,588) entitled “Sys benefit of: tems and methods for use of structured and unstructured 25 i) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/957,059, entitled CLI distributed data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as ENTILESS POINT-TO-POINT COMMUNICA U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,700 on Jun. 12, 2012: TIONS, filed on Aug. 21, 2007: c) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application ii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/968,906, entitled CLI US20070061266 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,586) entitled “Secu ENTILESS POINT-TO-POINT COMMUNICA rity systems and methods for use with structured and 30 TIONS, filed on Aug. 30, 2007; and unstructured data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as iii) U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/973,480, entitled U.S. Pat. No. 8,347,088 on Jan. 1, 2013: INTEGRATED SEARCHOFRSS ARCHIVES, filed d) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application on Sep. 19, 2007: US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man 14) U.S. patent application US20090172773 (Ser. No. agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006, 35 12/393,170) entitled “Syndicating surgical data in a health e) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application care environment filed on Feb. 26, 2009, which is— US20060265489 (Ser. No. 1 1/380,923) entitled “Disas a) a continuation of U.S. patent application ter management using an enhanced syndication plat US20070061393 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,587) entitled “Man form filed on Apr. 29, 2006: agement of health care data.” filed on Feb. 1, 2006; f) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 40 b) and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application US2008.0005086 (Ser. No. 1 1/750,301) entitled “Cer US20060173985 (Ser. No. 1 1/223,826) entitled tificate-based search,” filed on May 17, 2007: “Enhanced syndication filed on Sep. 10, 2005, which g) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,775 on Jun. 12, 2012: US20070050446 (Ser. No. 1 1/458,092) entitled “Man 15) U.S. patent application US20120150813 (Ser. No. aging network-accessible resources.” filed on Jul. 17. 45 13/396.966) entitled “Using RSS archives.” filed on Feb. 2006; 15, 2012, which is h) and a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application a) a continuation of U.S. patent application US20080040151 (Ser. No. 1 1/557.271) entitled “Uses US20090077049 (Ser. No. 12/233,266) entitled “Using of managed health care data, filed on Nov. 7, 2006; RSS archives' filed Sep. 18, 2008, which issued as U.S. 13) U.S. patent application US20080195483 (Ser. No. 50 Pat. No. 8,140,482 on Mar. 20, 2012, 11/951.307) entitled “Widget management systems and i) which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. advertising systems related thereto filed on Dec. 5, 2007, 61/082,802, entitled “ARCHIVING WEB CON which is— TENT', filed on Jul. 22, 2008; and a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application ii) which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional App. No. US20060173985 (Ser. No. 1 1/223,826) entitled 55 60/973,480, entitled “INTEGRATED SEARCH OF “Enhanced syndication.” filed on Sep. 10, 2005, which RSS ARCHIVES, filed on Sep. 19, 2007; and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,775 on Jun. 12, 2012: 16) U.S. patent application US20130104251 (Ser. No. b) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application 13/682,815) entitled “Security systems and methods for US20070061487 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,588) entitled “Sys use with structured and unstructured data, filed on Nov. tems and methods for use of structured and unstructured 60 21, 2012. distributed data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as This application also cross-references to the following U.S. Pat. No. 8,200,700 on Jun. 12, 2012: commonly-owned U.S. patent applications and hereby incor c) a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application porates by reference each of these applications in its entirety: US20070061266 (Ser. No. 1 1/346,586) entitled “Secu 1) U.S. patent application US 20070081550 (Ser. No. rity systems and methods for use with structured and 65 1 1/608,261) entitled “Network-accessible database of remote unstructured data, filed on Feb. 1, 2006, which issued as services, filed on Dec. 8, 2006, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. U.S. Pat. No. 8,347,088 on Jan. 1, 2013; 8,316,005 on Nov. 20, 2012: US 9,202,084 B2 9 10 2) U.S. patent application US20070088807 (Ser. No. As the business ecosystem expands, some specific techno 1 1/608,277) entitled “Programming interfaces for network logical components will become critical enablers to the con services, filed on Dec. 8, 2006; tinuing advance of the whole. Issues of flexibility, scale, 3) U.S. patent application US20070106649 (Ser. No. reliability, and security will become vital to the community. 1 1/608,398) entitled “HTTP-based programming interface.” These vital components, for example microprocessors, Stor filed on Dec. 8, 2006; age controllers, and network devices in the personal computer 4) U.S. patent application US20070106650 (Ser. No. ecosystem, will require systematic application of research 1 1/608,492) entitled “URL-based programming interface.” and development, capital investment, and coordination with filed on Dec. 8, 2006; industry partners in order that the whole ecosystem can 5) U.S. patent application US20070106537 (Ser. No. 10 progress. If the world is to make real the vision of the flexible 1 1/615,172) entitled “Syndicating MRI data in a healthcare participation of billions, there are a number of core compo environment filed on Dec. 22, 2006; nents and systems that have not been invented, and will need 6) U.S. patent application US20080052343 (Ser. No. to be invented. 1 1/828,910) entitled “Usage-based prioritization filed on 15 The flexible participation of billions has been presaged by Jul. 26, 2007: blogging that is, the act of individuals creating Web sites and 7) U.S. patent application US20080052162 (Ser. No. adding to them more or less daily. By dramatically increasing 1 1/828,919) entitled “Calendar-based advertising.” filed on production and sharing of Web-based content, the blogging Jul. 26, 2007: movement now produces a virtual river of content available 8) U.S. patent application US20080046369 (Ser. No. continuously and with global circulation. Just as word pro 1 1/828,945) entitled “Password management for RSS inter cessing empowered millions to create their own documents, faces, filed on Jul. 26, 2007; and blogging software has made it relatively easy for millions to 9) U.S. patent application US20080046437 (Ser. No. produce their own Web sites and keep them continually 1 1/828,928) entitled “Manual conflict resolution for back updated. By the promotion of a simple underlying standard ground synchronization.” filed on Jul. 26, 2007. 25 for sharing text and other media, blogging has popularized the Every United States patent application mentioned above is “syndication” or passing on of content borrowed from oth incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. ers—extending the reach of any given blogger and further increasing the total quantity of information in circulation. BACKGROUND A number of companies have emerged as niche players 30 targeting various aspects of large-scale distributed databases, 1. Field of Invention content management, and group participation. For example, The invention relates to hardware, software and electronic some companies such as FeedDemon, NewsGator, myYahoo service components and systems to provide large-scale, reli (Yahoo), and Bloglines have focused on client-side aggrega able, and secure foundations for distributed databases and tion and presentation. Companies such as Technorati, content management systems, combining unstructured and 35 Google, and Feedster have focused on the complementary structured data, and allowing post-input reorganization to services of searching for data feeds of interest. Other compa achieve a high degree of flexibility. nies have focused on technologies for providing syndicated 2. Description of Related Art data streams such as SixApart, Drupal, TypePad, Flickr, One can envision highly distributed databases capable of Picasa (Google), and Blogger (Google). Other companies managing simultaneous participation by billions of users, and 40 have positioned themselves as content providers, including highly distributed content management systems coordinating new companies Such as Engadget, Weblogs Inc., Topix.net, the contributions of billions, routinely integrating the contri and MySpace, as well as established media companies Such butions of both people and machines, and spanning multiple as the New York Times and BBC. Of course, various generic organizations, firms, and the globe itself. One can imagine Internet technologies are also relevant to the rapidly growing flexible systems, where data is input in unstructured as well as 45 weblog data flow, such as BitTorrent or Akamai’s EdgePlat structured forms, and Subsequent users can access and present form. the data in flexible, evolving forms not anticipated at the point While offering significant advancement in terms of expe of data entry. Massively parallel processing—envisioned as riences such as sharing news, music, videos and other items, occurring inside one machine or cluster of machines was once as well as enabling players of games to interact with each the premier challenge facing the database and content man 50 other individually and in groups, the value chain is weak, agement community. The new challenge, in our view, is mas fragmented, and closed to interoperability among contribu sively parallel, and flexible, participation of billions. tors in many areas. The value chain will benefit from both In order to accomplish this, the world will need a new improved contributions in specific functions or niches, as “business ecosystem. Advances in information technology well as a more comprehensive overall vision of a possible often show three related themes that may be thought of as 55 “flexible participations of billions' ecosystem, additional analogous to the biological processes of expansion of and niches (layers and modules) of functionality, recast function species succession in natural ecosystems. First, non-expert ality among modules, rationalization of protocols and inter end-users will be empowered to solve problems. Second, faces among modules, and custom combinations of functions technology platforms will be created that modularize tech that establish end-to-end solutions for specific purposes. For nology contributions into niches. The niche contributions 60 example, available services are weak in presentation, search, interrelate with each other through standard protocols and signal, and network routing. Aggregators that centralize con interfaces that are made “open' to technologists and the gen tent use display formats that are widely criticized, despite a eral public, so that tens, hundreds, and sometimes millions of general agreement among users that they improve over con innovators can contribute to the resulting business ecosystem, ventional search engine displays. Storage of most blog con each according to his or her choice, creativity and compe 65 tent is in proprietary, isolated data sets controlled by blog tence. In turn new niches will be established, opened-up, and service operators, and the data cannot be easily restructured will bring in further new contributors and contributions. or even moved from one provider to another. In their current US 9,202,084 B2 11 12 form, services fail to provide enterprise-class features such as In embodiments, the syndicated information may be security, privacy, data integrity, and quality of service. secured by a security facility. The security facility may pro There remains a vital need for components and services tect information according to a pool-specific security proto that explicitly address the challenge of enabling the “flexible col. participation of billions” and that are capable of levels of 5 In embodiments, the syndicated information may be struc scale, reliability, security and flexibility as yet unrealized and tured into a hierarchy. The hierarchy may be defined using perhaps unimagined. There is a need for a new global busi OPML. The hierarchy may be defined according to what ness ecosystem, within which innovation by millions of pools are accessed by what portion of the hierarchy. The people will be embraced, in order to meet the challenge. In hierarchy may define conditions for aggregating information order to stimulate the formation and rapid evolution of such a 10 from the pools. In embodiments, the pools may be stored with business ecosystem, there will have to be systematic devel protocols for using the information in the pools. The pools opment of general purpose Software, systems and protocols may be stored with conditions for access of the pools. The specifically engineered to enable the flexible participation of pools may include patient record data that is de-identified. billions. There also remains a need for such an infrastructure In embodiments, a portion of the syndicated information in the health care industry. 15 may be published by a healthcare device. In embodiments, the pools may contain information SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION selected from a group including, but not limited to, medical instruments, X-ray equipment, MRI equipment, other forms Disclosed herein are systems and methods for syndication of medical imaging equipment, blood work data, genetic and management of structured and unstructured data to assist information, medical exam information, medical device institutional healthcare delivery, healthcare providers' prac information, information from emergency rooms, informa tices, healthcare providers' group practices, collaborative tion from medical labs, diet information, exercise informa academic research and decision making in healthcare, includ tion, metabolic information, medical history information, age ing through the utilization of medical devices and healthcare information, gender information, behavior information, race pools. 25 information, or information from other systems related to the In one aspect, a method and system disclosed herein healthcare and or medical field. includes the handling of healthcare information based at least In one aspect, a method and system disclosed herein in part on providing a user interface that is adapted to receive includes the handling of healthcare information based at least and handle information that is syndicated from a plurality of in part on configuring a healthcare device to Subscribe to a pools of information, the pools including at least one pool of 30 data fee of healthcare information. In embodiments, the data health care information. feed may be adapted to collect healthcare information with is In embodiments, the syndicated information may be in RSS format, OPML format, or other formats. secured by a security facility. The security facility may pro In embodiments, the device may be selected from a device tect information according to a pool-specific security proto group including, but not limited to, anesthesiology devices, col. 35 cardiovascular devices, clinical chemistry devices, clinical In embodiments, the syndicated information may be struc toxicology devices, dental devices, ear nose and throat tured into a hierarchy. The hierarchy may be defined using devices, gastroenterology devices, urology devices, general OPML. The hierarchy may be defined according to what Surgery devices, plastic Surgery devices, general hospital pools are accessed by what portion of the hierarchy. The devices, personal use devices, hematology devices, pathol hierarchy may define conditions for aggregating information 40 ogy devices, immunology devices, mammography devices, from the pools. In embodiments, the pools may be stored with neurological devices, obstetrical devices, gynecological protocols for using the information in the pools. The pools devices, ophthalmic devices, physical medicine devices, radi may be stored with conditions for access of the pools. The ology devices, clinical chemistry testing devices, clinical pools may include patient record data that is de-identified. toxicology testing devices, immunology testing devices, and In embodiments, a portion of the syndicated information 45 microbiology testing devices. may be published by a healthcare device. In embodiments, the healthcare device may be a medical In embodiments, the pools may contain information device, medical instrument, handheld medical device, a selected from a group including, but not limited to, medical device associated with an operating room, a device config instruments, X-ray equipment, MRI equipment, other forms ured to display an electronic medical record, a device config of medical imaging equipment, blood work data, genetic 50 ured to run a healthcare software application, and the like. information, medical exam information, medical device In embodiments, the healthcare device may subscribe to information, information from emergency rooms, informa the syndicated data feed wirelessly. tion from medical labs, diet information, exercise informa In embodiments, the healthcare device may be associated tion, metabolic information, medical history information, age with a hospital environment, used to examine a health condi information, gender information, behavior information, race 55 tion, and or used to measure an environmental condition of a information, or information from other systems related to the healthcare environment. healthcare and or medical field. In embodiments, the syndicated information may originate In one aspect, a method and system disclosed herein from a plurality of separate pools of information. The infor includes involving the handling of healthcare based at least in mation may be structured into a hierarchy. The hierarchy may part on disposing health care information into a plurality of 60 defined by using OPML. pools of information, and syndicating the information from at In embodiments, the information may be secured. The least one of the plurality of pools. In embodiments, syndicat information may be associated with a security facility. The ing the information may involve a dynamic generation of security facility may secure the information according to a syndicated content that may further involve processing a data pool-specific security protocol. request to convert information into syndicated information. 65 In one aspect, a method and system disclosed herein The step of processing the request may involve a security includes the handling of healthcare information based at least check. in part on configuring a healthcare device to syndicate infor US 9,202,084 B2 13 14 mation that is periodically handled by the device. In embodi able technology, including RSS and any extensions or modi ments, the step of syndicating the healthcare information may fications thereto, as well as any other publish-subscribe or comprise receiving information and formatting the informa similar technology that may be suitably adapted to the meth tion in a syndication format, such as RSS, OPML, or other ods and systems described herein. “Syndicated' is intended to formats. describe content in Syndication. In embodiments, the device may be selected from a device group including, but not limited to, anesthesiology devices, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES cardiovascular devices, clinical chemistry devices, clinical toxicology devices, dental devices, ear nose and throat The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the devices, gastroenterology devices, urology devices, general 10 invention will be appreciated more fully from the following Surgery devices, plastic Surgery devices, general hospital further description thereof, with reference to the accompany devices, personal use devices, hematology devices, pathol ing drawings, wherein: ogy devices, immunology devices, mammography devices, FIG. 1 shows a network that may be used with the systems neurological devices, obstetrical devices, gynecological described herein. devices, ophthalmic devices, physical medicine devices, radi 15 ology devices, clinical chemistry testing devices, clinical FIG. 2 shows a system for using and aggregating data toxicology testing devices, immunology testing devices, and feeds. microbiology testing devices. FIG.3 depicts markets for syndicated content. In embodiments, the healthcare device may be a medical FIG. 4 depicts a conceptual framework for syndicated device, medical instrument, handheld medical device, a communications. device associated with an operating room, a device config FIG. 5 depicts a system for delivering services in a syndi ured to display an electronic medical record, a device config cation system. ured to run a healthcare software application, and the like. FIG. 6 shows an XML environment for syndication sys In embodiments, the step of syndicating the information temS. may comprise publication of the information. The informa 25 FIG. 7 shows a user interface for a syndication system. tion may be published to a data pool, a secured data pool, and FIG. 8 shows a user interface for a syndication system. the like. The information may be secured. The information FIG. 9 shows a user interface for a syndication system. may be associated with a security facility. The security facil FIG. 10 shows a data pool environment. ity may secure the information according to a data pool FIGS. 11A and 11B show embodiments of filters for syn specific security protocol. 30 dicated content. In embodiments, the healthcare device may publish the FIG. 12 shows a method for filtering syndicated content. syndicated information wirelessly. FIG. 13 shows a syndication environment including an In embodiments, the healthcare device may be associated application and/or interface. with a hospital environment, used to examine a health condi FIG. 14 shows a syndication environment including data tion, and or used to measure an environmental condition of a 35 base functions. healthcare environment. FIG. 15 shows a syndication environment including a In embodiments, the syndicated information may originate semantic facility. from a plurality of separate pools of information. The infor FIG.16 shows a syndication environment including a syn mation may be structured into a hierarchy. The hierarchy may dication facility. defined by using OPML. 40 FIG. 17 shows a syndication environment including an Each aspect of the foregoing may be embodied in one or infrastructure. more of a client-side application, a server-side application, FIG. 18 shows a syndication environment including spe one or more semiconductor devices, a computer program cial properties. product embodied in a computer readable medium, a web FIG. 19 shows a syndicated management system including service, a services-oriented architecture service, an applet, or 45 an application and/or interface. an application, either alone or in combination. Further, each FIG. 20 shows a syndicated management system including of the foregoing systems may also, or instead, be embodied in database functions. a method, or in a computer program product embodied in a FIG. 21 shows a syndicated management system including computer readable medium that, when executing on one or a semantic facility. more computers, performs the steps of Such a method. 50 FIG.22 shows a syndicated management system including The terms “feed”, “data feed”, “data stream” and the like, a syndication facility. as well as the S-definition described further herein, as used FIG. 23 shows a syndicated management system including herein, are intended to refer interchangeably to syndicated an infrastructure. data feeds and/or descriptions of such feeds. While RSS is one FIG. 24 shows a syndicated management system including popular example of a syndicated data feed, any other source 55 special properties. of news or other items may be used with the systems FIG. 25 shows a syndication environment including a described herein, Such as the outlining markup language, medical device and an application and/or interface. OPML, and these terms should be given the broadest possible FIG. 26 shows a syndication environment including a meaning unless a narrow sense is explicitly provided or clear medical device and database functions. from the context. Similarly, terms such as “item”, “news 60 FIG. 27 shows a syndication environment including a item', and “post', as well as the S-messages described further medical device and a semantic facility. herein, are intended to refer to items within a data feed, and FIG. 28 shows a syndication environment including a may contain text and/or binary data encoding any digital medical device and a syndication facility. media including still or moving images, audio, application FIG. 29 shows a syndication environment including a specific file formats, and so on. 65 medical device and an infrastructure. The term “syndication' is intended to refer to publication, FIG. 30 shows a syndication environment including a republication, or other distribution of content using any Suit medical device and special properties. US 9,202,084 B2 15 16 FIG. 31 shows a health care information management sys the LAN 112 and ensures operating compatibility between tem. the LAN 112 and the internetwork 110. Any data network FIG. 32 shows a health care information management sys may be used as the internetwork 110 and the LAN 112. tem. In one aspect of the systems described herein, a device FIG.33 shows a health care information management sys within the internetwork 110 such as a router or, on an enter tem. prise level, a gateway or other network edge or Switching device, may cache popular data feeds to reduce redundant DETAILED DESCRIPTION traffic through the internetwork 110. In other network enhancements, clients 102 may be enlisted to coordinate shar Various embodiments of the present invention are 10 ing of data feeds using techniques such as those employed in described below, including certain embodiments relating par a BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. In the systems described ticularly to RSS feeds and other syndicated data streams. It herein, these and other techniques generally may be should be appreciated, however, that the present invention is employed to improve performance of an RSS or other data not limited to any particular protocol for data feeds and that feed network. the various embodiments discussed explicitly herein are pri 15 In one embodiment, the internetwork 110 is the Internet, marily for purposes of illustration. Thus, the term syndication and the World WideWeb provides a system for interconnect generally, and references to RSS specifically, should be ing clients 102 and servers 104 in a communicating relation understood to include, for example, RDF, RSS v 0.90, 0.91, ship through the Internet 110. The internetwork 110 may also, 0.9x, 1.0, and 2.0, variously attributable to Netscape. User or instead, include a cable network, and at least one of the Land Software, and other individuals and organizations, as clients 102 may be a set-top box, cable-ready game console, well as Atom from the Atom Enabled Alliance, and any other or the like. The internetwork 110 may include other networks, similar formats, as well as non-conventional syndication for such as satellite networks, the Public Switched Telephone mats that can be adapted for syndication, such as OPML. Still Network, WiFi networks, WiMax networks, cellular net more generally, while RSS technology is described, and RSS works, and any other public, private, or dedicated networks terminology is used extensively throughout, it will be appre 25 that might be used to interconnect devices for transfer of data. ciated that the various concepts discussed herein may be An exemplary client 102 may include a processor, a usefully employed in a variety of other contexts. For example, memory (e.g. RAM), a bus which couples the processor and various privacy and identity techniques described herein the memory, a mass storage device (e.g. a magnetic hard disk could be usefully combined with HTML Web content rather or an optical storage disk) coupled to the processor and the than RSS-based XML data. Similarly, some of the branding 30 memory through an I/O controller, and a network interface and advertising techniques described herein may be usefully coupled to the processor and the memory, Such as a modem, combined with list servers, bulletin boards, or other Internet digital subscriber line (“DSL) card, cable modem, network news sources. Thus, it will be understood that the embodi interface card, wireless network card, or other interface ments described herein are provided by way of example only device capable of wired, fiber optic, or wireless data commu and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive con 35 nications. One example of Such a client 102 is a personal cepts disclosed herein. computer equipped with an operating system Such as FIG. 1 shows a network for providing a syndicated data Microsoft Windows XP, UNIX, or Linux, along with software stream such as an RSS stream. Short for Really Simple Syn Support for Internet communication protocols. The personal dication, RDF (Resource Description Framework) Site Sum computer may also include a browser program, Such as mary or Rich Site Summary, RSS is an XML format for 40 Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, or FireFox, syndicating Web content. A Web site operator who wants to to provide a user interface for access to the internetwork 110. allow other sites to publish some of the Web site's content Although the personal computer is a typical client 102, the may create an RSS document and register the document with client 102 may also be a workstation, mobile computer, Web an RSS publisher. The published or “syndicated content can phone, VOIP device, television set-top box, interactive kiosk, then be presented on a different site, or through an aggregator 45 personal digital assistant, wireless electronic mail device, or or other system, directly at a client device. Syndicated content other device capable of communicating over the Internet. As may include Such data as news feeds, events listings, news used herein, the term “client' is intended to refer to any of the stories, headlines, project updates, and excerpts from discus above-described clients 102 or other client devices, and the sion forums or even corporate information. While RSS con term “browser is intended to refer to any of the above tent often includes text, other data may also be syndicated, 50 browser programs or other Software or firmware providing a typically in binary form, such as images, audio, and so forth. user interface for navigating an internetwork 110 Such as the The systems described herein may use all such forms of data Internet. feed. In one embodiment, the XML/RSS feed itself may be An exemplary server 104 includes a processor, a memory converted to binary in order to conserve communications (e.g. RAM), a bus which couples the processor and the bandwidth. This may employ, for example, Microsoft's 55 memory, a mass storage device (e.g. a magnetic or optical DINE specification for binary information or any other suit disk) coupled to the processor and the memory through an I/O able binary format. controller, and a network interface coupled to the processor As shown in FIG. 1, a network 100 may include a plurality and the memory. Servers may be clustered together to handle of clients 102 and servers 104 connected via an internetwork more client traffic and may include separate servers for dif 110. Any number of clients 102 and servers 104 may partici 60 ferent functions such as a database server, an application pate in such a system 100. The system may further include server, and a Web presentation server. Such servers may fur one or more local area networks (“LAN”) 112 interconnect ther include one or more mass storage devices Such as a disk ing clients 102 through a hub 114 (in, for example, a peer farm or a redundant array of independent disk (“RAID) network such as a wired or wireless Ethernet network) or a system for additional storage and data integrity. Read-only local area network server 114 (in, for example, a client-server 65 devices, such as compact disk drives and digital versatile disk network). The LAN 112 may be connected to the internet drives, may also be connected to the servers. Suitable servers work 110 through a gateway 116, which provides security to and mass storage devices are manufactured by, for example, US 9,202,084 B2 17 18 Compaq, IBM, and Sun Microsystems. Generally, a server may be provided that includes routing instructions that are 104 may operate as a source of content and provide any automatically executed by the OPML router. In other embodi associated back-end processing, while a client 102 is a con ments, a configuration table is configured to route particular Sumer of content provided by the server 104. However, it portions of an OPML-structured document to particular should be appreciated that many of the devices described addresses. In embodiments an OPML router includes rules above may be configured to respond to remote requests, thus that can be triggered by OPML content, such as rules for operating as a server, and the devices described as servers 104 prioritizing nodes, rules for routing OPML content to particu may operate as clients of remote data sources. In contempo lar locations, and the like. The rules may be triggered by the rary peer-to-peer networks and environments such as RSS structure of an OPML document, the title, or one or more environments, the distinction between clients and servers 10 content items within the OPML document. blurs. Accordingly, as used herein, the term “server” as used In the process of transferring data between networks, an herein is generally intended to refer to any of the above OPML router may perform translations of various protocols described servers 104, or any other device that may be used to between the two networks, including, for example, translat provide content such as RSS feeds in a networked environ ing data from one data format to another, Such as taking RSS ment. 15 input data and outputting data in another format. In embodi In one aspect, a client 102 or server 104 as described herein ments the OPML router may also protect networks from one may provide OPML-specific functionality or, more generally, another by preventing the traffic on one from unnecessarily functionality to Support a system using outlining grammar or spilling over to the other, or it may perform a security function markup language with processing, storage, search, routing, by using rules that limit the access that computers from out and the like. side the network may have to computers inside the network. For example, the network 100 may include an OPML or The security rules may be triggered by the content of the RSS router. While the following discussion details routing of OPML document, the structure of an OPML document, or OPML content, it will be understood that the system other features, such as the author, title, or the like. For described may also, or instead, be employed for RSS or any example, an OPML router may include an authentication other outlined or syndicated content. The network 100 may 25 facility that requires an OPML document to contain a pass include a plurality of clients 102 that are OPML users and a word, a particular structure, an embedded code, or the like in number of servers 104 that are OPML sources connected via order to be routed to a particular place. Such a security feature an internetwork 110. Any number of clients 102 and servers can protect networks from each other and can be used to 104 may participate in such a network 100. A device within enable features Such as version control. the internetwork 110 such as a router or, on an enterprise 30 OPML routers may be deployed in various network con level, a gateway or other network edge or Switching device, texts and locations. An OPML edge router may connect may cache popular data feeds to reduce redundant traffic OPML clients to the Internet. An OPML core router may through the internetwork 110. In other network enhance serve solely to transmit OPML and other data among other ments, clients 102 may be enlisted to coordinate sharing of routers. Data traveling over the Internet, whether in the form data feeds using techniques such as those employed in a 35 of a Web page, a downloaded file or an e-mail message, BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. In the systems described travels over a packet-switching network. In this system, the herein, these and other techniques generally may be data in a message or file is broken up into packages approxi employed to improve performance of an OPML data network. mately 1,500 bytes long. Each of these packages has a “wrap A router generally may be understood as a computer net per that includes information on the sender's address, the working device that forwards data packets across an internet 40 receiver's address, the package's place in the entire message, work through a process known as routing. A router may act as and how the receiving computer can be sure that the package a junction between two networks, transferring data packets arrived intact. Each data package, called a packet, is then sent between them and validating that information is sent to the off to its destination via the best available route. In embodi correct location. Routing most typically is associated with ments, the OPML router determines the best available route Internet Protocol (IP); however, specialized routers exist for 45 taking into account the structure of the OPML document, routing particular types of data, Such as ADSL routers for including the need to maintain associations among packets. A asynchronously routing signals across digital Subscriber selected route may be taken by all packets in the message or lines. An OPML router may route data across an internet only a single packet in a message. By packaging data in this work, such as the Internet, which may include data in OPML manner, a network can continuously balance the data load on format. In particular, the OPML router may be configured to 50 its equipment. For example, if one component of a network is route data in response to or in correspondence with the struc overloaded or malfunctioning, data packets may be routed for ture or the content of an OPML document; that is, various processing on other network equipment that has a lighter data species of OPML router may be provided that correspond to load and/or is properly working. An OPML router may also user-developed outline structures in OPML. For example, a route OPML content according to semantic structure. For financial services OPML outline may correspond to a finan 55 example, an OPML router configured to handle medical cial services OPML router that is configured to route financial records may route X-Rays to an expert in reading X-Rays services data packets among constituent networks of one or while routing insurance information to another department of more financial services institutions. a hospital. An OPML router may use a configuration table, also Routers may reconfigure the paths that data packets take known as a routing table, to determine the appropriate route 60 because they look at the information Surrounding the data for sending a packet, including an OPML data packet. The packet and can communicate with each other about line con configuration table may include information on which con ditions within the network, such as delays in receiving and nections lead to particular groups of addresses, connection sending data and the overall traffic load on a network. An priorities, and rules for handling routine and special types of OPML router may communicate with other OPML routers to network traffic. In embodiments, the configuration table is 65 determine, for example, whether the entire structure of an dynamically configurable in correspondence to the incoming OPML document was preserved or whether recipients of a structure of an OPML data packet; that is, an OPML structure particular component in fact received the routed component. US 9,202,084 B2 19 20 Again, the OPML document itself may include a structure for improves data transmission speed in a network. OPML routing it. A router may also locate preferential sources for Switches may allow different nodes (a network connection OPML content using caching and other techniques. Thus, for point, typically a computer) of a network to communicate example, where an OPML document includes content from directly with one another in a Smooth and efficient manner. an external reference, the external reference may be a better 5 Switches that provide a separate connection for each node in source for that portion of the OPML document based upon an a company's internal network are called LAN switches. analysis of e.g., network congestion, geographic proximity, Essentially, a LAN switch creates a series of instant networks and the like. that contain only the two devices communicating with each An OPML router may use a subnet mask to determine the other at that particular moment. An OPML switch may be proper routing for a data packet. The Subnet mask may 10 configured to route databased on the OPML structure of that employ a model similar to IP addressing. This tells the OPML data. router that all messages in which the sender and receiver have In one embodiment, an OPML router may be a one-armed an address sharing the first three groups of numbers are on the router used to route packets in a virtual LAN environment. In same network and shouldn't be sent out to another network. the case of a one-armed router, the multiple attachments to For example, if a computer at address 15.57.31.40 sends a 15 different networks are all over the same physical link OPML request to the computer at 15.57.31.52, the router will match routers may also function as an Internet gateway (e.g., for the first three groups in the IP addresses (15.57.31) and keep Small networks in homes and offices). Such as where an Inter the packet on the local network. OPML routers may be pro net connection is an always-on broadband connection like grammed to understand the most common network protocols. cable modem or DSL. This programming may include information regarding the The network 100 may also, or instead, include an OPML format of addresses, the format of OPML documents, the server, as described in greater detail below. OPML, which number of bytes in the basic package of data sent out over the may, for example, be encapsulated within an RSS data feed, network, and the method which insures all the packages reach may contain one or more RSS channel identifiers or items, or their destination and get reassembled, including into the may be a separate document, has the general format shown in structure of an OPML document, if desired. 25 the OPML specification hosted at www.opml.org/spec, the There are two major routing algorithms in common use: entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. global routing algorithms and decentralized routing algo The structure generally includes OPML delimiters, general rithms. In decentralized routing algorithms, each router has authorship and creation data, formatting/viewing data (if information about the routers to which it is directly connected any), and a series of outline entries according to a knowledge but does not know about every router in the network. These 30 structure devised by the author. algorithms are also known as DV (distance vector) algo An OPML server may be provided for manipulating rithms. In global routing algorithms, every router has com OPML content. The OPML server may provide services and plete information about all other routers in the network and content to clients 102 using, for example, a Web interface, an the traffic status of the network. These algorithms are also API, an XML processing interface, an RSS feed, an OPML known as LS (link state) algorithms. In LS algorithms, every 35 renderer, and the like. router identifies the routers that are physically connected to The OPML server may, for example, provide a search them and obtains their IP addresses. When a router starts engine service to visitors. Output from the OPML server may working, it first sends a “HELLO packet over the network. be an OPML file, an HTML file, or any other file suitable for Each router that receives this packet replies with a message rendering to a client device or Subsequent processing. The file that contains its IP address. All routers in the network mea 40 may, for example, have a name that explicitly contains the Sure the delay time (or any other important parameters of the search query from which it was created in order to facilitate network, Such as average traffic) for its neighboring routers redistribution, modification, recreation, synchronization, within the network. In order to do this, the routers send echo updating, and storage of the OPML file. A user may also packets over the network. Every router that receives these manipulate the file. Such as by adding or removing outline packets replies with an echo reply packet. By dividing round 45 elements representing individual search results, or by repri trip time by two, routers can compute the delay time. This oritizing or otherwise reorganizing the results, and the user delay time includes both transmission and processing times may optionally store the revised search as a new OPML file. (i.e., the time it takes the packets to reach the destination and Thus in one aspect the OPML server may create new, original the time it takes the receiver to process them and reply). OPML content based upon user queries submitted thereto. In Because of this inter-router communication, each OPML 50 a sense, this function is analogous to the function of aggre router within the network knows the structure and status of gators in an RSS syndication system, where new content may the network and can use this information to select the best be dynamically created from a variety of different sources and route between two nodes of a network. republished in a structured form. The selection of the best available route between two nodes The OPML server may, more generally, provide a front on a network may be done using an algorithm, Such as the 55 end for an OPML database that Stores OPML content. The Dijkstra shortest path algorithm. In this algorithm, an OPML OPML database may store OPML data in a number of forms, router, based on information that has been collected from Such as by casting the OPML structure into a corresponding other OPML routers, builds a graph of the network. This relational database where each OPML file is encapsulated as graph shows the location of OPML routers in the network and one or more records. The OPML database may also store links their links to each other. Every link is labeled with a number 60 to external OPML content or may traverse OPML content called the weight or cost. This number is a function of delay through any number of layers and store data, files, and the like time, average traffic, and sometimes simply the number of externally referenced in OPML documents. Thus, for disparate links between nodes. For example, if there are two example, where an OPML file references an external OPML links between a node and a destination, the OPML router file, that external OPML file may be retrieved by the database chooses the link with the lowest weight. 65 and parsed and stored. The external OPML file may, in turn, Closely related to the function of OPML routers, OPML reference other external OPML files that may be similarly Switches may provide another network component that processed to construct, within the database, an entire OPML US 9,202,084 B2 21 22 tree. The OPML database may also, or instead, store OPML be maintained in one location, MRI data in another location, files as simple text or in any number of formats optimized for patient biographical data in another location, and clinical searching (such as a number of well-known techniques used notes in another location. These data may be entirely by large scale search engines Google. AltaVista, and the like), decoupled from individual patients (thus offering a degree of or for OPML processing, or for any other purpose(s). The security/privacy) and optionally may include references to OPML database may provide coherency for formation of an other content. Such as directories of other types of data, direc OPML network among an array of clients 102 and servers tories of readers or interpretive metadata for understanding or 104, where content within the network 100 is structured viewing records, and the like. Separately, OPML files may be according to user-created OPML outlines. created to provide structure to the distributed data. For The OPML server may provide a number of functions or 10 example, a CT Scan OPML master record may index the services related to OPML content. For example, the OPML locations of all CT Scan records, which may be useful, for server may permit a user to publish OPML content, either at example, for studies or research relating to aggregated CT a hosted site or locally from a user's computer. The OPML Scan data. This type of horizontal structure may be captured server may provide a ping service for monitoring updates of in one or more OPML records which may themselves be OPML content. The OPML server may provide a validation 15 hierarchical. Thus, for example, one OPML file may identify service to validate content according to the OPML specifica participating hospitals by external reference to OPML tion. The OPML server may provide a search service or records for those hospitals. Each hospital may provide a top function which may permit searching against a database of level OPML file that identifies OPML records that are avail OPML content, or it may provide user-configurable spidering able, which may in turn identify all CT Scan records main capabilities to search for OPML content across a wide area tained at that hospital. The CT Scan master record may network. The OPML server may provide an interface for traverse the individual hospital OPML records to provide a browsing (or more generally, navigating) and/or reading flattened list of CT Scan records available in the system. As OPML content. The OPML server may provide tools for another example, an OPML file may identify medical data for creating, editing, and/or managing OPML content. a particular patient. This OPML file may traverse records of The OPML server may provide a number of complemen 25 any number of different hospitals or other medical institu tary functions or services to support OPML-based transac tions, or it may directly identify particular records where, for tions, content management, and the like. In one aspect, a example, concerns about confidentiality cause institutions to renderer or converter may be provided to convert between a strip any personally identifying data from records. For certain structured format such as OPML and a presentation format applications, it may be desirable to have a central registry of such as PowerPoint and display the respective forms. While 30 data so that records Such as patient data are not inadvertently the converter may be used with OPML and PowerPoint, it lost due to, for example, data migration within a particular should be understood that the converter may be usefully hospital. employed with a variety of other structured, hierarchical, or Thus in one embodiment there is generally disclosed outlined formats and a variety of presentation formats or herein a pull-based data management system in which atomic programs. For example, the presentation format may include 35 units of data are passively maintained at any number of net Portable Document Format, Flash Animation, electronic work-accessible locations, while structure is imposed on the books, a variety of Open Source alternatives to PowerPoint data through atomic units of relationship that may be arbi (e.g., OpenOffice.org's Presenter, KDE’s KPresenter, HTML trarily defined through OPML or other grammars. The source Slidy, and so forth), whether or not they are PowerPoint data may be selectively pulled and organized according to compatible. The structured format may include OPML, an 40 user-defined OPML definitions. The OPML server and MS Word outline, simpletext, or any other structured content, OPML database may enable such a system by providing a as well as files associated with leaf nodes thereof, such as repository for organization and search of Source data in the audio, visual, moving picture, text, spreadsheet, chart, table, OPML network. Traversing OPML trees to fully scope an graphic, or any otherformat, any of which may be rendered in outline composed of a number of nested OPML outlines may association with the structured format and/or converted 45 be performed by a client 102 or may be performed by the between a structured format and a presentation format. It will OPML server, either upon request from a client 102 for a also be understood that the converter may be deployed on a particular outline or continually in a manner that insures client device for local manipulation, processing, and/or integrity of external reference links republication of content. In another aspect, there is disclosed herein a link mainte The OPML database may, for example, operate through the 50 nance system for use in an OPML network. In general, a link OPML server to generate, monitor, and/or control spiders that maintenance system may function to insure integrity of exter locate OPML content. A spider may, upon identification of a nal references contained within OPML files. Broken links, valid OPML file, retrieve the file and process it into the which may result for example from deletion or migration of database. A spider may also process an OPML file to identify Source content, may be identified and addressed in a number external references, systematically traversing an entire 55 of ways. For example, a search can be performed using the OPML tree. A spider may be coordinated using known tech OPML server and OPML database for all OPML files includ niques to identify redundant references within a hierarchy. A ing a reference to the missing target. Additionally, the OPML spider may also differentiate processing according to, e.g., server and/or OPML database may include a registry of con structure, content, location, file types, metadata, and the like. tent Sources including an e-mail contact manager/administra The user interface described below may also include one or 60 tor of outside sources. Notification of the broken link includ more tools for configuring spiders, including a front end for ing a reference to the content may be sent to all owners of generating initial queries, displaying results, and tagging content. Optionally, the OPML server may automatically results with any Suitable metadata. modify content to delete or replace the reference, assuming By way of example, and not of limitation, medical records the OPML server has authorization to access such content. may be stored as OPML files, either within the database or in 65 The OPML server may contact the owner of the missing a distributed fashion among numerous locations across the content. The message to the owner may include a request to OPML network. Thus, for example, assorted X-Ray data may provide an alternative link which may be forwarded to owners US 9,202,084 B2 23 24 of all content that references the missing content. If the ref rated by periods. When a domain name is used, the computer erenced subject matter has been fully indexed by the OPML accesses a DNS server to obtain the explicit four-byte IP server and/or OPML database, the content may itself be address. It will be appreciated that other internetworks 110 reconstructed and a replacement link to the location of the may be used with the invention. For example, the internet reconstructed content provided. Various combinations of 5 work 110 may be a wide-area network, a local area network, reconstruction and notification, Such as those above, may be a campus area network, or corporate area network. The inter applied to maintain the integrity of links in OPML source files network 110 may be any other network used to communicate indexed in the database. In various embodiments the links data, such as a cable broadcast network. may be continuously verified and updated, or the links may be To further define the resources on the Internet 110, the updated only when an OPML document with a broken link is 10 Uniform Resource Locator system was created. A Uniform requested by a client 102 and processed or traversed by the Resource Locator (“URL) is a descriptor that specifically client 102 or the OPML server in response. defines a protocol for an Internet resource along with its The OPML server may provide a client-accessible user location. URLs have the following format: interface to view items in a data stream or OPML outline. The protocol://domain.address/path-name user interface may be presented, for example, through a Web 15 in which the domain address and path-name provide a page viewed using a Web browser or through an outliner or location for a resource, and the protocol defines the type of outline viewer specifically adapted to display OPML content. protocol used to access the resource. It will be appreciated In general, an RSS or OPML file may be converted to HTML that, in the context of this paragraph only, the term “resource' for display at a Web browser of a client 102. For example, the is used in the conventional sense of RFC 1738 to refer to a source file on a server 104 may be converted to HTML using document, image, or the like available on the Web. Web a Server-Side Include (“SSI) to bring the content into a documents are identified by the protocol “http” which indi template by iterating through the XML/RSS internal struc cates that the hypertext transfer protocol should be used to ture. The resulting HTML may be viewed at a client 102 or access the document. Other common protocols include “ftp' posted to a different server 104 along with other items. The (file transmission protocol), “mailto' (send electronic mail), output may also, or instead, be provided in OPML form for 25 “file’ (local file), and “telnet. The domain.address defines viewing through an OPML renderer. Thus, feeds and items the domain name address of the computer on which the may be generally mixed, shared, forwarded, and the like in a resource is located. Finally, the path-name defines a directory variety of formats. path within the file system of the server that identifies the Again it is noted that specific references to OPML and RSS resource. As used herein, the term “IP address' is intended to above are not intended to be limiting and more generally 30 refer to the four-byte Internet Protocol address (or the should be understood as references to any outlining, syndi expanded address provided by IPv6), and the term “Web cation, or other grammar suitable for use with the systems address” is intended to refer to a domain name address, along described herein. with any resource identifier and path name appropriate to Focusing now on the internetwork 110, one embodiment is identify a particular Web resource. The term “address, when the Internet. The structure of the Internet 110 is well knownto 35 used alone, may refer to either a Web address oran IP address. those of ordinary skill in the art and includes a network In an exemplary embodiment, a browser, executing on one backbone with networks branching from the backbone. These of the clients 102, retrieves a Web document at an address branches, in turn, have networks branching from them and so from one of the servers 104 via the internetwork 110 and on. The backbone and branches are connected by routers, displays the Web document on a viewing device, e.g., a bridges, Switches, and other Switching elements that operate 40 screen. A user can retrieve and view the Web document by to direct data through the internetwork 110. For a more entering, or selecting a link to, a URL in the browser. The detailed description of the structure and operation of the browser then sends an http request to the server 104 that has Internet 110, one may refer to “The Internet Complete Ref the Web document associated with the URL. The server 104 erence.” by Harley Hahn and Rick Stout, published by responds to the http request by sending the requested Web McGraw-Hill, 1994. However, one may practice the present 45 document to the client 102. The Web document is an HTTP invention on a wide variety of communication networks. For object that includes plain text (ASCII) conforming to the example, the internetwork 110 can include interactive televi HyperTextMarkup Language (“HTML). Other markup lan sion networks, telephone networks, wireless voice or data guages are known and may be used on appropriately enabled transmission systems, two-way cable systems, customized browsers and servers, including the Dynamic HyperText computer networks, Asynchronous Transfer Mode networks, 50 Markup Language (“DHTML'), the Extensible Markup Lan and so on. Clients 102 may access the internetwork 110 guage (XML), the Extensible HypertextMarkup Language through an Internet Service Provider ("ISP, not shown) or (“XHML'), and the Standard Generalized Markup Language through a dedicated DSL service, ISDN leased lines, T1 lines, (“SGML). OC3 lines, digital satellite service, cable modem service, or Each Web document usually contains hyperlinks to other any other connection, or through an ISP providing same. 55 Web documents. The browser displays the Web document on In its present deployment as the Internet, the internetwork the screen for the user, and the hyperlinks to other Web 110 includes a worldwide computer network that communi documents are emphasized in Some fashion such that the user cates using the well-defined Transmission Control Protocol can identify and select each hyperlink. To enhance function (“TCP) and Internet Protocol (“IP”) to provide transport and ality, a server 104 may execute programs associated with Web network services. Computer systems that are directly con 60 documents using programming or scripting languages. Such nected to the Internet 110 each have a unique IP address. The as Perl, C, C++, C#, or Java, or a Common Gateway Interface IP address consists of four one-byte numbers (although a (“CGI) script to access applications on the server. A server planned expansion to sixteen bytes is underway with IPv6). 104 may also use server-side Scripting languages such as To simplify Internet addressing, the Domain Name System ColdFusion from MacroMedia or PHP. These programs and (“DNS) was created. The DNS allows users to access Inter 65 languages may perform “back-end functions such as order net resources with a simpler alphanumeric naming system. A processing, database management, and content searching. A DNS name consists of a series of alphanumeric names sepa Web document may also contain, or include references to, US 9,202,084 B2 25 26 Small client-side applications, or applets, that are transferred itself. The image element may also include the following from the server 104 to the client 102 along with a Web docu optional elements: a link (a URL that the image links to), a ment and are executed locally by the client 102. Java is one width, a height, and a description (additional text displayed popular example of a programming language used for with the image). There may also be a text input element for an applets. The text within a Web document may further include 5 HTML text field. The text input element may include a title (non-displayed) scripts that are executable by an appropri (label for a Submit button), description, name, and link (to ately enabled browser, using a scripting language Such as send input). The link may enable richer functionality, Such as JavaScript or Visual Basic Script. Browsers may further be allowing a user to Submit search terms, send electronic mail, enhanced with a variety of helper applications to interpret or perform any other text-based function. various media including still image formats Such as JPEG and 10 Once defined in this manner, a channel may contain a GIF, document formats such as PS and PDF, motion picture number of items, although some services (e.g., Netscape Net formats such as AVI and MPEG, animated media such as center) may limit the number. In general, the “item' elements Flash media, and sound formats such as MP3 and MIDI. provide headlines and Summaries of the content to be shared. These media formats, along with a growing variety of propri New items may be added, either manually or automatically etary media formats, may be used to enrich a users interac 15 (such as through a script), by appending them to the RSS file. tive and audio-visual experience as each Web document is FIG. 2 depicts a system for using and aggregating data presented through the browser. The term “page' as used feeds or other syndicated content. In general, data feeds 202, herein is intended to refer to the Web document described Such as RSS Source files, are generated from a content source above as well as any of the above-described functional or 204 and made available for use or review by clients 102 multimedia content associated with the Web document. through a network. In general operation, a server 104 may provide a data The content source 204 may provide any electronic content stream to a client 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the data including newspaper articles; Web magazine articles; aca stream may be a syndicated data stream such as RSS, an XML demic papers; government documents such as court opinions, grammar for sharing data through the Web. An RSS-enabled administrative rulings, regulation updates, or the like; opin server may include an RSS file with a title and description of 25 ions; editorials; product reviews; movie reviews; financial or items to be syndicated. As with simple HTML documents, the market analysis; current events; bulletins; and the like. The RSS file may be hand-coded or computer-generated. The first content may include text, formatting, layout, graphics, audio line of an RSS file may contain an XML declaration of the files, image files, movie files, word processing files, spread form: sheet files, presentation files, electronic documents, HTML 30 files, executable files, Scripts, multi-media, relational data While not strictly required, this declaration may improve bases, data from relational databases and/or any other content version compatibility. The next item in an RSS file may be a type or combination of types suitable for syndication through Document Type Declaration (“DTD) that identifies the file a network. The content Source 204 may be any commercial as an RSS document: media provider(s) such as newspapers, news services (e.g., commercial entities such as corporations, non-profit corpo The RSS element is the root or top-level element of an RSS rations, charities, religious organizations, social organiza file. The RSS element must specify the version attribute (in tions, or the like, as well as from individuals with no affilia this example, version 0.91). It may also contain an encoding 40 tion to any of the foregoing. The content Source 204 may be attribute (the default is UTF-8): edited, as with news items, or automated, as with data feeds 202 Such as Stock tickers, sports scores, weather conditions, The root element is the top-level element that contains the and so on. While written text is commonly used in data feeds rest of an XML document. An RSS element may contain a 202, it will be appreciated that any digital media may be channel with a title (the name of the channel), description 45 binary encoded and included in an item of a data feed 202 (short description of the channel), link (HTML link to the such as RSS. For example, data feeds 202 may include audio, channel Web site), language (language encoding of the chan moving pictures, still pictures, executable files, application nel, such as en-us for U.S. English), and one or more item specific files (e.g., word processing documents or spread elements. A channel may also contain the following optional sheets), and the like. It should also be understood that, while elements: 50 a content source 204 may generally be understood as a well rating an independent content rating, such as a PICS defined source of items for a data feed, the content source 204 rating may be more widely distributed or subjectively gathered by a copyright—copyright notice information user preparing a data feed 202. For example, an individual publDate—date the channel was published user interested in automotive mechanics may regularly read a lastBuildDate—date the RSS was last updated 55 number of related magazines and regularly attend trade docs—additional information about the channel shows. This information may be processed on an adhoc basis managingeditor—channel's managing editor by the individual and placed into a data feed 202 for review webMaster—channel Webmaster and use by others. Thus it will be understood that the data image—channel image stream systems described herein may have broad commercial textinput allows a user to sendan HTML form text input 60 use, as well as non-commercial, educational, and mixed uses. string to a URL As described generally above, the data feed 202 may skipHours—the hours that an aggregator should not collect include, for each item of content, Summary information Such the RSS file as a title, Synopsis or abstract (or a teaser, for more marketing skipDays—the weekdays that an aggregator should not oriented materials), and a link to the underlying content. Thus collect the RSS file 65 as depicted in FIG. 2, when a client 102 accesses a data feed A channel may contain animage or logo. In RSS, the image 202, as depicted by an arrow 206, the client 102 may then element contains the image title and the URL of the image display the Summary information for each item in a user US 9,202,084 B2 27 28 interface. A client 102 may, in response to user input such as as to filter items within feeds and provide any other adminis clicking on a title of an item in the user interface, retrieve the trative services to assist with Syndication, distribution, and underlying item from the content source 204 as indicated by review of content. an arrow 208. In the bi-directional communication depicted As will be described in greater detail below, the aggregator by the arrow 208, the client 102 may also identify the specific 5 210 may filter, prioritize, or otherwise process the aggregated data feed 202 through which the item was identified, which data feeds. A single processed data feed 202 may then be may be useful for tracking distribution channels, customer provided to a client 102 as depicted by an arrow 212. The behavior, affiliate referral fees, and so forth. It should be client 102 may request periodic updates from the data feed appreciated that an RSS data feed 202 may be presented to a 202 created by the aggregator 210 as also indicated by an 10 arrow 212. As indicated by an arrow 213, the client 102 may client 102 as an RSS file (in XML format) that the client 102 also configure the aggregator 210 such as by adding data locally converts to HTML for viewing through a Web streams 202, removing data streams 202, Searching for new browser, or the data feed 202 may be converted to HTML at a data streams 202, explicitly filtering or prioritizing items Web site that responds to HTTP requests from a client 102 from the data streams 202, or designating personal prefer and responds with an HTML-formatted data feed. 15 ences or profile data that the aggregator 210 may apply to A related concept is the so-called “permalink’ that pro generate the aggregated data feed 202. When an item of vides a permanent URL reference to a source document that interest is presented in the user interface of the client 102, a may be provided from, for example, a dynamically generated user may select a link to the item, causing the client 102 to Web site or a document repository served from a relational retrieve the item from the associated content source 204 as database behind a Web server. While there is no official stan indicated by an arrow 214. The aggregator 210 may present dard for permalink syntax or usage, they are widely used in the data feed 202 as a static web page that is updated only conjunction with data feeds. Permalinks typically consist of a upon an explicit request from the client 102, or the aggregator string of characters which represent the date and time of 210 may push updates to a client 102 using either HTTP or posting, and some (system dependent) identifier (which related Web browser technologies, or by updates through includes a base URL, and often identifies the author, Sub 25 Some other channel. Such as e-mail updates. It will also be scriber, or department which initially authored the item). Ifan appreciated that, while the aggregator 210 is illustrated as item is changed, renamed, or moved, its permalink remains separate from the client 102, the aggregator 210 may be unaltered. If an item is deleted altogether, its permalink can realized as a primarily client-side technology, where software not be reused. Permalinks are exploited in a number of appli executing on the client 102 assumes responsibility for directly cations including link tracing and link track back in Weblogs 30 accessing a number of data feeds 202 and aggregating/filter ing results from those feeds 202. and references to specific Weblog entries in RSS or Atom It will be appreciated that a user search for feeds will be syndication streams. Permalinks are Supported in most mod improved by the availability of well organized databases. ern weblogging and content syndication Software systems, While a number of Weblogs provide local search functional including Movable Type, LiveJournal, and Blogger. 35 ity, and a number of aggregator services provide lists of RSS provides a standard format for the delivery of content available data feeds, there remains a need for a consumer through data feeds. This makes it relatively straightforward level searchable database offeed content. As such, one aspect for a content provider to distribute content broadly and for an of the system described herein is a database of data feeds that affiliate to receive and process content from multiple sources. is searchable by contents as well as metadata Such as title and It will be appreciated that other RSS-compliant and/or non 40 description. In a server used with the systems described RSS-compliant feeds may be syndicated as that term is used herein, the entire universe of known data feeds may behashed herein and as is described in greater detail below. As noted or otherwise organized into searchable form in real time or above, the actual content may not be distributed directly, only near real time. The hash index may include each word or other the headlines, which means that users will ultimately access symbol and any data necessary to locate it in a stream and in the content source 204 if they’re interested in a story. It is also 45 a post. possible to distribute the item of content directly through The advent of commonly available data feeds 202, such as RSS, though this approach may compromise Some of the RSS feeds, along with tools such as aggregators 210, enables advantages of network efficiency (items are not copied and new modes of communication. In one common use, a user distributed in their entirety) and referral tracking. Traffic to a may, through a client 102, post aggregated feeds 202 to a Web site that hosts a content source 204 can increase in 50 Weblog. The information posted on a Weblog may include an response to distribution of data feeds 202. aggregated feed 202, one or more data feeds 202 that are Although not depicted, a single content Source 204 may Sources for the aggregated feed 202, and any personal, politi also have multiple data feeds 202. These may be organized cal, technical, or editorial comments that are significant to the topically or according to target clients 102. Thus, the same author. As such, all participants in an RSS network may content may have data feeds 202 for electronic mailing lists, 55 become authors or sources of content, as well as consumers. PDAs, cellphones, and set-top boxes. For example, a content FIG.3 depicts certain aspects of the markets for data feeds. provider may decide to offer headlines in a PDA-friendly This generally depicts characteristics that can be present in a format, or it may create a weekly email newsletter describing number of different markets in which the systems described what's new on a Web site. herein may be usefully deployed. Market 300 for data feeds Data feeds 202 in a standard format provide for significant 60 302 such as RSS may be understood as including four main flexibility in how content is organized and distributed. An models for information exchange among business partici aggregator 210, for example, may be provided that periodi pants in the commercial space 302 and individuals in the cally updates data from a plurality of data feeds 202. In consumer space 304. As large, established companies such as general, an aggregator 210 may make many data feeds 202 Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft adopt and integrate RSS tech available as a single source. As a significant advantage, this 65 nologies, these markets should grow significantly. intermediate point in the content distribution chain may also At present, the consumer-to-consumer market model 306 be used to customize feeds, and presentation thereof, as well consists primarily of millions of individual bloggers, mostly US 9,202,084 B2 29 30 communicating with each other. This includes non-commer employ data feed systems, including companies ranging from cial Weblogs where individuals aggregate data feeds 302 catalogue companies such as Land's End to consumer elec from a variety of sources and include editorial commentary or tronics retailers such as Best Buy. In this context, a syndica other information. In general, a source in this space is an tion platform such as enhanced RSS offers a reliable distri individual presenting aggregated feeds 302 in a Web site with 5 bution channel for advertising new products and special Some common theme or themes of interest to the author, Such offers to presumably interested consumers. These and other as history, sports, science, technology, politics, literature, art, applications may be realized using the data feed technology music, and so forth. However, there are no strict requirements described herein. that any one or more themes be followed, and the Weblog may All Such entity-to-entity communications described above simply reflect an ad hoc selection of topics that the author 10 finds interesting. Weblogs in this space gain popularity may be improved through enhanced syndication systems as according to the content provided, with readership (and asso generally described herein. It will be appreciated that one ciated RSS Subscriptions or registrations) rising or falling obstacle to expanded use across all of these markets is the according to general interest. absence in the primary technology, RSS, of enterprise-class The consumer-to-business model or segment 308 brings 15 features such as security, authentication, conditional access together consumers who are interested in a particular topic, data repositories, and rich metadata, to name a few. In one typically a topic with a corresponding commercial market, aspect, the systems described herein bring many of these Such as automobiles, mortgages, financial services, home features to RSS-like systems to provide secure, scalable syn repair, hobbies, and the like. A topic may be still more refined, dication systems. Such as antique automobiles, or antique American automo It should be clear that, while the term “aggregator” is used biles; however, the corresponding participation of commer to label aspects of the systems disclosed herein, those systems cial participants may depend on the scope of the market. include significant useful and advantageous functionality that Thus, a large number of financial service providers could be is not present in any aggregator in the prior art, and as Such the expected to subscribe to an RSS data feed for general con term should be interpreted broadly to optionally include all of Sumers of financial services; however, a smaller number of 25 the functions and techniques described below, rather than commercial subscribers might be expected for derivative cur narrowly in the sense that it is currently used in the art. rency hedge instruments among Pacific Rim country curren Although broader in meaning, the aggregator and interface cies. In general, consumer-to-business uses may provide con described below may operate, for example, from one of the Sumers with concerns, interests, and preferences in a servers 104 described above with reference to FIG. 1 and may particular market with a forum that will be followed by cor 30 cooperate with other participants and content sources in the responding commercial interests. In addition, by participat manner depicted for the aggregator 210 described in FIG. 2. ing in this RSS network, businesses may also address con It will be appreciated that the components described herein Sumer interests in a more direct and personal way, as correspond generally to various areas of functionality for a distinguished from the business-to-consumer segment 312 data feed system. However, in various embodiments, other discussed below. At the same time, it will be appreciated that 35 components may be added, or certain components may be the distinction between these segments 308, 312 need not be removed or combined with other components. For example, an absolute one, and a synthesis of these two communication the aggregator described herein may cooperate with an n-tier channels may result in a greater dialogue between commer architecture for a more general purpose Web server or with a cial and individual actors, to their collective and mutual ben relational database or other back end systems not specifically efit. Thus, for example, with a suitably configured aggregated 40 depicted herein to store and access data. Similarly, the sys feed 302 and associated Web presentation, an automobile tems described herein may include FTP servers, e-mail serv manufacturer could design a new minivan or SUV in coop ers, PSTN interfaces, and other physical connections and eration with the automobile-buying public in a manner that protocols for various other functions that may be usefully addresses previously unknown purchasing preferences of combined with the aggregator to enhance functionality. Any consumers. Additionally, since the community of participants 45 number of Such combinations and variations may be is likely to be highly focused, this segment 308 may offer employed consistent with the systems described herein and significant opportunities for revenue from targeted advertis are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. ing. It will also be appreciated that a wide range of software and The business-to-business segment 310 does not appear to hardware platforms may be used to deploy the systems be commonly used, although in the methods and systems 50 described herein. Generally, the system components may be described herein syndication may substitute for electronic realized inhardware, Software, or some combination of these. mail and other forms of corporate and business-to-business The components may be realized in one or more micropro communication, such as time management, inventory, Supply cessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, pro chain, manufacturing, and customer relations information grammable digital signal processors or other programmable flow. 55 devices, along with internal and/or external memory Such as The business-to-consumer segment 312 includes an exten read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, elec sion of traditional media companies that can add data feed tronically erasable programmable read-only memory, ran capabilities to their online presence. This includes news com dom access memory, dynamic random access memory, panies in print media, radio, television media, and Internet double data rate random access memory, Rambus direct ran media, including, by way of example and not limitation, the 60 dom access memory, flash memory, or any other volatile or New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Jour non-volatile memory for storing program instructions, pro nal, Forbes, Time, Business Week, CSPAN, ESPN, The gram data, and program output or other intermediate or final Weather Channel, CNBC, CNET, Bloomberg, Reuters, and results. The components may also, or instead, include one or so on. This may also include non-news related media that more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), dedi nonetheless periodically update content, such as movie stu 65 cated semiconductor devices, programmable gate arrays, pro dios, network television, cable television, and so on. In addi grammable array logic devices, or any other device that may tion, other companies that serve consumers may also usefully be configured to process electronic signals. US 9,202,084 B2 31 32 Any combination of the above circuits and components, layers may be embodied in a dedicated semiconductor device, whether packaged discretely, as a chip, as a chip set, or as a Such as an ASIC, that is configured to enable syndication. die, may be suitably adapted to use with the systems Services related to applications 406 may be embodied, for described herein. It will further be appreciated that the above example, in a client-side application (including commercially components may be realized as computer executable code 5 available applications such as a word processor, spreadsheet, created using a structured programming language Such as C. presentation Software, database system, task management an object oriented programming language such as C++, or system, Supply chain management system, inventory man any other high-level or low-level programming language that agement system, human resources management system, user may be compiled or interpreted to run on one of the above interface system, operating system, graphics system, com 10 puter game, electronic mail system, calendar System, media devices, as well as heterogeneous combinations of proces player, and the like), a remote application or service, an sors, processor architectures, or combinations of different application layer of an enhanced syndication services proto hardware and software. col stack, a web service, a service oriented architecture ser FIG. 4 depicts a conceptual framework for syndicated vice, a Java applet, or a combination of these. Applications communications. In a syndication system 400, a plurality of 15 406 may include, for example, a user interface, social net sources 402, which may be for example any of the content working, vertical market applications, media viewers, trans sources 204 described above, are published to a plurality of action processing, alerts, event-action pairs, analysis, and so users 404, which may be users of any of the clients 102 forth. Applications 406 may also accommodate vertical mar described above. Users 404 may include individuals, con ket uses of other aspects of the system 400 by integrating Sumers, business entities, government entities, workgroups, various aspects of for example, security, interfaces, data and other categories of users 404. Access to the sources 402 bases, syndication, and the like. Examples of vertical markets by the users 404 may be through layers of devices, services, include financial services, health care, electronic commerce, and systems (which may be analogous to or actually embod communications, advertising, sales, marketing, Supply chain ied in a protocol stack)in which various layers are responsible management, retail, accounting, professional services, and so for discrete functions or services, as depicted generally in 25 forth. In one aspect, the applications 406 may include Social FIG. 4. However, it will be appreciated that each layer of FIG. networking tools to Support functions such as sharing and 4 may instead be provided as one or more non-layered ser pooling of syndicated content, content filters, content vices. This may include, for example, deployment as services Sources, content commentary, and the like, as well as forma in a Services Oriented Architecture or other Web-based or tion of groups, affiliations, and the like. Social networking similar environment where individual services may be 30 tools may support dynamic creation of communities and located and called from remote locations. This may also, or moderation of dialogues within communities, while provid instead, include deployment in a fixed architecture where a ing individual participants with any desired level of anonym specific collection of Services or functions, such as atomic ity. Social networking tools may also, or instead, evaluate functions, is deployed either locally or in a distributed manner popularity of feeds or items in a syndication network or and accessible through a syntax Such as an instruction set. The 35 permit user annotation, evaluation, or categorization. A user functions within the conceptual framework may also be interface from the application may also complement other deployed within a web application framework such as Ruby services layers. For example, an application may provide a on Rails or any other open Source or proprietary application user interface that interprets semantic content to determine framework. Thus, numerous architectures and variations are one or more display characteristics for associated items of possible for deploying the functions and operations described 40 syndicated content. herein, and all Such arrangements are intended to fall within Other services 408 may include any other services not the scope of this disclosure. specifically identified herein that may be usefully employed At the same time, it should be understood that the number, within an enhanced syndication system. For example, content arrangement, and functions of the layers may be varied in a from the sources 402 may be formatted for display through a number of ways within a syndication system 400; in particu 45 formatting service that interprets various types of data and lar, depending on the characteristics of the Sources, the needs determines an arrangement and format Suitable for display. of the users 404 and the features desired for particular appli This may also include services that are specifically identified, cations, a number of improved configurations for syndication which may be modified, enhanced, or adapted to different systems 404 may be established, representing favorable com uses through the other services 408. Other services 408 may binations and sub-combinations of layers depicted in FIG. 4. 50 Support one or more value added services. For example, a The layers may provide services Such as, for example, Ser security service may provide for secure communications vices related to applications 406, other services 408 (includ among users or from users to sources. An identity service may ing relating to processing), services related to data 410, Ser provide verification of user or source identities, such as by vices related to semantics of content 412, Syndication reference to a trusted third party. An authentication service services 414, and services related to infrastructure 416. More 55 may receive user credentials and control access to various generally, all of the services and functions described below, sources 402 or other services 408 within the system. A finan either individual or in combinations, as well as other services cial transaction service may execute financial transactions not specifically mentioned, may be incorporated into an among users 404 or between users 404 and sources 402. Any enhanced syndication system as described herein. It should be service amenable to computer implementation may be understood that any of the services depicted in the layers of 60 deployed as one or more other services 408, either alone or in FIG. 4 may be embodied in hardware, software, firmware, or combination with services from other elements of the system a combination thereof; for example, a service may be embod 400. ied in Software as a web service, according to a services Data services 410 may be embodied, for example, in a oriented architecture. Alternatively, without limitation, a ser client-side application, a remote application or service, an Vice may be a client-side or server-side application or take any 65 application layer of an enhanced syndication services proto of the forms described herein and in the documents incorpo col stack, as application services deployed, for example, in rated by reference herein. In one embodiment, one or more the services oriented architecture described below, or a com US 9,202,084 B2 33 34 bination of these. Data services 410 may include, for structure, and the navigation system may include techniques example, search, query, view, extract, or any other database for resolving upward references (e.g. where two different functions. Data services 410 may also, or instead, include OPML documents refer to the same object) using explicit user data quality functions such as data cleansing, deduplication, selections, pre-programmed preferences, or other selection and the like. Data services 410 may also, or instead, include criteria, as well as combinations thereof. transformation functions for transforming data between data Data services 410 may include access to a database man repositories or among presentation formats. Thus, for agement system (DBMS). In one aspect, the DBMS may example, data may be transformed from entries in a relational provide management of syndicated content. In another database, or items within an OPML outline, into a presenta aspect, the DBMS may support a virtual database of distrib tion format such as MS Word, MS Excel, or MS PowerPoint. 10 uted data. The DBMS may allow a user, such as a human oran Similarly, data may be transformed from a source Such as an automatic computer program, to perform operations on a data OPML outline into a structured database. Data services 410 feed, references to the data feed, metadata associated with the may also, or instead, include syndication-specific functions data feed, and the like. Thus in one aspect, a DBMS is pro Such as searching of data feeds, or items within data feeds, or vided for syndicated content. Operations on the data managed filtering items for relevance from within selected feeds, or 15 by the DBMS may be expressed in accordance with a query clustering groups of searches and/or filters for republication language. Such as SQL, XQuery, or any other database query as an aggregated and/or filtered content source 402. In one language. In some embodiments, the query language may be aspect, a data service 410 as described herein provides a employed to describe operations on a data feed, on an aggre repository of historical data feeds, which may be combined gate of data feeds, or on a distributed set of data feeds. It with other services for user-configurable publication of should be appreciated that the data feeds may be structured aggregated, filtered, and/or annotated feeds. More generally, according to RSS, OPML, or any other syndicated data for data services 410 may include any functions associated with mat. In another aspect, content such as OPML content may data including storing, manipulating, retrieving, transform describe a relationship among distributed data, and the data ing, Verifying, authenticating, formatting, reformatting, tag services 410 may provide a virtual DBMS interface to the ging, linking, hyperlinking, reporting, Viewing, and so forth. 25 distributed data. Thus, there is disclosed herein an OPML A search engine deployed within the data services 410 may based database wherein data relationships are encoded in permit searching of data feeds or, with a content database as OPML and data are stored as content distributed among described herein, searching or filtering of content within data resources referenced by the OPML. feeds from sources 402. Data services 410 may be adapted for The data services 410 may include database transactions. use with databases Such as commercially available databases 30 Each database transaction may include an atomic set of reads from Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, and/or open source databases and/or writes to the database. The transaction mechanism for such as MySQL AB or PostgreSQL. the database transactions may support concurrent and/or con In one aspect, data services 410 may include services for ditional access to the data in the database. Conditional access searching and displaying collections of OPML or other may support privacy, security, data integrity, and the like XML-based documents. This may include a collection ofuser 35 within the database. The transaction mechanism may allow a interface tools for finding, building, viewing, exploring, and plurality of users to concurrently read, write, create, delete, traversing a knowledge structure inherent or embedded in a perform a query, or performany other operation Supported by collection of interrelated or cross-linked documents. Such a the DMBS againstan RSS feed or OPML file, either of which system has particular utility, for example, in creating a struc may be supported by the data in the database or Support a tured knowledge directory of OPML structures derived from 40 database infrastructure. In one aspect, the transaction mecha an exploration of relationships among individual outlined nism may avoid or resolve conflicting operations and main OPML documents and the nodes thereof (such as end nodes tain the consistency of the database. The transaction mecha that do not link to further content). In one embodiment, the nism may be adapted to support availability, Scalability, navigation and building of knowledge structures may advan mobility, serializability, and/or convergence of a DBMS. The tageously be initiated from any point within a knowledge 45 transaction mechanism may also, or instead, Support version structure, such as an arbitrarily selected OPML document control or revision control. The DBMS may additionally or within a tree. A user interface including the tools described alternatively provide methods and systems for providing generally above may allow a user to restrict a search to spe access control, record locking, conflict resolution, avoidance cific content types, such as RSS, podcasts (which may be of list updates, avoidance of system delusion, avoidance of recognized, e.g., by presence of RSS with an MP3 or WAV 50 scaleup pitfall, and the like. attachment) or other OPML links within the corpus of OPML The data services 410 may provide an interface to a DBMS files searched. The interface may be supported by a search that functions as a content Source by publishing or transmit able database of OPML content, which may in turn be fed by ting a data feed to a client. The DBMS may additionally or one or more OPML spiders that seek to continually update alternatively perform as a client by accessing or receiving a content either generally or within a specific domain (i.e., an 55 data feed from a content source. The DBMS may perform as enterprise, a top-level domain name, a computer, or any other an aggregator offeeds. The DBMS may provide a syndication domain that can be defined for operation of a spider. The service. The DBMS may perform as an element in a service OPML generated by an OPML search engine may also be oriented architecture. The DBMS may accept and/or provide searchable, permitting, e.g., recovery of lost links to OPML data that are formatted according to XML, OPML, HTML, COntent. 60 RSS, or any other markup language. It will be appreciated that by storing an entire knowledge Semantics 412, or semantic processing, may include any structure (or entireportions thereof), the tree structure may be functions or services associated with the meaning of content navigated in either direction. That is, a tree may be navigated from the sources 402 and may be embodied, for example, in downward in a hierarchy (which is possible with conventional a client-side application, a remote application or service, an outlines) as well as upward in a hierarchy (which is not 65 application layer of an enhanced syndication services proto supported directly by OPML). Upward navigation becomes col stack, as application services deployed, for example, in possible with reference to a stored version of the knowledge the services oriented architecture described below, or a com US 9,202,084 B2 35 36 bination of these. Semantics 412 may include, for example, relating to a corporate entity, may be aggregated for presen interrelating content into a knowledge structure using, for tation as a data feed. Other content, Such as stored data items, example, OPML, adding metadata or enriching current meta may be associated with the data feed using an outline markup data, interpreting or translating content, and so forth. Seman language so that an outline provided by the semantic service tics 412 may also include parsing content, eitherlinguistically includes current events relating to a corporate entity, along for Substantive or grammatical analysis, or programmatically with timely data from a suitable data source Such as stock for generation of executable events. Semantics 412 may quotes, bond prices, or any other financial instrument data include labeling data feeds and items within feeds, either (e.g., privately held securities, stock options, futures con automatically or manually. This may also include interpreta tracts), and also publicly available data such as SEC filings tion of labels or other metadata, and automated metadata 10 including quarterly reports, annual reports, or other event enrichment. Semantics 412 may also provide a semantic hier reports. All of these data sources may be collected for a archy for categorizing content according to user-specified company using an outline that structures the aggregated data constraints or against a fixed dictionary or knowledge struc and provides pointers to a current Source of data where the ture. Generally, any function relating to the categorization, data might change (such as stock quotes or SEC filings) Thus interpretation, or labeling of content may be performed 15 an outline may provide a fixed, structured, and current view of within a semantic layer, which may be used, for example, by the corporate entity where data from different sources users 404 to interpret content or by sources 402 to self changes with widely varying frequencies. Of course other identify content. Categorization may be based on one or more content, such as message boards, discussion groups, and the factors, such as popularity, explicit user categorization, inter like may be incorporated into the outline, along with rela pretation or analysis of textual, graphical, or other content, tively stable content such as a web site URL for the entity. relationship to other items (such as throughan outline or other Syndication 414 may include any functions or services hierarchical description), content type (e.g., file type), con associated with a publish-subscribe environment and may be tent metadata (e.g., author, source, distribution channel, time embodied, for example, in a client-side application, a remote of publication, etc.) and so forth. Currently available tools for application or service, an application layer of an enhanced semantic processing include OPML, dictionaries, thesau 25 syndication services protocol stack, as application services ruses, and metadata tagging. Current tools also include an deployed, for example, in the services oriented architecture array of linguistic analysis tools which may be deployed as a described below, or a combination of these. Syndication 412 semantic service or used by a semantic service. These and may include syndication specific functions such as publica other tools may be employed to evaluate semantic content of tion, Subscription, aggregation, republication, and, more gen an item, including the body and metadata thereof, and to add 30 erally, management of syndication information (e.g., Source, or modify semantic information accordingly. date, author, and the like). One commonly employed syndi It will be understood that, while OPML is one specific cation system is RSS, although it will be appreciated from the outlining grammar, any similar grammar, whether XML remaining disclosure that a wide array of enhanced syndica based, ASCII-based, or the like, may be employed, provided tion services may provided in cooperation with, or separate it offers a manner for explicitly identifying hierarchies and/or 35 from, an RSS infrastructure. relationships among items within a document and/or among Infrastructure 416 may include any low level functions documents. Where the grammar is XML-based, it is referred associated with enhanced syndication services and may be to herein as an outlining markup language. embodied, for example, in a client-side application, a remote Semantics 412 may be deployed, for example, as a seman application or service, an application layer of an enhanced tic service associated with a syndication platform or service. 40 syndication services protocol stack, as application services The semantic service may be, for example, a web service, a deployed, for example, in the services oriented architecture service in a services oriented architecture, a layer of a proto described below, oracombination of these. Infrastructure 416 col stack, a client-side or server-side application, or any of the may support, for example, security, authentication, traffic other technologies described herein, as well as various com management, logging, pinging, communications, reporting, binations of these. The semantic service may offer a variety of 45 time and date services, and the like. forms of automated, semi-automated, or manual semantic In one embodiment, the infrastructure 416 may include a analysis of items of syndicated content, including feeds or communications interface adapted for wireless delivery of channels that provide Such items. The semantic service may RSS content. RSS content is typically developed for viewing operate in one or more ways with Syndicated content. In one by a conventional, full-sized computer Screen; however, users aspect, the semantic service may operate on metadata within 50 increasingly view web content, including RSS feeds, using the syndicated content, as generally noted above. The seman wireless devices, such as cellular phones, Personal Digital tic service may also, or instead, store metadata independent Assistants (“PDAs), wireless electronic mail devices such as from the syndicated content, such as in a database, which may Blackberrys, and the like. In many cases content that is Suit be publicly accessible or privately used by a value-added able for a normal computer Screen is not appropriate for a semantic service provider or the like. The semantic service 55 Small screen; for example, the amount of text that can be read may also or instead specify relationships among items of on the screen is reduced. Accordingly, embodiments of the syndicated content using an outlining service Such as OPML. invention include formatting RSS feeds for wireless devices. In general, an outlining service, outlining markup language, In particular, embodiments of the invention include methods outlining syntax, or the like, provides a structured grammar and systems for providing content to a user, including taking for specifying relationships such as hierarchical relationships 60 a feed of RSS content, determining a user interface format for among items of content. The relationship may, for example, a wireless device, and reformatting the RSS content for the be a tree or other hierarchical structure that may be self user interface for the wireless device. In embodiments the defined by a number of discrete relationships among indi content may be dynamically reformatted based on the type of vidual items within the tree. Any number of such outlines may wireless device. be provided in an outline-based semantic service. 65 In embodiments, tags from an RSS feed can be used to feed By way of an example of use of a semantic service, a a template, such as an XML-enabled template, that further plurality of items of syndicated content, such as news items modifies the RSS feed based on the nature of a wireless US 9,202,084 B2 37 38 device. For example, the abstract of an RSS feed can be Thus, in embodiments an RSS-customized user interface delivered in a shortened format, such as identifying and deliv for a wireless handheld device is provided. ering the first sentence of the abstract. An RSS feed can also In another aspect, the infrastructure 416 may include be broken up into Sub-segments, and a user can be provided improved pinging systems. The only current form of network with a link within the feed for requesting additional sub service in an RSS environment is a primitive system of segments, or additional portions of the feed, thus permitting a “pings'. Such as those provided by weblogs.com, that permit user to control content delivery where, for example, the user users to track changes and updates to content. When a pro has a bandwidth-constrained or display-constrained device. ducer updates its RSS output file, a message is sent to a central In embodiments the link may be interactive and may be acti file server. When consumers want to know if there are updated 10 RSS outputs from particular sources they go to the central file vated or manipulated by a user with a control Such as a button, and see if there is a recent message from the producer of thumbpad, touchscreen, dial button, or stylus. choice, rather than retrieving the RSS source directly. When In embodiments an RSS feed may further comprise insert new content is available, the consumer may send an electronic ingaphone number into the feed, wherein interacting with the request directly to the producers output file and read the phone number on a cellular phone or other telecommunica 15 contents into the consumers local files, archive, or repository. tions-capable device initiates a telephone call. The telephone The infrastructure 416 for an enhanced syndication system call could be to a content source, so as to allow a user to hear may provide improved pinging systems. For example, a cen a voice rendition of the content of the RSS feed, to hear tral server may be secure. In Such a system, each request for a related content, such as programming related to the RSS feed, ping may carry an encryption-based key for the requestor. to initiate a transaction, Such as related to the content of the Responses to that requestor, which may be verified, for RSS feed, to request a particular type of additional informa example with reference to a trusted third party, or using some tion, to allow the user to subscribe to the feed, or the like. other technique, may be time bound with constraints on start In embodiments the RSS feed may include a time-related times, stop times, frequency, quotas, or the like. In another component, such as a schedule for the delivery of additional embodiment, the requester may simply use a unique identifi content. In embodiments the time-related component may be 25 cation number. Pings may be subscription based, so that a fed to a calendar, task list, or related facility, thus setting an for-feepinger may be used more frequently thana freepinger. appointment related to the time-related component in a user's Thus there is disclosed herein a secure pinger for use in an electronic calendar, Such as on a handheld device or on a RSS system. Also disclosed herein is a managed pinger, conventional personal computer or laptop computer. which may limit ping responses according to Subscription In embodiments an RSS feed may be provided with a 30 levels, frequency, or any other Suitable criteria. separate layer of security that is associated with a security The infrastructure 416 may more generally provide traffic facility of a wireless device. For example, an RSS feed maybe management services including but not limited to real time encrypted so that it may only be read by a specific type of monitoring of message latency, traffic and congestion, and wireless device, a specific wireless device, or on a specific packet quality across a network of end-to-end RSS exchanges wireless device only after entry of a password that is issued to 35 and relationships. This may include real time monitoring of a known user of that wireless device. In embodiments security special traffic problems such as denial of service attacks or may be associated with a location facility of the wireless overload of network capabilities. Another service may be device (such as GPS, cellular triangulation, or the like), so as Quality-of-Service management that provides a publisher to allow a user to access an RSS feed only if the user is with the ability to manage time of sending of signaling mes physically located in a particular place. For example, a user 40 sages for pingers, time of availability of the signaled-about attending a live concert or other event might be permitted to messages, and unique identifiers which apply to the signaling view an RSS feed about the concert, but other users might be message and the signaled-about message or messages. This excluded from that content, creating a secure new media may also include quality of service attributes for the signaled channel for event attendees. about message or messages and criteria for selecting end user In embodiments a user interface for a wireless or handheld 45 computers that are to be treated to particular levels of end-to device may be customized to include menus that specifically end quality of service. This may be, for example, a commer relate to RSS content. For example, an interface may be cial service in which users pay for higher levels of QoS. provided with a separate RSS menu icon, drop down selec It will be generally appreciated that the arrangement of tion, or the like for allowing a user to place Such a device in an layers and interfaces may vary; however, in one embodiment RSS mode. Within an RSS mode, initiated by an RSS menu 50 syndication 414 may communicate directly with sources 402 option, a user may be provided with options to take actions while the applications 406 may communicate directly with related to RSS, such as subscribing to feeds, selecting feeds users 404. Thus, in one aspect, the systems described herein from a set of feeds, prioritizing feeds, selecting feeds as enable enhanced syndication systems by providing a consis favorites, or the like. In embodiments, an RSS mode may tent framework for consumption and republication of content include a menu item for each of (or a Subset of) the compo 55 by users 404. In general, existing technologies such as RSS nents of the RSS schema. For example, a menu icon, drop provide adequate syndication services, but additional ele down item, or the like may allow a user to select and view the ments of a syndication system 400, such as Social networking title of an RSS feed, the abstract, text, the authors, or other and semantic content management, have been provided only content. In embodiments the user interface of a wireless or incrementally and only on an ad hoc basis from specific handheld device may have an RSS search icon, menu, or 60 service providers. The functions and services described screen that returns RSS results in response to entry of a above may be realized through, for example, the services keyword. In embodiments results may be returned that oriented architecture described below with reference to FIG. include commercial and non-commercial result sets, which 5 and/or any of the markup languages described below with may be distinguished on the screen, such as by Screen loca reference to FIG. 6. tion, by an icon that identifies them as such, or by another 65 In one example a model of an end-to-end content syndica indicator of the distinction, Such as color, font, underlining, tion system for, e.g., RSS, OPML, or other content, may italics, boldface type, highlighting, or the like. include the following elements: convert, structure, store, spi US 9,202,084 B2 39 40 der, pool, search, filter, cluster, route, and run. Conversion module within the chain, permits a wide array of tagging may transform data (bi-directionally) between application functions which may be coordinated with other aspects of the specific or database-specific formats and the Syndication or RSS chain. outlining format. Structure may be derived from the content, In another aspect, a well-defined organization of modules such as a knowledge structure inherent in interrelated OPML permits improved synchronization or coordination of differ outlines, or metadata contained in RSS tags. Storage may ent elements of the modules in the RSS chain. Thus for occur locally on a user device or at a remote repository. example centralized aggregators may be provided to improve Spiders may be employed to search repositories and local data usability or to improve the tagging of content with metadata, on user devices, to the extent that it is made publicly available where a combination of lack of standards and constantly or actively published. Pools of data may be formed at central 10 evolving topics has frustrated attempts to normalize tagging repositories or archives. Searches may be conducted across Vocabulary. By explicitly separating tagging from content, one or more pools of data. Filters may be employed to select visibility of tagging behavior may be improved and yield specific data feeds, items within a data feed, or elements of an better tag selection by content authors. Similarly, search tech OPML tree structure. Specific items or OPML tree branches niques (mapping and exploration) may be fully separated may be clustered based upon explicit search criteria, infer 15 from indexing (pre-processing) to permit independent ences from metadata or content, or community rankings or improvements in each. commentary. Routing may permit combinations among con A well-established “backplane' or other communications tent from various content sources using, e.g., web services or system for cooperating RSS modules (or other data feeds) Superservices. Such combinations may be run to generate may enable a number of business processes or enterprise corresponding displays of results. Other similar or different applications, particularly if coupled with identity/security/ combinations of elements from the broad categories above role management, which may be incorporated into the back may be devised according to various value chains or other plane, or various modules connected thereto, to control access conceptual models of syndication services. to data feeds. More generally, well-defined interfaces between a collec For example, a document management system may be tion of discrete modules for an established value chain may 25 provided using an enhanced RSS system. Large companies, permit independent development, improvement, adaptation, particularly document intensive companies such as profes and/or customization of modules by end users or commercial sional services firms, including accounting firms, law firms, entities. This may include configurations of features within a consulting firms, and financial services firms, employ Sophis module (which might be usefully shared with others, for ticated document management systems that provide unique example), as well as functional changes to underlying soft 30 identifiers and metadata for each new document created by Wa. employees. Each new document may also, for example, be For example, an author may wish to use any one or more of added to an RSS feed. This may occuratany identifiable point a number of environments to create content for syndication. during the document’s life. Such as when first stored, when By providing a module with a standardized interface to RSS mailed, when printed, or at any other time. By viewing the posting, converters may be created for that module to convert 35 RSS feed with, for example, topical filters, an individual may between application formats and an RSS-ready format. This filter the stream of new documents for items of interest. Thus, may free contributors to create content in any desired format for example, a partner at a law firm may remain continuously and, with suitable converters, readily transform the content updated on all external correspondence relating to SEC Regu into RSS-ready material. Thus disparate applications such as lation FD, compliance with Sarbanes Oxley, or any other Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook may be used to generate 40 matter of interest. Alternatively, a partner may wish to see all content, with the author leveraging off features of those appli documents relating to a certain client. Similarly, a manager at cations (such as spell checking, grammar checking, calcula abrokerage house may wish to monitorall trades of more than tion capabilities, scheduling capabilities, and so on). The a certain number of shares for a certain stock. Or an accoun content may then be converted into RSS material and pub tant may wish to see all internal memoranda relating to revi lished to an RSS feed. As a significant advantage, users may 45 sions to depreciation allowances in the federal tax code. An work in an environment in which they are comfortable and enhanced RSS system may provide any number of different simply obtain needed converters to supply content to the RSS perspectives on newly created content within an organization. network. As a result, contributors may be able to more effi Other enterprise-wide applications may be created. For ciently produce source material of higher quality. Tagging example, a hospital may place all prescriptions written by tools may also be incorporated into this module (or some 50 physicians at the hospital into an RSS feed. This data may be author module) to provide any degree of automation and viewed and analyzed to obtain a chronological view of treat standardization desired by an author for categorization of ment. COntent. In one aspect, functions within the conceptual framework As another example, appropriate characterization of RSS may include a group of atomic functions which may be material remains a constantly growing problem. However, if 55 accessed with a corresponding syntax. Arrangements of Such tagging occurs at a known and predictable point in the RSS calls into higher-level, more complex operations, may also be chain, e.g., within a specific module, then any number of expressed in a file such as an OPML file, an XML file, or any useful applications may be constructed within, or in commu other Suitable grammar. Effectively, these groups of instruc nication with, that module to assist with tagging. For tions may form programmatic expressions which may be example, all untagged RSS posts may be extracted from feeds 60 stored for publication, re-use, and combination with other and pooled at a commonly accessible location where one or programmatic expressions. Data for these programmatic more people may resolve tagging issues. Or the module may expressions may be separately stored in another physical automatically resolve tagging recommendations contributed location, in a separate partition at a location of the instruc by readers of the item. Different rules may be constructed for tions, or together with the instructions. In one aspect, OPML different streams of data, according to editorial demands or 65 may provide a grammar for expression of functional relation community preferences. In short, maintaining a separate tag ships, and RSS may provide a grammar for data. Thus the ging module, or fixing the tagging function at a particular same complex operation may be re-executed against different US 9,202,084 B2 41 42 data sets or against data in a syndicated feed that periodically includes data 602, which may be any of the content sources or updates. Thus, in one aspect, an architecture is provided for other data sources described above that interacts with services microprocessor-styled programming across distributed data 604, which may execute on a client 102, a server 104, or any and instructions. other entity within a network. FIG. 5 depicts a system for delivering services in a syndi Services 604, which may be, for example, any of the ser cation system. As depicted, one technology for delivering vices described above with reference to FIG.4, may employ services within the conceptual framework above is a service a variety of standards, protocols, and programming languages oriented architecture. A service-oriented architecture to interact meaningfully with the data 602. This includes, for (“SOA') 500 may include a service requester 502, a service example, the use of programming tools that permit program provider 504, and a service broker 508. 10 logic to be deployed in, e.g., Java, Windows, Perl, PHP. In general, the service requester 502, which may be any of C/C++, and so on. This also includes parsing, processing, and the clients 102 described above, discovers services and database access using, e.g., data binding (mapping XML receives service descriptions through an exchange with the components into native formats of various programming lan service broker 508 using a suitable syntax such as the Web guages), Document Object Model ("DOM, a programming Services Description Language (“WSDL). The service pro 15 interface for manipulation of XML/HTML as program vider 504 publishes service descriptions to the service broker objects), Simple API for XML (“SAX', another API for XML 508, also using a syntax such as WSDL. The service requester documents), XSL (a stylesheet expression language), XSL 502 uses a service through communications with the service Transformations (XSLT, a language for transforming XML provider 504, using a transport protocol such as Simple documents into other XML documents), XML Path Lan Object Access Protocol (“SOAP). An SOA500 may include guage (XPATH, a language for referring to parts of XML any number of requesters 502, brokers 508, and providers documents), XSL Formatting Objects (XSL-FO, an XML 504. Additionally, a number of protocols and standards may Vocabulary for formatting semantics), and a variety of tools be employed to orchestrate the deployment of services in an for queries and other access to commercial databases. Fur SOA 500. In a web services embodiment, the Web service ther, presentation may be provided using, e.g., XHTML, protocol stack is employed to define, locate, implement, and 25 CSS/XSL-FO, SMIL WSUI, and a host of other presentation interact with Web services. In general, this includes four main tools. Services 604 may also employ various other XML areas: Service transport, XML messaging, service descrip oriented tools for messaging, metadata, and web services, tion, and service discovery. Service transport transports mes including SOAP, XML-RPC, RDF, UDDI, WSDL, and the sages among network applications using protocols such as like. Other specifications, such as the Voice eXtensible HyperText Transport Protocol (“HTTP), File Transfer Pro 30 Markup Language (VoiceXML), Security Services Markup tocol (“FTP), Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (“SMTP), and Language (S2ML), and OASIS Security Assertion Markup more recently the Blocks Extensible Exchange Protocol Language (SAML), provide special purpose grammars for ("BEEP). XML messaging encodes messages in a common specific functions. In general, these tools in various combi XML format using, for example, XML-RPC, SOAP and nations permit a relatively arbitrary deployment of functions REST. The service description is used to describe the public 35 as services on top of content, structured using XML gram interface for services, typically using WSDL as noted above. aS. Service discovery may use WSDL, along with Universal The services 604 may interact with data 602 through one or Description, Discovery, and Integration (“UDDI), which more established grammars, such as a secure markup lan provides a platform independent, XML-based registry for guage 610, a finance markup language 612, WSDL 614, the public Internet listings. 40 Outline Programming Markup Language (“OPML) 616, or An SOA 500 architecture may be used, for example, in an other markup languages 620 based upon XML 608, which is enhanced syndication system to relate metadata in an item of a species of the Standard Generalized Markup Language content to services that are available from the registry. Thus, (“SGML) 606. The interaction may be also, or instead, for example, a publicly available registry may provide, through non-XML grammars such as HTML 624 (which is a among other things, a number of viewers for graphical 45 species of SGML) or other formats 630. More generally, a images. An RSS item may refer to an image source, such as an wide array of XML schemas has been devised for industry MRI image in a medical record from a hospital, and may specific and application-specific environments. For example, specify a viewer for the Source image that is available through XML.org lists the following vertical industries with regis the registry. In operation, a client with appropriate permission tered XML schemas, including the number of registered sche to view the image (also as managed, e.g., through the meta 50 mas in parentheses, all of which may be usefully combined data for the enhanced syndication system), may retrieve the with the systems described herein, and are hereby incorpo appropriate viewer service from the registry and apply the rated by reference in their entirety: Accounting (14), Adver viewer to view the source image. In this example, viewers tising (6), Aerospace (20), Agriculture (3), Arts/Entertain may be freely provided or may be licensed and made available ment (24), Astronomy (14), Automotive (14), Banking (10), through the registry on a fee per use basis or some other 55 Biology (9), Business Reporting (2), Business Services (3), licensing terms. Similarly, the image source may be made Catalogs (9), Chemistry (4), Computer (9), Construction (8), available in various resolutions, each available under a differ Consulting (20), Customer Relation (8), Customs (2), Data ent fee structure. In other embodiments, textual sources may bases (11), E-Commerce (60), EDI (18), ERP (4), Economics be available in various forms ranging from a title and bio (2), Education (51), Energy/Utilities (35), Environmental (1), graphical data to an abstract to the full text of the source. Thus 60 Financial Service (53), Food Services (3), Geography (5), the SOA platform may be used to resell content from an RSS Healthcare (25), Human Resources (23), Industrial Control archive, using viewer or access privilege services made avail (5), Insurance (6), Internet/Web (35), Legal (10), Literature able through the registry. Other aspects Such as identity and (14), Manufacturing (8), Marketing/PR (1), Math/Data, Min affiliation, as well as verification of these, may be made ing (10), Multimedia (26), News (12). Other Industry (12), available as Services in the SOA 500. 65 Professional Service (6), Public Service (5), Publishing/Print FIG. 6 shows an XML environment for syndication sys (28), Real Estate (16), Religion, Retail (6), Robotics/AI (5), tems. As represented in FIG. 6, an XML environment 600 Science (64), Security (4), Social Sciences (4), Software US 9,202,084 B2 43 44 (129), Supply Chain (23), Telecommunications (26), Trans include the conventional publish-subscribe operations of syn lation (7), Transportation (10), Travel (4), Waste Manage dication. A syndication definition may be described in terms ment, Weather (6), Wholesale, and XML Technologies (238). of XML or any other suitable standardized or proprietary Syndication services, described in more detail below, may format. XML, for example, is a widely accepted standard of operate in an XML environment through a syndication the Internet community that may conveniently offer a human markup language 632, which may support syndication-spe readable and machine-readable format. Alternatively, the cific functions through a corresponding data structure. One syndication definition may be described according to another example of a currently used syndication markup language Syntax and/or formal grammar. 632 is RSS. However, it will be appreciated that a syndication For purposes of establishing a general Vocabulary, and not markup language (“SML') as described herein may include 10 by way of limitation, components of syndicated communica any structure suitable for syndication, including RSS, RSS tions are now described in greater detail. with extensions (RSS+), RSS without certain elements A message instance, or message, may conform to a mes (RSS-), RSS with variations to elements (RSS), or various sage definition, which may be an abstract, typed definition. combinations of these (e.g., RSS'-, RSS'+). Furthermore, an The abstract, typed definition may be expressed, for example, SML 632 may incorporate features from other markup lan 15 in terms of an XML schema, which may without limitation guages, such as a financial markup language 612 and/or a comprise XML’s built-in Document Type Definition (DTD), secure markup language 610, or may be used in cooperation XML Schema, RELAX NG, and so forth. In some cases, with these other markup languages 620. More generally, Vari information may lend itself to representation as a set of mes ous combinations of XML Schemas may be employed to sage instances, which may be atomic, and may be ordered provide syndication with enhanced services as described and/or may naturally occur as a series. It should be appreci herein in an XML environment. It will be noted from the ated that the information may change over time and that any position of SML 632 in the XML environment that SML 632 change in the information may naturally be associated with a may be XML-based, SGML-based, or employ some other change in a particular message instance and/or a change in the grammar for services 604 related to syndication. All such set of message instances. A data feed or data stream may variations to the syndication markup language 632 as may be 25 include a set of messages. In an RSS environment, a message usefully employed with the systems described herein are instance may be referred to as an entry. In an OPML environ intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure and may be ment, the message instance may be referred to as a list. More used in a syndication system as that term is used herein. generally, a message may include any elements of the syndi According to the foregoing, there is disclosed herein an cation message definition noted above. Thus, it will be appre enhanced syndication system. In one aspect, the enhanced 30 ciated that the terms “list,” “outline.” “message.” “item.” and syndication system permits semantic manipulation of syndi the like may be used interchangeably in the description of cated content. In another aspect, the enhanced syndication enhanced syndication systems herein. All such meanings are system offers a Social networking interface which permits intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure unless a various user interactions without a need to directly access more specific meaning is expressly indicated or clear from the underlying syndication technologies and the details thereof. 35 context. A channel definition may provide metadata associ In another aspect, a wide variety of additional services may be ated with a data feed, and a Subscription request may include deployed in combination with Syndicated content to enable a URI or other metadata identifying a data feed and/or data new uses of syndicated content. In another aspect, persistence feed location. The location may without limitation comprise may be provided to transient syndicated content by the pro a network address, indication of a network protocol, path, vision of a database or archive of data feeds, and particularly 40 virtual path, filename, and any other Suitable identifying the content of data feeds, which may be searched, filtered, or information. otherwise investigated and manipulated in a syndication net A syndication message definition may include any or all of work. Such a use of a syndication system with a persistent the elements of the following standards and drafts, all of archive of data feeds and items therein is now described in which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference: greater detail. 45 RSS 2.0: Atom Syndication Format as presented in the IETF The syndication markup language 632, or the syndication Internet-Draft Version 9 of the Atom Syndication Format; markup language 632 in combination with other supporting OPML 1.0: XML Signature Syntax (as published in the W3C markup languages and other grammars including but not Recommendation of 12 Feb. 2002); the XML Encryption limited to RSS, OPML, XML and/or any other definition, Syntax (as published in the W3C Recommendation of 10 grammar, syntax, or format, either fixed or extensible, all as 50 Dec. 2002); and the Common Markup for Micropayment described in more detail below, may support syndication per-fee-links (as published in the W3C Working Draft of 25 related communications and functions. Syndication commu Aug. 1999). In summary, these elements, which are described nications may generally occur through an internetwork in detail in the above documents, may include the following: between a Subscriberand a publisher, with various searching, channel, title, link, description, language, copyright, manag filtering, sorting, archiving, modifying, and/or outlining of 55 ing editor (managingEditor), Web master (webmaster), pub information as described herein. lication date (publDate), last build date (lastBuildDate), cat Two widely known message definitions for syndicated egory, generator, documentation URL (docs), cloud, time to communications are RSS 2.0 (RSS) and the Atom Syndica live (ttl), image, rating, text input (textInput), skip hours tion Format Draft Version 9 (Atom, as submitted to the IETF (skipHours), skip days (skipDays), item, author, comments, on Jun. 7, 2005 in the form of an Internet-Draft). A syndica 60 enclosure, globally unique identifier (guid), source, name, tion message definition, as used herein, will be understood to URI, email, feed, entry, content, contributor, generator, icon, include these definitions as well as variations, modifications, id, logo, published, rights, source, Subtitle, updated, opml. extensions, simplifications, and the like as described gener head, date created (dateCreated), date modified (dateModi ally herein. Thus, a syndication message definition will be fied), owner name (ownerName), owner e-mail (owner understood to include the various XML specifications and 65 Email), expansion state (expansionState), Vertical scroll State other grammars described herein and may support corre (vertScrollState), window top (windowTop), window left sponding functions and capabilities that may or may not (windowLeft), window bottom (windowBottom), window US 9,202,084 B2 45 46 right (windowRight), head, body, outline, signature (Signa tation comprise a time, which may be represented according ture), signature value (SignatureValue), signed information to RFC 868. The content of the shopping cart element may (SignedInfo), canonicalization method (Canonicalization without limitation comprise a representation of a shopping Method), signature method (SignatureMethod), reference cart, such as XML data that may comprise elements repre (Reference), transforms (Transforms), digest method (Di sentative of quantity, item, item description, weight, and unit gestMethod), digest value (DigestValue), key information price. The content of the video element may without limita (Key Info), key value (KeyValue), DSA key value (DSAKey tion comprise a MPEG-4 encoded video file. The content of value), RSA key value (RSAKeyValue), retrieval method the device element may without limitation comprise a name (Retrieval Method), X509 data (X509Data), PGP Data (PGP of a computing facility. The content of the friend element may Data), SPKI Data (SPKIData), management data (Mgmt 10 without limitation comprise a name of a friend associated Data), object (Object), manifest (Manifest), signature prop with an author of an entry. The content of the market element erties (SignatureProperties), encrypted type may without limitation comprise a name of a market. The (EncryptedType), encryption method (EncryptionMethod), content of the downstream processing directive element may cipher data (CipherData), cipher reference (CipherRefer without limitation comprise a textual string representative of ence), encrypted data (EncryptedData), encrypted key (En 15 a processing step, Such as and without limitation “Archive cryptedKey), reference list (ReferenceList), encryption prop This that ought to be carried out by a recipient of a message. erties (EncryptionProperties), price, text link (textlink), Thus, in general a syndication definition as that term is image link (imagelink), request URL (request URL), pay used herein describes a message format that enables Internet ment system (paymentsystem), buyer identification (buy syndication operations, as well as other complementary or erid), base URL (baseurl), long description (longdesc), mer separate operations. A message, as that term is used herein, chant name (merchantname), duration, expiration, target, may be associated with a feature of RSS, may be associated base language (hreflang), type, access key (accesskey), char with a feature of Atom, may be associated with a feature of acter set (charset), external metadata (ExtData), and external OPML, may be associated with a micropayment, may be data parameter (ExtDataParm). associated with electronic commerce, may be associated with A syndication definition may also include elements per 25 a representation of medical information, may be associated taining to medical devices, crawlers, digital rights manage with the representation of public information, may be asso ment, change logs, route traces, permanent links (also known ciated with the representation of private information, may be as permalinks), time, video, devices, social networking, ver associated with the representation of protected information, tical markets, downstream processing, and other operations may be associated with a tag for a crawler, may be associated associated with Internet-based syndication. The additional 30 with versioning and/or a change log, may be associated with elements may, without limitation, comprise the following: a digital signature, may be associated with basic authentica clinical note (ClinicalNote), biochemistry result (Biochemis tion, may be associated with digest authentication, may asso tryResult), DICOM compliant MRI image (DCMRI), key ciated with encryption, may be associated with a license term, words (Keywords), license (License), change log may be associated with a route trace, may be associated with (Change log), route trace (RouteTrace), permalink (Perma 35 a permalink, may be associated with an enclosure or file link), time (Time), shopping cart (ShoppingCart), video attachment, may be associated with an indication of time or a (Video), device (Device), friend (Friend), market (Market), timestamp, may be associated with e-commerce, may be downstream processing directive (DPDirective), set of asso associated with searching, may be associated with filtering, ciated files (FileSet), revision history (RevisionHistory), revi may be associated with clustering, may be associated with a sion (Revision), branch (Branch), merge (Merge), trunk 40 database, may be associated with security, may be associated (Trunk), and symbolic revision (SymbolicRevision). Gener with video, may be associated with a device, may be associ ally, in embodiments, the names of the elements may be case ated with a user interface, may be associated with a rule, may insensitive. be associated with non-syndication technologies, may be For example, the contents of the clinical note element may associated with Social networking, may be associated with a without limitation comprise anote written by a clinician, Such 45 Vertical market, may be associated with downstream process as a referral letter from a primary care physician to a special ing, may be associated with semantic processing, and/or may ist. The contents of the biochemistry result element may be associated with a source. without limitation comprise indicia of total cholesterol, LDL A message as described herein may include, consist of or cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and/or triglycerides. The con be evaluated by one or more rules or expressions (referred to tents of the DICOM compliant MRI image element may 50 collectively in the following discussion as expressions) that without limitation comprise an image file in the DICOM provide descriptions of how a message should be processed. format. The content of the keyword element may without In this context, the message may contain data in addition to limitation comprise a word and/or phrase associated with the expressions or may refer to an external Source for data. The content contained in the message, wherein the word and/or expression may be asserted in a variety of syntaxes and may phrase may be processed by a Web crawler. The content of the 55 be executable and/or interpretable by a machine. For license element may without limitation comprise a URL that example, an expression may have a form Such as that associ may refer to a Web page containing a description of a license ated with the Lisp programming language. Although an under which the message is available. The content of the expression may commonly be represented as what may be change log element may without limitation comprise a understood as a “Lisp-like expression' or “Lisp list' for change log. The content of the route trace element may with 60 example, (a (bc)) this particular representation is not neces out limitation comprise a list of the computers through which sary. An expression may defined recursively and may include the message has passed, Such as a list of “received: headers flow control, branching, conditional Statements, loops, and analogous to those commonly appended to an e-mail message any other aspects of structured, object oriented, aspect ori as it travels from sender to receiver through one or more ented, or other programming languages. For example and SMTP servers. The content of the permalink element may 65 without limitation, it should be appreciated that information without limitation comprise a permalink, Such as an unchang encoded as SGML or any species thereof (such as and without ing URL. The content of the time element may without limi limitation, XML, HTML, OPML, RSS, and so forth) may US 9,202,084 B2 47 48 easily be represented as a Lisp-like expression and vice versa. The machine for processing an expression may comprise Likewise, data atoms, such as and without limitation a text Software and/or hardware. The machine may be designed to string, a URL, a URI, a filename, and/or a pathname may process a particular representation of an expression, Such as naturally be represented as a Lisp-like expression and vice and without limitation SGML or any species thereof. Alter Versa. Again, by way of illustration and not limitation, any natively, the machine may be a metacircular evaluator representation of encoded information that can be reduced to capable of processing any arbitrary representation of an S-ex a Lisp-like expression may be an expression as that tem is pression as specified in a representation of an expression. used herein. Generally, a message may include or be an expression. In An expression may, without limitation, express the follow other embodiments, the expression evaluation process may ing: a data atom, a data structure, an algorithm, a style sheet, 10 itself be syndicated. In such an embodiment, interpretations a specification, an entry, a list, an outline, a channel definition, (i.e., evaluations) of a message may vary according to a par a channel, an Internet feed, a message, metadata, a URI, a ticular evaluation expression, even where the underlying URL, a Subscription, a Subscription request, a network message remains constant, such as by filtering, concatenat address, an indication of a network protocol, a path, a virtual ing, Supplementing, Sorting, or otherwise processing ele path, a filename, a syntax, a syntax defining an S-expression, 15 ments of the message or a plurality of messages. Different a set, a relation, a function, a graph, a tree, a counting algo evaluation expressions may be made available as Syndicated rithm, a probabilistic algorithm, a randomized algorithm, a content using the syndication techniques described generally geometric distribution, a binomial distribution, a heap, a herein. heapsort algorithm, a priority queue, a quickSort algorithm, a The message may specify presentation (e.g., display) counting sort algorithm, a radix sort algorithm, a bucket sort parameters, or include expressions or other elements charac algorithm, a median, an order statistic, a selection algorithm, terizing a conversion into one or more presentation formats. a stack, a queue, a linked list, a pointer, an object, a rooted In embodiments, the message may include an OPML file tree, a hash table, a direct-address table, a hash function, an with an outline of content, such as and without limitation a open addressing algorithm, a binary search tree, a binary table of contents; an index; a subject and associated talking search tree insertion algorithm, a binary search tree deletion 25 points, wherein the talking points may or may not be bulleted; algorithm, a randomly built binary search tree, a red-black an image; a flowchart; a spreadsheet; a chart; a diagram; a tree, a red-black tree rotation algorithm, a red-black tree figure; or any combination thereof. A conversion facility, insertion algorithm, a red-black tree deletion algorithm, a which may include any of the clients or servers described dynamic order statistic, an interval tree, a dynamic program above, may receive the message and convert it to a specified ming algorithm, a matrix, a matrix-chain multiplication algo 30 presentation format, which may include any proprietary or rithm, a longest common Subsequence, a polygon, a polygon open format suitable for presentation. This may include with triangulation, an optimal polygon triangulation, an optional out limitation a Microsoft PowerPoint file, a Microsoft Word polygon triangulation algorithm, a greedy algorithm, a Huff file, a PDF file, an HTML file, a rich text file, or any other file man code, a Huffman coding algorithm, an amortized analy comprising both a representation of content and a represen sis algorithm, an aggregate method algorithm, an accounting 35 tation of a presentation of the content. The representation of method algorithm, a potential method algorithm, a dynamic content may comprise a sequence of text, an image, a movie table, a b-tree, a b-tree algorithm (such as and without limi clip, an audio clip, or any other embodiment of content. The tation search, create, split, insert, nonfull, delete), a binomial representation of the presentation of the content may include heap, a binomial tree, a binomial heap algorithm (such as and characteristics Such as a font, a fontsize, a style, an emphasis, without limitation create, minimum, link, union, insert, 40 a de-emphasis, a page-relative position, a screen-relative extract minimum, decrease key, delete), a Fibonacci heap, a position, an abstract position, an orientation, a scale, a font mergeable heap, a mergeable heap algorithm (such as and color, a backgroundcolor, aforeground color, an indication of without limitation make heap, insert, minimum, extract mini opacity, a skin, a style, a look and feel, or any other embodi mum, and union), a disjoint set, a disjoint set algorithm, a ment of presentation, as well as combinations of any or all of cyclic graph, an acyclic graph, a directed graph, an undirected 45 the foregoing. In a corresponding method, a message may be graph, a sparse graph, a breadth-first search algorithm, a received and processed, and a corresponding output file may depth-first search algorithm, a topological sort algorithm, a be created, that represents a presentation format of the minimum spanning tree, a Kruskal algorithm, a Prim algo received message. In various aspects, the message may rithm, a single-source shortest path, Dijkstra's algorithm, a include an OPML file with references to external data. During Bellman-Ford algorithm, an all-pairs shortest path, a matrix, 50 processing, this data may be located and additionally pro a matrix multiplication algorithm, the Floyd-Warshall algo cessed as necessary or desired for incorporation into the out rithm, Johnson's algorithm, a flow network, the Ford-Fulker put file. son method, a maximum bipartite matching algorithm, a pre In one embodiment, the system may include an OPML to flow-push algorithm, a lift-to-front algorithm, a sorting PowerPoint converter that traverses one or more OPML out network, an arithmetic circuit, an algorithm for a parallel 55 lines and converts the OPML outline into a Microsoft Pow computer, a matrix operation, a polynomial, a fast Fourier erPoint presentation having a structure representative of the transform, a number-theoretic algorithm, a string matching structure embodied in the outline. This may include, for algorithm, a computational geometry algorithm, an algorithm example, one or more introductory slides with title, author, in complexity class P, an algorithm in complexity class NP. creation date, and other information. This may also include and/or an approximation algorithm. 60 one or more slides Summarizing the contents of the entire In one aspect, a message processor as described herein may PowerPoint document based upon the top level contents of the include a hardware and/or software platform for evaluating outline in the OPML document. Sub-categories may be simi messages according to any of the expressions described larly previewed in the PowerPoint document with slides that above. The message processor may reside, for example, on list all elements of an outline at one hierarchical level, fol the server computer or client computer as described above. 65 lowed by a number of slides addressing each element in The processing may without limitation include the steps of greater detail. Additionally, items such as graphics, charts, read, evaluate, execute, interpret, apply, store, and/or print. tables, audio clips, word documents, and the like that are US 9,202,084 B2 49 50 contained on leafnodes of the OPML outline may be rendered In general, the filter may apply any known rules for dis within the PowerPoint slides to capture some or all of the criminating text or other media to identified data feeds. For multi-media content represented within the OPML outline. example, rules may be provided for determining the presence Similarly, the system may convert a PowerPoint presentation or absence of any word or groups of words. Wild card char into an OPML outline and may either employ the explicitly 5 acters and word stems may also be used in filters. In addition, outlined structure of the PowerPoint presentation or infer if-then rules or other logical collections of rules may be used. structure from the arrangement or titles of slides within the Proximity may be used in filters, where the number of words PowerPoint document. between two related words is factored into the filtering pro FIG. 7 shows a user interface 700 for data feed manage cess. Weighting may be applied so that certain words, groups ment. More particularly, FIG. 7 depicts a manage filters page 10 of words, or filter rules are applied with different weight in which a user can create, edit, and share filters. The page toward the ultimate determination of whether to filter a par may include navigation buttons and a “What's Hot' and a ticular item. External references from an item, e.g., links to “News They Like' workspace. In addition, the page may other external content (either the existence of links, or the provide a list of available filters. New filters may be created, 15 domain or other aspects thereof) may be used to filter incom and rules for each filter may be defined using, for example, ing items of a data feed. External links to a data feed or data Boolean or other operators on defined fields for data feeds or item may also be used, so as to determine relevance by look on full text of items within data fields. In order to promote ing at the number of users who have linked to an item. This community activity, each filter may be made public for others process may be expanded to measure the relevance of each to use, and the rules and other structure of each filter may also link by examining the number of additional links produced by be optionally shared for others to inspect. As a significant the linking entity. In other words, if someone links to a ref advantage over existing systems, these filters may be applied erence and that user has no other links, this may be less in real time to RSS data feeds or other data feeds to narrow the relevant than someone who links to the reference and has one universe of items that is displayed to a user. hundred other links. This type of linking analysis system is In one aspect, the systems described herein may be used to 25 provided, for example, by Technorati. scan historical feed data and locate relevant data feeds. For Filters may apply semantic analysis to determine or example, filters may be applied to historical feed data to approximate the tone, content, or other aspects of an item by identify feeds of interest to a user. For example, by searching analyzing words and word patterns therein. Filters may also for words such as "optical and “surgery' in a universe of examine the Source of an item, such as whether it is from a medical feeds, a user may locate feeds relevant to optical laser 30 .com top-level domain or an .edu top-level domain. The sig Surgery regardless of how those feeds are labeled or charac nificance of a source designation as either increasing or terized by other users or content providers. In another decreasing the likelihood of passing through the filter may, of complementary application, numerous filters may be tested course, depend on the type of filter. Additionally, synonyms against known relevant feeds, with a filter selected according for search terms or criteria may be automatically generated to the results. This process may be iterative, where a user may 35 and applied alongside user specified filter criteria. design a filter, test it against relevant feeds, apply to other Metadata may be used to measure relevance. Data feeds feeds to locate new relevant feeds, and repeat. Thus, while and data items may be tagged with either Subject matter codes real-time or near real time filtering is one aspect of the sys or descriptive words and phrases to indicate content. Tags tems described herein, the filtering technology may be used may be provided by an external trusted authority, Such as an with historical data to improve the yield of relevant material 40 editorial board, or provided by an author of each item or for virtually any topic of interest. provider of each data feed. These and any other rules capable Another advantage of filtering historical data is the ability of expression through a user interface may be applied to items to capture transient discussions and topics that are not cur or posts in data feeds to locate content of interest to a particu rently of interest. Thus, a user interested in the 1996 U.S. lar user. Presidential campaign may find little relevant material on 45 As noted above, a user may also share data feeds, aggre current data feeds but may find a high amount of relevant data gated data feeds, and/or filters with others. Thus, in general, in the time period immediately preceding the Subsequent there is provided herein a real-time data mining method for 2000 campaign. Similarly, an arbitrary topic Such as Egyptian use with data feeds such as RSS feeds. Through the intelligent history may have been widely discussed at Some time in the filtering enabled by this data feed management system, auto past, while receiving very little attention today. The applica 50 matically updating information montages tailored to specific tion of filters to historical feeds may provide search function topics or users may be created that include any number of ality similar to structured searching of static Web content. different perspectives from one to one hundred to one thou Thus there is disclosed herein a time or chronology oriented sand or more. These real-time montages may be adapted to search tool for searching the contents of one or more sequen any number of distinct customer segments of any size, as well tial data feeds. 55 as to business vertical market applications. In another aspect, the filters may be applied to a wide array In another aspect, filters may provide a gating technology offeeds, such as news sources, to build a real-time magazine for Subsequent action. For example, when a number of items dedicated to a particular topic. The results may be further are identified meeting a particular filter criterion, specific, parsed into categories by source. For example, for diabetes automated actions may be taken in response. For example, related filters, the results may be parsed into groups such as 60 filter results, or some predetermined number of filter results, medical and research journals, patient commentaries, medi may trigger a responsive action such as displaying an alert on cal practitioner Weblogs, and so forth. The resulting aggre a user's monitor, posting the results on a Weblog, e-mailing gated data feed may also be combined with a readers forum, the results to others, tagging the results with certain metadata, editors overview, highlights of current developments, and so or signaling for user intervention to review the results and forth, each of which may be an additional data feed for use, 65 status. Thus, for example, when a filter produces four results, for example, in a Web-based, real-time, magazine or a new an e-mail containing the results may be transmitted to a user aggregated data feed. with embedded links to the source material. US 9,202,084 B2 51 52 FIG. 8 shows a user interface 800 for data feed manage searching and monitoring in real time, in a manner analogous ment. More particularly, FIG. 8 depicts a search feeds page in to Web bots used by search engines for static content. which a user can search for additional data feeds to monitor. In another aspect, a method of selling data feed services is The page may include navigation buttons and a “What's Hot disclosed herein. In this method, RSS data which is actually and a “News They Like' workspace. In addition, the page static content in files may be serialized for distribution may include a text input field for user input of one or more according to sometime base or time standard Such as one item search terms. There may also be one or more checkboxes or every sixty seconds or every five minutes. In addition, data other controls for additional search parameters. For example, may be filtered to select one item of highest priority at each a user may select whether to search titles only, other infor transmission interval. In another configuration, one update of mation in the description of the feed, or individual items or 10 all items may be pushed to subscribers every hour or on some postings in the feed. The search itself may also be stored, so other schedule in an effective batch mode. Optionally, a pro that new searches for the same subject matter optionally will tocol may be established between the server and clients that not include feeds that a user has already reviewed and provides real time notification of new items. A revenue model rejected. Alternatively, the search may be persistent, so that may be constructed around the serialized data in which users the request search continues to execute against a database of 15 pay increasing Subscription rates for increasing timeliness, feeds and posts as new feeds and new posts are added. Thus a with premium Subscribers receiving nearly instantaneous user may leave the search and return to the search at a later updates. Thus in one aspect, a data feed system is modified to time to review changes in results. The results for a search may provide time-based data feeds to end users. This may be be presented in the user interface along with a number of user particularly useful for time sensitive information Such as controls for appropriately placing the feed within the user's sports scores or stock prices. In another embodiment, the feed environment. For example, a user may provide a new, end-user feed may adhere to an RSS or other data feed stan user-assigned category to a feed or select from one or more of dard but nonetheless use a tightly controlled feed schedule the user's pre-existing categories. The user may also specify that is known to both the source and recipient of the data to one or more filters, either pre-built or custom-built by the create a virtual time based data feed. user, to apply to items in the data feed once it is added. After 25 FIG. 9 shows a user interface 900 for data feed manage a feed has been added, the user may review items passing ment. More particularly, FIG.9 depicts a user profile page in through the assigned filter, if any, in the home page discussed which a user can search for additional data feeds to monitor. above. The page may include navigation buttons and a “What's Hot It will be appreciated that search results will be improved and a “News They Like' workspaces. In addition, the page by the availability of well organized databases. While a num 30 may include text entry boxes, checkboxes, and other controls, ber of Weblogs provide local search functionality, and a num along with a save button for saving profile data. Text entry ber of aggregator services provide lists of available data items may include, for example, a first name, last name, feeds, there does not presently exist a consumer-level search e-mail address, password (and retype password), and a able database offeed contents, at least nothing equivalent to default maximum age of feeds (e.g., in hours) and a default what Google or Altavista provide for the Web. As such, one 35 minimum and/or maximum number of posts per feed for aspect of the system described herein is a database of data controlling a user display thereof. Such as in the home page. feeds that is searchable by contents as well as metadata Such Checkboxes may provide for selection of certain features. For as title and description. In a server used with the systems example, a user may choose to have post descriptions dis described herein, the entire universe of known data feeds may played, a user may make his home page or features thereof behashed or otherwise organized into searchable form in real 40 public, a user may choose to use common categories provided time or near real time. The hash index may include each word by the system, and a user may choose among one or more or other symbol and any data necessary to locate it in a stream pre-defined or user configured display modes for feeds. and in a post. Additional profile information, Such as user interests, pref One useful parameter that may be included for searching is erences, and biographical data may also be optionally pro age. That is, the age of a feed, the age of posts within a feed, 45 vided. This data and other user profile data may be used to and any other frequency data may be integrated into the target advertising associated with data feed sites or content. database for use in structured user searches (and the filters Thus a data feed management system is described herein in discussed in reference to FIG. 7). which ads are delivered that are of value to customers. In As a further advantage, data may be retrieved from other addition to self-signaling through profile data, the system aggregators and data feeds on a well-defined schedule. In 50 may apply customer-filtering, behavioral analysis, or any addition to providing a very current view of data streams, this other analytic tools, as applied to the user's feed selection and approach prevents certaininconsistencies that occur with cur displayed posts, to select appropriate advertisements for that rently used aggregators. For example, even for aggregator user. The revenues from advertisements may be shared in a sites that push notification of updates to subscribers, there number of ways and may include shares of revenue to, for may be inconsistencies between source data and data feed 55 example, the operator of the data feed management system, data if the source data is modified. While it is possible to an intermediary that places an ad that results in a sale, and/or renew notification when Source material is updated, this is not individual or institutional content providers who contributed universally implemented in aggregators or Weblog Software to the relevant data feed audience. commonly employed by end users. Thus an aggregator may In another aspect of the systems described herein, feeds, extract data from another aggregator that has not been 60 posts, and/or filters may be clustered and shared in a number updated. At the same time, an aggregator or data source may of ways as described above. Particular configurations may be prevent repeated access from the same location (e.g., IP branded and sold as a value-added service. Thus, for example, address). By accessing all of this data on a regular schedule Warren Buffet's data feed selection and filtering may be of (that is acceptable to the respective data sources and aggre great interest to investors, bankers, and financiers. These gators) and storing the results locally, the server described 65 selections may be sold to users who wish to see data feeds in herein may maintain a current and accurate view of data the same manner as Warren Buffet. Similarly, someone may feeds. Additionally, feeds may be automatically added by be interested in the writings and readings of Martha Stewart, US 9,202,084 B2 53 54 Bill Clinton, Bill O'Reilly, Bill Gates, or Bill Belichick. Any tion and/or authentication of the primary message, notifica of these individuals may brand and resell their selection of tion to a sender or third party of receipt of messages, inter data feeds and design and use of filters. Similarly, commer pretation of delivery method, and processing of an RSS item cial, political, or other institutional entities may present an during delivery. official RSS feed identity. This may be provided for free for 5 In item-level encryption of the primary message, an item promotional purposes. Such as promotion of a political party from an RSS source or similar source may be assigned an in a campaign or promotion of a seasonal sale event by a identifier (which may be secure, such as a digital signature) retailer. Similarly, topical selections may be promoted by and/or encrypted with a key (such as a private key in a Public trade groups or individuals. For example, a biotech or patent Key Infrastructure (PKI)) and transmitted to a recipient, who filter may be promoted by a patent law firm. In these appli 10 may use a corresponding public key associated with a par cations, the service sold or promoted may include either the ticular source to authenticate or decrypt the communication. filters and selections themselves, which an end user may then A public key may be sent to the recipient simultaneously or in modify or use as desired, oran aggregated feed of results from advance by a third party or collected by the recipient from a the filters and selections without identification of the under third-party source Such as a public network location provided lying criteria. Access to such an aggregated feed may be 15 by the source or a trusted third party. In other embodiments, controlled through password based protection to a resulting an intended recipient may provide a public key to a sender, so Weblog or using the identity-based RSS technology that the sender (which may be a content source, aggregator, or described above. other RSS participant) may encrypt data in a manner that may In one embodiment, a user may, either for a fee as described only be decrypted by the intended recipient. In this type of above, or for free. Such as among a group of friends or inter exchange, the intended recipient's public key may similarly est-based community of bloggers, share not just search results be published to a public web location, e-mailed directly from but rules for finding those search results. In another applica the recipient, or provided by a trusted third party. tion of this technology, a buddy list or other community may In tag-level encryption of fields of data delimited within a share aggregator configurations and other data. In another message, similar encryption techniques may be employed. application of this, a recommendation engine may identify 25 By using tag-level encryption, security may be controlled for popular and Successful search and filtering criteria that match specific elements of a message and may vary from field to a particular use profile. field within a single message. Tag-level encryption may be In one aspect, there is described herein a systematic usefully employed, for example, within a medical records approach to managing data feeds in an integrated, and possi context. In a medical environment (and in numerous other bly Web-based, user interface. In a first step, the user may 30 environments), it may be appropriate to treat different com process feeds, including for example searching for, analyzing ponents of, e.g., a medical record, in different ways. Thus, and selecting feeds. In a second step, a user may process posts while a medical record of an event may include information within a feed, such as by filtering the posts as described above. from numerous sources, it may be useful to compose the In a third step, the aggregated and filtered results may be medical record from various atomic data types, each having displayed to the user. This systematic approach also readily 35 unique security and other characteristics associated with its accommodates Subsequent processing of the resulting items, Source. Thus, the medical record may include treatment Such as by branding the technique for locating those items or objects, device objects, radiology objects, people objects, by permitting sharing of the technique, both of which are billing objects, insurance objects, diagnosis objects, and so described above. Additional processing steps may also forth. Each object may carry its own encryption keys and/or include, for example, aggregating results into an aggregated 40 security features so that the entire medical record may be feed or any of the other processing steps identified in the composed and distributed without regard to security for indi foregoing detailed description. vidual elements. A number of enhanced syndication systems providing In a notification system, a secondary or meta return mes security are now described in greater detail. While a number sage may be triggered by receipt, authentication, and/or of examples of RSS are provided as embodiments of a secure 45 decryption of the primary message by a recipient and sent by syndication system, it will be appreciated that RDF, Atom, or the recipient to the message originator, or to a third party, to any other syndication language, or OPML or other structured provide reliable notification of receipt. grammar, including more generally the S-definition set out In interpretation of delivery information, a sender or above, may be advantageously employed within a secure trusted intermediary may monitor the return message(s) and syndication framework as set forth herein. 50 compare these with a list of expected return messages (based Security may impact a number of features of a syndication for example on the list of previously or recently sent mes system. For example, a data stream system may use identity sages). This comparison information may be interpreted to assignment and/or encryption and/or identity authentication provide information as to whether a communication was suc and/or decryption by public and private encryption keys for cessful and, in the case of communication to more than one RSS items and similar structured data sets and data streams. 55 recipient, to determine how many and what percentage of The system may include notification of delivery as well as communications were Successful. The receipt of return mes interpretation of delivery success, failure, notification of pos sages that do not match the list of expected messages may be sible compromise of the end-to-end security system, non used to determine that fraudulent messages are being sent to repudiation, and so on. The identity assignment and encryp recipients, perhaps using a duplicate of an authentic private tion as well as the authentication and decryption as well as the 60 key, and that the security service may have been compro notification and interpretation may occur at any or multiple mised. points in the electronic communication process, some of In another aspect, a series of encryption keys may be used which are illustrated and described below. A secure RSS by the Source and various aggregators or other intermediaries system may be advantageously employed in a number of in order to track distribution of items through an RSS net areas including, but not limited to, general business, health 65 work. This tracking may either use notification and interpre care, and financial services. Encryption may be employed in tation as described herein or may simply reside in the finally a number of ways within an RSS system, including encryp distributed item, which will require a specific order of keys to US 9,202,084 B2 55 56 properly decrypt some orall of the item. If this system is being or sources of data therein. In another aspect, the infrastructure used primarily for tracking, rather than security, encryption 1012 may provide formatting functions. As with anonymity, and decryption information may be embedded directly into formatting may operate in either direction, i.e., by formatting the RSS item, either in one of the current fields or in a new user requests in a manner Suitable for presentation to the pools field for carrying distribution channel information (e.g., (or that creates a logical appearance of pools to differently . . . . structured underlying data sources) or by formatting any In another aspect, the message may be processed at any responsive output from a pool. In one aspect, the infrastruc point during distribution. For example, the communication ture may provide a dynamic content system that provides process may include many stages of processing from the different views of pools according to a user type, user identity, initial generation of a message through its ultimate receipt. 10 Any two or more stages may be engaged in identity assign or the like. In another aspect, the infrastructure 1012 may ment and/or encryption as well as the authentication and/or provide search capabilities including structured searching decryption as well as notification and/or interpretation. These and/or spidering for content within the pools 1010. It will be stages may include but are not limited to message generation understood that, while depicted as a single, centralized server, Software such as word-processors or blog software, message 15 the pool management infrastructure 1012 may include any conversion software for producing an RSS version of a mes number of servers and/or other network devices or systems sage and putting it into a file open to the Internet, relay by a that cooperate and/or operate autonomously to create a data messaging service such as one that might host message gen pool environment for users 1002 in a community 1004. eration and RSS conversion software for many producers, The community 1004 may include any user or group of relay by a proxy server or other caching server, relay by a users 1002 that access data in pools 1012 either by providing notification server whose major function is notifying poten data to the pools, extracting data from the pools, or both. This tial recipients to “pull” a message from a source, and services may include Social groups, professional groups, commercial for message receiving and aggregating and filtering multiple entities, and so forth. messages, message display to recipients, and message for Using a pool management infrastructure 1012, Sources of warding to further recipients. 25 data may be treated as populations and managed as an inte In another aspect, a message may include one or more grated but evolving ecology or topology, so that new forms of digital signatures, which may beauthenticated with reference data can be added to the ecology continually, so that sets of to, for example, the message contents, or a hash or other data in particular forms can be added to and/or modified, and digest thereof, in combination with a public key for the pur so that uses of data and combinations of data can be continu ported author. Conversely, a recipient of a digitally signed 30 ally invented and implemented within the ecology without item may verify authenticity with reference to the message reworking the existing structure and applications. contents, or a hash or other digest version thereof, in combi nation with a private key of the recipient. In one example, the pool management infrastructure 1012 FIG. 11 shows a data pool environment. The environment may enable secure management of a pool system and any 1000 may include a number of users 1002 in a user commu 35 associated data, data formats and pool enclosures. The infra nity 1004, a network 1006 such as the internetwork described structure may, for example, provide an administrative dash above, a number of pools 1010 of data, and a pool manage board that includes an administrative interface to a secure ment infrastructure 1012. access control system, an administrative interface to a Com In general, the pools 1010 may be physically deployed on mon Vulnerabilities and Exposures system, and an adminis any data storage resource accessible through the network 40 trative interface to the update notification, availability, and 1006. This may include, for example, a database, web server, spider system (provided by vendor). The infrastructure 1012 FTP file, peer-to-peer file sharing resource, secure database, may also, or instead, include an administrative interface for RSS channel, or any other technology platform and system(s) configuring the data converter and router systems to put data Suitable for receiving, storing, and transmitting data. It will be into pools, controls for a spider to control extraction, and understood that, in various embodiments, each pool may be a 45 search/filter/cluster and routing to pools and web services. It logically and/or physically separate storage location, permit may also include interfaces for directing web services to take ting either distributed management of common data (e.g., for input directly from particular pools, to take input from the purposes of security, redundancy, or the like) or centralization spider and other routing machines, and to output service of distributed data (e.g., for more efficient processing). results to particular pools and services in particular formats. While a pool may be realized as, for example, a conven 50 The pool data storage format may be XML, RSS, OPML, tional RSS channel that receives and publishes items, other Atom, RDF or any other data format. Pool content may be pools may collect and present data in more complex ways. For managed using a file directory system maintained by an oper example, the pool management infrastructure 1012 may ating system such as Linux, Unix, and Microsoft Windows. include a pool server or other system that either physically or Pool content, including enclosures to pool items, may be logically sits between the user community 1004 and the pools 55 provided by a client-side central data store for XML, RSS, 1010 and brokers interactions. The infrastructure 1012 may and related formats included in the Microsoft Vista operating control access to the pools through a security system that system for personal computers. includes, for example, any of the security features or systems Sources of data for pools may include any source(s) of described herein. In one embodiment, the infrastructure 1012 digital data. For example, in a medical context, sources may may include a firewall, router, switch, or similar device that 60 include machines such as x-ray, MRE, PET, CT, and other physically resides between the pools 1010 and the user com medical imaging devices, as well as blood diagnostic, inven munity 1004. The pools 1010 may also, or instead, be par tory management, ordering, scheduling, billing, human out tially or completely encrypted. The infrastructure 1012 may put-fed programs such as notes on medical record diagnostic also provide attention management by tracking user interac forms, and/or process-fed outputs such as the result of a tions with various pools and/or data within pools. In one 65 cross-functional medical second opinion process. In an enter aspect, the infrastructure 1012 may provide anonymity either prise, Suitable sources may include document management to users 1002 accessing the pools 1010, or to the pools 1010 systems, electronic mail systems, instant messaging systems, US 9,202,084 B2 57 58 billing systems, accounting systems, human resources sys was found in data streams. A pool may represent, for example, tems, computer/network traffic management systems, and so information from one or more data streams at particular times forth. or from particular sources. For example, a financial market These sources may also or instead output data to the data may produce a stream of data relating to trades made during pools in a common format such as XML, RSS, OPML, Atom, a trading session, and a pool of data extracted from the stream RDF, or any other common format. Data sources may also may be created for Subsequent use. As another example, send their customary outputs through a format converter that medical information may be produced by a medical device, outputs a common format and a data pool router that directs and the medical device information may be pushed into a data the output to an appropriate data pool or pools. stream. The medical information from the data stream may be In one aspect, data pools may be viewed as folders open to 10 extracted from the stream and placed in a pool. As another inspection or, more formally, reading and writing by a spider example, all information related to a particular topic, person, or other search mechanism. A spider may, for example, use entity, or the like may be acquired from a range of different remote web service calls to poll each pool (or a pool interface data streams and placed into a corresponding pool. provided by the pool management infrastructure) to deter Pools of data can be merged with other pools of data to mine if a given pool is accessible or if it has had any changes 15 form larger pools (e.g. to combine things of like file type, to its contents, and to read and write pool content. A spider semantic meaning, Subject matter, etc.). In embodiments, may be deployed to monitor and manage a total topology of pools may be drained, and in doing so new data streams may pools and any data contained therein. be created. An example would be streaming a series of offers Spiders may collect information from pools and enable the to sell goods (or services, securities, etc.) at a given price, out shared management of information across pools by allowing of a pool of such offers. In embodiments, the data stream may diverse information to be retrieved, assembled, and analyzed be buffered until relevant decision points are achieved. in order to, for example, create a virtual medical record by In embodiments, a filter may be associated with a pool of combining data elements that are held in different pools of data. A pool of data may be created from unfiltered data (e.g. diagnostic test results, physician notes, and the results of an unfiltered data stream), and then over time the pool can be processes. Pools also may be accessed for quality control, for 25 run through filters to produce a cleaner/more relevant pool of example to review X-rays and diagnostic findings for a ran data. The filter could be a semantic filter, a collaborative filter, dom sample of patients, in order to ascertain the quality of a logical filter, or a human filter (Such as a community that diagnosis. validates the presence of content in the pool). E.g., a pool Pools may employ a variety of security measures to achieve could contain 'good movies' that are monitored by a com conditional access, privacy, security, and the like. Access to 30 munity. pools can be controlled for individuals (e.g., according to In embodiments, pools may be linked to other pools, so that identity or role), spiders, web services, and so forth. Access one pool spills into the other (e.g., a pool of data that takes control may be implemented, for example, using third party input from another pool upon occurrence of an event, Such as products such as Cisco Secure Access Server or Microsoft availability of a resource for processing, for example, when a Products such as Windows Active Directory or the Windows 35 resource becomes available to process an incoming message Server Network Access Protection (NAP) policy enforcement requesting help from a software help desk and is handed into platform built into the Microsoft Windows Vista and Win a pool of similar requests for handling by someone who is dows Server operating systems. responsible for that type of request). Pools of data can evapo CVE, or Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures, analysis rate (that is, data items can be made to expire from the pool), and remediation is a process through which network assets 40 either based on age or based on the right conditions (e.g., if a are analyzed to determine Vulnerability to hacking, data theft, price of a security drops low enough, then limit orders may be unauthorized access and the like. The US government, in triggered; if time passes, an option can expire, etc.). Pools cooperation with The MITRE Corporation (“MITRE') and may be filled by different sources (a main source, as well as computer Software and hardware vendors, monitors and secondary sources or streams that augment the main source inventories Vulnerabilities and exposures. A number of com 45 streams). panies provide Software, hardware, and consulting services to An aspect of the systems described herein relates to the identify and address these risks on a network Such as an filtering of contents such as Syndicated feeds and the like. enterprise or corporate network. In an enterprise pool man Syndication content filters may be used in connection with agement system, CVE may be applied to data pools and any hardware, Software, firmware, in a chip set or in another Supporting infrastructure. Pools using conditional access and 50 configuration. In embodiments, a user may publish or Sub security systems such as those that assure compliance with scribe to a syndication feed on his desktop system or mobile HIPPA health data protection standards may be assessed communication facility (e.g. PDA, cellular phone and the using CVE techniques. In addition to identifying common like), and the syndication feed may be filtered through a Vulnerabilities and threats, a security system may accommo syndication filter. In embodiments, the syndication filter is a date automated or semi-automated interventions to secure 55 mechanism adapted to define the syndication feed. For data pools and infrastructure. In one embodiment, CVE-en example, a device may be set to collect certain feeds through abled security for pools may be provided with suitable adap a hardware enabled syndication filter. tations to commercially available products and services, such FIG. 11A illustrates a filter 1104 implemented in a hard as the NetClarity Auditor Enterprise system. ware application 1100. The filter 1104 may be, for example, In general syndicated data, outlined data, or, more gener 60 a syndication filter that operates on syndicated content Such ally, any structured or unstructured data may be stored in as data feeds. A router 1110 may be adapted to receive net “pools', which provides a useful conceptual model for inter work information through a network connection 1102. The action with Syndicated content and other data, as well as a network connection 1102 may provide data received from a specific term to refer to data sources and/or repositories that network, either directly or indirectly, to the filter 1104. The interact with the systems described herein. Aspects of the 65 filter 1104 may be implemented through software, hardware, present invention relate to pooling syndicated information. firmware, or other configurations, or some combination of Pools may contain information relating to information that these. The filter 1104 may be adapted to analyze network US 9,202,084 B2 59 60 information received or transmitted through the network con ware solution, a software solution, a firmware solution, or any nection 1102 and perform filtering, direction, routing, or other technique, or any combination of these. The criteria other manipulation of the data. For example, the syndication applied to the analysis may be algorithm-based, table-based, filter may analyze the data from the network connection and or it may use other criteria for determining whether the con determine that certain data are related to a data feed that is not 5 tent should be filtered. For example, a table of known viruses permitted (e.g. it may be a feed known for containing a virus, may be used in a process of matching information extracted spyware, malware, or other undesirable content), and the from the feed to determine if the feed, or portions thereof, non-permitted data may be extracted, removed, deleted, includes known viruses, virus parameters, or indications of a erased, logged, directed to a file, or otherwise manipulated. virus. The filter may apply rules or the like based upon, e.g., Information that is received on the network connection 1102 10 content, Source, destination, semantic content, user criteria, that is not determined as data requiring filtering may be and so forth. Following the application of a criterion 1208, the passed to a port management facility 1108 in the router 1110. content may be filtered (e.g. deleted) and/or redirected (e.g. The port management facility 1108 may pass information to placed in a folder adapted to hold filtered content for later client A 1112A or client B 1112B based on an IP address or review, deletion, and/or manipulation) 1212, or the content any other source or destination address, or other information. 15 may be passed on for further processing, Such as formatting FIG. 11B illustrates a client facility 1132 with a hardware and presentation to a user through a client. syndication filter 1124 and a software syndication filter 1130. Filters may operate on various data types within syndicated The client facility 1132 may receive network information messages. Syndicated data feeds (e.g. RSS or syndicated through a network connection 1102. The network informa OPML) may contain device configuration settings, images, tion or data may be received by a network card 1122 (e.g. an Video, data, broadcast rating information, and the like. Syn Ethernet card, a Network Interface Card, or other communi dicated feeds may be available in or contain many different cations interface) or the like. The network card 1122 may be formats (e.g. tables, databases, documents, multimedia, web associated with a syndication filter hardware facility 1124. content formats, metadata, electronic mail, and so forth), and The syndication hardware facility 1124 may perform func they may contain information from a variety of Sources Such tions similar to those described in connection with the filter 25 as electronic mail, online content, or web content. A feed may 1104 of FIG. 11A, for example. The syndication filter hard contain various types of information for signal type filters ware facility 1124 may perform filtering functions autono Such as radio and TV broadcast content/rating, security infor mously or in connection with another facility (e.g. Software mation, and the like. The feed, or messages within a feed, may syndication filter facility 1130). The hardware syndication include data for suitably enabled devices to change a mode of filter 1124 may operate in connection with dedicated hard 30 operation, using different modes to Suit different content, ware, software, and/or firmware. In embodiments, the hard client devices, and so forth. In an organization, users on ware syndication filter 1124 is adapted to filter content in different IP addresses may desire different information con syndication feeds and the like. For example, the client device tent from the same source: a hardware device may have a 1132 may be set to receive a syndication feed, and the feed syndication filter incorporated to automatically filter and/or may be received on the network connection 1102. The feed 35 sort the syndicated data to the proper IP address(es). Syndi may include a virus, malware, spyware, or other undesired cation applications may be capable of automatically perform content, and the syndication filter hardware 1124 may strip or ing an analysis on received feeds to filter IP/URL addresses, otherwise manipulate the undesired content from the syndi viruses, attached files in email, weblog feeds, email/instant cation feed. The remaining portions of the syndication feed messages, web content, phone calls, TV channels, or various may be passed to other client hardware such as a central 40 analog and digital signals. A filter may apply different rules to processing unit (“CPU”) 1128. In embodiments, associated different types of enclosures or attachments. Thus, for feed data such as enclosures, attachments, and the like may example, a filter may apply a first set of rules to MP3 attach also be processed by the hardware syndication filter 1124. ments, a second set of rules to OPML attachments, a third set The client 1132 may also or instead include a software of rules to metadata, and a fourth set of rules to textual content based syndication filter 1130. The software syndication filter 45 within a message. 1130 may execute as a background process associated with In general, a filter may operate to pass certain information network traffic or be integrated into an operating system oran and/or block certain information. In a data feed environment, application executing on the CPU 1128, and it may run from filters may employ a variety of techniques to filter a feed. The Volatile or non-volatile memory (not shown) associated with filter may operate on various aspects of the feed. This may the client 1132. The software syndication filter 1130 may 50 include, for example, textual content, metadata, attachments, provide, for example, the functions of the hardware syndica external references (either from an item or to an item), and so tion filter 1124 or syndication filter 1104 described above. forth. A filter may employ rules, algorithms, look-up tables, The CPU 1128 may call a software syndication filter routine keywords, Boolean expressions, heuristics, and the like. A from the data repository in the process of monitoring a syn filter may operate on specific fields within an item, such as dication feed. For example, in the process of receiving a 55 Source, name, date, title, and so forth. Numerous devices may syndication feed, the CPU may call the routine to monitor, incorporate syndication filtering as described generally analyze, manipulate, or otherwise interact with the feed. above. A number of non-limiting examples are provided FIG. 12 illustrates a method for filtering syndicated data below. Some of these examples show a device that imple 1200. The method may involve receiving a syndicated infor ments filtering of syndicated content. Other examples show mation feed 1202, analyzing the feed 1204, and applying 60 conventional filters that send or receive filter-related data in a criteria 1208 to the feed to determine a filtering action. The syndicated format. Various combinations and modifications analysis may be accomplished through hardware, software, of the examples and these general principles will be apparent firmware, or other solution (e.g. as described in connection to one of ordinary skill in the art and are intended to fall within with FIGS. 11A, 11B and 12). The analysis may be rule the scope of this disclosure. based, look-up based, heuristic, algorithmic, semantic, or 65 Filtering may be embedded into a network router. Network may employ any other Suitable techniques for analyzing con routers may have syndication filter capability incorporated tent. The criteria 1208 may also be applied through a hard into the network router firmware or may have a syndication US 9,202,084 B2 61 62 capable chip or chip set incorporated into at least one of the address, a syndication source URL, or content. The syndica network router processors or circuit boards. The syndication tion-capable firewall may be adapted to filter or block at least capable network router may be able to recognize that a one of internet based news, newspapers, web magazines, received file is a syndication data feed and may make routing academic papers, government court opinions, administrative decisions based on the Syndication data feed contents. The rulings, regulation updates, opinions, editorials, product syndication-capable network router may be able to route data reviews, movie reviews, financial or market analyses, discus to IP addresses on a network based on the syndication data or sions of current events, internet media, and advertisements by information contained in the header and body of a network syndication IP address, syndication URL, Syndication appli packet or by information in the syndication feed. The syndi cation, syndication port, Syndication content, or syndication cation feeds may originate from IP addresses within the 10 heading. The syndication-capable firewall may be adapted to router network or may be received from outside the router filter or block at least one of interne based web pages, network, such as from the internet. For example, if a number weblogs, websites, and web popups by syndication IP of users received financial data from a common syndication address, syndication URL, Syndication application, syndica source but the different users were interested in different parts tion port, syndication content, or syndication heading. The of the financial data, the syndication-capable router may route 15 syndication-capable firewall may be adapted to filter or block portions of the syndicated data according to user criteria. network packet traffic or IP addresses based on originating or Thus, for example, the router may handle data from a syndi destination syndication address. cated source of mortgage data by routing trading data for Filtering may be embedded in a virus protection applica secondary mortgage markets to one user (e.g., a bond fund tion. The virus protection application may incorporate syndi manager), current mortgage rates to a second user (e.g., a cation filtering capabilities. The syndication-capable virus consumer), and mortgage qualification data to a third user protection application may inspect attachments or enclosures (e.g., a retail bank). to syndicated content or may analyze the syndicated content The syndication-capable network router may be able to itself for malicious instructions or the like. The syndication route syndication data feeds for at least one of personal data, capable virus protection application may be adapted to iden financial data, medical data, enterprise data, or business data. 25 tify, filter, and/or block viral syndication content and/or The syndication-capable router may be capable of routing attachments in one or more of personal data, financial data, syndication data feeds to a particular IP address on the net medical data, enterprise data, or business data, electronic work based on the syndication data contained in the feed. In mail, interne based online news, newspapers, web magazines, an embodiment, the syndication-capable network router may academic papers, government court opinions, administrative be able to filter spam, adware, or email by comparing an 30 rulings, regulation updates, opinions, editorials, product originating IP or URL to known spam, adware, or email reviews, movie reviews, financial or market analyses, discus addresses or to look for key words within the incoming pack sions of current events, interne media, advertisements, web ets. The syndication-capable network router may be able to pages, weblogs, and websites based on known syndication filter, block, route, or permitat least one of online information virus content. Sources such as news, newspapers, web magazines, academic 35 A filter may be deployed as a syndication attachment or papers, government court opinions, administrative rulings, enclosure filter. This filter may be adapted to locate other regulation updates, opinions, editorials, product reviews, syndicated content or sources of content. RSS data feeds, for movie reviews, financial or market analyses, discussions of example, may contain content or attachments that contain current events, internet media, and advertisements by IP additional syndication data. A syndication attachment file address, URL, Syndication content, or packet heading. The 40 filter may scan messages from a syndicated data feed for syndication-capable network router may be able to filter, attachments that may contain other syndication data in which block, route, or permit at least one of internet based web a user has interest. For example, a medical data feed may have pages, weblogs, websites, and web popups by IP address, information that a user is interested in but may also contain an URL, Syndication content, or packet heading. attachment with additional medical information. The syndi The syndication-capable network router may be adapted to 45 cation attachment file filter may be able to determine if the filter, block, route, or permit at least one of network packet attachment contains information that may be of interest to the traffic, IP address, MAC address, and VoIP network packets user and either keep or omit the attachment from the received based on originating Source, destination address, or syndica data feed. The filter may filter syndication attachments using tion content of the packet. The Syndication-capable network at least one of personal data, financial data, medical data, router may be adapted to filter, block, route, or permit packets 50 enterprise data, or business data based on syndication con based on at least one of a syndication digital signature, Syn tent. The filter may filter attachments to other media types. dication password or key, and syndication identity certificate For example, the filter may scan electronic mail for syndica of the packets. tion attachments and apply various filtering rules to any Such Filtering may be embedded into a firewall. A software or attachments. As another example, the filter may scan the hardware firewall may incorporate syndication filtering. The 55 content of a word processing document for references to firewall may be adapted to recognize syndicated content and syndication Sources and/or messages. further adapted to filter, block, or permit the syndicated con A filter may operate locally or remotely. For example, a tent according to filter parameters. Filter parameters may be client device may filter a weblog, or collection of weblogs, or configured through an administrative interface to the firewall, aggregator output to remove items that are not of interest. In Such as a web-based user interface. The syndication-capable 60 another aspect, a remote weblog reader may filter content and firewall may be adapted to filter, block, or permitat least one transmit the filter output to a client device. A weblog filter of personal data, financial data, medical data, enterprise data, may filter feeds according to at least one of personal data, or business databased on the Syndication application, Syndi financial data, medical data, enterprise data, or business data cation incoming port, syndication incoming IP syndication based on user defined syndication content. The weblog filter IP address, or syndication content. The syndication-capable 65 may filter feeds according to source using, such as, for firewall may be adapted to filter or block at least one of spam, example, filters based on interne based online news, newspa adware, or email addresses based on a syndication source IP pers, web magazines, academic papers, government court US 9,202,084 B2 63 64 opinions, administrative rulings, regulation updates, opin Database applications (e.g. Oracle) may incorporate syn ions, editorials, product reviews, movie reviews, financial or dication filter capabilities. Syndication data files may have market analyses, discussions of current events, interne media, the same structure as XML, using tags to indicate the begin and advertisements. ning and end of information sections of the information or Websites may broadcast syndication data files that may data. XML and syndication are becoming increasingly popu contain a brief description of the content of the website. A lar for holding data because of their Small size and data types syndication web content filter may be able to read the syndi they may contain. A syndication-capable database applica cation data file content to block access to a certain site based tion may be adapted to search and filter data from Syndication on any user defined feature. For example, a parent wanting to data sources in addition to the same abilities for tables and block a certain type of websites from a child may be able to 10 databases. The syndication-capable database application may define the type of site to block. The parent may define key be adapted to filter at least one of personal data, financial data, words, phrases, ratings, and so forth to look for in the syndi medical data, enterprise data, or business data from Syndica cation data file. The filter may block web sites according to tion Sources based on user or application requirements. one or more of personal data, financial data, medical data, Filters may be integrated into an enterprise application. enterprise data, or business data based on the user-defined 15 Enterprise applications may be adapted to search and filter syndication web site rating. The Syndication web content data from across corporate or local area networks, as well as filter may be adapted to block web sites containing at least one wide area networks including the Internet. Enterprise data of internet based online news, newspapers, web magazines, may be obtained from other applications and/or databases academic papers, government court opinions, administrative deployed within the enterprise, and the enterprise application rulings, regulation updates, opinions, editorials, product may apply Suitable connections and converters to read the reviews, movie reviews, financial or market analyses, discus data and/or convert the data to a common format. A syndica sions of current events, internet media, and advertisements tion-capable enterprise application may also be adapted to based on the user defined syndication web site rating. The access data in Syndication data files and syndication data syndication web content filter may be able to block at least feeds at local and/or remote locations. The syndication-ca one of web pages, weblogs, websites, and web browser con 25 pable enterprise application may be adapted to use a search tent based on the user defined syndication web site rating. engine to locate syndication data feeds on the interne that may An instant messaging (“IM) application may incorporate have desired databased on a user's definition. The syndica a filter. The syndication-capable instant message application tion-capable enterprise application may be adapted to filter may be adapted to filter syndication data feeds that may be syndication data feeds or syndication data files based upon received from another instant message application either 30 one or more of personal data, financial data, medical data, within an instant message or within an attachment or file enterprise data, business data. More generally, the syndica shared through an instant messaging System. tion-capable enterprise application may employ any of the An anti-phishing program may incorporate a filter. Internet filtering parameters and techniques described above. phishing generally takes the form of a request for user infor A filter may provide semantic processing to process data mation for the purposes of identity theft, credit card informa 35 according to semantic content or meaning. The filter may be tion, or monetary payments. These requests may be sent to a applied to data in tables, databases, and syndication metadata, user by email, instant message, or from the web and may and it may permit searching or handling of syndicated content incorporate a syndication data feed. A syndication phishing based upon user-provided semantic parameters. The semantic filter may be able to block syndication phishing requests filter may employ any of the filtering parameters or tech based on the syndication content and definition by the user. 40 niques described above. A search engine may incorporate a filter. An Internet search A filter may provide encryption processing to permit fil engine may contain a filter adapted to identify sites that pro tering of encrypted data. The filter may employ user-provided vide syndication data feeds responsive to a user's definition. keys to decrypt syndicated content for further filtering and For example, a user may be able to define a search for medical other processing. The filter may also, or instead, provide information on heart valves to get only a listing of syndication 45 encryption processing to permit filtering of data according to data feed sites with this information. The filter may employ encryption characteristics such as encryption type, availabil any of the parameters or filtering techniques described above. ity of public keys, and so forth. The encryption filter may A security appliance may incorporate a filter. Security employ any of the filtering parameters or techniques appliances operate as reverse proxy devices positioned described above. between any type of client and a server to act as an additional 50 A filter may provide caller ID filtering. The filter may layer of security for communications. A security appliance identify and extract caller information from a cellular phone, may perform checks for viruses, spam, phishing, or other wired telephone, wireless telephone, VoIP telephone, or other undesired files sent to a server. The server may be any kind of telephonic device. Information may, for example, be pub server Such as an application server, email server, or web lished to a data feed or forwarded for other processing. In server. A syndication-capable security appliance may be 55 another aspect, the filter may identify and extract telephone adapted to analyze syndication data feeds to determine the numbers and other contact information from a data feed. The syndication data feed content and make decisions to block or caller ID filter may employ any of the filtering parameters or pass the syndicated content onto the server. The filter may techniques described above. employ any of the parameters or filtering techniques A filter may provide content filtering. A channel blocking described above. The syndication-capable security appliance 60 system may be provided for a device to manage access to may be adapted to filter at least one of unwanted syndication broadcast (e.g., radio or television) or other transmissions. network packet traffic, syndication IP addresses, and syndi The transmission may be accompanied by content ratings or cation MAC addresses from entering a server. The syndica other semantic data that may be employed by the channel tion-capable security appliance may be adapted to filter at blocking system to restrict availability at a receiving device least one of unwanted syndication digital signatures, syndi 65 according to user preferences. In one aspect, the ratings may cation passwords or keys, and syndication identity certificates be provided as a syndicated feed. In another aspect, the trans from entering a server. missions may be processed to derive a feed of characteristic US 9,202,084 B2 65 66 information which may, in turn, be applied by the channel make better decisions by basing clinical decisions on the best blocking system to dynamically restrict access according to evidence available. Such as clinical studies, panel reports, the current content and any user-provided constraints. The filter reports of accreditation bodies, and the like. At its most basic, may be applied to one or more of a radio broadcast, a televi the goal of evidence-based medicine is to have healthcare sion broadcast, a satellite broadcast, a satellite radio broad providers base their decisions on the best empirical evidence cast, a cable television channel, or the like. The filter may available. As information is added to the collective medical employ analysis including content analysis and analysis of evidence, for example, through new clinical studies, evi digital signatures, passwords, keys, or identity certificates, dence-based medicine provides a means for getting this data and the like. to healthcare providers in order to provide a means for con A filter may be associated with an analog-to-digital con 10 tinuous learning and for improving care. However, many verter (ADC), a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), or a healthcare providers may have problems acquiring the skills media coder/decoder (CODEC), referred to generally as digi needed to conduct appropriate searches and review the rel tal processors. In one embodiment, characterizations of out evant literature or to consult databases within the context of put Such as sampling rate, compression ratios, frequency their daily work. Thus, there is wide variation in the delivery spectra, and the like may be provided to a feed for transmis 15 of medical care and the quality of the care delivered. Greater sion and processing along with the digital content. In another access to clinical information should result in reduced mor aspect, a data feed may be provided to guide downstream bidity and mortality within healthcare institutions. Syndica processing of the digital (or analog) signal. A filter may be tion technologies may provide opportunities for providing applied to sort, select, block, or otherwise process associated evidence-based data, and many other types of healthcare data, media according to the data feed. to healthcare providers in order to assist continually improv Similarly, any digital filter, including audio filters, digital ing healthcare delivery. filters, digital subscriberline filters, line filters, surface acous Despite widespread interest in collecting and disseminat tic wave filters, and the like, may be adapted to receive Syn ing healthcare information and the billions of dollars spent on dicated data that provide operating parameters for the filter, or the infrastructure and training necessary to collect, analyze, it may be adapted to publish a feed of operational data. In an 25 disseminate, and use that information, much of institutional embodiment, the syndication signal processing platform may healthcare and associated data collection/delivery lags far be adapted to process at least one of an audio signal, elec behind in technical Sophistication, efficiency and usefulness. tronic signal, analog signal, digital signal, and Video signal Many institutions do not pursue systems for collecting infor using a syndication signal processing platform which uses a mation that may be used to improving healthcare delivery provided set of parameters from a syndication data file or 30 because the endeavor is simply too costly. Many institutions syndication data feed. that do invest in such informational infrastructure often do so Healthcare institutions, including but not limited to, hos to meet only their own unique internal needs and circum pitals, short-term care facilities, long-term care facilities, out stances. Thus, the costly data collected and analyzed at great patient treatment centers, hospices, nursing homes, mental cost by one institution may be of little or no relevance to health facilities, government facilities (e.g. Veterans Affairs 35 another institution due to the lack of congruence in the data hospitals), specialty clinics, and the like, must continually needs of the two intuitions. The result may be very costly monitor a vast array of information to ensure the ongoing Vertical information systems with minimal horizontal links delivery of safe and effective clinical treatment, all while For example, following a series of clinical errors, Hospital operating in an increasingly restrictive fiscal environment. A may decide to implement a new information collection and Central to a healthcare institution’s ability to manage and 40 analysis system for monitoring the treatment of cardiovascu maintain high quality care is information. Medical journals lar patients within the institution. Data such as medication regularly report on numerous quality improvements needed usage, frequency of patient follow-up, referrals, interven in healthcare delivery, Such as minimizing the under use, over tions, etc. may all be collected as part of this program, and, use, and/or misuse of care, minimizing clinical errors, reduc most likely, stored in a relational database from which reports ing costs, and so forth. Approaches such as conformance to 45 may be derived and analyses made. Hospital B may also have clinical standards, total quality management, outcomes mea a keen interest in these clinical data and collect similar fields Surement, accreditation and accountability, healthcare pro in its own proprietary database. For purposes of comparison, vider training and performance monitoring, cost tracking and benchmarking, patient mix analysis, outcomes, etc. it would cost-effectiveness analysis, patient education, infrastructure be very useful (and cost efficient) for Hospitals A and B to be monitoring, and others are all used to systematically measure, 50 able to share their data in Some anonymous manner. However, analyze, and optimize the healthcare delivery of institutions. suppose, as is often the case, that Hospitals A and B differ in Healthcare institutions are responsible for continuous many respects institutionally, and have different uses to improvement in healthcare delivery. In order to assess Such which they seek to put the data. Hospital A may have a broad terms as “quality” and “improvement,” standards are different pharmaceutical formulary that Hospital B. Hospital necessary, as is the ability to obtain information enabling an 55 A may record medication side effects as “None, Mild, Mod institution to conduct periodic assessments of performance, erate. Extensive,” while Hospital B records side effects as policy and procedure. This is essentially an ongoing audit of “Nausea, Rash, Increased Blood Pressure, etc.” Hospital A performance enabling a systematic appraisal of an institution. may not have a Surgical program, thus its patients must be Conceptually the components of this audit may be thought of referred to another institution for bypass Surgery and so data as (i) infrastructure (e.g., physical/equipment needs of an 60 regarding this treatment and its outcomes is not included in institution), (ii) process (what is done, when, how, by whom, Hospital A's dataset. Conversely, Hospital B may have exten etc.), and (iii) outcomes (what occurred, how do these occur sive Surgical programs, all of which generate data that is of rences compare to standards, other institutions, etc.). Data great interest and included in Hospital B's dataset. These recording, information retrieval and analysis are requisite for inconsistencies do not entirely rule out the sharing of data a valid audit of institutional structure, process, and outcomes. 65 between the institutions. For example, it is possible that they For example, evidence-based medicine has as its goal to could share information about medications that are pre assist health care practitioners, patients, and policymakers to scribed at both institutions, and so forth. Unfortunately, mini US 9,202,084 B2 67 68 mal overlap, coding differences, and the like make Such infor may also be useful sources of comparative data if the guide mation sharing require extensive retrospective re-formatting lines are explicit and there is good Scientific evidence to that further increases the cost of the data. Not surprisingly, Support the recommendations. For example, there is good inter-institutional comparisons other than those formalized in evidence to Suggest that certain therapies should be adminis clinical trials are therefore uncommon. If, instead, institu tered within the first six hours following a myocardial infarc tions recorded and had access to syndicated healthcare infor tion. This is a rigorously studied guideline and is widely mation, from which unique feeds could be tailored to indi accepted. Syndicated data may be used to disseminate this vidual institutional needs, certain problems, such as those of information to, and within, a healthcare institution, as well as institutional intercommunication described above, may be used to collect and disseminate information pertain to the minimized, with improvement of the usefulness and effi 10 ciency of health care information for institutions. institution's performance and conformance with the guide Effective institutional healthcare delivery may require sev line. Accrediting institutions, researchers, and other inter eral steps. First, goals and quality standards must be defined, ested parties may, in turn, aggregate this syndicated data and to the extent possible, must be measurable. Second, spe across a clinical specialty, geographic region, and so forth to cific, measurable indicators relating to those definitions must 15 derive norms of care, comparative studies, and the like. then be selected. Definitions may come from accrediting bod As in other industries, healthcare institutions have found ies, third-party insurers, physician groups (e.g. the AMA), value in quality improvement techniques such as Total Qual patient advocacy groups, or set to standards and goals that are ity Management (TQM), Continuous Quality Improvement internal to a particular institution. Third, data are collected. (CQI), and other similar methods. TQM and CQI derive from Data quality increases insofar as it is more accessible, has management research on methods for measuring perfor greater validity and completeness, and is relevant to the insti mance and using this information to continuously monitor tutional goal(s) for which it is intended to serve. Fourth, systemic outcomes and improve the quality of services, Summary and/or analyses of the data are provided. Finally, goods, and the like. Systematic monitoring of clinical perfor data delivery must occur, preferably in a manner consistent mance within a healthcare institution, permits parties within with the needs, aptitudes, and preferences of the data's end 25 the institution to receive information on their performance USCS. and make improvements where necessary, and permits Layered over this sequential data infrastructure are the administrators to evaluate the institution’s systems and pro domains of a healthcare institution, each with a potentially cesses at a macro level, aggregating information on individu unique set of circumstances impacting each step of the data als performances within the institution. infrastructure. For example, conformance to clinical stan 30 For example, healthcare administrators within an institu dards, total quality management, outcomes measurement, tion may be interested in improving the wait times in the accreditation and accountability, healthcare provider training Emergency Room. As part of a TQM/CQI project, data could and performance monitoring, cost tracking and cost-effec be collected on each patient who visits the ER within a tiveness analysis, patient education, infrastructure monitor defined period of time, this data could becombined with other ing, and others may each share a core set of data needs, but 35 useful information, such as, day of the week, time of day of have additional data requirements not shared by the other the visit, injury causing the ER Visit, and so on. Once these domains. Syndicated data technologies may be useful for data are aggregated and analyzed it may be possible to spot implementing the data processing steps described herein in a trends or problem areas that may be improved. Perhaps Fri decentralized manner and enabling different institutional day nights are associated with particularly long wait times. domains to interact with the information collected by the 40 This information might prompt administrators to increase decentralized data infrastructure to systematically measure, staffing on these nights, and so on. An effective TOM/CQI analyze, and optimize the healthcare delivery of an institu project must have valid and reliable information that is tion's domain in the manner best Suited to the unique goals of readily available to the appropriate parties who may use this a particular domain of a healthcare institution. information to improve institutional healthcare delivery. Syn Healthcare institutions must conform to standards of care 45 dicated data may be used to interact with information associ in order to obtain accreditation, maintain relationships with ated with a TQM/CQI project within a healthcare institution, third-party insurers, and the like. A number of organizations used to aggregate TQM/COI data for purposes of compari publish and report on standards of care, Such as the Joint son, Summary, and the like. Similar projects could record Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organiza clinical errors, events (e.g. intubation required, CPR admin tions (JCAHO), the National Committee for Quality Assur 50 istered), morbidity, mortality, and so forth, as part of a TQM/ ance (NCQA), and others. Some standards may refer to the CQI process to reduce error rates and improve patient safety. management of a healthcare institutions (e.g. maintaining This syndicated data, in turn, could be aggregated at a city, records on the credentials of all staff physicians), while others state, or national level for the purposes of administrative may be quite specific to a disease state and how to best treat it. decision making, resource allocation, accreditation, and so NCQA's HEDIS 3.0 database includes measures to assess the 55 forth. effectiveness of care. JCAHO mandates that healthcare insti Training healthcare providers and the monitoring the per tutions collect data on performance, and medical specialty formance of providers at all levels are fundamental to a Suc organizations, such as the American College of Cardiology, cessful healthcare institution. However, measurement in this may derive and publish best practices for a specific condition domain is notoriously difficult. For example, in many (e.g. how to evaluate and treat new-onset angina. 60 instances it is not meaningful to hold a single provider indi In particular, clinical practice guidelines may provide a vidually responsible for a patients outcomes, because a given healthcare institution, its physicians and other healthcare pro patient’s treatment is likely to be shared by several providers, viders with information regarding the appropriate treatment perhaps with different clinical specialties and different levels of a wide variety of conditions. Practice guidelines incorpo of training, and even shared across healthcare institutions rate the best scientific evidence with expert opinion and rep 65 (e.g. physician group office, hospital, home care, etc.). As resent recommendations based on rigorous clinical research another example, it is difficult to establish standards of com and Soundly generated professional consensus. Guidelines petence for different training levels, because trainees assimi US 9,202,084 B2 69 70 late information and acquire skills at different rates through procedures, like bypass Surgery, may increase the number of out the prolonged (often multiyear) period of training. years that a patient is free from heart attack, as compared to Further complicating measurement in this domain is the pharmaceutical treatment alone, but at a significantly higher case mix of patients in different hospitals. A provider working cost. This information may then be aggregated with other data in a public hospital may see patients in a more advanced (e.g. patient factors, provider factors, institutional factors) disease state than her cross-town colleague working at a pri that affect outcomes. Data like these are often used to deter vate hospital in an affluent neighborhood. The lower socio mine the appropriate timetable for health screenings. For economic status of the public hospital’s patients may be asso example, it is likely that testing males every year from birth ciated with a variety of comorbid disorders derived from for prostate cancer would result in lessening the mortality Socioeconomic deficiencies. For example, in the public hos 10 from this disease to some slight degree. However, so few men pital there may be a high level of uninsured patients who do under age 35 have prostate cancer that testing all men under not as often visit physicians offices, and delay seeking care this age is not cost effective. Thus, standards must be derived when it is needed. Thus, to compare the performance of the based, in part, on the balance between obtaining a desired public and private hospital providers on a variable Such as outcome (detect cancer) and economic necessities (keep the “Lower Systolic Blood Pressure Ten Points within Three 15 cost of each cancer detected below SX). The result enables Months of First Consultation' is not a valid comparison, as it healthcare providers and administrators to balance the desire is confounded by the different case mix of the two institu to meet treatment objectives with prudent fiscal management. tions. Cost benefit analysis is another method for measuring the net In spite of these difficulties, measuring performance, benefit of an intervention, but with costs and benefits both monitoring provider training, and the like are necessary in expressed in financial units. The data necessary for cost order to identify areas that need improvement, signal the related analyses may be stored by a healthcare institution in a accomplishment of goals, and respond to the need for syndicated format for later interaction. accountability. The steering committee of a healthcare insti As with the cost effectiveness of clinical outcomes, health tution must ensure that staff members receive propertraining, care institutions must also gather information regarding the that this training is in evidence within individuals clinical 25 value of patient education programs. Patient education is practice, and that it serves to maintain and/or improve upon intended, among other things, to improve compliance with desired performance levels. In response to t information per treatment regimens and help patients to better understand and taining to training and performance, institutional task forces self-manage their health. For example, a healthcare institu may be formed to focus on specific staff competencies that tion may create a patient education program for cardiology appear weak. Systematic monitoring of healthcare providers 30 patients that includes teaching patients how to recognize training and performance within a healthcare institution per symptoms associated with an impending heart attack, so that mits parties within the institution to receive information on should such symptoms occur, they are better able to contact their performance and make improvements where necessary, healthcare personnel for help. As another example, educa and permits administrators to evaluate the institution's sys tional programs may improve patients’ compliance in taking tems and processes at a macro level, aggregating information 35 their medications and adhering to a follow-up care plan. As a on individuals’ performances within the institution. Cross further example, patient education may improve clinical out institutional data may also be collected, permitting specialty comes by improving communication between doctor and organizations to monitor the training and credentialing pro patient, as patients learn how to discuss their symptoms with cess for their residents and fellows. their physician, ask important questions, and clear up any Syndicated data may be used to monitor providers’ training 40 misunderstanding they might have about their health condi and performance within a healthcare institution in a more tion. A healthcare institution may collect data relating to passive, decentralize manner. For example, whereas a tradi patient education programs and measurable clinical out tional performance measurement project would very likely comes and store these data in a syndicated format for later use specify in advance variables to collect, where and when to in evaluating the usefulness and cost-benefit of the programs. collect the data, create a new database or dataset within a 45 Contemporary medicine is heavily reliant upon the devices database, and so on, a syndicated data infrastructure could and physical plant of healthcare institutions to administer systematically tag institutional records for later interaction as appropriate care. Complex medical devices and equipment part of performance monitoring, but without having to, a require monitoring and maintenance in order to prevent priori, decide the specifics of all intended analyses. Training device-related clinical errors. Device-related mistakes may and performance parameters may also be provided to cross 50 be due to (i) device failures (e.g. component failure), (ii) institutional organizations such as medical Schools compris external factors (e.g. electrical Surges or outages, (iii) system ing a number of teaching hospitals, or medical specialty orga errors (e.g. improper training, poor maintenance), or (iv) nizations. operator error (e.g. human misuse of a device). Device-re In addition to clinical effectiveness, healthcare institutions lated data, for example pertaining to device-related error, may must also continually demonstrate optimal fiscal manage 55 be stored in a syndicated format. From these syndicated data, ment. Cost-effectiveness studies, cost benefit analysis, and for example, it may be possible to create feeds that alert simple cost tracking are all tools used to measure the eco institutions to possible device-related problems. Moreover, nomic value of services provided by healthcare institutions. for example, institutions may record their device-related data Cost-effectiveness analyses have as their goal to describe the in a syndicated format that is shared with an overseeing body. cost of obtaining health outcomes as a means for determining 60 The overseeing body may aggregate this information from a the appropriateness of various treatment options. For multitude of institutions and glean useful information on example, a cost-effectiveness study may seek to quantify the devices that seem to be associated with device failures, that cost of three treatment options for a narrowed coronary artery appear to be more difficult to use and, thus, have high operator (medication, angioplasty, bypass Surgery) to obtain the same error, and so forth. This Summary information could, in turn, outcome, such as, “Free of Myocardial Infarction.” The study 65 bestored in a syndicated format and feed to institutions so that would then quantify the cost for each year that a patient, on they may be better aware of current or potential device prob average, is free from having a heart attack. More invasive lems. US 9,202,084 B2 71 72 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with healthcare institutions with whom the institution shares evidence-based information, Such as medical research, clini patient populations, clinical specialties, clinical population cal trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed articles, aca types, and the like. The clinical factors of relevance to insti demic presentations, and the like in a syndicated format to tutions that seek to share syndicated data may be published enable an institution to continually update its repository of 5 with detailed tags to provide narrowly tailored or easily fil evidence-based medical knowledge via syndicated data tered RSS feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS chan obtained through an RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, or nels for ongoing data sharing. Such a process may allow RSS channel. The syndicated information may include full institutions who care for similar patient populations to aggre academic journal articles, article abstracts, customized article gate data for more robust analysis. Summaries, clinic trial data, clinical trial analyses, published 10 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with standards of care, published clinical indicators for medica syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical tions, published indicators for interventions, appropriateness research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed scores for certain classes of clinical profiles and correspond articles, academic presentations, and the like, through the use ing treatment options, and the like. For example, an institution of an application 406 providing a user interface 700 for view engaged in a high Volume cardiology practice may be able to 15 ing data, records, and the like. For example, a client 102 may, subscribe to syndicated data feeds for particular research in response to user input such as clicking on a title of an item journals, organizations, and the like, and receive regular in the user interface 700, retrieve the underlying item from the updates on new clinical findings, recommendations, changes content source 204 as indicated by an arrow 208. in standards of care, and so forth. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, syndicated evidence-based information, syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical Such as medical research, clinical trial findings, case studies, research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed peer-reviewed articles, academic presentations, and the like, articles, academic presentations, and the like, through the use may be plotted, displayed, analyzed, or the like and distrib of an application 406 associated with a media viewer or uted to an RSS-enabled client. directly through a media viewer. For example, an RSS item In embodiments, syndicated evidence-based information, 25 may refer to an image source. Such as an MRI image in a Such as medical research, clinical trial findings, case studies, medical record from a hospital, and may specify a viewer for peer-reviewed articles, academic presentations, and the like, the source image that is available through a registry Such as a may be associated with an application 406 consisting of a registry for services in a services oriented architecture. In client-side program. As used in this application, the client operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permis side program may be healthcare software and/or an applica 30 sions to view the image (also as managed, e.g., through the tion. The client-side program may be formatted to operate on metadata for the enhanced syndication system), may retrieve client devices such as, a desktop computer, laptop computer, the appropriate viewer service from the registry, and apply the "pocket' personal computer, a cellular phone, Blackberry, viewer to view the source image. In another aspect, viewers or personal digital assistant, or other SMS text-enabled device, links to viewer Software may be syndicated for global access or the like. 35 across the healthcare institution so that new media formats or In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, improvements to rendering or other functionality for existing or RSS channel used to present syndicated evidence-based media formats may be published for use throughout the insti information, Such as medical research, clinical trial findings, tution. The suitability of a viewer may depend on the hard case studies, peer-reviewed articles, academic presentations, ware capabilities of a client, the operating system of a client, and the like, may be associated with an aggregator 210 to 40 and the like, and the Syndicated message containing the image track updates. may specify a number of different possible viewers, such as In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, viewers for different client device types. or RSS channel used to present syndicated evidence-based In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with information, Such as medical research, clinical trial findings, syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical case studies, peer-reviewed articles, academic presentations, 45 research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed and the like, may be associated with a content management articles, academic presentations, and the like, through the use system that may provide Summaries of the syndicated data of an application 406 providing vertical market integration. available, dates associated with the syndicated data, links to For example, as hospital physicians update the medications access the full, non-Summarized data, and the like. and dosages of their patient population following clinical In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 50 visits, this data may be aggregated and republished by clinical syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical specialty (e.g. cardiology patients) and this syndicated data research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed may then be provided to the administrators of the respective articles, academic presentations, and the like, through the use clinical areas viaan RSS feed 202 and may permit the admin of an application 406 providing Social networking. As used in istrators to more efficiently allocate resources, plan person this application, social networking may enable two or more 55 nel, and the like. As used in this application, the application individuals to view, receive, send and/or interact with one or 406 providing for vertical market integration may provide more pieces of information. The two or more individuals may conditional access that allows a participant in a healthcare be members of a network, such as a network of healthcare hierarchy to view, receive, send and/or interact with informa providers. The one or more pieces of information may be tion according to the participant's position in the hierarchy. syndicated information or data, Such as Syndicated evidence 60 Referring to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/information 1302 based information, syndicated data regarding adverse events, may be syndicated evidence-based information as described standards, clinical practice guidelines and recommendations, herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may originate clinical processes, training and credentials, performance, on a network 110 or may originate from a content source 204 errors and outcomes, expenditures on patient care, Such as through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 210 may discussed herein. 65 select and filter one or more sources of evidence-based infor For example, through social networking an institution may mation for republication. Users 1304, such as users 404 and be able to communicate and share syndicated data with other clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interact with the US 9,202,084 B2 73 74 syndicated data/information 1302 directly or through an interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated data/ application/interface? other 1308. The users 1304 may also information 1302, translation of aggregated data, such as interact with each other. The application/interface/other 1308 syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge may be a client-side program, Such as the healthcare program structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, Such as described discussed herein, a Social networking application, a user herein. The semantic facility 1502 may be deployed as interface, such as user interface 700, 800 and/or 900, an described above with reference to, for example, FIGS. 4 and application in connection with a media viewer, a media 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 may be data viewer and/or an application providing for vertical market feeds, such as data feed 202. integration, such as described herein. The application/inter In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ face/other 1308 may also employ or expose services, such as 10 or subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated evidence those described in reference to FIG. 4. In certain embodi based information, such as medical research, clinical trial ments the arrows of FIG. 13 may be data feeds, such as data findings, case studies, peer-reviewed articles, academic pre feed 202. sentations, and the like, to which others may subscribe and/or In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with publish and/or with which others may interact. Community syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical 15 physicians, for example, may subscribe to syndicated evi research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed dence-based information generated by an academic medical articles, academic presentations, and the like, using database center (e.g., the Mayo Clinic), or by a medical specialty functions that may permit the data quality to be verified, organization (e.g., the American College of Surgeons). Com provide for transformation of the data, enable searching, fil munity physicians may also publish their own results as part tering, or clustering the patient data, or categorizing the data of a decentralized data collection project sponsored by Such into hierarchies, interrelationships, interrelated groups, and an institution, so that the experience of individual physicians the like. is captured as part of the institution's data set. Referring to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/information 1302 In embodiments, the syndicated evidence-based informa may be syndicated evidence-based information as described tion, Such as medical research, clinical trial findings, case herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may originate 25 studies, peer-reviewed articles, academic presentations, and on a network 110 or may originate from a content source 204 the like, may be further associated with information that may through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 210 may be provide for the management of the data. For example, the employed as described above. Users 1304, such as users 404 aggregated data may list the author of the aggregated data, the and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interact with date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, the data may provide the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or through a 30 for further aggregation, republication, and the like. In the database function 1402.The database function 1402 may also example above, where community physicians are contribut interact directly with the syndicated data/information 1302. ing data to an academic dataset, such community-sourced The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The data data may be designated as such, allowing Subsequent statis base function 1402 may be a database function as described tical analysis and Substantive analysis to recognize the differ herein, such as related to data quality, data transformation, 35 ent parameters accompanying community-based observa searching, filtering, clustering, a search engine, information tions as contrasted with academic-based observations. In this relationships, hierarchical relationships and categorization, example, community-based Surgeons may have a different such as described herein. The database function 1402 may, for rate of post-operative infection with different microorgan example, be deployed as a service in a registry of a services isms than the academic-based Surgical staff, reflecting the oriented architecture. In certain embodiments the arrows of 40 differences in the type of microorganisms found in the two FIG. 14 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. environments, the differences in patient mix and illness sever In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with ity, and the like. syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical Referring to FIG.16, the syndicated data/information 1302 research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed may be syndicated evidence-based information as described articles, academic presentations, and the like, using semantic 45 herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may originate rules 412 that enable, for example, the creation or processing on a network 110 or may originate from a content source 204 of metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for meta through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 210 may be data enrichment of syndicated or aggregated data, interpreta employed as described above. Users 1304, such as users 404 tion or translation of aggregated data, as well as permit the and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interact with creation of knowledge structures expressed, for example, 50 the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or through a using OPML, and the use of a dictionary or thesaurus. syndication facility 1602. The syndication facility 1602 may Referring to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/information 1302 also interact directly with the syndicated data/information may be syndicated evidence-based information as described 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may originate syndication facility 1602 may publish, Subscribe to, aggre on a network 110 or may originate from a content source 204 55 gate and republish aggregated data, such as Syndicated data/ through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 210 may be information 1302, such as described herein. The syndication employed as described above. Users 1304, such as users 404 facility 1602 may also manage syndication information 1302, and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interact with such as described herein. The syndication facility 1602 may, the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or through a for example, be deployed as a service in a services oriented semantic facility 1502. The semantic facility 1502 may, for 60 architecture or using the other techniques described above example, provide context for or interpretation of syndicated with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the data to improve end user experience, or may filter syndicated arrows of FIG.16 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. A data using semantically oriented rules. The semantic facility user 1304 may also publish, republish and/or subscribe to a 1502 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ content source 204, data feed 202, aggregator 210 and/or information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each 65 syndication facility 1602. other. The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be related to In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrichment, syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical US 9,202,084 B2 75 76 research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with articles, academic presentations, and the like, within an infra syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical structure 416 that provides for data security, authentication, research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed management of the traffic created by the RSS feeds 202, web articles, academic presentations, and the like, that is associ feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging and pinging ated with restricted or conditional access properties. Clinical technology, and/or other communications. A subscriber to an researchers at decentralized institutions participating in a academic medical center's syndicated evidence-based infor clinical trial, for example, may have access to data accumu mation may need to provide credentials demonstrating her lated at multiple centers in real time, while other subscribers may not be permitted access until all data have been accumu academic affiliation before she can access certain types of lated for the entire trial. data Such as complication rates for particular procedures. A Referring to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/information 1302 researcher investigating, for example, complication rates for may be syndicated evidence-based information as described a particular procedure as part of a scientific, cross-institu herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may originate tional study may be granted deidentified access to complica on a network 110 or may originate from a content source 204 tion data for the academic medical center, but again only after 15 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 210 may be providing certain credentials acceptable to the institution. employed as described above. Users 1304, such as users 404 Referring to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/information 1302 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interact with may be syndicated evidence-based information as described infrastructure 1702 the syndicated data/information 1302. herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may originate The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The syndi on a network 110 or may originate from a content source 204 cated data/information 1302 may be associated with special through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 210 may be properties 1802. The special properties 1802 may, for employed as described above. Users 1304, such as users 404 example, relate to formatting, display, identification, de-iden and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interact with tification, transactions, restricted access and/or conditional the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or through an access, or other properties or characteristics of syndicated infrastructure 1702. The infrastructure 1702 may also interact 25 content as described herein. In certain embodiments the directly with the syndicated data/information 1302. The users arrows of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. 1304 may also interact with each other. The infrastructure In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 1702 may, for example, provide services for an enhanced syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of syndication environment Such as security, authentication, adverse events within an institution to enable an institution to traffic management, logging, pinging and/or communica 30 continually update its morbidity and mortality data via Syn tions, such as described herein. The infrastructure 1702 may, dicated data obtained through an RSS feed 202, web feed, for example, be deployed as a service in a services oriented RSS stream, or RSS channel. In embodiments, syndicated architecture or using the other techniques described above data regarding the occurrence and details of adverse events with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the within an institution may be plotted, displayed, analyzed, or arrows of FIG. 17 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. 35 the like and distributed to an RSS-enabled client. In one In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with aspect, the data may be published in its analyzed form. In syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical another aspect, the data may be published in raw form for research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed analysis and display with a client-side application. articles, academic presentations, and the like, that is associ In embodiments, syndicated data regarding the occurrence ated with special formatting and/or display properties. A case 40 and details of adverse events within an institution may be study or series of cases from a medical center may be made plotted, displayed, analyzed, or the like. The processed data available to subscribers, for example, in a format suitable for may be associated with an application 406 consisting of a continuing medical education (“CME) purposes. The CME client-side program. The client-side program may be format oriented case report may be followed by a series of questions ted to operate on client devices such as, a desktop computer, to permit CME credits, or the case report may be accompa 45 laptop computer, “pocket' personal computer, a cellular nied by links to related peer-reviewed journal articles or phone, Blackberry, personal digital assistant, or other SMS abstracts. Non-CME subscribers to the same case study may text-enabled device, or the like. In one aspect, the data may be not have access to the CME formatting and display. published in its analyzed form. In another aspect, the data In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with may be published in an unprocessed form for analysis and syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical 50 display with a client-side application. research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, articles, academic presentations, and the like, that is associ or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding the ated with special identification and/or de-identification prop occurrence and details of adverse events within an institution erties. For example, a syndicated case study from a hospital may be associated with an aggregator 210 to track updates. may be available to subscribers for CME purposes with 55 In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, patient deidentification. The same case study may be accom or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding the panied by demographic data if the Subscriber is a clinical occurrence and details of adverse events within an institution researcher. may be associated with a content management system that In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with may provide Summaries of the syndicated data available, syndicated evidence-based information, such as medical 60 dates associated with the syndicated data, links to access the research, clinical trial findings, case studies, peer-reviewed full, non-Summarized data, and the like. The content manage articles, academic presentations, and the like, that is associ ment system may be deployed within an enhanced syndica ated with properties allowing for transactional processing. tion system using, for example, the security, semantic pro The transactions may be financial transactions, such as cessing, infrastructure, and other components of the related to medical reimbursement and/or subscription fees or 65 architecture described above with reference to FIG. 4. other charges for access to the syndicated evidence-based In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with information. syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of US 9,202,084 B2 77 78 adverse events within an institution through the use of an Such as the healthcare program discussed herein, a Social application 406 that provides social networking. For networking application, a user interface. Such as user inter example, through social networking an institution may be face 700, 800 and/or 900, an application in connection with a able to communicate and share syndicated data with other media viewer, a media viewer and/oran application providing healthcare institutions with whom the institution shares for vertical market integration, such as described herein. The patient populations, clinical specialties, clinical population application/interface? other 1308 may, for example, be types, and the like. The clinical factors of relevance to insti deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or tutions who seek to share syndicated data may be identified using the other techniques described above with reference to with detailed tags or other metadata that provides narrowly FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 tailored RSS feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS 10 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. channels for ongoing data sharing. It will be understood that In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with an institution may optionally publish a relatively large num syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of ber of feeds, each with a narrow semantic domain, or a rela adverse events within an institution using one or more data tively small number of feeds with suitable metadata or tag base functions that may permit the data quality to be verified, ging for a subscribing institution to filter the feeds effectively. 15 provide for transformation of the data, enable searching, fil Such a process may allow institutions who care for similar tering, or clustering the patient data, or categorizing the data patient populations to aggregate data for more robust analy into hierarchies, interrelationships, interrelated groups, and S1S. the like. Data collected for medical recordkeeping, for In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with example, may be filtered and/or searched to identify adverse syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of events that were not originally catalogued as such. Such data adverse events within an institution through the use of an base functions may allow for the identification of previously application 406 providing a user interface 700 for viewing unrecognized adverse events. For example, the medical data, records, and the like. For example, a client 102 may, in records of a series of patients receiving a particular drug may response to user input such as clicking on a title of an item in show a transient but significant low white blood cell count the user interface 700, retrieve the underlying item from the 25 that had not been previously associated with administering content source 204 as indicated by an arrow 208. the drug. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to adverse adverse events within an institution through the use of an events as described herein. The syndicated data/information application 406 associated with a media viewer or directly 30 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from through a media viewer. For example, an RSS item may refer a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An to an image source, such as an MRI image in a medical record aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users from a hospital, and may specify a viewer for the Source 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, image that is available through the registry. In operation, a send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permissions to view 35 1302 directly or through a database function 1402. The data the image (also as managed, e.g., through the metadata for the base function 1402 may also interact directly with the syndi enhanced syndication system), may retrieve the appropriate cated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also inter viewer service from the registry, and apply the viewer to view act with each other. The database function 1402 may be a the source image. Data regarding adverse events may be database function as described herein, such as related to data captured in graphical form, for example as a digital photo 40 quality, data transformation, searching, filtering, clustering, a graph of a wound resulting from a malfunctioning grounding search engine, information relationships, hierarchical rela pad, or a wound resulting from a Surgical infection. A media tionships and categorization, such as described herein. The viewer may include a comparator program, so that differ database function 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a ences in digital images may be identified. For example, the service in a services oriented architecture or using the other changes in a wound across time may be monitored so that its 45 techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. healing progress may be monitored and correlated with its In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data severity. A malfunctioning grounding pad that causes a feeds, such as data feed 202. slowly-healing deep second degree burn, for example, poses In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with a greater hazard than a similar device that causes a less severe syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of second degree burn that heals rapidly. Relating sequential 50 adverse events within an institution that is associated with digital images to each other with a comparator program may semantic rules 412 that enable the creation of metadata. permit the tracking of adverse events. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for metadata enrich In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with ment of aggregated data, interpretation or translation of syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of aggregated data, as well as permit the creation of knowledge adverse events within an institution through the use of an 55 structures (e.g., using OPML) and the use of a dictionary, application 406 providing vertical market integration. thesaurus or the like. Abnormalities in blood tests or urine Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa tests may be tagged as designating a particular organ func tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to adverse tion, for example, so that all tests pertaining to renal function, events as described herein. The syndicated data/information liver function, cardiac function, and the like, may be identi 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from 60 fied and aggregated to facilitate identification of adverse a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An eVentS. aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to adverse send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information events as described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 directly or through an application/interface? other 1308. 65 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The appli a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An cation/interface? other 1308 may be a client-side program, aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users US 9,202,084 B2 79 80 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of 1302 directly or through a semantic facility 1502. The seman adverse events within an institution within an infrastructure tic facility 1502 may also interact directly with the syndicated 416 that provides for data security, authentication, manage data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with 5 ment of the traffic created by the RSS feeds 202, web feeds, each other. The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging and pinging technol related to semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrich ogy, and/or other communications. The Operating Room ment, interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated Supervisor, for example, may desirably be alerted by pinging data/information 1302, translation of aggregated data, Such as technology for each adverse event connected to an operating syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge 10 structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, such as described room device. This Supervisor, likely a member of the nursing herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be staff, may not have access to data pertaining to Surgeon error deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or until after such data have been reviewed in a quality control using the other techniques described above with reference to peer-review setting. Appropriate infrastructure channels and FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 15 protects such data according to hospital staff"need-to-know' may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. provisions. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to adverse the occurrence and details of adverse events within an insti events as described herein. The syndicated data/information tution to which others may subscribe and/or publish and/or 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from with which others may interact. For example, within an insti a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An tution all physicians may be able to subscribe to an RSS feed aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users 202, web feed, RSS stream, or RSS channel, “CPR that 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, regularly updates and retrieves information from across the send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information entire institution on instances of the use of CPR on patients, 25 1302 directly or through an infrastructure 1702. The infra and which is aggregated with other syndicated data on CPR structure 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated rates from outside the institution's patient population. data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding the occur each other. The infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related rence and details of adverse events within an institution may to security, authentication, traffic management, logging, be further associated with information that may provide for 30 pinging and/or communications, such as described herein. the management of the data. For example, the aggregated data The infrastructure 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a may list the author of the aggregated data, the date on which service in a services oriented architecture or using the other it was authored, etc. Thus, the data may provide for further techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. aggregation, republication, and the like. A variety of authors, In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data for example, may contribute syndicated data about a particu 35 feeds, such as data feed 202. lar adverse event, for example a Surgical complication. A In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with Surgeon, a nurse and an anesthesiologist may all contribute syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of data to an adverse event file pertaining to post-operative nerve adverse events within an institution that is associated with or compression syndromes. A physical therapist may contribute contains (such as within metadata) special formatting and/or additional information pertaining to the recovery of patients 40 display properties. In embodiments, healthcare institutions who have Suffered such injuries. Authorship information may may interact with syndicated data regarding the occurrence allow management of these contributions as the collection and details of adverse events within an institution that is and analysis of data progress. associated with or contains special identification and/or de Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa identification properties. Such deidentification may permit tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to adverse 45 intra-institutional or inter-institutional researchers to collect events as described herein. The syndicated data/information data pertaining to adverse events without compromising 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from patient confidentiality and without interfering with institu a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An tion-based error review procedures. In embodiments, health aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users care institutions may interact with syndicated data regarding 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, 50 the occurrence and details of adverse events within an insti send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information tution that is associated with or contains metadata describing 1302 directly or through a syndication facility 1602. The properties allowing for transactional processing. The trans syndication facility 1602 may also interact directly with the actions may be financial transactions. Such as related to medi syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also cal reimbursement and/or Subscription fees or other charges interact with each other. The syndication facility 1602 may 55 for access to the syndicated evidence-based information. publish, Subscribe to, aggregate and republish aggregated In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with data, Such as syndicated data/information 1302, such as syndicated data regarding the occurrence and details of described herein. The syndication facility 1602 may also adverse events within an institution that is associated with manage syndication information 1302. Such as described restricted or conditional access properties. Conditional herein. The syndication facility 1602 may, for example, be 60 access may allow researchers access to adverse event data, as deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or described above, while preventing undesirable outsiders using the other techniques described above with reference to similar access. Conditional access may be granted based on FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 16 certain credentials. Information available via syndication may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. A user 1304 may may be restricted to certain classes of data, for example event also publish, republish and/or subscribe to a content source 65 description without other clinical disclosure, to prevent the 204, data feed 202, aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility information from being used for purposes inconsistent with 1602. institutional needs. US 9,202,084 B2 81 82 Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa standards, and the like through the use of an application 406 tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to adverse providing a user interface 700 for viewing data, records, and events as described herein. The syndicated data/information the like. For example, a client 102 may, in response to user 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from input Such as clicking on a title of an item in the user interface a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An 700, retrieve the underlying item from the content source 204 aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. The as indicated by an arrow 208. A social networking infrastruc infrastructure 1702 may also interact directly with the syndi ture may be used for example, to track preferences with cated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also inter respect to alternative treatment methods, to provide user com act with each other. The syndicated data/information 1302 munities according to treatment preferences, or evaluate and may be associated with special properties 1802. The special 10 communicate trends towards and away from alternative pro properties 1802 may be related to formatting, display, iden tocols. tification, de-identification, transactions, restricted access In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with and/or conditional access. Such as described herein. The spe syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, cial properties 1802 may also be associated with a service or accreditation standards, and the like through the use of an function, such as the services described above with FIG. 4, 15 application 406 associated with a media viewer or directly that interpret the properties to render or process syndicated through a media viewer. For example, an RSS item may refer content. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 18 may be to an image source. Such as an MRI image in a medical record data feeds, such as data feed 202. from a hospital, and may specify a viewer for the Source In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with image that is available through the registry. In operation, a syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permissions to view accreditation standards, and the like obtained through an RSS the image (also as managed, e.g., through the metadata for the feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, or RSS channel. In embodi enhanced syndication system), may retrieve the appropriate ments syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical viewer service from the registry, and apply the viewer to view care, accreditation standards, and the like may be plotted, the source image. displayed, analyzed, or the like and distributed to an RSS 25 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with enabled client. The data may also, or instead be published in syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, an unprocessed form for Subsequent analysis and display accreditation standards, and the like through the use of an using a client-side application. application 406 providing vertical market integration. Clini In embodiments, syndicated data regarding current stan cal best practices, as circulated by a medical specialty orga dards of clinical care, accreditation standards, and the like 30 nization, for example, may inform the practice of individual may be associated with an application 406 consisting of a physicians, and may also be reviewed and integrated into client-side program. The client-side program may be adapted institutional best practices. A best clinical practice in anes to operate on client devices Such as, a desktop computer, thesiology requiring continuous monitoring of blood oxygen laptop computer, “pocket' personal computer, a cellular levels may also guide hospital purchasing decisions about phone, Blackberry, personal digital assistant, or other SMS 35 acquiring a Sufficient number of pulse Oximeters for all pre text-enabled device, or the like, and may provide device operative, intraoperative and postoperative patients. specific rendering of syndicated content. Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to health or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding care standards as described herein. The syndicated data/in current standards of clinical care, accreditation standards, and 40 formation 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may the like may be associated with an aggregator 210 to track originate from a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or updates, or otherwise combine, filter, or cluster feeds in any directly. An aggregator 210 may be employed as described Suitable manner for republication. For example, a medical above. Users 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may specialty organization may wish to provide updates to its view, receive, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/ members of clinical best practices or clinical care guidelines. 45 information 1302 directly or through an application/inter In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, face/other 1308. The users 1304 may also interact with each or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding other. The application/interface? other 1308 may be a client current standards of clinical care, accreditation standards, and side program, Such as the healthcare program discussed the like may be associated with a content management system herein, a social networking application, a user interface. Such that may provide Summaries of the syndicated data available, 50 as user interface 700, 800 and/or 900, an application in con dates associated with the syndicated data, links to access the nection with a media viewer, a media viewer and/or an appli full, non-Summarized data, and the like. The content manage cation providing for vertical market integration, such as ment system may be deployed within an enhanced syndica described herein. The application/interface? other 1308 may, tion system as described above. Standards of clinical care, for for example, be deployed as a service in a services oriented example, may beinformed by State court case law decisions in 55 architecture or using the other techniques described above medical malpractice cases where the standard of care for a with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the particular medical service was at issue. A state or national arrows of FIG. 13 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. medical practice organization (e.g., the Massachusetts Medi In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with cal Society) may provide syndicated data pertaining to stan syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, dards of clinical care with links to access the court cases or 60 accreditation standards, and the like that is associated with Summaries thereof that are relevant to particular standards. database functions that may permit the data quality to be In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with verified, provide for transformation of the data, enable syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, searching, filtering, or clustering the patient data, or catego accreditation standards, and the like through the use of an rizing the data into hierarchies, interrelationships, interre application 406 providing Social networking. In embodi 65 lated groups, and the like. A physician within a healthcare ments, healthcare institutions may interact with Syndicated institution may use Such database functions to search for a data regarding current standards of clinical care, accreditation standard of care or clinical best practice for an unfamiliar US 9,202,084 B2 83 84 disease, for example. As another example, she may search for like may be further associated with information that may a cluster standard of care pertaining to a multifaceted disease provide for the management of the data. For example, the process like diabetes. aggregated data may list the author of the aggregated data, the Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, the data may provide tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to health for further aggregation, republication, and the like. In the care standards as described herein. The syndicated data/in examples above, authorship information may identify the formation 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may Source of clinical best practice illustrations so that the spe originate from a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or cialty organization responsible for the overall guidelines may directly. An aggregator 210 may be employed as described determine the weight to be accorded to any individual contri above. Users 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may 10 bution. view, receive, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/ Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa information 1302 directly or through a database function tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to health 1402. The database function 1402 may also interact directly care standards as described herein. The syndicated data/in with the syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 formation 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may may also interact with each other. The database function 1402 15 originate from a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or may be a database function as described herein, Such as directly. An aggregator 210 may be employed as described related to data quality, data transformation, searching, filter above. Users 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may ing, clustering, a search engine, information relationships, view, receive, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/ hierarchical relationships and categorization, such as information 1302 directly or through a syndication facility described herein. The database function 1402 may, for 1602. The syndication facility 1602 may also interact directly example, be deployed as a service in a services oriented with the syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 architecture or using the other techniques described above may also interact with each other. The syndication facility with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the 1602 may publish, Subscribe to, aggregate and republish arrows of FIG. 14 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. aggregated data, Such as Syndicated data/information 1302, In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 25 such as described herein. The syndication facility 1602 may syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, also manage syndication information 1302. Such as described accreditation standards, and the like using semantic rules 412 herein. The syndication facility 1602 may, for example, be that enable the creation of metadata. Semantic rules 412 may deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or also provide for metadata enrichment of aggregated data, using the other techniques described above with reference to interpretation or translation of aggregated data, as well as 30 FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 16 permit the creation of knowledge structures (e.g., using may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. A user 1304 may OPML) and the use of a dictionary, thesaurus or the like. also publish, republish and/or subscribe to a content source Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa 204, data feed 202, aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to health 1602. care standards as described herein. The syndicated data/in 35 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with formation 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, originate from a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or accreditation standards, and the like within an infrastructure directly. An aggregator 210 may be employed as described 416 that provides for data security, authentication, manage above. Users 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may ment of the traffic created by the RSS feeds 202, web feeds, view, receive, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/ 40 RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging and pinging technol information 1302 directly or through a semantic facility 1502. ogy, and/or other communications. Thus, for example, certain The semantic facility 1502 may also interact directly with the data within feeds may be encrypted to restrict access. As syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also another example, access to a feed may be logged to obtain interact with each other. The semantic facility 1502 may usage data including the popularity of feeds and user data provide or be related to semantic rules, metadata creation, 45 (e.g., by identity, role, affiliation, and so forth). metadata enrichment, interpretation of aggregated data, Such Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa as Syndicated data/information 1302, translation of aggre tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to health gated data, Such as Syndicated data/information 1302, cre care standards as described herein. The syndicated data/in ation of knowledge structures, a dictionary and/or a thesau formation 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may rus, such as described herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, 50 originate from a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or for example, be deployed as a service in a services oriented directly. An aggregator 210 may be employed as described architecture or using the other techniques described above above. Users 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the view, receive, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/ arrows of FIG. 15 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. information 1302 directly or through an infrastructure 1702. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ 55 The infrastructure 1702 may also interact directly with the or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also current standards of clinical care, accreditation standards, and interact with each other. The infrastructure 1702 may provide the like to which others may subscribe and/or publish and/or or be related to security, authentication, traffic management, with which others may interact. Data regarding accreditation logging, pinging and/or communications, such as described standards or standards of clinical care are advantageously 60 herein. The infrastructure 1702 may, for example, be made available to a number of decentralized subscribers, for deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or example. As another example, a number of institutions or using the other techniques described above with reference to individuals may publish disclosures of specific illustrations FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 17 of clinical best practices to fill out a specialty organization’s may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. set of guidelines. 65 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding current syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, standards of clinical care, accreditation standards, and the accreditation standards, and the like that is associated with US 9,202,084 B2 85 86 special formatting and/or display properties. In embodi In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, ments, healthcare institutions may interact with Syndicated or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding data regarding current standards of clinical care, accreditation clinical practice guidelines, clinical recommendations, clini standards, and the like that is associated with special identi cal discussions, clinical analyses, and the like may be asso fication and/or de-identification properties. In one aspect, this ciated with an aggregator 210 to track updates. Such a system may provide anonymity to patients with respect to patient may permit practitioners to access updated information about data, or anonymity to users who are accessing syndicated a particular condition when such information becomes avail data. In another aspect, this may ensure the identification of a able. A practitioner may subscribe to syndicated data relating, Source or user of syndicated data when required. Such as for for example, to a clinical condition (e.g., breast cancer), a audit purposes, or to inform a patient of a new diagnosis or 10 treatment regimen (e.g., estrogen receptor blockers), or an possible diagnosis suggested by a recently updated Standard area of scientific investigation (e.g., genetics of cancer), oran of clinical care. aspect of health care policy (e.g., reimbursement for experi In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with mental procedures). Such updates may enhance clinical prac syndicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, 15 tice by ensuring that a physician has access to the most current accreditation standards, and the like, that is associated with information. properties allowing for transactional processing. The trans In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, actions may be financial transactions. Such as related to medi or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding cal reimbursement and/or Subscription fees or other charges clinical practice guidelines, clinical recommendations, clini for access to the syndicated evidence-based information. In cal discussions, clinical analyses, and the like may be asso embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with Syn ciated with a content management system that may provide dicated data regarding current standards of clinical care, Summaries of the syndicated data available, dates associated accreditation standards, and the like that is associated with with the syndicated data, links to access the full, non-Sum restricted or conditional access properties. A medical spe marized data, and the like. A practitioner Subscribing to Syn cialty organization may provide syndicated Standard of care 25 dicated data about “What's New in Breast Cancer for information only to its members, for example, or only to that example, may receive Summaries of the relevant information, subset of members who have paid a subscription fee. accompanied by links to abstracts, full reports or news Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa articles so that he can obtain further information about those tion 1302 may be syndicated information related to health items that interest him care standards as described herein. The syndicated data/in 30 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with formation 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini originate from a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, directly. An aggregator 210 may be employed as described and the like through the use of an application 406 providing above. The infrastructure 1702 may also interact directly with Social networking. For example, through social networking the syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may 35 an institution may be able to communicate and share syndi also interact with each other. The syndicated data/information cated data with other healthcare institutions with whom the 1302 may be associated with special properties 1802. The institution shares patient populations, clinical specialties, special properties 1802 may be related to formatting, display, clinical population types, and the like. Metadata within Syn identification, de-identification, transactions, restricted dicated messages may, for example, identify groups, practice access and/or conditional access. Such as described herein. 40 areas, or the like to which the message relates. The clinical The special properties 1802 may also be provided by an factors of relevance to institutions that seek to share syndi architecture such as that described above with reference to cated data may be expressed in detailed tags that provide FIG. 4. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 18 may be narrowly tailored or easily filterable RSS feeds 202, web data feeds, such as data feed 202. feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels for ongoing data shar In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 45 ing. Such a process may allow institutions who care for simi syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini lar patient populations to aggregate data for more robust cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, analysis. and the like obtained throughan RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with stream, or RSS channel. In embodiments syndicated data syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini regarding clinical practice guidelines, clinical recommenda 50 cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, tions, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, and the like may and the like through the use of an application 406 providing a be plotted, displayed, analyzed, or the like and distributed to user interface 700 for viewing data, records, and the like. For an RSS-enabled client. example, a client 102 may, in response to user input Such as In embodiments, syndicated data regarding clinical prac clicking on a title of an item in the user interface 700, retrieve tice guidelines, clinical recommendations, clinical discus 55 the underlying item from the content source 204 as indicated sions, clinical analyses, and the like may be associated with by an arrow 208. an application 406 consisting of a client-side program. The In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with client-side program may be formatted to operate on client syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini devices such as, a desktop computer, laptop computer, cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, "pocket' personal computer, a cellular phone, Blackberry, 60 and the like through the use of an application 406 associated personal digital assistant, or other SMS text-enabled device, with a media viewer or directly through a media viewer. For or the like. Such a client-side program and device may permit, example, an RSS item may refer to an image source. Such as for example, the dissemination of clinical information to an MRI image in a medical record from a hospital, and may practitioners in an easy-to-access format. Such a client-side specify a viewer for the Source image that is available through device and program may further permit practitioners to inter 65 the registry. In operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with act with their colleagues about clinical issues, in a format appropriate permissions to view the image (also as managed, resembling “live chat.” e.g., through the metadata for the enhanced syndication sys US 9,202,084 B2 87 88 tem), may retrieve the appropriate viewer service from the oriented architecture or using the other techniques described registry, and apply the viewer to view the source image. above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with ments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data feeds, such as data syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini feed 202. cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with and the like through the use of an application 406 providing syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini Vertical market integration. A clinical recommendation that cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, all women over 40 receive annual mammograms impacts and the like that is associated with semantic rules 412 that individual physicians and their offices, for example, and also enable the creation of metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also becomes relevant to radiologists and their offices, the facili 10 provide for metadata enrichmentofaggregated data, interpre ties that house the mammography equipment, and the pur tation or translation of aggregated data, as well as permit the chasers who make decisions about obtaining additional mam creation of knowledge structures (e.g., using OPML) and the mogram machines. use of a dictionary, thesaurus or the like. Semantic rules may Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa permit a practitioner, for example, to access results from all tion 1302 may be syndicated clinical information as 15 published clinical trials for a particular product. described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content tion 1302 may be syndicated clinical information as Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such through an application/interface/other 1308. The users 1304 as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or may also interact with each other. The application/interface/ interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or other 1308 may be a client-side program, such as the health through a semantic facility 1502. The semantic facility 1502 care program discussed herein, a Social networking applica 25 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/informa tion, a user interface, such as user interface 700, 800 and/or tion 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. 900, an application in connection with a media viewer, a The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be related to media viewer and/or an application providing for vertical semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrichment, market integration, such as described herein. The application/ interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated data/ interface? other 1308 may, for example, be deployed as a ser 30 information 1302, translation of aggregated data, such as Vice in a services oriented architecture or using the other syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, such as described In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 may be data herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be feeds, such as data feed 202. deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 35 using the other techniques described above with reference to syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. and the like that is associated with database functions that In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ may permit the data quality to be verified, provide for trans or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding formation of the data, enable searching, filtering, or clustering 40 clinical practice guidelines, clinical recommendations, clini the patient data, or categorizing the data into hierarchies, cal discussions, clinical analyses, and the like to which others interrelationships, interrelated groups, and the like. A physi may subscribe and/or publish and/or with which others may cian may use such database functions, for example, in obtain interact. Such syndicated data may be particularly attractive ing syndicated data regarding an unfamiliar disease or a mul to practitioners, for example, who wish to keep abreast of new tifaceted one like diabetes or hypertension. Database 45 developments in a practice area. functions in these exemplary situations may allow for obtain In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding clinical ing data about aspects of an unfamiliardisease through search practice guidelines, clinical recommendations, clinical dis functions, or may allow for obtaining information about the cussions, clinical analyses, and the like may be further asso many clinical issues that treating a complex disease like dia ciated with information that may provide for the management betes may involve. 50 of the data. For example, the aggregated data may list the Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa author of the aggregated data, the date on which it was tion 1302 may be syndicated clinical information as authored, etc. Thus, the data may provide for further aggre described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may gation, republication, and the like. A health care institution, originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content for example a teaching hospital, may publish all of its grand Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 55 rounds in all its medical specialties and make this information 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such available as syndicated data, for example, “Hospital Grand as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or Rounds. This Week.” These data may be reaggregated and interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or republished by a CME organization on a specialty-by-spe through a database function 1402. The database function cialty basis, along with similar data from other institutions. 1402 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ 60 Such a republication may provide, for example, “Weekly information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each Grand Rounds in Urology, that contains syndicated data other. The database function 1402 may be a database function derived from the urology grand rounds presented at a number as described herein, such as related to data quality, data trans of health care institutions. A practicing urologist may wish to formation, searching, filtering, clustering, a search engine, subscribe only to “Weekly Grand Rounds in Urology, as has information relationships, hierarchical relationships and cat 65 been reaggregated and republished, while a family practitio egorization, such as described herein. The database function ner in the community may wish to Subscribe to the original 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services syndicated data<“Hospital Grand Rounds. This Week.” rep US 9,202,084 B2 89 90 resenting the teaching hospital’s entire repertoire of grand transactional processing. The transactions may be financial rounds in every specialty for the week. transactions, such as related to medical reimbursement and/or Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa Subscription fees or other charges for access to the syndicated tion 1302 may be syndicated clinical information as evidence-based information. described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such and the like that is associated with restricted or conditional as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or access properties. Individuals participating in clinical discus interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or 10 sions, for example, may need to offer credentials indicating through a syndication facility 1602. The syndication facility that they are licensed physicians. 1602 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each tion 1302 may be syndicated clinical information as other. The syndication facility 1602 may publish, subscribe described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may to, aggregate and republish aggregated data, Such as Syndi 15 originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content cated data/information 1302, such as described herein. The Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator syndication facility 1602 may also manage syndication infor 210 may be employed as described above. The infrastructure mation 1302, such as described herein. The syndication facil 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ ity 1602 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each services oriented architecture or using the other techniques other. The syndicated data/information 1302 may be associ described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain ated with special properties 1802. The special properties 1802 embodiments the arrows of FIG. 16 may be data feeds, such may be related to formatting, display, identification, de-iden as data feed 202. A user 1304 may also publish, republish tification, transactions, restricted access and/or conditional and/or subscribe to a content source 204, data feed 202, access, such as described herein. In certain embodiments the aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility 1602. 25 arrows of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are and the like within an infrastructure 416 that provides for data part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality security, authentication, management of the traffic created by 30 management, continuous quality improvement, or the like the RSS feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, obtained through an RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, or logging and pinging technology, and/or other communica RSS channel. tions. In embodiments syndicated data regarding clinical pro Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa cesses, clinical interventions, clinical outcomes, clinical per tion 1302 may be syndicated clinical information as 35 Sonnel, etc. that are part of a quality improvement program, described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may Such as total quality management, continuous quality originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content improvement, or the like may be plotted, displayed, analyzed, Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator or the like and distributed to an RSS-enabled client. The 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such syndicated data may also, or instead containtags and/or meta as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or 40 data to assist client-side analysis and display. interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or In embodiments, syndicated data regarding clinical pro through an infrastructure 1702. The infrastructure 1702 may cesses, clinical interventions, clinical outcomes, clinical per also interact directly with the syndicated data/information Sonnel, etc. that are part of a quality improvement program, 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The Such as total quality management, continuous quality infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related to security, 45 improvement, or the like may be associated with an applica authentication, traffic management, logging, pinging and/or tion 406 consisting of a client-side program. The client-side communications, such as described herein. The infrastructure program may be formatted to operate on client devices Such 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services as, a desktop computer, laptop computer, “pocket' personal oriented architecture or using the other techniques described computer, a cellular phone, Blackberry, personal digital assis above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi 50 tant, or other SMS text-enabled device, or the like. ments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data feeds, such as data In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, feed 202. or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with clinical processes, clinical interventions, clinical outcomes, syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini clinical personnel, etc. that are part of a quality improvement cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, 55 program, Such as total quality management, continuous qual and the like that is associated with special formatting and/or ity improvement, or the like may be associated with an aggre display properties. In embodiments, healthcare institutions gator 210 to track updates. may interact with syndicated data regarding clinical practice In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, guidelines, clinical recommendations, clinical discussions, or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding clinical analyses, and the like that is associated with special 60 clinical processes, clinical interventions, clinical outcomes, identification and/or de-identification properties. Individuals clinical personnel, etc. that are part of a quality improvement participating in clinical discussions, for example, may wish to program, Such as total quality management, continuous qual remain anonymous. ity improvement, or the like may be associated with a content In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with management system that may provide Summaries of the Syn syndicated data regarding clinical practice guidelines, clini 65 dicated data available, dates associated with the Syndicated cal recommendations, clinical discussions, clinical analyses, data, links to access the full, non-Summarized data, and the and the like, that is associated with properties allowing for like. US 9,202,084 B2 91 92 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with Such as the healthcare program discussed herein, a Social syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter networking application, a user interface. Such as user inter ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are face 700, 800 and/or 900, an application in connection with a part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality media viewer, a media viewer and/oran application providing management, continuous quality improvement, or the like for vertical market integration, such as described herein. The through the use of an application 406 providing Social net application/interface? other 1308 may, for example, be working. For example, through social networking an institu deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or tion may be able to communicate and share syndicated data using the other techniques described above with reference to with other healthcare institutions with whom the institution FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 shares patient populations, clinical specialties, clinical popu 10 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. lation types, and the like. Syndicated content may be filtered In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with or aggregated with other syndicated content according to syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter characteristics of various user communities and groups. The ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are clinical factors of relevance to institutions who seek to share part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality syndicated data may be enhanced with detailed tags to pro 15 management, continuous quality improvement, or the like is vide narrowly tailored RSS feeds 202, web feeds, RSS associated with database functions that may permit the data streams, or RSS channels for ongoing data sharing, or to quality to be verified, provide for transformation of the data, enable client-side customization of the presentation of Syn enable searching, filtering, or clustering the patient data, or dicated feeds. Such a process may allow institutions who care categorizing the data into hierarchies, interrelationships, for similar patient populations to aggregate and/or filter data interrelated groups, and the like. for more robust analysis. Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with tion 1302 may be syndicated quality improvement informa syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter tion as described herein. The syndicated data/information ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality 25 a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An management, continuous quality improvement, or the like aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users through the use of an application 406 providing a user inter 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, face 700 for viewing data, records, and the like. For example, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information a client 102 may, in response to user input such as clicking on 1302 directly or through a database function 1402. The data a title of an item in the user interface 700, retrieve the under 30 base function 1402 may also interact directly with the syndi lying item from the content source 204 as indicated by an cated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also inter arrow 208. In one aspect, a feed may contain metadata with act with each other. The database function 1402 may be a recommendations or requirements for display in the user database function as described herein, such as related to data interface 700. quality, data transformation, searching, filtering, clustering, a In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 35 search engine, information relationships, hierarchical rela syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter tionships and categorization, such as described herein. The ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are database function 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality service in a services oriented architecture or using the other management, continuous quality improvement, or the like techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. through the use of an application 406 associated with a media 40 In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data viewer or directly through a media viewer. For example, an feeds, such as data feed 202. RSS item may refer to an image source. Such as an MRI image In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with in a medical record from a hospital, and may specify a viewer syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter for the Source image that is available through the registry. In ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permis 45 part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality sions to view the image (also as managed, e.g., through the management, continuous quality improvement, or the like metadata for the enhanced syndication system), may retrieve that is associated with semantic rules 412 that enable the the appropriate viewer service from the registry, and apply the creation of metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for viewer to view the source image. metadata enrichment of aggregated data, interpretation or In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 50 translation of aggregated data, as well as permit the creation syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter of knowledge structures (e.g., using OPML) and the use of a ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are dictionary, thesaurus or the like. part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa management, continuous quality improvement, or the like tion 1302 may be syndicated quality improvement informa through the use of an application 406 providing vertical mar 55 tion as described herein. The syndicated data/information ket integration. 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An tion 1302 may be syndicated quality improvement informa aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users tion as described herein. The syndicated data/information 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from 60 send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An 1302 directly or through a semantic facility 1502. The seman aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users tic facility 1502 may also interact directly with the syndicated 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information each other. The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be 1302 directly or through an application/interface? other 1308. 65 related to semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrich The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The appli ment, interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated cation/interface? other 1308 may be a client-side program, data/information 1302, translation of aggregated data, Such as US 9,202,084 B2 93 94 syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, such as described each other. The infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be to security, authentication, traffic management, logging, deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or pinging and/or communications, such as described herein. using the other techniques described above with reference to The infrastructure 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 service in a services oriented architecture or using the other may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding feeds, such as data feed 202. clinical processes, clinical interventions, clinical outcomes, 10 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with clinical personnel, etc. that are part of a quality improvement syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter program, Such as total quality management, continuous qual ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are ity improvement, or the like to which others may subscribe part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality and/or publish and/or with which others may interact. management, continuous quality improvement, or the like In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding clinical 15 that is associated with special formatting and/or display prop processes, clinical interventions, clinical outcomes, clinical erties. personnel, etc. that are part of a quality improvement pro In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with gram, Such as total quality management, continuous quality syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter improvement, or the like may be further associated with infor ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are mation that may provide for the management of the data. For part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality example, the aggregated data may list the author of the aggre management, continuous quality improvement, or the like gated data, the date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, the that is associated with special identification and/or de-iden data may provide for further aggregation, republication, and tification properties. the like. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa 25 syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter tion 1302 may be syndicated quality improvement informa ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are tion as described herein. The syndicated data/information part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from management, continuous quality improvement, or the like, a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An that is associated with properties allowing for transactional aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users 30 processing. The transactions may be financial transactions, 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, Such as related to medical reimbursement and/or subscription send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information fees or other charges for access to the syndicated evidence 1302 directly or through a syndication facility 1602. The based information. syndication facility 1602 may also interact directly with the In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also 35 syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter interact with each other. The syndication facility 1602 may ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are publish, Subscribe to, aggregate and republish aggregated part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality data, Such as syndicated data/information 1302, such as management, continuous quality improvement, or the like described herein. The syndication facility 1602 may also that is associated with restricted or conditional access prop manage syndication information 1302. Such as described 40 erties. herein. The syndication facility 1602 may, for example, be Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or tion 1302 may be syndicated quality improvement informa using the other techniques described above with reference to tion as described herein. The syndicated data/information FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 16 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. A user 1304 may 45 a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An also publish, republish and/or subscribe to a content source aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. The 204, data feed 202, aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility infrastructure 1702 may also interact directly with the syndi 1602. cated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also inter In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with act with each other. The syndicated data/information 1302 syndicated data regarding clinical processes, clinical inter 50 may be associated with special properties 1802. The special ventions, clinical outcomes, clinical personnel, etc. that are properties 1802 may be related to formatting, display, iden part of a quality improvement program, Such as total quality tification, de-identification, transactions, restricted access management, continuous quality improvement, or the like and/or conditional access, Such as described herein. The spe within an infrastructure 416 that provides for data security, cial properties 1802 may also be associated with a service authentication, management of the traffic created by the RSS 55 application 406, 408, 410, 412, 414 and/or 416. In certain feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging embodiments the arrows of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such and pinging technology, and/or other communications. as data feed 202. Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with tion 1302 may be syndicated quality improvement informa syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training tion as described herein. The syndicated data/information 60 history, current credentials, continuing medical education 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from credits, training needs, planned training and the like obtained a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An through an RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, or RSS aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users channel. Present systems may depend on providers Submit 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, ting documentation of their training history, credentials and send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information 65 CME. Making this information available in a syndicated for 1302 directly or through an infrastructure 1702. The infra mat may streamline the quality review process that an insti structure 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated tution undertakes for any particular provider. US 9,202,084 B2 95 96 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with medical record from a hospital, and may specify a viewer for syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers’ training the Source image that is available through the registry. In history, current credentials, continuing medical education operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permis credits, training needs, planned training and the like may be sions to view the image (also as managed, e.g., through the plotted, displayed, analyzed, or the like and distributed to an metadata for the enhanced syndication system), may retrieve RSS-enabled client. the appropriate viewer service from the registry, and apply the In embodiments, syndicated data regarding its healthcare viewer to view the Source image. providers’ training history, current credentials, continuing In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with medical education credits, training needs, planned training syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training and the like may be associated with an application 406 con 10 sisting of a client-side program. The client-side program may history, current credentials, continuing medical education be formatted to operate on client devices Such as, a desktop credits, training needs, planned training and the like through computer, laptop computer, pocket' personal computer, a the use of an application 406 providing vertical market inte cellular phone, Blackberry, personal digital assistant, or other gration. The individual physician and her practice may keep SMS text-enabled device, or the like. 15 track of credentials and CME, for example, and the hospital In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, may keep track of the same information. Such syndicated data or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its may also be used by the hospital marketing department to healthcare providers training history, current credentials, identify individuals with particular skills that should be pub continuing medical education credits, training needs, planned licized. training and the like may be associated with an aggregator Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa 210 to track updates. In this way, for example, an institution tion 1302 may be syndicated training and qualification infor may monitor the progress an individual physician is making mation as described herein. The syndicated data/information towards satisfying the CME requirements that pertain to 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from medical relicensure. a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, 25 aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, healthcare providers training history, current credentials, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information continuing medical education credits, training needs, planned 1302 directly or through an application/interface? other 1308. training and the like may be associated with a content man The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The appli agement system that may provide Summaries of the syndi 30 cation/interface? other 1308 may be a client-side program, cated data available, dates associated with the Syndicated Such as the healthcare program discussed herein, a Social data, links to access the full, non-summarized data, and the networking application, a user interface, such as user inter like. For example, an institution may access further informa face 700, 800 and/or 900, an application in connection with a tion about a CME program that a practitioner has completed media viewer, a media viewer and/oran application providing to keep track of special competencies that individual practi 35 for vertical market integration, such as described herein. The tioners are maintaining. A hospital granting an individual application/interface? other 1308 may, for example, be operating room privileges for craniofacial Surgery may check deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or that individual’s training program and CME Submissions to using the other techniques described above with reference to be sure that the training program and CME updates are con FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 sistent with the scope of Surgical privileges granted. 40 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers’ training syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training history, current credentials, continuing medical education history, current credentials, continuing medical education credits, training needs, planned training and the like through credits, training needs, planned training and the like that is the use of an application 406 providing Social networking 45 associated with database functions that may permit the data Within an academic department at a medical center, for quality to be verified, provide for transformation of the data, example, individual physicians may share materials or infor enable searching, filtering, or clustering the patient data, or mation from their continuing medical education. As another categorizing the data into hierarchies, interrelationships, example, review of such materials may allow medical depart interrelated groups, and the like. ments to plan future CME exercises. 50 Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with tion 1302 may be syndicated training and qualification infor syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers’ training mation as described herein. The syndicated data/information history, current credentials, continuing medical education 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from credits, training needs, planned training and the like through a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An the use of an application 406 providing a user interface 700 55 aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users for viewing data, records, and the like. For example, a client 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, 102 may, in response to user input such as clicking on a title send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information of an item in the user interface 700, retrieve the underlying 1302 directly or through a database function 1402. The data item from the content source 204 as indicated by an arrow base function 1402 may also interact directly with the syndi 208. 60 cated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also inter In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with act with each other. The database function 1402 may be a syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers’ training database function as described herein, such as related to data history, current credentials, continuing medical education quality, data transformation, searching, filtering, clustering, a credits, training needs, planned training and the like through search engine, information relationships, hierarchical rela the use of an application 406 associated with a media viewer 65 tionships and categorization, such as described herein. The or directly through a media viewer. For example, an RSS item database function 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a may refer to an image source. Such as an MRI image in a service in a services oriented architecture or using the other US 9,202,084 B2 97 98 techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data using the other techniques described above with reference to feeds, such as data feed 202. FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 16 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. A user 1304 may syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers’ training 5 also publish, republish and/or subscribe to a content source history, current credentials, continuing medical education 204, data feed 202, aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility credits, training needs, planned training and the like that is 1602. associated with semantic rules 412 that enable the creation of In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for metadata syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training enrichmentofaggregated data, interpretation or translation of 10 history, current credentials, continuing medical education aggregated data, as well as permit the creation of knowledge credits, training needs, planned training and the like within an structures (e.g., using OPML) and the use of a dictionary, infrastructure 416 that provides for data security, authentica thesaurus or the like. tion, management of the traffic created by the RSS feeds 202, Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging and ping tion 1302 may be syndicated training and qualification infor- 15 ing technology, and/or other communications. mation as described herein. The syndicated data/information Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from tion 1302 may be syndicated training and qualification infor a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An mation as described herein. The syndicated data/information aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive. 20 a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1302 directly or through a semantic facility 1502. The seman 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, tic facility 1502 may also interact directly with the syndicated send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with 1302 directly or through an infrastructure 1702. The infra each other. The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be 25 structure 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated related to semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrich data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with ment, interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated each other. The infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related data/information 1302, translation of aggregated data, Such as to security, authentication, traffic management, logging, syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge pinging and/or communications, such as described herein. structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, such as described 30 The infrastructure 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be service in a services oriented architecture or using the other deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. using the other techniques described above with reference to In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 feeds, such as data feed 202. may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. 35 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding history, current credentials, continuing medical education its healthcare providers’ training history, current credentials, credits, training needs, planned training and the like that is continuing medical education credits, training needs, planned associated with special formatting and/or display properties. training and the like to which others may subscribe and/or 40 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with publish and/or with which others may interact. syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding its health history, current credentials, continuing medical education care providers’ training history, current credentials, continu credits, training needs, planned training and the like that is ing medical education credits, training needs, planned train associated with special identification and/or de-identification ing and the like may be further associated with information 45 properties. that may provide for the management of the data. For In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with example, the aggregated data may list the author of the aggre syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training gated data, the date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, the history, current credentials, continuing medical education data may provide for further aggregation, republication, and credits, training needs, planned training and the like, that is the like. 50 associated with properties allowing for transactional process Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa ing. The transactions may be financial transactions, such as tion 1302 may be syndicated training and qualification infor related to medical reimbursement and/or subscription fees or mation as described herein. The syndicated data/information other charges for access to the syndicated evidence-based 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from information. a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An 55 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers training 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, history, current credentials, continuing medical education send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information credits, training needs, planned training and the like that is 1302 directly or through a syndication facility 1602. The associated with restricted or conditional access properties. syndication facility 1602 may also interact directly with the 60 Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa syndicated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also tion 1302 may be syndicated training and qualification infor interact with each other. The syndication facility 1602 may mation as described herein. The syndicated data/information publish, Subscribe to, aggregate and republish aggregated 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from data, Such as syndicated data/information 1302, such as a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An described herein. The syndication facility 1602 may also 65 aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. The manage syndication information 1302. Such as described infrastructure 1702 may also interact directly with the syndi herein. The syndication facility 1602 may, for example, be cated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also inter US 9,202,084 B2 99 100 act with each other. The syndicated data/information 1302 102 may, in response to user input Such as clicking on a title may be associated with special properties 1802. The special of an item in the user interface 700, retrieve the underlying properties 1802 may be related to formatting, display, iden item from the content source 204 as indicated by an arrow tification, de-identification, transactions, restricted access 208. and/or conditional access. Such as described herein. The spe In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with cial properties 1802 may also be associated with a service syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor application 406, 408, 410, 412, 414 and/or 416. In certain mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat embodiments the arrows of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like through as data feed 202. the use of an application 406 associated with a media viewer In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 10 or directly through a media viewer. For example, an RSS item syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers' perfor may refer to an image source. Such as an MRI image in a mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat medical record from a hospital, and may specify a viewer for terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like the Source image that is available through the registry. In obtained through an RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, or operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permis RSS channel. 15 sions to view the image (also as managed, e.g., through the In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with metadata for the enhanced syndication system), may retrieve syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers' perfor the appropriate viewer service from the registry, and apply the mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat viewer to view the Source image. terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like may be In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with plotted, displayed, analyzed, or the like and distributed to an syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor RSS-enabled client. mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat In embodiments, syndicated data regarding its healthcare terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like through providers’ performance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource the use of an application 406 providing vertical market inte use, referral patterns, billing history, malpractice history, and gration. the like may be associated with an application 406 consisting 25 Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa of a client-side program. The client-side program may be tion 1302 may be syndicated performance information as formatted to operate on client devices Such as, a desktop described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may computer, laptop computer, pocket' personal computer, a originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content cellular phone, Blackberry, personal digital assistant, or other Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator SMS text-enabled device, or the like. 30 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or healthcare providers performance, errors, clinical outcomes, through an application/interface? other 1308. The users 1304 resource use, referral patterns, billing history, malpractice may also interact with each other. The application/interface/ history, and the like may be associated with an aggregator 210 35 other 1308 may be a client-side program, such as the health to track updates. care program discussed herein, a Social networking applica In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, tion, a user interface, such as user interface 700, 800 and/or or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its 900, an application in connection with a media viewer, a healthcare providers performance, errors, clinical outcomes, media viewer and/or an application providing for vertical resource use, referral patterns, billing history, malpractice 40 market integration, Such as described herein. The application/ history, and the like may be associated with a content man interface? other 1308 may, for example, be deployed as a ser agement system that may provide Summaries of the syndi Vice in a services oriented architecture or using the other cated data available, dates associated with the Syndicated techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. data, links to access the full, non-Summarized data, and the In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 may be data like. 45 feeds, such as data feed 202. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers' perfor syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like through terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like that is the use of an application 406 providing Social networking. For 50 associated with database functions that may permit the data example, through social networking an institution may be quality to be verified, provide for transformation of the data, able to communicate and share syndicated data with other enable searching, filtering, or clustering the patient data, or healthcare institutions with whom the institution shares categorizing the data into hierarchies, interrelationships, patient populations, clinical specialties, clinical population interrelated groups, and the like. types, and the like. The clinical factors of relevance to insti 55 Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa tutions that seek to share syndicated data may be published tion 1302 may be syndicated performance information as with detailed tags to provide narrowly tailored or easily fil described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may tered RSS feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS chan originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content nels for ongoing data sharing. Such a process may allow Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator institutions who care for similar patient populations to aggre 60 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such gate data for more robust analysis. as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers' perfor through a database function 1402. The database function mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat 1402 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like through 65 information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each the use of an application 406 providing a user interface 700 other. The database function 1402 may be a database function for viewing data, records, and the like. For example, a client as described herein, such as related to data quality, data trans US 9,202,084 B2 101 102 formation, searching, filtering, clustering, a search engine, to, aggregate and republish aggregated data, Such as Syndi information relationships, hierarchical relationships and cat cated data/information 1302, such as described herein. The egorization, such as described herein. The database function syndication facility 1602 may also manage syndication infor 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services mation 1302, such as described herein. The syndication facil oriented architecture or using the other techniques described 5 ity 1602 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi services oriented architecture or using the other techniques ments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data feeds, such as data described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain feed 202. embodiments the arrows of FIG.16 may be data feeds, such In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with as data feed 202. A user 1304 may also publish, republish syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers' perfor 10 and/or subscribe to a content source 204, data feed 202, mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility 1602. terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like that is In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with associated with semantic rules 412 that enable the creation of syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for metadata mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat enrichmentofaggregated data, interpretation or translation of 15 terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like within aggregated data, as well as permit the creation of knowledge an infrastructure 416 that provides for data security, authen structures (e.g., using OPML) and the use of a dictionary, tication, management of the traffic created by the RSS feeds thesaurus or the like. 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging and Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa pinging technology, and/or other communications. tion 1302 may be syndicated performance information as Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may tion 1302 may be syndicated performance information as originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or 25 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or through a semantic facility 1502. The semantic facility 1502 interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or may also interact directly with the syndicated data/informa through an infrastructure 1702. The infrastructure 1702 may tion 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. also interact directly with the syndicated data/information The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be related to 30 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrichment, infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related to security, interpretation of aggregated data, such as syndicated data/ authentication, traffic management, logging, pinging and/or information 1302, translation of aggregated data, such as communications, such as described herein. The infrastructure syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, such as described 35 oriented architecture or using the other techniques described herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or ments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data feeds, such as data using the other techniques described above with reference to feed 202. FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. 40 syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like that is its healthcare providers’ performance, errors, clinical out associated with special formatting and/or display properties. comes, resource use, referral patterns, billing history, mal In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with practice history, and the like to which others may subscribe 45 syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor and/or publish and/or with which others may interact. mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding its health terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like that is care providers’ performance, errors, clinical outcomes, associated with special identification and/or de-identification resource use, referral patterns, billing history, malpractice properties. Within the health care setting, it may not be pos history, and the like may be further associated with informa 50 sible to collect meaningful data regarding its healthcare pro tion that may provide for the management of the data. For viders' performance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, example, the aggregated data may list the author of the aggre referral patterns, billing history, malpractice history, and the gated data, the date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, the like, for example, unless provisions are made for deidentify data may provide for further aggregation, republication, and ing it. the like. 55 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor tion 1302 may be syndicated performance information as mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like, that is originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content associated with properties allowing for transactional process Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 60 ing. The transactions may be financial transactions, such as 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such related to medical reimbursement and/or subscription fees or as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or other charges for access to the syndicated evidence-based interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or information. through a syndication facility 1602. The syndication facility In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 1602 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ 65 syndicated data regarding its healthcare providers perfor information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each mance, errors, clinical outcomes, resource use, referral pat other. The syndication facility 1602 may publish, subscribe terns, billing history, malpractice history, and the like that is US 9,202,084 B2 103 104 associated with restricted or conditional access properties. Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica Within the health care setting, for example, collection and tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part distribution of meaningful syndicated data regarding its of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the healthcare providers performance, errors, clinical outcomes, like through the use of an application 406 providing Social resource use, referral patterns, billing history, malpractice networking. For example, through social networking an insti history, and the like, may require that access to Such databe tution may be able to communicate and share syndicated data restricted. with other healthcare institutions with whom the institution Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa shares patient populations, clinical specialties, clinical popu tion 1302 may be syndicated performance information as lation types, and the like. The clinical factors of relevance to described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may 10 originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content institutions that seek to share syndicated data may be pub Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator lished with detailed tags to provide narrowly tailored or easily 210 may be employed as described above. The infrastructure filtered RSS feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ channels for ongoing data sharing. Such a process may allow information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each 15 institutions who care for similar patient populations to aggre other. The syndicated data/information 1302 may be associ gate data for more robust analysis. ated with special properties 1802. The special properties 1802 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with may be related to formatting, display, identification, de-iden syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, tification, transactions, restricted access and/or conditional Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica access, such as described herein. The special properties 1802 tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part may also be associated with a service application 406, 408, of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the 410, 412,414 and/or 416. In certain embodiments the arrows like through the use of an application 406 providing a user of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. interface 700 for viewing data, records, and the like. For In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with example, a client 102 may, in response to user input Such as syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, 25 clicking on a title of an item in the user interface 700, retrieve Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica the underlying item from the content source 204 as indicated tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part by an arrow 208. of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with like obtained through an RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, stream, or RSS channel. 30 Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica like through the use of an application 406 associated with a tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part media viewer or directly through a media viewer. For of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the 35 example, an RSS item may refer to an image source. Such as like may be plotted, displayed, analyzed, or the like and an MRI image in a medical record from a hospital, and may distributed to an RSS-enabled client. specify a viewer for the Source image that is available through In embodiments, syndicated data regarding its expendi the registry. In operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with tures for patient care, Such as office visits, admissions, out appropriate permissions to view the image (also as managed, patient care, medications, Surgical interventions, resource uti 40 e.g., through the metadata for the enhanced syndication sys lization, etc. as part of cost-effectiveness research, cost tem), may retrieve the appropriate viewer service from the benefit analyses, and the like may be associated with an registry, and apply the viewer to view the source image. application 406 consisting of a client-side program. The cli In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with ent-side program may be formatted to operate on client syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, devices such as, a desktop computer, laptop computer, 45 Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica "pocket' personal computer, a cellular phone, Blackberry, tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part personal digital assistant, or other SMS text-enabled device, of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the or the like. like through the use of an application 406 providing vertical In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, market integration. or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its 50 Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa expenditures for patient care, such as office visits, admis tion 1302 may be syndicated expenditure information as sions, outpatient care, medications, Surgical interventions, described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may resource utilization, etc. as part of cost-effectiveness originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content research, cost-benefit analyses, and the like may be associ Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator ated with an aggregator 210 to track updates. 55 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or expenditures for patient care, such as office visits, admis through an application/interface? other 1308. The users 1304 sions, outpatient care, medications, Surgical interventions, may also interact with each other. The application/interface/ resource utilization, etc. as part of cost-effectiveness 60 other 1308 may be a client-side program, such as the health research, cost-benefit analyses, and the like may be associ care program discussed herein, a Social networking applica ated with a content management system that may provide tion, a user interface, such as user interface 700, 800 and/or Summaries of the syndicated data available, dates associated 900, an application in connection with a media viewer, a with the syndicated data, links to access the full, non-Sum media viewer and/or an application providing for vertical marized data, and the like. 65 market integration, Such as described herein. The application/ In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with interface? other 1308 may, for example, be deployed as a ser syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, Vice in a services oriented architecture or using the other US 9,202,084 B2 105 106 techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 may be data or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding feeds, such as data feed 202. its expenditures for patient care, such as office visits, admis In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with sions, outpatient care, medications, Surgical interventions, syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, resource utilization, etc. as part of cost-effectiveness Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica research, cost-benefit analyses, and the like to which others tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part may subscribe and/or publish and/or with which others may of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the interact. like that is associated with database functions that may permit In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding its expen the data quality to be verified, provide for transformation of 10 ditures for patient care, Such as office visits, admissions, the data, enable searching, filtering, or clustering the patient outpatient care, medications, Surgical interventions, resource data, or categorizing the data into hierarchies, interrelation utilization, etc. as part of cost-effectiveness research, cost ships, interrelated groups, and the like. benefit analyses, and the like may be further associated with Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa information that may provide for the management of the data. tion 1302 may be syndicated expenditure information as 15 For example, the aggregated data may list the author of the described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may aggregated data, the date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content the data may provide for further aggregation, republication, Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator and the like. 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or tion 1302 may be syndicated expenditure information as interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may through a database function 1402. The database function originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content 1402 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such other. The database function 1402 may be a database function 25 as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or as described herein, such as related to data quality, data trans interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or formation, searching, filtering, clustering, a search engine, through a syndication facility 1602. The syndication facility information relationships, hierarchical relationships and cat 1602 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ egorization, such as described herein. The database function information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services 30 other. The syndication facility 1602 may publish, subscribe oriented architecture or using the other techniques described to, aggregate and republish aggregated data, Such as Syndi above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi cated data/information 1302, such as described herein. The ments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data feeds, such as data syndication facility 1602 may also manage syndication infor feed 202. mation 1302, such as described herein. The syndication facil In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 35 ity 1602 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, services oriented architecture or using the other techniques Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part embodiments the arrows of FIG.16 may be data feeds, such of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the as data feed 202. A user 1304 may also publish, republish like that is associated with semantic rules 412 that enable the 40 and/or subscribe to a content source 204, data feed 202, creation of metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility 1602. metadata enrichment of aggregated data, interpretation or In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with translation of aggregated data, as well as permit the creation syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, of knowledge structures (e.g., using OPML) and the use of a Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica dictionary, thesaurus or the like. 45 tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the tion 1302 may be syndicated expenditure information as like within an infrastructure 416 that provides for data secu described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may rity, authentication, management of the traffic created by the originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content RSS feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 50 logging and pinging technology, and/or other communica 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such tions. as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or tion 1302 may be syndicated expenditure information as through a semantic facility 1502. The semantic facility 1502 described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may may also interact directly with the syndicated data/informa 55 originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content tion 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be related to 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrichment, as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated data/ interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or information 1302, translation of aggregated data, such as 60 through an infrastructure 1702. The infrastructure 1702 may syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge also interact directly with the syndicated data/information structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, such as described 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related to security, deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or authentication, traffic management, logging, pinging and/or using the other techniques described above with reference to 65 communications, such as described herein. The infrastructure FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. oriented architecture or using the other techniques described US 9,202,084 B2 107 108 above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi In embodiments, syndicated data regarding its patient edu ments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data feeds, such as data cation programs, levels of understanding within its patient feed 202. population, historical information appropriate to ascertaining In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with a patient’s education level and medical understanding, and syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, the like may be associated with an application 406 consisting Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica of a client-side program. The client-side program may be tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part formatted to operate on client devices Such as, a desktop of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the computer, laptop computer, "pocket' personal computer, a like that is associated with special formatting and/or display cellular phone, Blackberry, personal digital assistant, or other properties. 10 SMS text-enabled device, or the like. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica patient education programs, levels of understanding within its tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part patient population, historical information appropriate to of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the 15 ascertaining a patient’s education level and medical under like that is associated with special identification properties. standing, and the like may be associated with an aggregator Within the health care setting, attention to patient confiden 210 to track updates. tiality, for example, may require deidentifying Such data. In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding its syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, patient education programs, levels of understanding within its Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica patient population, historical information appropriate to tions, Surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part ascertaining a patient’s education level and medical under of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the standing, and the like may be associated with a content man like, that is associated with properties allowing for transac agement system that may provide Summaries of the syndi tional processing. The transactions may be financial transac 25 cated data available, dates associated with the Syndicated tions, such as related to medical reimbursement and/or Sub data, links to access the full, non-Summarized data, and the Scription fees or other charges for access to the syndicated like. evidence-based information. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, syndicated data regarding its expenditures for patient care, 30 levels of understanding within its patient population, histori Such as office visits, admissions, outpatient care, medica cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa tions, surgical interventions, resource utilization, etc. as part tion leveland medical understanding, and the like through the of cost-effectiveness research, cost-benefit analyses, and the use of an application 406 providing Social networking. like that is associated with restricted or conditional access In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with properties Within the health care setting, for example, collec 35 syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, tion and distribution of Such sensitive data may require that levels of understanding within its patient population, histori access to such data be restricted. cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa tion leveland medical understanding, and the like through the tion 1302 may be syndicated expenditure information as use of an application 406 providing a user interface 700 for described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may 40 viewing data, records, and the like. For example, a client 102 originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content may, in response to user input Such as clicking on a title of an Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator item in the user interface 700, retrieve the underlying item 210 may be employed as described above. The infrastructure from the content source 204 as indicated by an arrow 208. 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each 45 syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, other. The syndicated data/information 1302 may be associ levels of understanding within its patient population, histori ated with special properties 1802. The special properties 1802 cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa may be related to formatting, display, identification, de-iden tion leveland medical understanding, and the like through the tification, transactions, restricted access and/or conditional use of an application 406 associated with a media viewer or access, such as described herein. The special properties 1802 50 directly through a media viewer. For example, an RSS item may also be associated with a service application 406, 408, may refer to an image source. Such as an MRI image in a 410, 412,414 and/or 416. In certain embodiments the arrows medical record from a hospital, and may specify a viewer for of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. the Source image that is available through the registry. In In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permis syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, 55 sions to view the image (also as managed, e.g., through the levels of understanding within its patient population, histori metadata for the enhanced syndication system), may retrieve cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa the appropriate viewer service from the registry, and apply the tion level and medical understanding, and the like obtained viewer to view the Source image. through an RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, or RSS In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with channel. 60 syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with levels of understanding within its patient population, histori syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa levels of understanding within its patient population, histori tion leveland medical understanding, and the like through the cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa use of an application 406 providing vertical market integra tion level and medical understanding, and the like may be 65 tion. plotted, displayed, analyzed, or the like and distributed to an Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa RSS-enabled client. tion 1302 may be syndicated patient education information as US 9,202,084 B2 109 110 described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator through a semantic facility 1502. The semantic facility 1502 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such may also interact directly with the syndicated data/informa as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or tion 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be related to through an application/interface/other 1308. The users 1304 semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrichment, may also interact with each other. The application/interface/ interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated data/ other 1308 may be a client-side program, such as the health information 1302, translation of aggregated data, such as care program discussed herein, a Social networking applica 10 syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge tion, a user interface, such as user interface 700, 800 and/or structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, Such as described 900, an application in connection with a media viewer, a herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be media viewer and/or an application providing for vertical deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or market integration, such as described herein. The application/ using the other techniques described above with reference to interface? other 1308 may, for example, be deployed as a ser 15 FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 Vice in a services oriented architecture or using the other may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 may be data or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding feeds, such as data feed 202. its patient education programs, levels of understanding within In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with its patient population, historical information appropriate to syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, ascertaining a patient’s education level and medical under levels of understanding within its patient population, histori standing, and the like to which others may subscribe and/or cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa publish and/or with which others may interact. tion level and medical understanding, and the like that is In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding its patient associated with database functions that may permit the data 25 education programs, levels of understanding within its patient quality to be verified, provide for transformation of the data, population, historical information appropriate to ascertaining enable searching, filtering, or clustering the patient data, or a patient’s education level and medical understanding, and categorizing the data into hierarchies, interrelationships, the like may be further associated with information that may interrelated groups, and the like. provide for the management of the data. For example, the Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa 30 aggregated data may list the author of the aggregated data, the tion 1302 may be syndicated patient education information as date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, the data may provide described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may for further aggregation, republication, and the like. originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator tion 1302 may be syndicated patient education information as 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such 35 described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator through a database function 1402. The database function 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such 1402 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each 40 interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or other. The database function 1402 may be a database function through a syndication facility 1602. The syndication facility as described herein, such as related to data quality, data trans 1602 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ formation, searching, filtering, clustering, a search engine, information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each information relationships, hierarchical relationships and cat other. The syndication facility 1602 may publish, subscribe egorization, such as described herein. The database function 45 to, aggregate and republish aggregated data, Such as Syndi 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services cated data/information 1302, such as described herein. The oriented architecture or using the other techniques described syndication facility 1602 may also manage syndication infor above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi mation 1302, such as described herein. The syndication facil ments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data feeds, such as data ity 1602 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a feed 202. 50 services oriented architecture or using the other techniques In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, embodiments the arrows of FIG.16 may be data feeds, such levels of understanding within its patient population, histori as data feed 202. A user 1304 may also publish, republish cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa and/or subscribe to a content source 204, data feed 202, tion level and medical understanding, and the like that is 55 aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility 1602. associated with semantic rules 412 that enable the creation of In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for metadata syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, enrichmentofaggregated data, interpretation or translation of levels of understanding within its patient population, histori aggregated data, as well as permit the creation of knowledge cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa structures (e.g., using OPML) and the use of a dictionary, 60 tion level and medical understanding, and the like within an thesaurus or the like. infrastructure 416 that provides for data security, authentica Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa tion, management of the traffic created by the RSS feeds 202, tion 1302 may be syndicated patient education information as web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging and ping described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may ing technology, and/or other communications. originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content 65 Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator tion 1302 may be syndicated patient education information as 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may US 9,202,084 B2 111 112 originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or and distributed to an RSS-enabled client. interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or In embodiments, syndicated data regarding device failures, through an infrastructure 1702. The infrastructure 1702 may external factors involved in errors, system errors, operator also interact directly with the syndicated data/information errors, and the like may be associated with an application 406 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The consisting of a client-side program. The client-side program infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related to security, may be formatted to operate on client devices such as, a 10 desktop computer, laptop computer, “pocket' personal com authentication, traffic management, logging, pinging and/or puter, a cellular phone, Blackberry, personal digital assistant, communications, such as described herein. The infrastructure or other SMS text-enabled device, or the like. 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, oriented architecture or using the other techniques described or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi 15 device failures, external factors involved in errors, system ments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data feeds, such as data errors, operator errors, and the like may be associated with an feed 202. aggregator 210 to track updates. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, the RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, or RSS channel used to present syndicated data regarding levels of understanding within its patient population, histori device failures, external factors involved in errors, system cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa errors, operator errors, and the like may be associated with a tion level and medical understanding, and the like that is content management system that may provide Summaries of associated with special formatting and/or display properties. the syndicated data available, dates associated with the Syn In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact syn dicated data, links to access the full, non-Summarized data, dicated data regarding its patient education programs, levels 25 and the like. of understanding within its patient population, historical In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s education syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors level and medical understanding, and the like that is associ involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like ated with special identification and/or de-identification prop through the use of an application 406 providing Social net erties. 30 working. In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact syn In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with dicated data regarding its patient education programs, levels syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors of understanding within its patient population, historical involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s education through the use of an application 406 providing a user inter level and medical understanding, and the like, that is associ 35 face 700 for viewing data, records, and the like. For example, ated with properties allowing for transactional processing. a client 102 may, in response to user input such as clicking on The transactions may be financial transactions, such as a title of an item in the user interface 700, retrieve the under related to medical reimbursement and/or subscription fees or lying item from the content source 204 as indicated by an other charges for access to the syndicated evidence-based arrow 208. information. 40 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors syndicated data regarding its patient education programs, involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like levels of understanding within its patient population, histori through the use of an application 406 associated with a media cal information appropriate to ascertaining a patient’s educa viewer or directly through a media viewer. For example, an tion level and medical understanding, and the like that is 45 RSS item may refer to an image source. Such as an MRI image associated with restricted or conditional access properties. in a medical record from a hospital, and may specify a viewer Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa for the Source image that is available through the registry. In tion 1302 may be syndicated patient education information as operation, a client (e.g. a physician) with appropriate permis described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may sions to view the image (also as managed, e.g., through the originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content 50 metadata for the enhanced syndication system), may retrieve Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator the appropriate viewer service from the registry, and apply the 210 may be employed as described above. The infrastructure viewer to view the Source image. 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors other. The syndicated data/information 1302 may be associ 55 involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like ated with special properties 1802. The special properties 1802 through the use of an application 406 providing vertical mar may be related to formatting, display, identification, de-iden ket integration. tification, transactions, restricted access and/or conditional Referring again to FIG. 13, the syndicated data/informa access, such as described herein. The special properties 1802 tion 1302 may be syndicated failure and error information as may also be associated with a service application 406, 408, 60 described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may 410, 412,414 and/or 416. In certain embodiments the arrows originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like 65 interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or obtained through an RSS feed 202, web feed, RSS stream, or through an application/interface? other 1308. The users 1304 RSS channel. may also interact with each other. The application/interface/ US 9,202,084 B2 113 114 other 1308 may be a client-side program, such as the health deployed as a service in a services oriented architecture or care program discussed herein, a Social networking applica using the other techniques described above with reference to tion, a user interface, such as user interface 700, 800 and/or FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 15 900, an application in connection with a media viewer, a may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. media viewer and/or an application providing for vertical In embodiments, healthcare institutions may publish and/ market integration, such as described herein. The application/ or Subscribe to and/or interact with syndicated data regarding interface? other 1308 may, for example, be deployed as a ser device failures, external factors involved in errors, system Vice in a services oriented architecture or using the other errors, operator errors, and the like to which others may techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. and/or publish and/or with which others may interact. In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 13 may be data 10 feeds, such as data feed 202. In embodiments, the syndicated data regarding device fail In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with ures, external factors involved in errors, system errors, opera syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors tor errors, and the like may be further associated with infor involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like mation that may provide for the management of the data. For that is associated with database functions that may permit the 15 example, the aggregated data may list the author of the aggre data quality to be verified, provide for transformation of the gated data, the date on which it was authored, etc. Thus, the data, enable searching, filtering, or clustering the patient data, data may provide for further aggregation, republication, and or categorizing the data into hierarchies, interrelationships, the like. interrelated groups, and the like. Referring again to FIG. 16, the syndicated data/informa Referring again to FIG. 14, the syndicated data/informa tion 1302 may be syndicated failure and error information as tion 1302 may be syndicated failure and error information described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may events as described herein. The syndicated data/information originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator a content source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users 25 as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or 1304, such as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information through a syndication facility 1602. The syndication facility 1302 directly or through a database function 1402. The data 1602 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ base function 1402 may also interact directly with the syndi information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each cated data/information 1302. The users 1304 may also inter 30 other. The syndication facility 1602 may publish, subscribe act with each other. The database function 1402 may be a to, aggregate and republish aggregated data, Such as Syndi database function as described herein, such as related to data cated data/information 1302, such as described herein. The quality, data transformation, searching, filtering, clustering, a syndication facility 1602 may also manage syndication infor search engine, information relationships, hierarchical rela mation 1302, such as described herein. The syndication facil tionships and categorization, such as described herein. The 35 ity 1602 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a database function 1402 may, for example, be deployed as a services oriented architecture or using the other techniques service in a services oriented architecture or using the other described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. embodiments the arrows of FIG.16 may be data feeds, such In certain embodiments the arrows of FIG. 14 may be data as data feed 202. A user 1304 may also publish, republish feeds, such as data feed 202. 40 and/or subscribe to a content source 204, data feed 202, In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with aggregator 210 and/or syndication facility 1602. syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors that is associated with semantic rules 412 that enable the involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like creation of metadata. Semantic rules 412 may also provide for 45 within an infrastructure 416 that provides for data security, metadata enrichment of aggregated data, interpretation or authentication, management of the traffic created by the RSS translation of aggregated data, as well as permit the creation feeds 202, web feeds, RSS streams, or RSS channels, logging of knowledge structures (e.g., using OPML) and the use of a and pinging technology, and/or other communications. dictionary, thesaurus or the like. Referring again to FIG. 17, the syndicated data/informa Referring again to FIG. 15, the syndicated data/informa 50 tion 1302 may be syndicated failure and error information as tion 1302 may be syndicated failure and error information as described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such 210 may be employed as described above. Users 1304, such 55 as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or as users 404 and clients 102, may view, receive, send and/or interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or interact with the syndicated data/information 1302 directly or through an infrastructure 1702. The infrastructure 1702 may through a semantic facility 1502. The semantic facility 1502 also interact directly with the syndicated data/information may also interact directly with the syndicated data/informa 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. The tion 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each other. 60 infrastructure 1702 may provide or be related to security, The semantic facility 1502 may provide or be related to authentication, traffic management, logging, pinging and/or semantic rules, metadata creation, metadata enrichment, communications, such as described herein. The infrastructure interpretation of aggregated data, Such as Syndicated data/ 1702 may, for example, be deployed as a service in a services information 1302, translation of aggregated data, such as oriented architecture or using the other techniques described syndicated data/information 1302, creation of knowledge 65 above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In certain embodi structures, a dictionary and/or a thesaurus, such as described ments the arrows of FIG. 17 may be data feeds, such as data herein. The semantic facility 1502 may, for example, be feed 202. US 9,202,084 B2 115 116 In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with agement protocol may also be advantageously integrated with syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors business functions within the office. For example, procedures involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like should be scheduled only when proper approval has been that is associated with special formatting and/or display prop obtained for third-party reimbursement coverage. As another erties. example, patients should have access to information about the In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact syn economic consequences of Scheduling a particular medical dicated data regarding device failures, external factors procedure (e.g., partial coverage for certain procedures or involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like deductible levels that must be met) before the scheduling that is associated with special identification and/or de-iden takes place. tification properties. 10 In the medical practice setting, a number of users from In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact syn different constituencies participate in time management sys dicated data regarding device failures, external factors tems, information management systems and business man involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like, agement systems, increasing the complexity of integrating that is associated with properties allowing for transactional these systems. For example, doctors, Support staff, patients processing. The transactions may be financial transactions, 15 and schedulers may all participate in decisions Surrounding Such as related to medical reimbursement and/or subscription time use, along with related institutions such as diagnostic fees or other charges for access to the syndicated evidence centers and hospitals. As another example, doctors, patients, based information. clinical staff and back office staff may all help direct the flow In embodiments, healthcare institutions may interact with of health care or practice management information, along syndicated data regarding device failures, external factors with external communities such as medical specialty organi involved in errors, system errors, operator errors, and the like Zations, patient interest groups and service providers like that is associated with restricted or conditional access prop accountants and lawyers. As a further example, patients, erties. office staff, physicians and third parties are all involved in Referring again to FIG. 18, the syndicated data/informa decisions pertaining to certain business functions, such as tion 1302 may be syndicated failure and error information as 25 obtaining reimbursement for a particular procedure. described herein. The syndicated data/information 1302 may In more detail, where reimbursement issues are involved originate on a network 110 or may originate from a content for example, the patient is concerned about whether the pro Source 204 through a data feed 202 or directly. An aggregator cedure will be covered by her healthcare insurance, and about 210 may be employed as described above. The infrastructure the amount of her co-pay, while the office staff is concerned 1702 may also interact directly with the syndicated data/ 30 about proper diagnosis and procedure coding, and about the information 1302. The users 1304 may also interact with each claim filing processes that a particular payer requires. The other. The syndicated data/information 1302 may be associ physician, also concerned about accurate coding for diagno ated with special properties 1802. The special properties 1802 sis and treatment, is further concerned about conforming to may be related to formatting, display, identification, de-iden certain third-party procedures for arranging appropriate cov tification, transactions, restricted access and/or conditional 35 erage for a patient. Before Surgery, for example, physicians access, such as described herein. The special properties 1802 may need to draft letters to the prospective payer requesting may also be associated with a service application 406, 408, coverage orjustifying their treatment decisions, or physicians 410, 412,414 and/or 416. In certain embodiments the arrows may need to document their diagnostic findings in a particular of FIG. 18 may be data feeds, such as data feed 202. way. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, An important component of improving a patient's health 40 diagnoses may be identified by numeric codes, for example care experience is providing a medical practice setting that is those provided by the International Classification of Diseases efficiently and effectively managed. Inefficiencies may frus (“ICD) coding systems, most recently revised as ICD-10, by trate the patient in his or her encounter with the provider, and Diagnostic Related Groups (“DRG') codes, and the like, and may increase the costs in time and money to patient and procedures may be identified by numeric codes, for example provider alike. For example, inefficient management of a 45 those provided by the AMA Current Procedure Terminology patients office visits, diagnostic tests and therapeutic proce (“CPT) coding system and the like. External institutions dures may result in wasting the patient’s time, delaying such as the federal Department of Health and Human Ser appropriate treatments and carrying out interventions without vices Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS), adequate information. Similarly, ineffective management state-based Medicaid organizations, managed care organiza may deprive a patient of needed services or may impose 50 tions (“MCOs), health maintenance organizations additional costs on patient or provider. For example, ineffec (“HMOs), healthcare insurance indemnity plans and the like tive management of relationships with third-party payers may may further affect the reimbursement process by enacting result in delay or denial of approval for medical services, changes in coding, in preapproval procedures or in reimburse unnecessary out-of-pocket costs to patients, and less-than ment schedules. Changes enacted by third parties may mate appropriate reimbursement to the health care provider. 55 rially alter the behavior of patient, physician or office staff Efficient and effective medical office management advan with respect to reimbursement-related business functions. tageously integrates systems governing the use of time, the There is a constant interplay among systems and among flow of information and the organization of business func constituencies in an office-based medical practice. Reim tions. Scheduling a procedure, for example, involves features bursement restrictions for a patient may impact, for example, of time management such as identifying appointment times 60 what treatment she elects or which provider she sees. A that fit with the diagnostic plan (e.g., mammogram Scheduled patient thus may select a provider based on that provider's before MRI, and both tests completed before biopsy) and that participation in the patient's health plan. But information fit with the doctor's, the patients and the facility’s availabil management systems within a practice may sway the ity. A time management protocol may be advantageously patient's original, economically-motivated decision. Thus, integrated with information management, so that both doctor 65 systems that a practice provides for informing patients about and patient can access the data derived from a sequence of their medical conditions and their treatment options may tests in order to inform Subsequent decisions. A time man Support a particular patient’s decision to seek treatment