WO2002097673A2

WO2002097673A2 - A hierachical tree structure for guiding a user

Info

Publication number: WO2002097673A2
Application number: PCT/US2002/016156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew F. Farella; Larry Sternson
Original assignee: Elan Pharma International Limited
Priority date: 2001-05-24
Filing date: 2002-05-22
Publication date: 2002-12-05
Also published as: AU2002310030A1; WO2002097673A3

Abstract

A method is described for providing information to a user in a system having an information providing tool including the steps of providing a plurality of items of information having logical relationships and traversing the items of information in accordance with the logical relationships. Selected items of information are indicated while traversing the items of information in order to provide indicated items of information. The indicated items of information are collected in order to provide a collection of indicated items of information. The collection of indicated items of information is displayed to the user.

Description

DRUG DELIVERY DIAGNOSTIC TOOL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of information structures. In particular, the invention relates to the field of using a hierarchical information tree structure to guide a user of the hierarchical information tree structure to information related to a user problem.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known in the art to provide information arranged in an hierarchical information tree structure for guiding a user to information related to a user problem by permitting the user to traverse the information tree structure. In this method of problem solving, the user traverses the tree structure according to both a predetermined information tree logic and a user determination at each node of the tree structure encountered by the user.

When using such an information tree structure, the user can be presented with a set of challenges at each node. Depending on the user response to the challenges presented a further set of challenges can be opened up for the user to make a further response. This tree traversal process continues until the user arrives at a "leaf of the information tree where an answer to the user question can be provided. Information content can be provided to the user at any node in the tree structure during the traversal of the tree structure, as well as at the leaves of the tree structure.

An example of this type of a hierarchical information tree structure is shown in Fig. 1. The hierarchical software documentation information tree 10 of Fig. 1 is provided by Microsoft Corporation at http://msdn.microsoft.com/librarv/welcome/dsmsdn/msdn1.htm for the purpose of providing users with guidance in obtaining documentation materials for developing software tools, products and technologies.

When the software documentation information tree 10 is first presented to a user two tree levels are displayed: a higher tree level 12 and a lower tree level 14. The levels of the information tree 10, such as levels 12, 14, are indicated with arrows and reference numerals in order to avoid confusion. Headings and other features are represented with lead lines. Headings are displayed at each of the tree levels 12, 14 to assist the user in determining how to proceed through the information tree 10 in order to obtain the required information. When the user determines that one of the displayed headings 12 the higher tree level 12 may indicate the presence of the desired information under the heading, the user can click on the determined heading. The user then proceeds to a lower level 14 in the tree hierarchy beneath the clicked heading. For example, the user can click on the heading of line 28 (see Fig. 2) of the software documentation information tree 10 if the user determines that the required information may be under the heading "Visual Studio Documentation."

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown the software documentation information tree 10 presented to the user after the user clicks on line 28. A new tree level 16, is opened beneath the Visual Studio Documentation heading of the tree level 14. Additionally, a new tree level 18 is opened below the tree level 16 beneath the Visual Studio Documentation heading and a new tree level 20 is opened below the tree level 18. Thus, the user is provided with a plurality of new challenge headings below the level of line 28 for review in order to determine which heading or headings may include the required software documentation information. This process continues until the user is guided to the required software documentation.

Each of the lines of the software documentation information tree 10 is provided with a content icon 24 in the form of a closed book. The content icon 24 indicates that information content associated with the line of the icon is available to the user for display and review. In order to obtain access to the information content associated with a line, the user clicks on the text of the line and the information content appears in a frame to the right of the information tree 10.

For example, when the user clicks on line 26, the Visual Studio content as shown in Fig. 3 is displayed in the frame to the right of the software documentation information tree 10. In this manner, the user can obtain access to information content corresponding to each heading in the information tree 10. Additionally, click-through links can be provided within the displayed information content in order to provide the user with further information associated with the displayed information content. As shown in line 26 (Fig. 2), the form of the content icon 24 changes to an open book rather than a closed book when the corresponding information content is displayed. The content icon 24 can remain in the open book form for the remainder of the traversal of the information tree 10. The display of the open book content icons 24 permits the user to determine at a glance which information content has been displayed. Further, examples of the open book content icons 24 are shown in lines 28, 32 of Fig. 4, indicating that the information content of lines 28, 32 has also been displayed.

The use of the open book content icons 24 also facilitates jumping back by the user to the information content of the previously reviewed lines at a later time. Additionally, the user is permitted to print the information content corresponding to any previously visited line on a line-by-line basis by jumping from one open book content icon 24 to another and requesting printouts at each revisited node. Thus, the user can obtain a collection of some or all of the information content pages displayed either by printing the pages as they are displayed while the user is traversing the information tree 10, or by later jumping from one open book content icon 24 to another and printing the selected content pages. In either case, the information content pages are printed one-by-one as they are selected.

Another type of hierarchical information tree is provided by Inxight Software, Inc. at infcxaϋnxiqht.com. In the hierarchical information tree provided by Inxight Software, Inc. a few nodes at a time are displayed to the user to permit the user to select a node and click on the selected node. When the user clicks on a node the selected node is moved toward the approximate center of the display presented to the user. The unselected nodes of the display are moved away from the selected node and decreased in size or even removed from the display. The selected node is increased in size thereby permitting display of additional nodes depending therefrom at the next level of the information hierarchy.

Referring now to Figs. 5A, B, C, there are shown the hierarchical information trees 40, 44, 48. Within the hierarchical information tree 40, the node B is disposed at the highest level of the information tree hierarchy. The challenge nodes A, C and D are set forth as challenges logically depending from the node B at the next level of the information tree hierarchy. If the user selects the challenge node C by clicking on it the hierarchical information tree 44 results. In the hierarchical information tree 44 a plurality of challenge nodes depending from the challenge node C appear on the display while the unselected nodes A, B, D are reduced in size. The unselected nodes A, B, D are moved to make room for the expanded node C and its new challenge nodes. The user is permitted to select any of the challenge nodes depending from the challenge node C to provide further levels of expansion of the hierarchical information tree 44 by clicking on them.

Additionally, the user of the hierarchical information tree 44 can select any of the challenge nodes A, B and C at that point to expand them and reduce the challenge node C. Such a selection can remove the challenge nodes depending from the challenge node C. This process facilitates jumping from one branch to another in the information tree or performing a reverse traversal of the information tree.

Alternately, when the hierarchical information tree 40 is displayed, the user can select the challenge node A rather than the challenge node C. In this case, the challenge node A is expanded as shown in the hierarchical information tree 48 and the challenges depending from the challenge node A are displayed. Any number of challenge nodes can depend from the challenge node A when the challenge nodes B, C are reduced. This process can continue until the user reaches a bottom node, or leaf, and obtains the information content corresponding thereto.

Additionally, information content can be displayed while the user is traversing the hierarchical information trees 40, 44, 48, either within a tree 40, 44, 48 or in a separate frame. For example, the hierarchical information trees 40, 44, 48 can represent the directory of a large company. The central node B can correspond to, for example, the chief executive officer of the company and display the name of the officer. The challenge nodes A, C, D depending therefrom can correspond to various departments within the company. When the user selects a department by clicking on a challenge node A, C or D subdivisions within the selected department can be displayed and named as new challenge nodes. The user can traverse the information tree to the level of an individual working for the company. Upon reaching the name of an individual, the user can click on or roll over upon the individual name and obtain the telephone number, e-mail address or any other information to be posted for the individual.

However, both of the prior art systems disclosed have the disadvantage that it is difficult to obtain a customized publication of the information content that is relevant to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a prior art hierarchical information tree structure for providing information content to a user and guiding the user to information related to a user problem in the field of software development.

Fig. 2 shows a partially expanded representation of the prior art hierarchical information tree structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an information content page corresponding to a node within the prior art hierarchical information tree structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows an additional partially expanded representation of the prior art hierarchical information tree structure of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5A, B, C show hyperbolic graphical representations of a further prior art hierarchical information tree structure in selected stages of expansion and reduction of the information tree structure.

Fig. 6 shows a partial representation of the drug delivery diagnostic tool of the present invention suitable for providing information content and assisting a user in solving a drug formulation or drug delivery problem.

Fig. 7 shows a partially expanded representation of the drug delivery diagnostic tool of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows a further partially expanded representation of the drug delivery diagnostic tool of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows a further partially expanded representation of the drug delivery diagnostic tool of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 shows a partial block diagram representation of the drug delivery diagnostic tool of Fig. 6.

Figs. 11 A, B, C show the information content pages corresponding to selected nodes within the drug delivery diagnostic tool of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The listing of a program suitable for performing the operations of the present invention appears in a CD-ROM filed herewith and is written in a structured format understandable to those of ordinary skill of the art and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The CD-ROM created May 15, 2001 is entitled "Drug Delivery Diagnostic Tool" and contains files having the file titles set forth in Appendix I attached hereto.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 10, there are shown a partial heading-list representation and a partial block diagram representation, respectively, of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 of the present invention. The drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 includes a plurality of tree nodes represented as headings. The headings are items of information that are linked to each other in a predetermined logical relationship to form a hierarchical information tree structure.

Using the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50, a user can respond to challenges at successive levels of hierarchy of the information tree structure associated with the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 in order to select branches at the information nodes of the tree structure and solve a user problem. Additionally, the user of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 can receive information content corresponding to the branches and nodes of the associated information tree structure. In order to permit performance of these operations, the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 is provided with a corresponding repository of drug delivery data to enable the various nodes and branches of the associated tree structure and provide the user with content and data-rich examples as the user traverses the associated tree structure.

The tree structure associated with the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 is displayed to the user in at least two side-by-side frames. In a first frame of the display, as set forth in Figs. 6 - 9, the user is provided with files containing information on specific drug delivery headings along with the logical relationships therebetween. By clicking on selected headings set forth in accordance with the information contained in the files the user can traverse the information tree structure. The traversal of the information tree structure permits the presentation of information content corresponding to the various nodes and branches in the tree structure to appear in a further frame simultaneously with the nodes.

The drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 provides three nodes 60, 120, 125 at its highest level as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the term challenge node can be used to refer to any node, branch or heading in the associated hierarchical information tree structure of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50. Specifically, the three challenge nodes 60, 120, 125 prompt the user to determine whether the user method of delivering a drug in the user problem to be solved falls within the scope of the oral challenge node 60, the injectable challenge node 120 or the inhalation challenge node 125.

As shown in Fig. 10, the three challenges or headings at the highest level of the hierarchy of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 are also represented as the challenge blocks 65, 120 and 125. The highest level of the hierarchy of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 is indicated by the presence of a plus sign or a minus sign in the horizontal location 55 corresponding to the lines of the challenge nodes 6, 120, 125.

If the user of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 clicks on the oral challenge node 60, the representation shown in Fig. 7 is displayed to the user. In this representations four new challenge nodes 65, 105, 110, 115 appear underneath the oral challenge node 60. The new challenge nodes 65, 105, 110, 115, specifically, are the suboptimal bioavailability challenge node 65, the suboptimal pharmacokinetic parameters challenge node 105, the formulation related toxicity challenge node 110 and the performance issues challenge node 115. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 10, the new challenges beneath the oral heading are also shown in the corresponding challenge blocks 65, 105, 110 and 115.

Thus, the user of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 can determine the relevant concerns for oral drug delivery within the problem to be solved and select one of the challenge nodes 65, 105, 110 and 115. As shown in Fig. 8, if the user selects the suboptimal bioavailability challenge node 65, a display of the poor dissolution kinetics challenge node 70, the poor membrane permeability challenge mode 85, the gastric liability challenge node 90, the pH dependent dissolution challenge node 95, and the window of absorption challenge node 100 is provided in Fig. 8 at the next level of the information tree hierarchy.

As also shown in Fig. 8, the next level of the information tree hierarchy is indicated at the horizontal location 75 as shown beneath the suboptimal bioavailability challenge node 65. The new challenge nodes 65, 105, 110 and 115 permit the user to indicate the relevant concerns in the area of suboptimal bioavailability with respect to the user problem.

Continuing the traversal of the hierarchical information tree of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 in this manner, the user can select the poor dissolution kinetics challenge node 70 (in Fig. 8) and obtain the Example 1 and Example 2 Nano Crystal challenge nodes 76, 80 shown in Fig. 9. The Nano Crystal challenge nodes 76, 80 are displayed beneath the poor dissolution kinetics challenge node 70 at the horizontal location 76 indented one more level from the left margin. The user can, at this point, also click on line 85 having the "Poor Membrane Permeability" having in order to open up the PROMDAS challenge node 87, if desired. The tree traversal process continues in this manner until the user gets to a leaf of the information tree structure and obtains information related to a solution to the user problem.

As the user traverses the hierarchical information tree structure corresponding to the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50, the user can display information content corresponding to selected challenge nodes in the display frame appearing beside the tree display shown in Figs. 6 - 9. Furthermore, the user is permitted to request printouts of the information content pages while traversing the information tree structure in order to obtain a record of the information content pages obtained while traversing the tree structure and obtaining information related to a solution of the user problem.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, the user is also permitted to select and indicate which information content pages are of particular interest while traversing the information tree structure. The selected and indicated information content pages can be collected and consolidated, for example, into a binder. The consolidated pages can be complied and displayed on a single printable screen. A printout of the screen can be obtained in order to permit publication of a personalized consolidated brochure any time that if the user requests it.

In order to assist the user in indicating the selected information content pages to be consolidated, an information content consolidation check-off box 78 (see Figs. 7 - 9) is provided beside the challenge nodes of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 which have information content available for printout. The information content consolidation check-off boxes 78a, 78b, 78c of lines 75, 80, 87 (see Fig. 9) provide examples of indicators where the information content corresponding to the challenge nodes 76, 80, 87 have been checked off by the user for later consolidation and printing. The check-off status of the check-off boxes 78 can be toggled by the user at any time during the traversal of the information tree structure.

The user can request the display of the content pages which are checked off when the user completes the traversal of the information tree structure or at any other time when the user desires to review them. The checked off content pages can be displayed on a single display screen. When the checked-off content pages are reviewed the user can eliminate or add selected pages of the consolidated pages to be printed. The consolidated pages remaining after any such elimination or addition of pages can also be printed with each other thereby providing the user with an easily customized reference source of information gathered with respect to the user problem for which the user consulted the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50.

For example, Figs. 11 A, B, C show examples of the information content pages printed out in response to a user checking off the consolidation check-off boxes 78a, 78b, 78c. The selection of the check-off boxes 78a, b,c requests nano crystal technology and PROMDAS information content with respect to the poor dissolution kinetic challenges node 70 and the poor membrane permeability challenge node 85. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a single content page can be associated with a plurality of different headings of the information tree of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50. Thus, the single content page can be displayed when the user arrives at any one of a plurality of different tree nodes and, therefore, the user can arrive at the single content page by way of a plurality of different routes. In order to provide this functionality the single content page can be provided with a title and linked to the different nodes in any manner understood by those skilled in the art. For example, the different nodes can have pointers to the single content page and the single content page can have a list of its associated nodes.

Furthermore, the hierarchical information tree of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 can be updated in the preferred embodiment. In order to permit the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 to evolve in this manner, new information can be added or substituted for the information in any of the content pages of the hierarchical information tree. Additionally, the logical relationships between the nodes of the hierarchical information tree can be modified, new nodes with predetermined logical relationships can be created, and old nodes can be deleted. In such an embodiment, the new or amended information or the nodes can have date stamps in order to allow users to determine the relative ages of the nodes or content pages. Additionally, nodes or content pages can be indicated as new for a period of time after their addition or amendment. A reasonable period of time for such an indication can be, for example, thirty days.

The drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 of the present invention can also be used as part of a business method for permitting a provider of a drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 to attract clients. In this business method, the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 is made available to the public in one of a variety of possible ways. For example, the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 can be made available according to subscription, registration, the payment of fees or any other way agreed upon.

The users of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 can be provided with further materials in addition to the information content related directly to the scientific and technical aspects of information related to a user problem. They can also be provided with information and suggestions on contacting the provider to obtain additional information, services and products of the provider related to the information content associated with the information tree or related to any other matter.

Additionally, the user can be provided with customized, targeted suggestions and targeted contact points with respect to any different pages or aspects of the information content, the problem the user seeks to solve, any related problems, the nature of identity of the user, or any other related bases. When the user contacts the provider, the user and the provider can discuss the problem, the information or solution provided, and other possible products and services that the provider can make available to the user in order to solve the user problem or any other related user problems. The information on contacting the provider can include provider contacts targeted to particular user problems, telephone numbers, addresses, e-mail or any other means of contacting the provider or designees of the provider.

Printouts of Versions 1.2 and v1.6 setting forth Part I of the challenges/solutions tree content for the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 are attached hereto as Appendices II and III. Part II of the challenges/solutions tree content is attached as Appendix IV. Versions 1.1 and 1.3 of the database information for providing the information content pages is set forth the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 in Appendices V and VI. The User Requirements Specification of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 is attached as Appendix VII. The attached Appendices are part of the specification and are incorporated by reference herein.

Although the invention, has been shown and described in a particular form with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous modifications in the system and method of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed. It is intended that the present application shall cover by suitable expression whatever features of the invention are disclosed.

For example, the method and system of the present invention are not limited to the field of pharmaceutical or pharmaceutical formulation or delivery applications or any related fields. The hierarchical information tree, the traversal of a hierarchical information tree, the display of information content pages associated with a hierarchical information tree, the selection or indication of information content pages for later viewing, printing or consolidation, the consolidation and printing out of selected pages, and any other features and operations described herein, can be advantageously applied to hierarchical information trees covering any other kind of information or information content in addition to the fields of pharmaceutical or pharmaceutical formulation or delivery. Furthermore, the information providing tool and method of the invention can be applied to any kind of information that is hierarchical wherein a user is lead to some endpoint.

Furthermore, the method and system for making contact between the users of the drug delivery diagnostic tool 50 and the providers thereof, along with all other interactions therebetween, and the provisions of any information services or products therebetween, can be performed equally well for any type of information or information content in any field. Furthermore, the information content of the business method is not intended to be limited to that relating to pharmaceuticals, the delivery of pharmaceuticals, or anything related thereto and can be applied to the use of any information tree structure for guiding a user of the information tree structure to information related to a user problem.

Claims

1. A method for providing information to a user in a system having an information providing tool, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of items of information having logical relationships therebetween;

(b) traversing said items of information in accordance with said logical relationships;

(c) indicating selected items of information while traversing said items of information in order to provide indicated items of information;

(d) collecting said indicated items of information in order to provide a collection of indicated items of information; and

(e) displaying said collection of indicated items of information to said user.

2. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding a further item of information to said collection of indicated items of information after said providing of said collection of indicated items of information.

3. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying said collection of indicated items of information.

4. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 3, further comprising the step of displaying said collection of indicated items of information on a single display screen in order to provide a displayed collection of indicated items.

5. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 3, further comprising the steps of removing an indicated item of information from said displayed collection of indicated items of information in order to provide a further displayed collection of indicated items.

6. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 1 , further comprising the step of printing said collection of indicated items of information.

7. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 1 , wherein said system includes a plurality of collection indicators having indicator states associated with said items of information for performing said indicating of step (c) further comprising the step of changing a state of a selected collection indicator of said plurality of collection indicators.

8. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 7, further comprising the step of toggling said selected collection indicator prior to said providing of said collection of indicated items of information.

9. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 1 , wherein said items of information comprise corresponding information nodes.

10. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 9, wherein said logical relationships comprise a tree relationship of said information nodes.

11. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 10, wherein said tree relationship comprises a hierarchical information tree.

12. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 11 , wherein a plurality of information content pages is associated with said information nodes.

13. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 12, wherein a single information content page is associated with a plurality of differing information nodes.

14. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 12, further comprising the step of updating said hierarchical information tree.

15. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 14, further comprising the step of updating an information content page of said plurality of information content pages.

16. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 14, further comprising the step of altering said logical relationships between said information nodes.

17. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 1 , further comprising the step of associating a date with an item of information.

18. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 17, wherein said date is representative of a date when an associated item of information was added to said hierarchical information tree.

19. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 17, further comprising the step of indicating that an item has been added to said hierarchical information tree for a specified period of time.

20. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 1 , wherein said information providing tool has a tool provider for making said information providing tool available to said user further comprising the step of providing information representative of said tool provider.

21. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 20, wherein said information representative of said tool provider further comprises contact information for contacting said tool provider.

22. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 20, further comprising the step of providing targeted contact information in accordance with an indicated item of information of said collection of indicated items of information.

23. The method for providing information to a user of Claim 21 , further comprising the step of providing targeted information in accordance with a selected item of information.