Patient simulator

Abstract

A method of providing a software application to different network clients from a server. The method includes maintaining sets of state data describing the state of an instance of an application, updating the sets of state data based on information received from applications running on computers connected to the server via a local area network; and generating an interface based on the set of state data; and for transmission to a network client.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of providing a virtual patient, the method comprising: 
 receiving statements describing one or more virtual patient characteristics;    generating a virtual patient having one or more of the virtual patient characteristics; and    simulating the virtual patient characteristics.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the statements comprise statements identifying portions of a data structure.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises an evolution.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the evolution comprises an evolution having an inactive mode, an interim mode, and an active mode.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a migration.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a trigger.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a morph.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a response to a question.  
     
     
         10 . A computer program product, disposed on a computer readable medium, for providing a virtual patient, the program including instructions for causing a processor to: 
 receive statements describing one or more virtual patient characteristics;    generate a virtual patient having one or more of the virtual patient characteristics; and    simulate the virtual patient characteristics.    
     
     
         11 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein the statements comprise statements identifying portions of a data structure.  
     
     
         12 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises an evolution.  
     
     
         13 . The computer program of  claim 12 , wherein the evolution comprises an evolution having an inactive mode, an interim mode, and an active mode.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a migration.  
     
     
         15 . The computer program of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a trigger.  
     
     
         16 . The computer program of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a morph.  
     
     
         17 . The computer program of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the virtual patient characteristics comprises a response to a question.