Abstract:
An information managing server includes: a memory; and a processor configured to execute a procedure, the procedure comprising: registering, in the memory, stored doctor information including information on doctors, registrant information indicating a registrant who provides a registration request, and registration information indicating a state of registration, in accordance with the registration request, possible states of registration including at least provisional registration and definitive registration, and outputting, in accordance with a doctor information request from a user, associated doctor information that is associated with both the registration information indicating the provisional registration and the registrant information indicating the user, among the stored doctor information in the memory.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-083279, filed on Mar. 30, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The embodiments discussed herein are related to an information managing server, an information management method and a computer-readable recording medium storing an information management program. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Traditionally, in order to receive approval for production and sales of drugs and medical devices under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, drug trials have been conducted by pharmaceutical companies. For example, for a drug trial, a clinical trial is conducted on a drug for which approval is to be newly received, and trial information on results of the clinical trial is collected. 
         [0004]    A case where a drug trial is conducted by a pharmaceutical company is described below. For example, the pharmaceutical company outsources a business activity related to the drug trial to an outsourcing company. The outsourcing company that receives the outsourced business activity determines a doctor in charge of the drug trial. Then, the outsourcing company outsources a clinical trial to the determined doctor in charge and conducts a monitoring task relating to the doctor in charge. In the monitoring task, a person who is in charge of the drug trial and belongs to the outsourcing company periodically consult with the doctor in charge and collects trial information on results of the clinical trial from the doctor in charge. For example, every time the person in charge of the drug trial consults with the doctor in charge and collects trial information, the person in charge of the drug trial organizes the collected trial information and reports the trial information to the pharmaceutical company that has outsourced the business activity. The pharmaceutical company organizes the trial information reported from the outsourcing company and files an application for approval of production and sales of an interested drug. 
         [0005]    A supporting device that supports the monitoring task exists. For example, the supporting device is installed in the pharmaceutical company, and doctor information that indicates information on doctors is registered in the supporting device. When the supporting device receives access from the person in charge of the drug trial, the supporting device outputs information of doctors of which the person is in charge. The person in charge of the drug trial selects doctor information of the doctor in charge and enters the trial information collected through the monitoring task in the supporting device. The supporting device associates the doctor information with the trial information entered by the person in charge of the drug trial and stores the doctor information and the trial information. The pharmaceutical company organizes the trial information stored in the supporting device and files the application for the approval. 
         [0006]    In addition, a technique for managing information exists. For example, the following technique is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 63-318646. In the technique, in order to handle the occurrence of a failure in an online update process of a bank or the like, a master file is not updated in real time, information is temporarily registered and stored in a file, and a master record is updated at an arbitrary time. In addition, a technique for receiving a request to update data from an administrator and other people and officially updating data approved by the administrator among the data requested to be updated is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-259477. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to an aspect of the invention, an information managing server includes: a memory; and a processor configured to execute a procedure, the procedure comprising: registering, in the memory, stored doctor information including information on doctors, registrant information indicating a registrant who provides a registration request, and registration information indicating a state of registration, in accordance with the registration request, possible states of registration including at least provisional registration and definitive registration, and outputting, in accordance with a doctor information request from a user, associated doctor information that is associated with both the registration information indicating the provisional registration and the registrant information indicating the user, among the stored doctor information in the memory. 
         [0008]    The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
         [0009]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information managing server according to the first embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a doctor information storage section; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that is displayed on a terminal that is operated by a user; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that is displayed on the terminal that is operated by the user; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that is displayed on an operating terminal that is operated by an administrator; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that is displayed on the operating terminal that is operated by the administrator; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that is displayed on the terminal that is operated by the user; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process procedure that is related to provisional registration and executed by the information managing server; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a process procedure that is related to an update and executed by the information managing server; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of a process procedure that is related to a search and executed by the information managing server; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer that executes an information management program. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The supporting device described as related art may delay the monitoring task. For example, if the doctor information of the doctor in charge is not registered in the supporting device regardless of the fact that the clinical trial is outsourced to the doctor in charge, the supporting device does not receive, from the person in charge of the drug trial, an entry of the trial information collected from the doctor in charge. In this case, the supporting device does not receive, from the person in charge of the drug trial, the entry of the trial information collected from the doctor in charge until the doctor information of the doctor in charge is registered in the supporting device by an administrator. Thus, the monitoring task is delayed. 
         [0022]    A technique disclosed herein has been devised in view of the aforementioned problem and provides an information managing server, an information management method and a computer-readable recording medium storing an information management program, which do not delay the monitoring task. 
         [0023]    Embodiments of the information managing server disclosed herein, the information management method disclosed herein and the information management program disclosed herein are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The technique disclosed herein is not limited to the embodiments. The embodiments may be combined without contradicting details of processes. 
         [0024]    An example of a functional configuration of an information managing server  100  according to the first embodiment is described.  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the information managing server  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the information managing server  100  is connected to an operating terminal  10  and terminals  30   a,    30   b  and  30   c  through a network  5 . For example, the information managing server  100  is a server device that is installed in a pharmaceutical company and manages doctor information on doctors in charge of clinical trials and trial information of the clinical trials. The trial information is collected through monitoring tasks relating to the doctors in charge. As the network  5 , any kind of communication network such as the Internet, a local area network (LAN) or a virtual private network (VPN) may be used. The three terminals  30   a,    30   b  and  30   c  are connected to the information managing server  100 . The connection, however, is not limited to the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The information managing server  100  may be connected to an arbitrary number of terminals. When the terminals  30   a,    30   b  and  30   c  are not distinguished from each other, the terminals  30   a,    30   b  and  30   c  are referred to as terminals  30 . 
         [0025]    The operating terminal  10  is a terminal that is installed in the pharmaceutical company and operated by an administrator who manages the information managing server  100 , for example. The operating terminal  10  corresponds to a personal computer, a workstation or the like. An application that supports various tasks is installed in the operating terminal  10 , for example. The various tasks are tasks related to registration or browsing of doctor information and trial information of clinical trials. It is assumed that only the administrator has authority to register doctor information. 
         [0026]    The terminals  30  are installed in an outsourcing company that receives outsourced drug trial transfer business activities from the pharmaceutical company, and are operated by users who use the information managing server  100 , for example. For example, the terminals  30  correspond to personal computers, workstations or the like. For example, an application that supports various tasks is installed in the terminals  30 . The various tasks are tasks related to provisional registration or browsing of doctor information and trial information of clinical trials. The users include a person who is in charge of the drug trial and belongs to the outsourcing company in which the terminals  30  are installed. The users also include a person who is involved with a drug trial business activity and belongs to the pharmaceutical company. The terminals  30  may be installed in the pharmaceutical company. 
         [0027]    The information managing server  100  includes a communication controller  101 , a storage unit  110  and a controller  120 . The communication controller  101  controls communication related to various types of information that is transmitted and received among the operating terminal  10 , the terminals  30  and the information managing server  100 . An example of the communication controller  101  is a network interface card (NIC). 
         [0028]    The storage unit  110  has a doctor information storage section  111 , for example. The storage unit  110  corresponds to a storage device such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk device or an optical disc device. Examples of the semiconductor memory are a random access memory (RAM) and a flash memory. 
         [0029]    The doctor information storage section  111  stores doctor information, registration information and registrant information. The doctor information indicates information on doctors. The registration information indicates whether the doctor information has been definitively registered or provisionally registered. The registrant information indicates registrants who have registered the doctor information. For example, a record that includes doctor information is registered in the doctor information storage section  111  by a registering unit  121  (described later) for each of the doctors. The doctor information stored in the doctor information storage section  111  is updated by an updating unit  122  (described later), for example. The doctor information storage section  111  is referenced by the registering unit  121 , the updating unit  122  and an output unit  123 . 
         [0030]    As an example, the doctor information storage section  111  stores data including IDs, doctor codes, doctor names, the registration information and the registrant information, which are associated with each other. The IDs are identifiers that uniquely identify the doctor codes registered in the doctor information storage section  111 . The doctor codes indicate registration numbers assigned to the doctors. The doctor names are the names of the doctors. The registration information indicates whether the doctor codes registered in the doctor information storage units  111  have been definitively registered or provisionally registered. In the doctor information storage section  111 , the definitive registration indicates a record that has been registered by the administrator and is used by all the users of the information managing servers  100 , while the provisional registration indicates a record that has been registered by any of the users and is used by the user who has registered the interested record. The registrant information indicates the registrants who have registered the records of the doctors. The registration information that indicates the provisional registration is represented as “provisional registration information”, while the registration information that indicates the definitive registration is represented as “definitive registration information”. The administrator may access the records registered in the doctor information storage section  111  and indicating the doctors, browse and delete the records and register a record in doctor information storage section  111 . The doctor codes and the doctor names are an example of the doctor information. 
         [0031]    An example of the information stored in the doctor information storage section  111  is described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the example of the information stored in the doctor information storage section  111 . In a record of a first row illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an ID “101”, a doctor code “A011”, a doctor name “Taro Fujitsu”, the registration information indicating the “definitive registration” and registrant information indicating the “administrator” are associated with each other. Specifically, the record indicates the definitive registration, and a doctor who has the doctor code “A011” and whose name is Taro Fujitsu is registered by the administrator. In a record of a second row illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an ID “102”, a doctor code “A021”, a doctor name “Jiro Fujitsu”, the registration information indicating the “provisional registration” and registrant information indicating an “outsourcing company B” are associated with each other. Specifically, the record indicates the provisional registration, and a doctor who has the doctor code “A021” and whose name is Jiro Fujitsu is registered by the outsourcing company B. The doctor information storage section  111  stores data that is IDs, doctor codes, doctor names, the registration information and the registrant information for each of other doctors, while the IDs, the doctor codes, the doctor names, the registration information and the registrant information are associated with each other. As the registrant information, information that identifies individuals who are registrants may be registered. As the registrant information, information that identifies outsourcing companies to which the registrants belong may be registered. 
         [0032]    The controller  120  has the registering unit  121 , the updating unit  122  and the output unit  123 . The functions of the controller  120  may be achieved by an integrated circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The functions of the controller  120  may be achieved by causing a central processing unit (CPU) to execute a predetermined program. 
         [0033]    The registering unit  121  registers the doctor information in the doctor information storage section  111 , for example. The registration includes the definitive registration performed by the administrator and the provisional registration performed by the users. A case where the registering unit  121  executes a process related to the provisional registration is described below. 
         [0034]    For example, the registering unit  121  associates doctor information, registrant information and registration information with each other and registers the doctor information, the registrant information and the registration information in the doctor information storage section  111 . In this case, the registrant information indicates a registrant who has registered the doctor information, and the registration information indicates the provisional registration. The registering unit  121  receives a request to register doctor information from a user who uses the information managing server  100 , for example. Then, the registering unit  121  associates the doctor information, registrant information indicating the user as a registrant, the registration information indicating the provisional information with each other. Then, the registering unit  121  registers the doctor information, the registrant information and the registration information in the doctor information storage section  111 . 
         [0035]    As an example, the registering unit  121  receives a request to register doctor information from any of the terminals  30 . The registering unit  121  outputs a provisional registration screen to the terminal  30  that has transmitted the request to register the doctor information. The terminal  30  receives an entry of the doctor information in the received provisional registration screen from a user. When a “register” button of the provisional registration screen is pressed by the user, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information that indicates that the “register” button of the provisional registration screen has been pressed. In this case, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , the entered doctor information, the provisional registration information indicating the provisional registration, and the registrant information indicating the user of the terminal  30  as a registrant, as well as the information indicating that the “register” button of the provisional registration screen has been pressed. 
         [0036]    The registering unit  121  receives, from the terminal  30 , the entered doctor information, the provisional registration information, the registrant information and the information indicating that the “register” button of the provisional registration screen has been pressed. The registering unit  121  associates the doctor information, the provisional registration information and the registrant information indicating the user of the terminal  30  as the registrant with each other and registers the doctor information, the provisional registration information and the registrant information in the doctor information storage section  111 . 
         [0037]    A process related to the provisional registration is described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  are diagrams illustrating examples of display screens displayed on the terminal  30  that is operated by the user. A display screen  3   a  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is displayed on the terminal  30  in order to cause the user to select doctor information of a doctor in charge when trial information that indicates a clinical trial and is collected by the user through a monitoring task relating to the doctor in charge is to be registered in the information managing server  100 . For example, doctor information of a doctor is displayed in a region  3   b  of the display screen  3   a  on the basis of a search criterion entered in a region  3   c  of the display screen  3   a.  For example, the user selects the doctor information of the doctor in charge from among displayed doctor information and enters the trial information collected through the monitoring task. If the doctor information of the doctor in charge is not included in the displayed doctor information, the user may press a “provisionally register” button  3   d  and provisionally register the doctor information. 
         [0038]    The examples illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  describe a case where the person who is in charge of the drug trial and belongs to the outsourcing company B provisionally registers the doctor information of the doctor who has the doctor code “A021” and whose name is Jiro Fujitsu. For example, when the “provisionally register” button  3   d  is pressed by the person in charge of the drug trial, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information that indicates that the “provisionally register” button  3   d  has been pressed. When receiving, from the terminal  30 , the information indicating that the “provisionally register” button  3   d  has been pressed, the registering unit  121  outputs a provisional registration screen  4   a  illustrated in  FIG. 4  to the terminal  30 . When receiving the provisional registration screen  4   a,  the terminal  30  displays the provisional registration screen  4   a.  The terminal  30  receives entries of the doctor code “A021” and doctor name “Jiro Fujitsu” in a region  4   b  of the provisional registration screen  4   a  from the person in charge of the drug trial. When a “register” button  4   c  of the provisional registration screen  4   a  is pressed by the person in charge of the drug trial, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information that indicates that the “register” button  4   c  of the provisional registration screen  4   a  has been pressed. In this case, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , the doctor code “A021”, the doctor name “Jiro Fujitsu”, the provisional registration information and information indicating the person in charge of the drug trial and belonging to the outsourcing company B, as well as the information indicating that the “register” button  4   c  of the provisional registration screen  4   a  has been pressed. The registering unit  121  receives, from the terminal  30 , the doctor code “A021”, the doctor name “Jiro Fujitsu”, the provisional registration information, the information indicating the person in charge of the drug trial and belonging to the outsourcing company B and the information indicating that the “register” button  4   c  of the provisional registration screen  4   a  has been pressed. The registering unit  121  associates the ID “102”, the doctor code “A021”, the doctor name “Jiro Fujitsu”, the provisional registration information and the information indicating the person in charge of the drug trial and belonging to the outsourcing company B with each other and registers, in the doctor information storage section  111 , the ID “102”, the doctor code “A021”, the doctor name “Jiro Fujitsu”, the provisional registration information and the information indicating the person in charge of the drug trial and belonging to the outsourcing company B. 
         [0039]    The updating unit  122  updates registration information stored in the doctor information storage section  111  from the provisional registration to the definitive registration, for example. The updating unit  122  receives, from the administrator who manages the information managing server  100 , a request to update registration information associated with doctor information from the provisional registration to the definitive registration, and updates the registration information from the provisional registration to the definitive registration, for example. 
         [0040]    For example, the updating unit  122  receives, from the operating terminal  10 , a request to update registration information from the provisional registration to the definitive registration. The updating unit  122  outputs a registration screen to the operating terminal  10  that has transmitted the request to update the registration information from the provisional registration to the definitive registration. The operating terminal  10  receives an entry of doctor information in the received registration screen from a user. When a “register” button of the registration screen is pressed by the administrator, the operating terminal  10  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information that indicates that the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed. In this case, the operating terminal  10  transmits the entered doctor information and information indicating whether or not the provisional registration has been determined, as well as the information indicating that the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed. 
         [0041]    The updating unit  122  receives, from the operating terminal  10 , the information that indicates that the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed. The updating unit  122  determines whether or not the provisional registration of the registration screen has been determined. If the provisional registration of the registration screen has been determined, the updating unit  122  updates the provisional registration information associated with the doctor information corresponding to a pressed “select” button to the definitive registration. Then, the updating unit  122  updates the doctor information received from the operating terminal  10 . If the provisional registration of the registration screen has not been determined, the updating unit  122  updates the doctor information corresponding to the pressed “select” button. 
         [0042]    A process that is related to the update is described below with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  are diagrams illustrating examples of display screens displayed on the operating terminal  10  that is operated by the administrator. A display screen  5   a  illustrated in  FIG. 5  is displayed on the operating terminal  10  in order for the administrator to manage the doctor information stored in the doctor information storage section  111 . For example, doctor information is displayed in a region  5   b  of the display screen  5   a  on the basis of a search criterion entered in a region  5   c  of the display screen  5   a.    
         [0043]    The examples illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  describe a case where the administrator updates the doctor information of the doctor who has the doctor code “A021” and whose name is Jiro Fujitsu from the provisional registration to the definitive registration. The operating terminal  10  receives an operation of pressing a “select” button  5   d  by the administrator. The operating terminal  10  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information indicating that the “select” button  5   d  has been pressed. When receiving the information indicating that the “select” button  5   d  has been pressed, the updating unit  122  outputs a registration screen  6   a  illustrated in  FIG. 6  to the operating terminal  10 . 
         [0044]    When receiving the registration screen  6   a,  the operating terminal  10  displays the received registration screen  6   a.  The doctor code “A021” and the doctor name “Jiro Fujitsu” that are the registered doctor information are displayed in a region  6   b  of the registration screen  6   a.  In a region  6   c  of the registration screen  6   a,  a “provisional” box that indicates the doctor information is provisionally registered is checked. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the operating terminal  10  receives, from the administrator, an operation of checking a “definite” box that indicates that the provisional registration is determined. Then, when a “register” button  6   d  of the registration screen  6   a  is pressed by the administrator, the operating terminal  10  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information that indicates that the “register” button  6   d  of the registration screen  6   a  has been pressed. In this case, the operating terminal  10  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information indicating whether the “definite” box or the “provisional” box is checked in the region  6   c,  as well as the information indicating that the “register” button  6   d  of the registration screen  6   a  has been pressed. When the doctor information that is displayed in the region  6   b  is changed, the operating terminal  10  also transmits the changed doctor information to the information managing server  100 . 
         [0045]    When receiving, from the operating terminal  10 , the information indicating that the “register” button  6   d  of the registration screen  6   a  has been pressed, the updating unit  122  determines whether the “definite” box or the “provisional” box has been checked in the region  6   c.  If the “definite” box has been checked in the region  6   c,  the updating unit  122  updates the provisional registration information associated with doctor information corresponding to the “select” button  5   d  and stored in the doctor information storage section  111  to the definitive registration information and updates the doctor information to the changed doctor information. 
         [0046]    The output unit  123  outputs doctor information. For example, if registration information associated with doctor information stored in the doctor information storage section  111  indicates the provisional registration, the output unit  123  outputs the doctor information to a certain terminal  30  used by a registrant who has registered the doctor information. If the registration information associated with the doctor information stored in the doctor information storage section  111  indicates the definitive registration, the output unit  123  outputs the doctor information to the certain terminal  30  and the other terminals used by users other than the registrant. 
         [0047]    For example, when receiving a request to search doctor information from a certain terminal  30 , the output unit  123  extracts definitively registered doctor information from the doctor information storage section  111 . The output unit  123  extracts doctor information that is among the definitively registered doctor information and associated with registrant information that matches a user of the certain terminal  30 . The output unit  123  specifies doctor information that is among the extracted doctor information and corresponds to a search criterion included in the request to search the doctor information. Then, the output unit  123  outputs the specified doctor information to the terminal  30  that has transmitted the request to search the doctor information. When receiving the doctor information, the terminal  30  displays the received doctor information. 
         [0048]    A process that is related to the search is described with reference to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed on the terminal  30  that is operated by the user. A display screen  7   a  illustrated in  FIG. 7  is displayed on the terminal  30  in order to cause the user to select doctor information of a doctor in charge when trial information that indicates a clinical trial and is collected by the user through a monitoring task relating to the doctor in charge is to be registered in the information managing server  100 . For example, the terminal  30  receives an entry of a search criterion in a region  7   b  of the display screen  7   a.  The terminal  30  receives an operation of pressing a “search” button  7   c.  When the “search” button  7   c  is pressed, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , the search criterion, information indicating the user of the terminal  30  and information indicating that the “search” button  7   c  has been pressed. The search criterion may not be entered. A case where a search criterion is not entered is described below. 
         [0049]    The example illustrated in  FIG. 7  describes a case where the person who is in charge of the drug trial and belongs to the outsourcing company B registers, in the information managing server  100 , the trial information that indicates the clinical trial and has been collected through the monitoring task. The output unit  123  receives, from a terminal  30 , information indicating the outsourcing company B and information indicating that the “search” button  7   c  has been pressed. The output unit  123  extracts, from the doctor information storage section  111 , doctor information associated with definitive registration information. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the output unit  123  extracts the record corresponding to the doctor who has the ID “101”. The output unit  123  specifies doctor information that is among doctor information associated with the provisional registration information and is associated with registrant information that matches the user of the terminal  30 . In the example illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the output unit  123  extracts the record of the doctor who has the ID “102” associated with the registration information indicating the “provisional registration” and the registrant information indicating the “outsourcing company B”. The output unit  123  outputs the specified doctor information to the terminal  30  of the outsourcing company B, while the “search” button  7   c  of the terminal  30  has been pressed. When receiving the doctor information, the terminal  30  displays the received doctor information in a region  7   d  illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0050]    Next, process procedures that are executed by the information managing server  100  according to the first embodiment are described.  FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a process procedure that is related to the provisional registration and executed by the information managing server  100 . The process procedure illustrated in  FIG. 8  is executed when the registering unit  121  receives information indicating that the “provisionally register” button has been pressed. 
         [0051]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when receiving the information indicating that the “provisionally register” button has been pressed (Yes in S 101 ), the registering unit  121  outputs the provisional registration screen to a terminal  30  that has transmitted the information indicating that the “provisionally register” button has been pressed (in S 102 ). The terminal  30  receives an entry of doctor information in the received provisional registration screen from a user. When the “register” button of the provisional registration screen is pressed by the user, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information indicating that the “register” button of the provisional registration screen has been pressed. In this case, the terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , the entered doctor information, provisional registration information indicating the provisional registration, registrant information indicating the user of the terminal  30  as a registrant, as well as the information indicating that the “register” button of the provisional registration screen has been pressed. The registering unit  121  stands by until receiving, from the terminal  30 , the information indicating that the “provisionally register” button has been pressed (No in S 101 ). 
         [0052]    When receiving, from the terminal  30 , the information indicating that the “register” button has been pressed (Yes in S 103 ), the registering unit  121  associates the doctor information, the provisional registration information and the registrant information with each other and registers the doctor information, the provisional registration information and the registrant information in the doctor information storage section  111  (in S 104 ). The registering unit  121  stands by until receiving, from the terminal  30 , the information indicating that the “register” button of the provisional registration screen has been pressed (No in S 103 ). 
         [0053]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a process procedure that is related to the update and executed by the information managing server  100 . For example, the process procedure illustrated in  FIG. 9  is executed when the updating unit  122  receives information indicating that a “select” button has been pressed. 
         [0054]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when receiving, from the operating terminal  10 , information indicating that a “select” button has been pressed (Yes in S 201 ), the updating unit  122  outputs the registration screen to the operating terminal  10  that has transmitted the information indicating that the “select” button has been pressed (in S 202 ). The operating terminal  10  receives an entry of doctor information in the received registration screen from the user. When the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed by the administrator, the operating terminal  10  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information indicating that the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed. In this case, the operating terminal  10  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , the entered doctor information and information indicating whether or not the provision registration has been determined, as well as the information indicating that the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed. The updating unit  122  stands by until receiving, from the operating terminal  10 , the information indicating that the “register” button has been pressed (No in S 201 ). 
         [0055]    When receiving, from the operating terminal  10 , the information indicating that the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed (Yes in S 203 ), the updating unit  122  determines whether or not the provisional registration of the registration screen has been determined (in S 204 ). 
         [0056]    If the provisional registration of the registration screen has been determined (Yes in S 204 ), the updating unit  122  updates provisional registration information associated with the doctor information corresponding to the pressed “select” button to the definitive registration information (in S 205 ). Then, the updating unit  122  updates the doctor information received from the operating terminal  10  (in S 206 ). The updating unit  122  stands by until receiving, from the operating terminal  10 , the information indicating that the “register” button of the registration screen has been pressed (No in S 203 ). 
         [0057]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of a process procedure that is related to the search and executed by the information managing server  100 . The process procedure illustrated in  FIG. 10  is executed when the output unit  123  receives information indicating that the “search” button has been pressed, for example. 
         [0058]    As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , when receiving, from the terminal  30 , information indicating that the “search” button has been pressed (Yes in S 301 ), the output unit  123  extracts definitively registered doctor information from the doctor information storage section  111  (in S 302 ). The terminal  30  transmits, to the information managing server  100 , information indicating the user of the terminal  30  and a search criterion, as well as the information indicating that the “search” button has been pressed. Thus, the output unit  123  receives, from the terminal  30 , the information indicating the user of the terminal  30  and the search criterion, as well as the information indicating that the “search” button has been pressed. 
         [0059]    The output unit  123  extracts doctor information that is among provisionally registered doctor information and associated with registrant information that matches the user of the terminal  30  (in S 303 ). The output unit  123  specifies doctor information that is among the extracted doctor information and corresponds to the search criterion (in S 304 ). The output unit  123  outputs the specified doctor information to the terminal  30  on which the “search” button has been pressed (in S 305 ). When receiving the doctor information, the terminal  30  displays the received doctor information. 
         [0060]    Next, effects of the information managing server  100  according to the first embodiment are described. The information managing server  100  associates doctor information indicating information on doctors, registration information indicating the provisional registration or the definitive information, and registrant information indicating registrants who have registered the doctor information with each other, and stores the doctor information, the registration information and the registrant information. The information managing server  100  associates the doctor information, the registrant information (indicating the registrants who have registered the doctor information), the registration information indicating the provisional registration with each other and registers, in the storage unit  110 , the doctor information, the registrant information, the registration information indicating the provisional registration. The information managing server  100  updates the registration information stored in the storage unit  110  from the provision registration to the definitive registration. If registration information associated with doctor information stored in the storage unit  110  indicates the provisional registration, the information managing server  100  outputs the doctor information to a terminal of a registrant who has registered the doctor information. If the registration information indicates the definitive registration, the information managing server  100  outputs the doctor information to other terminals and the terminal of the registrant who has registered the doctor information. Thus, the information managing server  100  achieves an operation that does not delay the monitoring task. 
         [0061]    For example, the information managing server  100  receives a request to register doctor information from a user who uses the information managing server  100 . Then, the information managing server  100  associates the received doctor information, registrant information indicating the user as a registrant and registration information indicating the provisional registration with each other and stores the doctor information, the registrant information and the registration information. The information managing server  100  receives, from the administrator who manages the information managing server  100 , a request to update the registration information associated with the doctor information from the provisional registration to the definitive registration. Then, the information managing server  100  updates the registration information from the provisional registration to the definitive registration. Thus, even if doctor information of a doctor in charge is not registered by the administrator of the information managing server  100 , the doctor information may be provisionally registered in the information managing server  100  by a person who is in charge of a drug trial and belongs to an outsourcing company. Thus, the information managing server  100  may use the doctor information without waiting for definitive registration by the administrator. The monitoring task, therefore, is not delayed. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0062]    The first embodiment is described above. The technique disclosed herein may be achieved in another embodiment. The other embodiment is described below. 
         [0063]    All or a part of the processes that are described in the first embodiment and automatically executed may be manually executed. All or a part of the processes that are described in the first embodiment and manually executed may be automatically executed using a known method. The process procedures, control procedures, specific names and information including various types of parameters and data, which are described in the first embodiment or illustrated in the drawings, may be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. 
         [0064]    The constituent elements of the information managing server  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are functionally conceptual and may not be physically configured as illustrated in the drawings. Specifically, specific forms of separation and integration of the constituent elements of the managing server  100  are not limited to those illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and all or a part of the constituent elements of the information managing server  100  may be functionally or physically separated or integrated on an arbitrary basis on the basis of various types of loads or usage statuses. For example, the information managing server  100  may not store the doctor information storage section  111 . The doctor information storage section  111  may be stored in an external storage device arranged outside the information managing server  100 . 
         [0065]    Program 
         [0066]      FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating an example of a computer that executes the information management program. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , a computer  300  has a CPU  301 , an input device  302  and a monitor  303 . The CPU  301  executes various calculation processes. The input device  302  receives an entry of data from a user. The computer  300  also has a medium reading device  304 , an interface device  305  and a wireless communication device  306 . The medium reading device  304  reads a program and the like from a recording medium. The interface device  305  connects the computer  300  to another device. The wireless communication device  306  wirelessly connects the computer  300  to another device. The computer  300  has a hard disk device  308  and a random access memory (RAM)  307  that temporarily stores various types of information. The devices  301  to  308  are connected to each other through a bus  309 . 
         [0067]    The hard disk device  308  stores the information management program that has the same functions as the processing units that are the registering unit  121 , the updating unit  122  and the output unit  123  that are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The hard disk device  308  stores various types of data that is used to achieve the information management program. 
         [0068]    The CPU  301  reads the various programs stored in the hard disk device  308 , loads the programs into the RAM  307 , executes the programs and thereby executes the various processes. The programs may cause the computer  300  to function as the registering unit  121 , the updating unit  122  and the output unit  123  that are illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0069]    The information management program may not be stored in the hard disk device  308 . The information management program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium, and the computer  300  may read the information management program from the computer-readable recording medium and execute the information management program. The computer-readable recording medium corresponds to a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a digital versatile disc (DVD) or a universal serial bus (USB) memory, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, a hard disk drive or the like. The information management program may be stored in a device connected to a public line, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) or the like, and the computer  300  may read the information management program from the device and execute the information management program. 
         [0070]    All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.