Patent US 5,455,948

A method for isolating data and information collection components (data descriptions and locations 124, procedures to access data 126 and operational data 128) from other components (charting 172, report 174, hypertext 176 and visual basic 178) of an application program (106) in a distributed environment (150) comprises the steps to first define data points according to location, structure, and access mechanism for the application program (106). The method groups a plurality of data points (128) into logical collections and overlays on the grouped data points (128) a logic component (102) for deriving information from the data points. Additionally, the method includes directing the grouped data points (128) through the logic component (102) to other components of the application program (106). Grouped data points (128) may be communicated synchronously to an associated workstation (104 and 146) or asynchronously to a background task (148) associated with the application program (106).