System and method for image capture, storage and retrieval

• US 20010052933A1
• Filed: 01/03/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Commercial Concepts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Commercial Concepts, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, James Quentin, Adamson, Scott Gilbert, Brummet, John Scott, Richards, George Edd Jr., Nybo, Larry Carl, Nybo, Craig Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/753,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052933A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2166 for mass storage, e.g. in document filing systems information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image

Abstract

A system and method for image capture, storage, and retrieval, which captures one or more images in a digital format and stores the images in a database to improve their accessability. The system and method also stores the images in a smaller physical space than conventional systems and may be used with a variety of image capture devices. Furthermore, the system and method may also allow access to the images from remote locations by way of a computer network such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A method in a computer system for capturing and administering digital images, comprising:

(a) electronically receiving image data into an input module which is configured to buffer a desired quantity of image data at any given time;

(b) activating a trigger to create a trigger event;

(c) in response to the trigger event, a processing module electronically capturing a digital image from the image data received by the input module;

(d) in response to the trigger event, the processing module creating a data structure and storing the digital image in the data structure along with pre-defined identification data;

(e) storing the data structure in a database; and

(f) providing a user interface such that a user is allowed to use and access a data structure stored in the database.

2. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the user interface comprises a web browser and further comprising a video signal generator generating the image data.

3. A method as in

claim 2

, wherein the web browser is configured to allow the user to access the digital image through a computer network.

4. A method as in

claim 2

, wherein the web browser is configured to allow the user to display, print, playback, and store the digital image on a remote computer.

5. A method as in

claim 2

, wherein the video signal generator is a video camera.

6. A method as in

claim 5

, wherein the image data transmitted from the video camera is in digital format.

7. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the input module buffers the desired quantity of image data according to the last in, first out (LIFO) protocol.

8. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the trigger is activated automatically based on the passage of time.

9. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the trigger is activated manually by a user.

10. A method as in

claim 1

, further comprising:

storing the data structure in the database in response to the database being available; and

storing the data structure in local storage in response to the database being unavailable.

11. A method as in

claim 1

, further comprising:

initially storing the data structure in local storage in response to the database being unavailable; and

transferring at least one data structure from local storage to the database in response to the database becoming available.

12. A method as in

claim 1

, further comprising:

archiving the image data to an archive medium;

recording in a catalog the location of the archive medium and at least one identifier relating the archive medium to a location within an archive; and

offering the catalog for use by the user.

13. A method as in

claim 1

, further comprising:

indexing the data structure to facilitate retrieval of the image data at a later point in time.

14. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein use by the user comprises at least one of e-mailing, printing, faxing, copying, viewing, displaying, manipulating and broadcasting the image data.

15. A method as in

claim 1

, further comprising:

prior to step (b), a user defining the pre-defined identification data.

16. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the digital image is compressed using a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) algorithm.

17. A method as in

claim 1

, wherein the processing module electronically captures a plurality of digital images to create a video clip.

18. A method as in

claim 17

, wherein the video clip is compressed using a motion picture experts group (MPEG) algorithm.

19. In a computer system, a method for capturing and administering digital images, the method comprising:

providing a medical video camera configured to record desired images of a medical procedure;

electronically receiving video data from the medical video camera into an input module which is configured to convert the video data into image data and buffer a desired quantity of image data at any given time;

activating a trigger to create a trigger event;

in response to the trigger event, a processing module electronically capturing a digital image from the image data received by the input module;

in response to the trigger event, the processing module creating a desired data structure and storing the digital image in the data structure along with pre-defined identification data;

storing the data structure in a database; and

providing a user interface such that a user is allowed to use and access a data structure stored in the database from a remote location.

20. A method as in

claim 19

, wherein the medical video camera is a camera selected from the group consisting of a computerized axial tomography (CAT scan) machine, an x-ray machine, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, a patient bed monitoring camera, an arthroscope, a laparoscope, an ultrasound machine, and a general purpose camera.

21. A system for capturing and administering digital images, comprising:

an input device configured to electronically receive and buffer image data such that a desired quantity of image data is available at any given time;

a storage device configured to maintain a database and a plurality of data structures;

a trigger configured to create a trigger event signal;

a user interface configured to receive user commands and present data for use by a user; and

a processor connected to the digital input receiver, storage device, trigger, and output device and programmed to,

electronically capture a digital image from the input device in response to the trigger event signal,

create a data structure and store the digital image and pre-defined identification data in the data structure,

store the data structure in the database within the storage device, and

provide access to the database by way of a user interface such that a user is allowed to use a data structure stored in the database.

22. A system for capturing and administering digital images, comprising:

means for electronically receiving image data into an input module which is configured to buffer a desired quantity of image data at any given time;

means for creating a trigger event;

means for responding to the trigger event and electronically capturing a digital image from the image data received by the input module;

means for responding to the trigger event and creating a desired data structure and storing the digital image in the data structure along with pre-defined identification data;

means for storing the data structure in a database which is electronically connected to the system;

means for providing access to the database such that a user is allowed to use a data structure stored in the database.

23. A system as in

claim 22

, further comprising:

an image data generating means configured to transmit image data to the means for electronically receiving image data into an input module.

24. A system as in

claim 23

, wherein the data structure comprises a database record.

25. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing a method for capturing and administering digital images, the method comprising:

electronically receiving image data into an input module which is configured to buffer a desired quantity of image data at any given time;

activating a trigger to create a trigger event;

in response to the trigger event, a processing module electronically capturing a digital image from the image data being received by the input module;

further in response to the trigger event, a processing module creating a desired data structure and storing the digital image in the data structure along with pre-defined identification data;

storing the data structure in a database; and

providing a user interface such that a user may use a data structure stored in the database.

26. The computer readable medium of

claim 25

, wherein the user interface comprises a web browser configured to allow the user to access the digital image through a computer network and further comprising a video signal generator generating the image data.

27. The computer readable medium of

claim 26

, wherein the video signal generator is a video camera.

28. The computer readable medium of

claim 25

, wherein the trigger is activated automatically based on the passage of time.

29. The computer readable medium of

claim 25

, wherein the trigger is activated manually by a user.

30. The computer readable medium of

claim 25

, further comprising:

storing the data structure in the database in response to the database being available; and

storing the data structure in local storage in response to the database being unavailable.

31. The computer readable medium of

claim 25

, further comprising:

initially storing the data structure in local storage in response to the database being unavailable; and

transferring at least one data structure from local storage to the database in response to the database becoming available.

32. The computer readable medium of

claim 25

, further comprising:

archiving the image data to an archive medium;

recording in a catalog the location of the archive medium and at least one identifier relating the archive medium to a location within an archive; and

offering the catalog for use by the user.