Method and apparatus for distributed data archiving

• US 20020046215A1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agfa Healthcare Corporation (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Heartlab Incorporated (Agfa-Gevaert N.V.)
• Inventors: Petrocelli, Robert R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,277,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

An archive system is provided for long term storage of large amounts of data that is particularly suited for multi-year storage of medical data such as cardiac images, patient demographics and reports. One or more digital versatile disks (DVDs) may be employed as the storage media. In the archival process, all of the data for a particular patient, procedure or study is stored and uniquely identified within one DVD. Each DVD may have an executable program stored thereon for independently accessing the archived data from the selected DVD. Before the DVD is recorded, the data to be archived is segmented into a plurality of information groups where each group is based on data for the particular patient, procedure or study. Then, the DVD is reviewed to determine whether a sufficient amount of storage space is present to ensure that the information group will be entirely stored within one DVD.

Claims

1. A method for distributed data archiving, comprising the steps of:

accessing data from at least one external source;

segmenting the data into at least one information group; and

storing said at least one information group onto one of a plurality of archival storage media, said at least one information group being stored on said one archival storage medium with an identification that is unique from any other information groups stored within said archival storage media so that said information groups are capable of being independently accessed.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said archival storage media comprise digital versatile disks (DVDs).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein each said archival storage media comprises a self contained database file for each of said information groups.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said database file is implemented by Digital Image Communications for Medicine (DICOM-3).

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein said information groups comprise meta-data and image data.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein each of said archival storage media comprises an embedded image player for viewing the images.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein each of said archival storage media comprises an application for interpreting the meta-data.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of creating an index file on each of said archival storage media for characterizing said information groups stored thereon.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of creating an executable program on each of said archival storage media for retrieving said information groups stored thereon.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of recording said information groups on said archival storage media as near-line and off-line storage.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein a first subset of said archival storage media is provided as on-line storage.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein a second subset of said archival storage media is provided as near-line storage.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein a third subset of said archival storage media is provided as off-line storage.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein said on-line storage comprises a hard disk.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein said near-line storage comprises a jukebox storage for providing sequentially selectable access to at least one archival storage media.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said off-line storage comprises shelf storage for said archival storage media.

18. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein said user interface comprises a personal computer.

19. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein said external source comprises a workstation.

20. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein said external source comprises a network compatible device.

21. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein said memory storage comprises on-line, near-line, and off-line storage media.

22. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 21, wherein said on-line storage medium comprises a hard disk.

23. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 21, wherein said on-line storage medium comprises a redundant array of independent disks.

24. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 21, wherein said near-line storage medium comprises a jukebox storage for providing sequentially selectable access to said archival storage media.

25. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 21, wherein said off-line storage medium comprises shelf storage for said archival storage media.

26. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein said user interface creates an index file for characterizing all of said information groups to be stored on said archival storage media and stores said index file and said information groups on said archival storage media.

27. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein said user interface creates an executable program for retrieving said information groups stored on said archival storage media and stores said executable program on said archival storage media.

28. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein said archival storage media comprise digital versatile disks (DVDs).

29. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 17, wherein each said archival storage media comprises a self contained database file for each of said information groups.

30. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 29, wherein said database file is implemented by Digitial Image Communciations for Medicine (DICOM-3).

31. A distributed data archiving system according to claim 21, further comprising a media recorder for recording said information groups on said archival storage media as near-line and off-line archival storage media.

17. A distributed data archiving system, comprising:

a user interface for controlling the system, said user interface including a processor for receiving data from at least one external source and segmenting the data into at least one information group; and

a memory storage for storing information groups, said memory storage including a plurality of archival storage media for storing said at least one information group onto one of said archival storage media with an identification that is unique from any other of said information groups stored thereon so that said information groups are capable of being independently accessed.