Method and apparatus for transporting images

• US 20080242946A1
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Krachman, Evan H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00424 using a list of graphical elements, e.g. icons or icon bar
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/444 to a particular document or image or part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0079 : Medical imaging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 : Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 : Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 : Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 : the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

A portable image transport device and corresponding techniques for image transport are disclosed. The portable image transport device accommodates an automatic initiation of image transport when the device is in a designated location by automatically recognizing the location condition and then engaging in communication with a medical device having an image capture capability. A variety of image transport may be performed, such as sending the received image to a printer for printing a hard copy. The portable image transport device also manages restrictions on image transport. Various restrictions may apply including but not limited to the type of devices to which the transport may be made, or certain registered devices to ensure transport only within a defined set of recipient classes or particularly identified recipients.

Claims

1. A method for transporting medical images through a portable medical image device that receives and transports medical images, the method comprising:

receiving an indication that the portable medical image device is present at a designated location;

communicating with a medical device having an image capture capability upon receiving the indication that the portable medical image device is present at the designated location;

verifying that the medical device is registered for transporting images through the portable medical image device;

receiving an image from the medical device; and

transporting the received image to an other device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting the received image is to a printer through a wireless connection, and a confirmation of successful printing is returned to the portable medical image device using the wireless connection while it is at the designated location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

correlating the medical device to information comprising image transport parameters that define restrictions in transporting images using the registered medical device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting the received image to the other device is performed using a wireless connection.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the wireless connection is a wireless LAN connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an audio annotation is associated to the received image prior to transporting the received image.

7. An apparatus for transporting medical images through a portable medical image device that receives and transports medical images, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving an indication that the portable medical image device is present at a designated location;

means for communicating with a medical device having an image capture capability upon receiving the indication that the portable medical image device is present at the designated location;

means for verifying that the medical device is registered for transporting images through the portable medical image device;

means for receiving an image from the medical device; and

means for transporting the received image to an other device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein transporting the received image is to a printer through a wireless connection, and a confirmation of successful printing is returned to the portable medical image device using the wireless connection while it is at the designated location.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein transporting the received image to the other device is performed using a wireless connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the wireless connection is a wireless LAN connection.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein an audio annotation is associated to the received image prior to transporting the received image.

12. An apparatus for transporting medical images through a portable medical image device that receives and transports medical images, the apparatus comprising:

a location designation module, which receives an indication that the portable medical image device is present at a designated location;

a connection management module, which communicates with a medical device having an image capture capability upon receiving the indication that the portable medical image device is present at the designated location;

a medical device registration module, which verifies that the medical device is registered for transporting images through the portable medical image device; and

an interface, which receives an image from the medical device, and transports the received image to an other device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein transporting the received image is to a printer through a wireless connection, and a confirmation of successful printing is returned to the portable medical image device using the wireless connection while it is at the designated location.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein transporting the received image to the other device is performed using a wireless connection.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein an audio annotation is associated to the received image prior to transporting the received image.

16. A method for transporting images through a portable image device that receives and transports images, the method comprising:

communicating with a medical device having an image capture capability using a wireless connection between the portable image device and the device;

verifying that the medical device is registered for transporting images through the portable image device;

correlating the medical device to information comprising image transport parameters that define restrictions in transporting images using the registered medical device;

receiving an image from the medical device; and

transporting the received image to an other device subject to restrictions provided by the image transport parameters.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the medical device at a given time is associated with a patient, and wherein the image transport parameters incorporate identification of the patient in association with the recipient classification information to restrict distribution of the images accordingly.