Digital image management system having method for managing images according to image groups
First Claim
1. A method for archiving a plurality of digital images, wherein each image is associated with one of a plurality of customers, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting one of the customers;
defining an image group to include all of the images associated with the selected customer;
storing the image group to a short-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable short-term storage media such that all of the images of the image group are maintained on a single short-term storage media;
moving the customer image group from said short-term storage device to a mid-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable mid-term storage media when the customer image group is not accessed by a user within a first predetermined period of time, wherein the mid-term storage device stores the customer image group on a single mid-term storage medium; and
moving the customer image group from the mid-term storage device to a long-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable long-term storage media when the customer image group is not accessed by a user within a second predetermined period of time, wherein the long-term storage device stores the customer image group on a single long-term storage medium.
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Abstract
A digital image management system is described which facilitates image archival with a unique method for grouping customer images and information. As applied to medical environments, the system creates a virtual film jacket and implements the unique method by modeling convention hospital film archival procedures. The invention facilitates archival to a variety of devices including a redundant array of independent disks, magneto-optical storage devices and digital linear tapes and eliminates the need for hospital staff to retrieve several tapes from archive in order for a radiologist to review a patient'"'"'s study. The invention is applicable to any environment where customer images and information are continuously archived and retrieved.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for archiving a plurality of digital images, wherein each image is associated with one of a plurality of customers, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting one of the customers;
defining an image group to include all of the images associated with the selected customer;
storing the image group to a short-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable short-term storage media such that all of the images of the image group are maintained on a single short-term storage media;
moving the customer image group from said short-term storage device to a mid-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable mid-term storage media when the customer image group is not accessed by a user within a first predetermined period of time, wherein the mid-term storage device stores the customer image group on a single mid-term storage medium; and
moving the customer image group from the mid-term storage device to a long-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable long-term storage media when the customer image group is not accessed by a user within a second predetermined period of time, wherein the long-term storage device stores the customer image group on a single long-term storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
receiving a request from the user to store an input image associated with the selected customer;
accessing the database to read a location of the customer image group associated with the selected customer;
retrieving the customer image group associated with the selected customer from the long-term storage device based on the location read from the database, wherein the retrieved image group is moved to a single short-term storage medium within the short-term storage device;
receiving the input image from an input imaging device; and
storing the received input image on the short-term storage medium having the retrieved customer image group, thereby adding the received image to the retrieved customer image group.
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3. The method of claim 1, wherein the short-term storage device is a redundant array of independent disks.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mid-term storage device is a magneto-optical storage device.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein the long-term storage device is selected from one of 4 mm tape drive, 8 mm tape drive, and 9-track tape drive.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein the long-term storage device is a digital linear tape device holding a plurality of tapes.
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7. The method of claim 2, wherein the retrieving step further comprises the steps of automatically informing a user to physically retrieve a long-term storage medium from a storage facility, and automatically informing the user to physically return the long-term storage medium to the storage facility when the image group is not accessed for a third predetermined period of time.
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8. The method of claim 2, wherein the customer is a patient and the received input image is a medical diagnostic image produced by a medical modality.
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9. The method of claim 2, wherein the received input image is generated by scanning a photograph.
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10. The method of claim 2, wherein the received input image is generated by scanning a negative.
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11. The method of claim 2, wherein the received input image is a digitized movie generated by digitizing information stored on a VHS tape.
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12. The method of claim 2, wherein the customer image group further includes customer specific information other then the images associated with the customer.
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13. The method of claim 12, wherein the customer is a patient and the input image is a medical diagnostic image produced by a medical modality, and further wherein the customer specific information includes at least one of the patient'"'"'s name, a physician'"'"'s name and a modality type for each image of the image group.
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14. A digital information management system comprising:
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an input imaging device for generating a plurality of images, wherein each image is associated with one of a plurality of customers;
a short-term storage device;
a mid-term storage device;
a long-term storage device;
a database maintaining an entry for each customer; and
a software system executing on a suitably configured computer for managing the plurality of images by performing the steps of;
selecting one of the customers;
defining a customer image group to include all of the images associated with the selected customer;
commanding a short-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable short-term storage media to store all of the images of the customer image group on a single short-term storage medium;
moving the customer image group from said short-term storage device to a mid-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable mid-term storage media when the customer image group is not accessed by a user within first predetermined period of time, wherein the mid-term storage device stores the customer image group on a single mid-term storage medium; and
moving the customer image group from the short-term storage device to a long-term storage device having a plurality of individually removable long-term storage media when the customer image group is not accessed by a user within a second predetermined period of time, wherein the long-term storage device stores the images of the customer image group on a single long-term storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
receiving a request from the user to store an input image associated with the selected customer;
accessing the database to read a location of the customer image group associated with the selected customer;
retrieving the customer image group associated with the selected customer from the long-term storage device based on the location read from the database, wherein the retrieved image group is moved to a single short-term storage medium within the short-term storage device;
receiving the input image from an input imaging device; and
storing the received input image on the short-term storage medium having the retrieved customer image group, thereby adding the received image to the retrieved customer image group.
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16. The digital information management system of claim 14, wherein the short-term storage device is a redundant array of independent disks.
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17. The digital information management system of claim 14, wherein the mid-term storage device is a magneto-optical storage device.
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18. The digital information management system of claim 14, wherein the long-term storage device is selected from one of 4 mm tape drive, 8 mm tape drive, and 9-track tape drive.
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19. The digital information management system of claim 15, wherein the long-term storage device is a digital linear tape device holding a plurality of tapes.
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20. The digital information management system of claim 19, wherein the software system automatically informs a user to physically retrieve a tape from a tape archive, and further wherein the moving step further comprises the step of automatically informing the user to physically return the tape to the archive.
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21. The digital information management system of claim 14, wherein the customer is a patient and the input imaging device is a medical modality that produces medical diagnostic images.
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22. The digital information management system of claim 15, wherein the input imaging device produces an input image by scanning a photograph.
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23. The digital information management system of claim 15, wherein the input imaging device produces an input image by scanning a negative.
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24. The digital information management system of claim 15, wherein the input image is a digitized movie and wherein the input image device produces an input image by digitizing information stored on a VHS tape.
Specification