Laser image connectable to medical modality of a workstation

• US 6,631,499 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1996
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsujii, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Application Number:
  US08/700,042
• Time in Patent Office: 2,604 Days
• Field of Search: 395/114, 395/118, 707/517, 707/530, 345/418, 358/1.2, 358/1.16, 358/1.17, 358/1.18, 358/1.15, 709/203, 709/217-219, 715/517, 715/530
• US Class Current: 715/274
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0005 Accepting output data; Preparing data for the controlling system
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2215/0065 Page or partial page composition

Abstract

Files of acquired images are stored in a directory of computer tomography (CT) in the form of ACR/NEMA format file. For printing the images by a laser imager, application software stored in the laser imager is started from CT, whereby an interactive indication of the application software is indicated on a CRT in CT. An operator inputs a name of a directory where the image information files are present, and operates a window information setting switch, a format information setting switch, a font information setting switch, an overlay information switch and a print start switch with a mouse to set respective information and then to print the images.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus, comprising:

a printer for printing image data, wherein said printer can perform specific image processing for image data to be printed; and

data storage installed in said printer for storing an application software which is started by operating a terminal in network-connection with said printer and has a function of indicating to the terminal, based on a predetermined protocol, an interactive indication including image data processed by said printer for an operator of the terminal to input a parameter for the specific image processing so that the parameter is input from the terminal, wherein the terminal need not have a function of the specific image processing.

2. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises at least one of a medical modality and a workstation.

3. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application software has a function of indicating to the terminal the indication on a monitor of the terminal.

4. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of terminals are in network-connection with said printer.

5. A printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of terminals comprise at least two medical modalities which are different in kind.

6. A method for printing image data, comprising the steps of:

providing a printer for printing image data, with the printer capable of performing specific image processing for image data to be printed; and

providing data storage in a printer for storing application software which is started by operating a terminal in network-connection with the printer and has a function of indicating to the terminal, based on a predetermined protocol, an interactive indication including image data processed by said printer for an operator of the terminal to input a parameter for the image processing so that the parameter is input from the terminal, wherein the terminal need not have a function of the specific image processing.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the terminal comprises at least one of a medical modality and a workstation.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the application software has a function of indicating to the terminal the indication on a monitor of the terminal.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of terminals are in network-connection with the printer.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of terminals comprise at least medical modalities which are different in kind.

11. A printing apparatus which can perform specific image processing for image data to be printed, comprising:

a printer for printing image data; and

data storage for storing an application software which is started by operating a terminal in network-connection with said printer and has a function of indicating to the terminal, based on a predetermined protocol, an interactive indication including image data processed by said printer for an operator of the terminal to input a parameter for the image processing so that the parameter is input from the terminal, wherein the terminal need not have a function of the specific image processing.

12. A printing method comprising the steps of:

providing a printer for printing image data; and

storing in the printer an application software which is started by operating a terminal in network-connection with the printer and has a function of indicating to the terminal, based on a predetermined protocol, an interactive indication including image data processed by said printer for an operator of the terminal to input a parameter for the image processing so that the parameter is input from the terminal, wherein the terminal need not have a function of the specific image processing.

13. A printing apparatus comprising:

a printer for printing image data, wherein said printer can perform specific image processing for image data to be printed; and

data storage installed in said printer for storing an application software which is started by operating a computer in network-connection with said printer and has a function of indicating to the computer, based on a predetermined protocol, an interactive indication including image data processed by said printer for an operator of the computer to input a parameter for the image processing so that the parameter is input from the computer, wherein the computer need not have a function of the specific image processing.

14. A printing method comprising the steps of:

providing a printer for printing image data, wherein the printer can perform specific image processing for image data to be printed; and

providing data storage installed in the printer for storing an application software which is started by operating a computer in network-connection with the printer and has a function of indicating to the computer, based on a predetermined protocol, an interactive indication including image data processed by said printer for an operator of the computer to input a parameter for the image processing so that the parameter is input from the computer, wherein the computer need not have a function of the specific means processing.