Ultrasound information processing system and ultrasound information exchange protocol therefor
First Claim
1. A computer program product for use in a plurality of ultrasound devices, the plurality of ultrasound devices being coupled to an ultrasound information bus for allowing communications therebetween according to a high-speed packetized serial bus protocol, each ultrasound device having a lower protocol layer for receiving and sending packets using said high-speed packetized serial bus protocol, each ultrasound device having an application layer for performing an ultrasound application function, said computer program product comprising:
- computer code for receiving a request from the application layer to communicate with another ultrasound device;
computer code for establishing a connection-oriented communication session with the other ultrasound device through the lower protocol layer across the ultrasound information bus; and
computer code for transferring ultrasound information between the application layer and the other ultrasound device during said communication session, said ultrasound information comprising bulk image data requiring real-time transfer, said ultrasound information further comprising command data, wherein said bulk image data is transferred over an isochronous channel of said connection-oriented communication session and said command data is transferred over an asynchronous channel of said connection-oriented communication session;
whereby any of a variety of different ultrasound devices having application layers compatible with said computer program product are capable of communications therebetween when coupled to the ultrasound information bus.
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Abstract
An ultrasound information processing system comprises a plurality of ultrasound devices coupled to a high-speed serial ultrasound information bus, wherein each ultrasound device comprises a program for communicating with other ultrasound devices according to an ultrasound information exchange protocol (UIEP). The UIEP is a lightweight, connection-oriented protocol adapted to efficiently transfer ultrasound information among different devices on the ultrasound information bus. Each ultrasound device comprises an application layer program for performing an ultrasound function, as well as a lower protocol layer program for receiving and sending data across the ultrasound information bus according to a high-speed serial bus standard that provides both isochronous and asynchronous data delivery. The ultrasound information exchange protocol (UIEP) program is adapted to receive a communication request from the application layer, open a connection-oriented communication session with the requested ultrasound device, and transfer ultrasound information through the lower protocol layer and across the ultrasound information bus to the requested device. Advantageously, any ultrasound device manufacturer provided with the UIEP program may readily generate application layer code capable of communicating with other manufacturers'"'"' ultrasound devices across the ultrasound information bus, without requiring specific knowledge of the internal structure of the other manufacturers'"'"' devices or of the specific frame/packet structure of the UIEP/lower layer protocols themselves.
72 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A computer program product for use in a plurality of ultrasound devices, the plurality of ultrasound devices being coupled to an ultrasound information bus for allowing communications therebetween according to a high-speed packetized serial bus protocol, each ultrasound device having a lower protocol layer for receiving and sending packets using said high-speed packetized serial bus protocol, each ultrasound device having an application layer for performing an ultrasound application function, said computer program product comprising:
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computer code for receiving a request from the application layer to communicate with another ultrasound device;
computer code for establishing a connection-oriented communication session with the other ultrasound device through the lower protocol layer across the ultrasound information bus; and
computer code for transferring ultrasound information between the application layer and the other ultrasound device during said communication session, said ultrasound information comprising bulk image data requiring real-time transfer, said ultrasound information further comprising command data, wherein said bulk image data is transferred over an isochronous channel of said connection-oriented communication session and said command data is transferred over an asynchronous channel of said connection-oriented communication session;
whereby any of a variety of different ultrasound devices having application layers compatible with said computer program product are capable of communications therebetween when coupled to the ultrasound information bus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for transferring ultrasound information between a first ultrasound device and a second ultrasound device, the ultrasound information comprising command data and bulk image data, comprising the steps of:
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forming an asynchronous virtual connection between a command port of said first ultrasound device and a command port of said second ultrasound device;
forming an isochronous virtual connection between a bulk image data port of said first ultrasound device and a bulk image data port of said second ultrasound device, wherein said asynchronous and isochronous virtual connections are formed in a common high-speed serial link between said first and second ultrasound devices according to a high-speed packetized serial bus protocol;
transmitting command data across said asynchronous virtual connection; and
transmitting bulk image data across said isochronous virtual connection. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for ultrasound information processing in a modular ultrasound system having a host, a scanner, and an intermediate processor, comprising the steps of:
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forming a first asynchronous virtual connection between a first command port of the host and a command port of the scanner, said first asynchronous virtual connection being formed in a first high-speed serial link connecting said host and said scanner according to a high-speed packetized serial bus protocol;
forming a second asynchronous virtual connection between a second command port of the host and a command port of the intermediate processor, said second asynchronous virtual connection being formed in a second high-speed serial link connecting said host and the intermediate processor according to said high-speed packetized serial bus protocol;
forming a first isochronous virtual connection between a bulk image data port of the scanner and a first bulk image data port of the intermediate processor, said first isochronous virtual connection being formed in said first and second high-speed serial links across said host;
forming a second isochronous virtual connection between a second bulk image data port of the intermediate processor and a bulk image data port of the host, said second asynchronous virtual connection being formed in said second high-speed serial link;
transmitting command data across said first and second asynchronous virtual connections;
transmitting bulk image data from the scanner to the intermediate processor across said first isochronous virtual connection;
processing said bulk image data at the intermediate processor; and
subsequent to processing said bulk image data, transmitting said bulk image data from the intermediate processor to the host across said second isochronous virtual connection. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A medical diagnostic ultrasound system comprising:
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two or more ultrasound devices each having a respective application layer program and a respective lower protocol layer program;
an ultrasound information bus coupled with the ultrasound devices for transfer of ultrasound information between the devices over the bus;
wherein the application layer programs control operations of the respective ultrasound devices and the lower protocol layer programs control transfers of ultrasound information between the respective devices and the bus; and
an ultrasound information exchange protocol program receiving communication requests from respective application layer programs sent via the bus and, in response, causing a communication session to commence between a requesting and requested ones of said ultrasound devices, said communication session comprising the transfer of ultrasound information between the requesting and requested devices via the ultrasound information bus and the lower protocol layer programs of the requesting and requested devices;
wherein ultrasound devices with respective application layer programs and lower protocol layer programs can be added to or removed from the system without requiring modification of the devices that remain coupled with the information bus, wherein said ultrasound information comprises bulk image data requiring real-time transfer that is transferred using an isochronous channel of the bus; and
wherein said ultrasound information further comprises command data that is transferred over an asynchronous channel of the bus. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A medical diagnostic method using ultrasound comprising:
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coupling two or more ultrasound devices, each having a respective application layer program and a respective lower protocol layer program, with an ultrasound information bus for transfer of ultrasound information between the devices over the bus;
wherein the application layer programs control operations of the respective ultrasound devices and the lower protocol layer programs control transfers of ultrasound information between the respective devices and the bus; and
using an ultrasound information exchange protocol program receiving communication requests from respective application layer programs sent via the bus and, in response, causing a communication session to commence between a requesting and requested ones of said ultrasound devices, said communication session comprising the transfer of ultrasound information between the requesting and requested devices via the ultrasound information bus and the lower protocol layer programs of the requesting and requested devices;
wherein ultrasound devices with respective application layer programs and lower protocol layer programs can be added to or removed from the system without requiring modification of the devices that remain coupled with the information bus;
wherein said ultrasound information comprises bulk image data requiring real-time transfer that is transferred using an isochronous channel of the bus; and
wherein said ultrasound information further comprises command data that is transferred over an asynchronous channel of the bus. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification