Method for processing objects of a standardized communication protocol

• US 7,085,804 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Nolte, Björn
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Assistant Examiner(s): WON, MICHAEL YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/105,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20020146159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/204, 709/246, 709/230, 707/103.R, 717/116, 717/16, 719/315, 719/332, 715/764, 382/232, 345/3.2, 345/3.3, 345/569, 345/600
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

In a method for processing objects of a standardized communication protocol for image and data exchange between devices via a communication network by means of processing devices, the objects are converted with a conversion routine into a pure text file (plain text), can be processed in a simple command language and are subsequently converted back into the objects.

Claims

1. A method for processing objects of a standardized communication protocol for image and data exchange between a plurality of devices connected via a communication network, said devices including processing devices wherein said objects are processed, comprising the steps of:

converting DICOM objects, each having a tag with a defined reference tag value, into a pure text file via a conversion routine and also, in said conversion routine, generating, for at least some of said tag values, a binary file associated with a position of the compressed DICOM object within the pure text file, said binary file containing the converted DICOM object referenced by the tag;

processing said pure text file with a generic minimalistic type class-dependent command language; and

reconverting said pure text file into the DICOM objects by substituting respective binary files for their placeholders associated tag reference in the pure text file.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising, in said conversion routine, employing a type class for said tags selected from the group consisting of byte, word and long types, and floating types.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising, in said conversion routine, allowing for augmentation of said type classes without altering said pure text file.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising, in said conversion routine, using a minimal command language specification to reconvert said pure text file into said DICOM objects.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 comprising employing, in said minimal command language, at least one command selected from the group consisting of a command setting a value from a string representation, a command setting a value from a binary reference, a command that opens a sequence of said tags, a command that closes a last-opened sequence of said tags, and a command ending a command sequence.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2 comprising, in said conversion subroutine, employing a minimal command language specification to create a complete pure text file from a complete DICOM object.