Methods and apparatus for streaming DICOM images through data element sources and sinks
First Claim
1. A method for communicating Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data between two devices in a network, wherein the data comprises data elements, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of data elements from a first device;
providing a streaming threshold, wherein the streaming threshold comprises;
a maximum size of data elements to be transmitted between the first device and a second device, wherein the first device is a Service Class Provider capable of providing data packets and the second device is a Service Class User capable of receiving an output stream of bytes; and
a maximum number of data elements to be encoded in a data stream to be transmitted between the first device and the second device;
based at least in part on the streaming threshold, encoding at least some of the plurality of data elements into the data stream to be transmitted between the first device and the second device;
defining a limited number of presentation data values to be stored in the data stream, wherein the limited number is based at least in part on either a size of a storage device or performance of the network;
incrementally reading a set of data packets from the Service Class Provider so that each data packet is read one at a time;
creating the presentation data value stream with only a limited number of presentation data values;
incrementally reading pixel data elements one at a time from the data stream into the storage device, wherein an entire data element is incrementally read in small, fixed size portions into the storage device;
transmitting at least a portion of the stored data elements to the second device;
transmitting a presentation data value stream containing the limited number of presentation data values to a second Service Class Provider if the predefined limit of presentation data values is reached; and
extracting the presentation data values from the presentation data value stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for streaming DICOM images or objects through data element sources and sinks. Digital data contained in relatively large DICOM objects of any size can be transmitted between applications, devices, or storage media in a network. The use of data element sources and data element sinks to incrementally process data elements and data values one at a time, minimizes the amount of memory needed to perform a DICOM operation. The methods and apparatus according to the present invention limit the consumption of memory resources while providing a relatively small, fixed amount of memory for handling a relatively large DICOM object, while maintaining the performance of applications operating in the DICOM network.
142 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for communicating Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data between two devices in a network, wherein the data comprises data elements, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of data elements from a first device; providing a streaming threshold, wherein the streaming threshold comprises; a maximum size of data elements to be transmitted between the first device and a second device, wherein the first device is a Service Class Provider capable of providing data packets and the second device is a Service Class User capable of receiving an output stream of bytes; and a maximum number of data elements to be encoded in a data stream to be transmitted between the first device and the second device; based at least in part on the streaming threshold, encoding at least some of the plurality of data elements into the data stream to be transmitted between the first device and the second device; defining a limited number of presentation data values to be stored in the data stream, wherein the limited number is based at least in part on either a size of a storage device or performance of the network; incrementally reading a set of data packets from the Service Class Provider so that each data packet is read one at a time; creating the presentation data value stream with only a limited number of presentation data values; incrementally reading pixel data elements one at a time from the data stream into the storage device, wherein an entire data element is incrementally read in small, fixed size portions into the storage device; transmitting at least a portion of the stored data elements to the second device; transmitting a presentation data value stream containing the limited number of presentation data values to a second Service Class Provider if the predefined limit of presentation data values is reached; and extracting the presentation data values from the presentation data value stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for transmitting a Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) image between two devices in a network, wherein the image comprises a plurality of protocol data units, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of protocol data units from a first device; providing a streaming threshold, wherein the streaming threshold comprises; a maximum size of data elements to be transmitted between the first device and a second device, wherein the first device is a Service Class Provider capable of providing data packets and the second device is a Service Class User capable of receiving said output stream of bytes; and a maximum number of data elements to be encoded in a data stream to be transmitted between the first device and the second device; based at least in part on the streaming threshold, encoding at least some of the plurality of protocol data units in the data stream, wherein the data stream is based at least in part on a capacity of a storage device; defining a limited number of presentation data values to be stored in the data stream, wherein the limited number is based at least in part on either a size of a storage device or performance of the network; incrementally reading a set of data packets from the Service Class Provider so that each data packet is read one at a time; creating a presentation data value stream with only a limited number of presentation data values; incrementally storing presentation data values from the data stream in the storage device; transmitting at least a portion of the stored data stream to a second device using the presentation data values; transmitting the presentation data value stream containing the limited number of presentation data values to a second Service Class Provider if the predefined limit of presentation data values is reached; and extracting the presentation data values from the presentation data value stream. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification