JP3414466B2 - Data storage communication system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data archiving communication system for handling a large amount of data such as medical images, and more particularly to a data archiving communication system capable of efficiently managing a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a data archiving and communication system 100.
11, is composed of a plurality of elements (components) connected to a network 101 such as a LAN (eg, Ethernet). The plurality of elements are composed of a data generator 102 that generates data, a database device 103 that stores the data handled in the system 100, and a data reference terminal 104 that displays the data. Each of the plurality of elements can communicate with each other via the network 101.

The database device 103 receives data and the like obtained by the data generator 102 via the network 101. As a storage medium for this data, for example, a magnetic disk 103a (hard disk) and, for example, an optical disk 105 (portable storage). Optical disc device 103b (medium) (optical disc drive (driving device), optical disc autochanger (having a plurality of drives)
Etc.) and.

The optical disk device 103b is usually used when storing and saving a large amount of data. However, the optical disk device 103b generally has a long response time (access time) from the reception of the data request to the transmission of the data. Therefore, it is rare to use only the optical disk 105 of the optical disk device 103b as a single storage medium. Normally, a storage medium such as a magnetic disk 103a having a short access time is used together, and after temporarily storing data on the magnetic disk 103a, The data is transferred to the optical disk 105 of the optical disk device 103b.
Often stored in.

However, the optical disk 105 in the optical disk device 103b is limited by hardware (difference in model, etc.), and, for example, in an optical disk autochanger of a certain type,
5-inch optical disk 10 with a storage capacity of 600 MB
There is a limit on the number of sheets that can be stored, such as being able to store up to 64 sheets of 3. Further, in the case of the optical disk device 103b including one optical disk drive, only one optical disk 105 can process data at a time.

For the above reasons, the optical disk device 1
Regarding the optical discs 105 that exceed the number limit of 03b, the optical disc device 1 which is frequently accessed is usually used.
In the optical disc device 103b, a device having a relatively low access frequency is taken out from the optical disc device 103b and temporarily stored in the optical disc storage 106 (such as a storage shelf), and then stored in the optical disc device 103b only when requested by the user. It is designed to be replaced with the inserted optical disc 105.

Therefore, the device assumed as the optical disc device 103b is, for example, according to the number of the optical discs 105 for storing the data that the user wants to access frequently.
(A): One optical disc drive if it fits in one optical disc 105, (b): One optical disc autochanger (capable of holding 64 discs) if less than 64 discs, (c): 64 discs or more In this case, a plurality of optical disc autochangers (capable of storing 64 discs) are used.

Further, the optical disc 105, which is relatively infrequently accessed, is usually managed by a system administrator or the like using a management ledger 107 (record book for optical disc management or the like), and when an access request is made from the user, The system administrator or the like specifies the optical disc 105 in which the data requested from the management ledger 107 is stored, and the optical disc device 1
Replace with the optical disk 105 inserted in 03b.

The data reference terminal 104 can request data to be referred to by the user's operation from the database device 103, receive the requested data, and display it. The user of the data reference terminal 104 normally selects and specifies the data to be referred from the data registered in the database device 104 using a search key (consisting of a plurality of pieces of information for specifying the data).

The data requested by the data reference terminal 104 is the magnetic disk 103 in the database device 103.
a or in the optical disk device 103b, the requested data is transferred from the database device 103 to the data reference terminal 104. By the way, the time required from the request for data until the designated data actually arrives at the data reference terminal is about several tens of seconds.

On the other hand, when the requested data is not in the database device 103 but in the optical disk 105 stored in the optical disk storage 106, the system administrator or the like uses the management ledger 107 to make the request. The optical disc 105 storing the data is examined, and the optical disc 1
05 is taken out from the storage 106, and the optical disk device 10
After the data is inserted into 3, the data will be transferred.

[0012]

The above-mentioned conventional data archiving communication system has the following two major problems.

First, there is a problem that it takes time from data request to arrival.

For example, in the case of a medical image archiving communication system, data is requested by a user (doctor or the like) inputting and designating a patient ID or the like into a data reference terminal after the patient enters the examination room. It was Therefore, it usually takes several tens of seconds for the designated data to reach the data reference terminal from the database device due to the congestion of data in the network, resulting in a decrease in the efficiency of patient diagnosis. It was

Second, there is a problem that manpower is required to manage the optical disk for data storage.

For example, the data reference frequency usually increases in proportion to the number of installed data reference terminals, the number of users, the number of data requests, and the like. When the data reference frequency increases, the number of times the optical disc is inserted and taken out also increases, so that the waiting time from the generation of a data request until the optical disc is inserted increases. Similarly, as the data reference frequency increases, the usage rate of the network, which is the data transmission path, also increases, and the waiting time until the network usage right (exclusive right) is acquired also increases.

When the above waiting time is increased, the time required from data request to acquisition is naturally extended,
This will hinder the user's data reference work. For example, in the case of a medical image storage communication system, when reading medical image data of a patient on a data reference terminal, there arises a disadvantage that the patient's diagnosis time becomes long.

Further, as described above, when the number of times the optical disc is inserted and taken out increases, the system administrator or the like who manages the optical disc must frequently search for the optical disc using the management ledger. For example, in the worst case, in an optical disk device consisting of one drive, it is necessary to search for and insert or remove one optical disk for each request, which increases the frequency of replacement of the optical disks, which imposes a burden on the system administrator. It will hang.

Further, in order to reduce the frequency of exchanging optical disks, it is possible to provide a plurality of optical disk autochangers in the system as an optical disk device, but in this case, there is a problem that the entire system becomes expensive.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned two problems of the prior art, and provides a data archiving communication system having an improved efficiency of data reference and the like with a simple structure and at a relatively low cost. The purpose is to

[0021]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 refers to the data by a terminal device communicably connected to a database device storing data including medical images. In the data archiving communication system to be performed, the transfer timing of the data stored in the database device to the terminal device is set when the data request is received from the user of the terminal device or when a new image is registered. Determining means for determining as a trigger, and when the determining means determines that it is time to transfer the data,
A transfer unit for transferring the data stored in the database unit to the terminal unit, wherein the transfer unit includes a reference data identification table for identifying a past related image to be referred to, and the determination unit of the data. One of a means for specifying a related image of a transfer image based on the reference data specifying table when it is judged to be a transfer time, and image data and its storage location information as information to be transmitted to the specified related image. A table in which a determination criterion that allows selection of the image data is set, and at least one of image conditions or past inspection conditions is used as the determination criterion; and the image data and its storage location information based on the determination criterion of the table. And a means for transferring any of the selected image data and its storage location information to the terminal device. Characterized in that it has a.

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

When the judgment means judges that it is time to transfer the data stored in the database device to the terminal device, the transfer means judges whether the image data or the storage location information thereof is based on the judgment standard set in the table. Select and transfer the data to the terminal device. That is, the data transfer time from the database device to the terminal device is automatically determined, and either the image data or the storage location information is transferred.

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

[0037]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the data archiving communication system of the present invention is applied to a medical image archiving communication system.

This medical image archiving communication system 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, it is composed of a plurality of elements connected to the network 2 (data transmission path). The plurality of elements are a plurality of data generators 3 (also referred to as medical image capturing apparatuses or modalities, hereinafter represented by one) such as an X-ray CT apparatus and an MRI apparatus, a database apparatus 4 for storing image data, It is composed of a plurality of data reference terminals 5 (also referred to as medical image observation devices or workstations, which will be hereinafter represented by one unit) for displaying image data on a screen, and a system management device 6 for managing the data. Each of the plurality of elements can communicate with each other via the network 2. Further, outside the network 2, there is provided an optical disk storage 8 for storing the optical disk 7 removed from the database device 4 (organization shelf for storing optical disks, etc.).

The database device 4 is a magnetic disk 4
a, an optical disk device 4b, and a CPU, a memory, a network interface, etc., which are not shown,
It is connected to the network 2 described above. With these hardware configurations, the database device 4 can receive the image data generated by the data generator 3 via the network 2 and store it.

Further, the magnetic disk 4a and the optical disk device 4b in the database device 4 are selectively used according to their characteristics (long and short access time, large and small storage capacity). That is, the database device 4 temporarily stores the image data generated by the data generating device 3 at the time of inspection on the magnetic disk 4a for the purpose of high-speed reception and transmission, and for the purpose of reliability of image data and long-term storage. The image data is transferred from the magnetic disk 4a to the optical disk device 4b.

When the image data is registered in the optical disc device 4b, the database device 4 stores incidental information (patient ID, examination ID, image ID, examination date, patient name, etc.) of the image data and storage location information (registered optical disc). 7 management number, record number, etc.) are transmitted to the system management apparatus 6. Apart from this, the optical disk 7
The system management device 6 is also notified of the insertion / removal information (information for inserting or removing the optical disk device 4b).

Further, the database device 4 receives the instruction from the system management device 6 and transfers the image data instructed to the data reference terminal 5 of the instructed transfer destination.
On the other hand, when the optical disk 7 for registering the image data is taken out from the optical disk device 4 and is in the optical disk storage 8, it is inserted by the system administrator or the like who has received the insertion command from the system management apparatus 6 at appropriate time intervals. The optical discs 7 to be instructed are collectively inserted, and in response to the instruction to end the insertion, the image data instructed is automatically transferred to the data reference terminal 5 of the transfer destination automatically instructed.

The data reference terminal 5 is a CPU (not shown),
It has a memory, a magnetic disk, a network interface, etc., and is connected to the network 2. With these hardware configurations, the data reference terminal 5
The system management device 6 is instructed to request the data of the database device 4, and the image data transferred from the database device 4 via the network 2 can be displayed on the screen.

Further, the optical disk device 5a is connected to the data reference terminal 5, and when the system management device 6 notifies the storage location information of the optical disk 7 and the like (that is, the requested data is stored in the database device 4). If the user does not have this), the user can take out the optical disc 7 specified by this information from the storage 8 and insert it into the optical disc device 5a to read the image data.

As shown in the hardware configuration of FIG. 2, the system management device 6 includes a CPU 6a, a memory 6b, a network interface 6c (NW I / F), a magnetic disk 6d, etc. (for the optical disk device 6e, the following modifications are made). Described in the example) and is connected to the network 2. Further, as shown in the software configuration of FIG. 3, a plurality of tables Ta..Td (FIGS. 5 to 8) for storing data in the magnetic disk 6d (or memory 6b) are set.

The system management device 6 processes the data of these tables Ta ... Td by the CPU 6a, so that the data processing performed between the data reference terminal 5 and the database device 4 via the network 2 ( Transfer, etc.).

Data processing by the system management device 6 will now be described with reference to FIG.

First, when a new (current day) image generated by the data generating device 3 is registered in the database device 4, a notification indicating that the registration has been made is received from the database device 4 in step S1. This notification includes incidental information of the image data (patient ID, examination ID, image ID, examination date, patient name, etc.) and storage location information (registration number of the registered optical disc, record number, etc.). These pieces of information are registered in the transfer status management table Ta shown in FIG. 5, for example. The data in the table Ta includes information for identifying image data such as a patient ID, an examination ID, and an image ID in the supplementary information of the image data, a transfer destination (data reference terminal #), a user or a system requesting the transfer. The time it started,
It is composed of information indicating a transfer status such as whether the delivery is normally completed or being processed, and is set so that the transfer status of the image data and the like can be managed.

Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not a trigger (synchronization signal for starting processing) has been received. In this system 1, it is possible to set various timings as triggers in operation. For example, as trigger candidates, (1): when a user requests data, (2):
When a new image is registered in the database device 4,
(3): When the registration notice (step S1) is received,
(4): Information (patient reservation information, reception information, etc.) from a system (for example, a hospital information system or a radiology information system) that can be connected to the inside or outside of this system 1.
, Etc. are considered.

In this system 1, the above (1)-
It is assumed that any one of (4) and the like is set as a trigger.

YES in step S2 (with trigger)
If it is determined to be NO, the process proceeds to step S3 and NO.
When it is determined that there is no trigger, the process returns to step S1 and the same processing is repeated.

Then, in step S3, the transfer destination (data reference terminal 5) of the new image data is determined (however, this step S3 is performed when a plurality of data reference terminals 5 are connected). This transfer destination is determined based on a rule (for example, a correspondence table between the inspection device name and the data reference terminal 5 # (management number)) determined in advance in the system 1.

For example, the data transfer destination table Tb shown in FIG. 6 is an example of a table describing rules in the system 1. The data of this table Tb is set so that the data reference terminal 5 # of the transfer destination can be determined for each unit classified by the type of imaging device, model, and requested department in the incidental information to be notified ( (* In FIG. 6 indicates no designation). For example, if the image capture device model for new image data is C
If it is T, there is no designation of the requested department, so the data reference terminals 5 (# 1 and # 2) of the transfer destination are determined according to the imaging device model (TCT900S and Xforce).

That is, the system management device 6 confirms the data corresponding to the above classification unit from the supplementary information of the new image data, and checks which classification in the data transfer destination table Tb the new classification data corresponds to. Determine the transfer destination of image data.

Next, in step S4, when the user refers to the new image data, the past image data (for example, a series of images taken in the past of the same patient, which is expected to be referred to simultaneously for the purpose of time series comparison, etc.) While comparing the past image data with the new image data of this time, a series of past image data such as the case of interpreting the change status of the lesion with the passage of time) is based on a predetermined rule in this system 1. Specified.

For example, the reference data identification table Tc shown in FIG. 7 is an example of a table describing the rules in the system 1. The data of this table Tc includes the examination type (imaging device type, requested department, site) in the supplementary information of the new image data and the condition of the past image data (imaging device type, Requested department, part, past), and is set so that the past image data satisfying this condition is specified for the new image data classified by the examination type.

For example, regarding the new image data in which the imaging device type is CR, the requesting department is the respiratory department, and the part is the abdomen, the examination type (imaging device type, request) in the reference data identification table Tc shown in FIG. The previous 2 images (CR, respiratory department, abdomen) and the last 1 inspection (CT, no designation, abdomen) for a total of 3 images as conditions that correspond to the above classification of The data is identified.

Then, in step S5, transmission information (whether the image data itself or the storage location information is transmitted) is determined for the new image data and the specified past image data.

The determination in step S5 is made based on a rule (selection criterion) predetermined in the system 1. For example, the selection criterion table Td shown in FIG.
Is an example of a table describing rules in the system 1. The data (reference) of this table Td is whether the optical disk 7 for registering the image data to be transmitted is set in the optical disk device 4b in the database device 4 (online) or is stored in the optical disk storage 8. The transmission information can be selected based on the optical disk online status such as (offline), the image condition on the day, the past inspection status, and the like.

For example, one inspection of new image data and three inspections of the above identified past image data are transmitted, and the CT inspection is performed offline (that is, the optical disc in which the CT image is registered is stored in the storage cabinet). It is assumed that the second inspection of the past CR inspection was taken on December 30, 1992. According to the selection criterion table Td shown in FIG. 8, for the offline image data and the image data before December 31, 1992, only the storage location information is set to be sent.

Therefore, of the image data to be transmitted,
Regarding past image data for a total of two examinations including the past one examination that underwent the CT examination and the past two examinations for the CR examination, it is determined to transmit the storage location information, while the past one examination for the CR examination is performed. It is determined that the image information is transmitted for the image data of two inspections including the inspection amount (new image data) of the day.

When it is determined in step S5 that the storage location information is to be transmitted, the process proceeds to step S6 and step S6.
The storage location information and the incidental information of the image data are transmitted to the transfer destination data reference terminal 5 determined in 3.

The user of the data reference terminal 5 can identify the optical disk 7 such as the optical disk management number displayed on the screen of the data reference terminal 5 when referring to the image data in which only the storage location information is transmitted. The image data for reference can be displayed on the screen of the data reference terminal by directly carrying it from the storage 8 and inserting it into the optical disk device 5a connected to the data reference terminal 5.

When it is determined in step S5 that the image data is to be transmitted, the process proceeds to step S7, and it is determined whether the target image data is in the database device 4.

When it is determined YES in step S7 (in the database device), the process proceeds to step S8, and the image data is sent to the data reference terminal 5 of the delivery destination determined in step S3 for the database device 4. Instruct to send. After that, upon receiving an instruction from the system management device 6, the database device 4 transmits the target image data to the data reference terminal 5 that is the instructed transfer destination.

On the other hand, if NO in step S7 (not in the database device), the process proceeds to step S9,
The management number of the optical disk 7 in which the target image data is registered is displayed on the screen of the system management device 6 or the like. As a result, the system administrator or the like is instructed to take out the corresponding optical disk 7 from the storage 8 and insert it into the database device 4.

After that (after an appropriate time elapses), when the system administrator or the like inserts all the optical disks 7 for which the system management apparatus 6 has been inserted into the database apparatus 4,
The database device 4 automatically transmits each instructed image data to each instructed transfer destination.

By the way, if the data request time of (1) is set as the trigger among the above-mentioned triggers (1) to (4) (step S2), the above processing (steps S3 to S) is performed.
9) After completion, in addition to the requested new image data, the past image data for reference or the storage location information with a high probability of being requested are transferred to the data reference terminal 5 in advance (before the reference request). When (2) the registration time of new image data is set as a trigger, the past image data for reference or the storage location information is transferred to the data reference terminal 5 in advance in addition to the new image data before requesting the data. It will be.

Of the above steps, step S2 forms the main part of the judging means of the present invention, steps S5 to S8 form the main part of the transfer means of the present invention, and step S5 forms the table means of the present invention. It forms the main part.

Next, the overall operation will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when an image is generated by the data generator 3, this generated image is transferred to the magnetic disk 4a of the database device 4. Next, the generated image is transferred from the magnetic disk 4a to the optical disk 7 of the optical disk device 4b and registered. Next, the database device 4 sends a notification of image registration (including incidental information of the generated image and storage location information) to the system management device 6.

The system management device 6 receives the notification (step S1) and receives the trigger (step S1).
2), the plurality of tables T are processed by the CPU 6a.
a ... Td, the transfer destination is determined (step S3),
The past image for reference is specified (step 4) and the transmission information is selected (steps S5 to S9).

As a result, necessary data (storage location information, or generated image and past image) is transferred to the data reference terminal 5 of the transfer destination specified. For example, when the storage location information is transferred, the optical disk 7 specified by the storage location information is directly carried from the optical disk storage 8, and the data (for example, past image) stored on the optical disk 7 is connected to the data reference terminal 5. It can be read from the optical disk device 5a.

As described above, in the medical image archiving communication system according to the above embodiment, the desired medical image data is stored in the database device at a predetermined time in the system before the user (doctor etc.) requests the medical image data. Since it is automatically transferred from the device to the data reference terminal, the user can quickly display the medical image data that has been transferred in advance on the screen at the time of requesting the data, thereby keeping the patient under examination waiting. Without this, diagnosis (interpretation) can be performed efficiently.

Further, since the medical image archiving communication system according to the above embodiment automatically manages the optical discs in the optical disc storage, the burden on the system administrator who manually performs the operation of inserting / removing the optical discs is reduced, and the optical discs are saved. It becomes possible to construct the management mechanism of with a simple configuration.

Further, since the storage location information of the image data can be transferred instead of the configuration of the prior art which transfers only the image data, the transfer frequency of the image data having an enormous amount of data is reduced and the minimum required Only limited data can be transferred efficiently, and the load of data transfer on the network can be reduced.

Moreover, since the read-out amount of the image data in the database device is reduced, the response time until the image data is transferred from the database device to the data reference terminal is shortened, and the patient diagnosis efficiency is improved. .

Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this modification, the optical disc device is connected to the system management device of the above embodiment, and the optical disc device is connected (built-in) to the data generator.

In this modification, various system operations can be applied.

First, there is a case where the optical disk device 6e of the system management device 6 is used exclusively for reading data from the optical disk 7 stored in the optical disk storage 8. In this case, the optical disk device 4b of the database device 4 is used exclusively for data registration (writing).

As a result, it becomes possible to share functions such as data registration and reading between the database device and the system management device.

Secondly, the optical disk device 3a is connected (built-in) to the data generator 3. In this case, the image data generated by the data generator 3 can be directly written on the optical disc 7 of the optical disc device 3a.
After that, when the optical disk 7 is carried, inserted and registered in the database device 4, all new image data registration in the optical disk 7 will be notified from the database device to the system management device.

As a result, it is not necessary to transfer the image data generated by the data generating device to the database device via the network, the frequency of use of the network is reduced, and only the minimum necessary data can be transferred via the network. Like

Thirdly, the case where the image data is registered (written) in the optical disk device 5a or 6e connected to the data reference terminal 5 or the system management device 6 is described. In this case, the purpose is mainly to create / edit data on an optical disk owned by the user and to transfer data between disks for conversion of the data format in the disk.

In the above-mentioned first to third modifications, a plurality of optical disk devices are selectively used according to the system operation status. Even in a system in which a plurality of optical disk devices are divided into roles as described above, the storage location of the optical disk is automatically managed in the system, so that manual management (insertion or removal) of the optical disk can be efficiently performed and data can be referred to. Efficiency will be improved.

In the above embodiment, the system management device is connected to the network as a single device. However, this system management device is integrated with the database device.
It is also possible to use the same device.

When the above embodiment is applied to a system having a relatively small scale, the database device may be removed from the network, and the optical disk device of the system management device may execute data registration, reading, and the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the optical disk which is inserted in the optical disk device is inserted and removed in advance. However, in contrast to this, the optical disk device is preliminarily emptied and the access request from the user, etc. The optical disc may be inserted into the optical disc device only when necessary. In this case, the system administrator or the like can check the management number of the optical disc for which the insertion instruction is issued on the screen of the system management device, etc., and can insert the optical discs collectively at appropriate time intervals. You can reduce the time and effort.

The storage medium according to the present invention is not limited to the optical disc, and may be a storage medium such as a magneto-optical disc, a magnetic disc or a magnetic tape.

Further, the data archiving communication system according to the present invention is not limited to the medical image archiving communication system, and may be applied to a system for handling text data such as a radiology information system or a hospital comprehensive information system. Good.

Furthermore, the data archiving communication system according to the present invention is not limited to medical use, and can be sufficiently applied to a data archiving communication system handling a large amount of data.

[0094]

As described above, in the data archiving communication system according to the present invention, when it is judged that it is time to transfer the medical image data of the database device to the terminal device, the image data is transferred to the terminal device. In addition, since the storage location data of the image related to the transfer image is transferred, the data can be displayed at high speed on the terminal device, and the work efficiency of data reference can be improved. or,
Since the storage location data of the related image is transmitted according to the determination condition, the load on the network and the database device can be reduced as compared with the case of transmitting the image data.

[0095]

[0096]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a medical image archiving communication system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of a system management device in a medical image archiving communication system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a software configuration of a system management device in the medical image archiving communication system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart showing data processing by the system management device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a transfer status management table.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data transfer destination table.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a reference data identification table.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a selection criterion table.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a data flow.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of a medical image archiving communication system according to a modification.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a configuration of a data archiving communication system according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Medical image storage communication system 2 network 3 Data generator 4 Database device 5 Data reference terminal 6 system management equipment 7 Optical disc 8 Optical disk storage Ta transfer status management table Tb data delivery destination table Tc reference data identification table Td selection criteria table

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-2-140875 (JP, A) JP-A-2-206876 (JP, A) JP-A-4-253273 (JP, A) JP-A-4-363764 (JP , A) JP 3-164869 (JP, A) JP 3-164870 (JP, A) JP 4-318674 (JP, A) JP 5-73619 (JP, A) JP 4-70969 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06F 17/60 G06F 17/30

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A data archiving communication system in which a terminal device communicatively connected to a database device storing data including a medical image refers to the data, wherein the data stored in the database device is stored in the terminal device. Determining the transfer timing of when the data request is received from the user of the terminal device or when a new image is registered, and the determining means determines the transfer timing of the data. In this case, a transfer unit that transfers the data stored in the database device to the terminal device is provided, and the transfer unit includes a reference data identification table for identifying a past related image to be referred to, and the determination unit. When it is determined that the data transfer time is reached, the related image of the transfer image is specified based on the reference data specifying table. Means, and a determination criterion capable of selecting either image data or its storage location information as information to be transmitted with respect to the identified related image, and at least image conditions or past inspection status as the determination criterion. A table using one, a means for selecting one of the image data and its storage location information based on the criteria of the table, and one of the selected image data and its storage location information for the terminal A data archiving communication system comprising means for transferring to a device. 2. The image condition includes information related to at least one of a photographing device type, a photographing device model, and a requesting department, and the past examination status includes the number of examinations, a period, a photographing device type, a photographing device model, and a request. The data archiving communication system according to claim 1, wherein the data archiving communication system includes information related to at least one department.