JP5121154B2 - Image management system, image management method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image management system, an image management method, and a program for performing interpretation observation in the medical field.

  Currently, in the medical field, there are various inspection apparatuses such as a simple X-ray apparatus, CT, and MRI, and “image diagnosis” in which diagnosis is performed using images obtained from these inspection apparatuses is actively performed. . For example, by performing interpretation observation that a doctor compares and interprets multiple radiographic images taken in time series for a diseased part of a patient, and studying the treatment policy by grasping the progress and healing status of the affected area Has been done.

  Further, monitor diagnosis has been performed in which an image output as digital data from a photographing apparatus is displayed on a monitor such as a liquid crystal display for diagnosis, and for a conventional method of performing diagnosis by placing a photographed film on a Schaukasten. It is being replaced. In this way, by handling images as digital data, it has become possible to perform various diagnoses that were impossible with conventional films, such as changing the gradation at the time of diagnosis and enlarging / reducing the image. Yes.

  Therefore, in recent years, for the purpose of improving interpretation efficiency and interpretation performance in interpretation observation performed by doctors, inter-image operations such as difference processing (subtraction) between images to be compared are performed to emphasize differences between images. A display method has been proposed. By highlighting the difference between images, it is possible to prevent an overlooker from overlooking.

  This inter-image calculation (subtraction) is generally performed after aligning the structures appearing in each image, but even if the structures are completely aligned, the corresponding structures between the two images There are cases where signal values such as the density and brightness of an object do not match, and an artifact caused by this signal value difference may occur in an image obtained by inter-image calculation.

  In general, an image obtained from a photographing apparatus is not acquired from the beginning for the purpose of inter-image calculation, and each image is reproduced alone as a visible image suitable for observation interpretation. Therefore, each image is optimized according to the optimization condition set for each image. In particular, since images taken at different times in time series are optimized for each image, uniform optimization is not performed for all images. Therefore, as described above, the signal values of the density and the luminance of the structures often do not match, so that there is a high possibility that artifacts will occur even if inter-image computation is performed between such images.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problems, a system has been proposed in which more accurate inter-image arithmetic can be performed by performing image processing so that each image becomes an image suitable for inter-image arithmetic. (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2001-266147 A

  However, the method described in Patent Document 1 described above has a problem in that a large amount of processing time is required to perform image processing for making an image suitable for inter-image calculation. Therefore, it is desired to perform the inter-image calculation as described above in a shorter time and to obtain an image with less artifacts.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and suitably manages images in order to display images that have been subjected to optimization processing, or to create and display differential images that suppress the occurrence of artifacts. An object of the present invention is to provide an image management system, an image management method, and a program that can be used.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide an image management system and an image management method capable of managing a plurality of images with one image ID.

In order to solve the above problems, an image management system according to the present invention includes:
An input means for inputting a first image of an image type that has undergone or has undergone image processing;
Storage means for storing the first image;
Based on the supplementary information attached to the first image, it is determined whether the type of the first image is an image type that has undergone image processing or an image type that has not been subjected to image processing, and is attached to the first image. Registration determination means for determining whether or not a second image of the same image type as the first image, which is auxiliary information identical to the information, is registered in the system;
When the second image is not registered in the system, it is included in the image identification information included in the auxiliary information attached to the first image and the auxiliary information attached to the second image. If the image identification information is different from the first image, the incidental information of the first image is registered in association with the first image, and the second image is not registered in the system, When the identification information of the image included in the incidental information attached to the one image is the same as the identification information of the image included in the incidental information attached to the second image, the incidental information of the first image First registration means for registering in association with the incidental information of the second image ,
Second registration means for registering information indicating that the first image has been registered when the second image is registered in the system and incidental information of the second image is registered; It is characterized by providing.

In addition, in order to solve the above problems, an image management method according to the present invention includes:
An input step of inputting a first image of an image type that has undergone image processing or image processing before being input to the image management system;
A storing step of storing the first image in the image management system;
Based on the supplementary information attached to the first image, it is determined whether the type of the first image is an image type that has undergone image processing or an image type that has not been subjected to image processing, and is attached to the first image. A determination step of determining whether or not a second image having the same image type as the first image and the same auxiliary information as the information is registered in the image management system;
When the second image is not registered in the image management system, the image identification information included in the supplementary information attached to the first image and the supplementary attached to the second image When the identification information of the image included in the information is different, the incidental information of the first image is registered in association with the first image, and the second image is not registered in the system. When the identification information of the image included in the supplementary information attached to the first image is the same as the identification information of the image contained in the supplementary information attached to the second image, the first image A first registration step of registering the incidental information of the second image in association with the incidental information of the second image ;
Second registration for registering information indicating that the first image has been registered when the second image is registered in the image management system and the supplementary information of the second image is registered And a process.

Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, a program according to the present invention is stored in a computer.
An input procedure for inputting a first image of an image type that has been processed or is not yet processed;
A storage procedure for storing the first image;
Based on the supplementary information attached to the first image, it is determined whether the type of the first image is an image type that has undergone image processing or an image type that has not been subjected to image processing, and is attached to the first image. A determination procedure for determining whether or not a second image having the same image type as that of the first image is registered as the incidental information same as the information;
In the case where the second image is not registered, the image identification information included in the supplementary information attached to the first image and the image included in the supplementary information attached to the second image If the identification information is different, the incidental information of the first image is registered in association with the first image, and the second image is not registered in the system, and the first image When the identification information of the image included in the supplementary information attached to the image and the identification information of the image contained in the supplementary information attached to the second image are the same, the supplementary information of the first image is A first registration procedure for registering in association with the incidental information of the second image ;
When the second image is registered and the incidental information included in the second image is registered, a second registration procedure for registering information indicating that the first image has been registered is executed. It is characterized by making it.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately manage an image because display of an image subjected to optimization processing or creation / display of a difference image with reduced artifacts is performed.

  The details of an image processing system capable of managing medical images according to the present invention and suitably reducing the occurrence of artifacts during differential image generation will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image management system that performs medical image management according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an image generation apparatus that performs radiation (for example, X-ray) imaging to generate an image, and includes a general configuration (for example, a radiation generation apparatus, a radiation sensor, and the like) for performing radiation imaging. doing.

  In the image management system shown in FIG. 1, a server 109 is connected to the image generation apparatus 100 via a network 119. The server 109 serves as an image server for accumulating and managing medical image data generated by the image generation apparatus 100 in the image management system according to the present embodiment. The server 109 has a so-called computer function, and includes a network interface 101 for communicating with an external network, a memory 102, a CPU 103, a display device 108 realized by a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and an input device such as a mouse or a keyboard. 107, a control device 104 that controls the display device 108 and the input device 107, and a storage device 105 that can be configured using a hard disk, a flexible disk, or the like are connected to each other via a system bus 106 so that they can communicate with each other. .

  In addition, a viewer 118 for displaying an accumulated (stored or stored) image is connected to the server 109 via a network 119. The viewer 118 also has a computer function, a network interface 110 for performing communication with an external network, a memory 111, a CPU 112, a display device 117 realized by a CRT or a liquid crystal display, an input device 116 such as a mouse or a keyboard, A control device 113 that controls the display device 117 and the input device 118, and a storage device 114 that can be configured using a hard disk, a flexible disk, or the like are connected via a system bus 115 so that they can communicate with each other.

  Next, the function and configuration of the radiation image display apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining functions of the image management system according to the first embodiment having the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the image generation unit 200 corresponds to the image generation device 100. The image generation unit 200 sends not only an original image that is simply captured and generated (that is, an original image before the optimization process) but also an optimized image that has been subjected to various optimization processes for interpretation interpretation observation. You can also. The image generating apparatus 100 outputs an original image and an optimized image, respectively. However, depending on an instruction from an operator, only the original image or only the optimized image may be output.

  The image receiving unit 201 is included in the server 109 and receives an image (original image or optimized image) generated by the image generation apparatus 100 via the network 109. The accompanying information reading unit 202 reads the accompanying information of the image received by the image receiving unit 201. Here, the incidental information is, for example, the patient name, patient ID, imaging condition, type (information indicating whether the image is an original image or an optimized image), image ID ( This refers to information other than image data, such as details will be described later.

  Further, the image determination unit 203 determines the type of image data received by the image reception unit 201 based on the supplementary information read by the supplementary information reading unit 202. That is, in the image discriminating unit 203, the image received by the image receiving unit 201 is an image optimized for interpretation observation (optimized image) or an image that has not been optimized (original image). It can be determined whether there is.

  Furthermore, the image registration unit 204 copies or moves the image data received by the image receiving unit 201 to the image holding unit 205. Further, the image registration unit 204 performs not only copying or movement of image data but also processing for registering the supplementary information read by the supplementary information reading unit 202 in the image supplementary information holding unit 206.

  Note that the functions of the image receiving unit 201, the accompanying information reading unit 202, the image determining unit 203, and the image registering unit 204 described above are realized by using programs stored in the storage device 105 of the server 109. , Executed by the CPU 103. The image holding unit 205 is realized by a hard disk or the like that constitutes the storage device 105. Furthermore, the image supplementary information holding unit 206 generally indicates a database arranged in the storage device 105, and stores the image supplementary information as relational data.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the image display unit 207 reads and displays an image stored in the server 109. The image display unit 207 is generally a medical image viewer that allows a radiogram interpreter to display a medical image and make a diagnosis. Further, the difference image generation unit 208 generates a difference image according to an instruction from the image display unit 207. The difference image generation unit 208 is configured by an executable program and may be arranged in either the server 109 or the viewer 118. However, the difference image generated by the difference image generation unit 208 is stored in the server 109. It is desirable.

  Next, the operation flow of the medical image management system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing operations from reception to storage of an image in the server 109 in the image management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation flow of the viewer 118 will be described later.

  First, the image receiving unit 201 of the server 109 receives an image created by the image generating device 100 (that is, either an optimized image or an original image) via the network 119 (step S300). Next, the supplementary information reading unit 202 reads supplementary information attached to the received image (step S301). Here, as described above, the incidental information includes patient information (for example, patient name, patient ID, etc.) written in the header area of the image, imaging conditions when imaging the patient, information specific to the imaging apparatus, and the like. Represent.

  Next, based on the supplementary information read in step S301, the type of image is determined as to whether or not optimization processing has been performed so that the received image becomes an image suitable for interpretation (step S302). As a result, if it is determined that the received image is an optimized image on which optimization processing has been performed, the process proceeds to step S303, and if it is determined that the received image is an original image on which optimization processing has not yet been performed. The process proceeds to step S308. This determination process is performed by the image determination unit 203.

  In step S303, it is checked whether or not the original image before the optimized image received in step S300 is already registered in the image management system. As a result, if the original image is not registered (No), the process proceeds to step S304. If the original image is registered (Yes), the process proceeds to step S306.

  Here, the original image to be examined whether or not it has been registered is an image having the same image ID as the image ID of the received optimized image. This image ID is an ID assigned to the image created by the image generating apparatus 100 when creating the image, and does not change before and after the optimization process. For example, in the DICOM standard widely used as a format for medical images, it is possible to use an SOP Instance UID. That is, in step S303, whether or not image data that is an original image that has not been optimized for interpretation and has the same image ID as the received optimized image has already been registered in the database. Find out.

  If an original image having the same image ID as the received optimized image has already been registered in the database, an error may be made without performing registration as described later. Then, a process such as overwriting the image by performing a predetermined process according to the setting of the application may be performed.

  As a result of the determination in step S303, when the original image corresponding to the optimized image received in the image management system is not registered, the image registration unit 204 holds the supplementary information read from the optimized image as image supplementary information. It registers in the database which is the part 206 (step S304). Next, the image registration unit 204 stores the received optimized image in the image holding unit 205 (step S305). The association between the image stored in the image holding unit 205 and the accompanying information stored in the image accompanying information holding unit 206 will be described later.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S303 that the original image before the optimization process has already been registered (Yes), the process proceeds to step S306. In step S306, since the incidental information is already registered when the original image is registered, only the fact that the optimized image subjected to the optimization process is received is written in the database. That is, since the pre-process image (original image) having the same ID has already been registered, duplicate information is written even if the auxiliary information is registered again. Therefore, in order to associate images having the same ID while eliminating such waste, only flag information indicating that processed images have been input is written into the database. After step S306, as in step S305, the image registration unit 204 stores the received optimized image in the image holding unit 205 realized by a hard disk or the like (step S307).

  Next, the processing after step S308 will be described. As described above, when it is determined in step S302 that the type of image received is the pre-processing image before the optimization processing is performed, the process proceeds to step S308. In step S308, it is checked whether an image (optimized image) that has been subjected to optimization processing suitable for interpretation is already registered in the database managed by the image management system. As a result, when it is not registered (No), the process proceeds to step S309, and when it is already registered (Yes), the process proceeds to step S311.

  In step S309, as in step S304 described above, the incidental information read from the received original image is registered in the image incidental information holding unit 206, and the process proceeds to step 310. On the other hand, in step S311, since the optimized image obtained by optimizing the already received original image is registered in the database, only the fact that the original image before the optimization process has been received is written in the database using flag information. The process proceeds to step S312. In both step S310 and step S312, the received original image is stored in the image holding unit 205.

  In this way, every time the image receiving unit 201 receives an image from the image generating unit 200, the above-described processing is repeated.

  Next, an operation flow of the viewer 118 in the image management system for managing medical images according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing operations from reading an image by the viewer 118 to generating and displaying a difference image in the image management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  First, the viewer 118 inquires about image information (step S400). For example, the viewer 118 searches the image supplementary information holding unit 206 that is a database based on the ID of a desired patient input by the operation of the image interpreter. The storage location of the image is written in the database, and based on this information, an image that matches the search condition is read from the image holding unit 205 via the network 119 (step S401).

  Next, the image read in step S401 is displayed on the display device 117 of the viewer 118 (step S402). When a plurality of images match, the matching images are displayed as a list, and an image to be displayed is selected from them, or a list of matching images is displayed. Then, an image to be interpreted is selected. Further, the displayed image is an optimization processed image, and the displayed image is used for diagnosis by the radiogram interpreter. Next, based on the operation from the radiogram interpreter, the difference image generation unit 208 is instructed to generate a difference image (step S403). For example, the radiogram interpreter gives an instruction by clicking a command button (not shown) displayed on the viewer 118 with an input device such as a mouse. When instructing the difference image, the image interpreter instructs the information on which image to generate the difference image, for example, in a state where the image interpretation image is displayed, or Switch to list display and specify the target image from the list display image.

  Next, the difference image generation unit 208 generates a difference image in accordance with the instruction performed in step S403 (step S404). Then, the difference image generated in step S404 is displayed on the viewer (step S405) and used for comparative interpretation. Note that the difference image generated in step S404 may be used for temporary display on the viewer 118, or the processing may be transferred to the image registration unit 204 and registered in the database. .

  In general, the viewer 118 displays an image that has been optimized for interpretation, but the optimized image is often not an image suitable for differential processing as described above. Therefore, when performing the difference process, it is possible to obtain an image with fewer artifacts by using an image that has not been subjected to the optimization process for interpretation (that is, the original image). Therefore, when the difference image is generated, an original image that has not been optimized is used as a reference image. Next, an image management method for realizing this mechanism will be described in detail.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a table in which image supplementary information is stored in the image supplementary information holding unit 206 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the table shown in FIG. 5, information about three images is held. In FIG. 5, an image ID 51 is an identification ID for uniquely specifying the stored image, and is written in the header area of the image. Further, the processed 52 and the pre-processed 53 indicate by flags whether or not an image that has undergone the optimization process for interpretation and an image that has not been subjected to the optimization process are registered. For example, when an image that has been optimized is registered, the column of processed 52 is indicated by “1”. The path 54 represents a physical file name indicating where the image exists in the image holding unit 205, and is used by the viewer to acquire the image. Since the file name is generally expressed, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The physical file name written to the path 54 is preferably the file name of the processed image (optimized image). This is because an image generally displayed on the viewer 118 is a processed image. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the case where the pre-processing image (original image) and the processed image (optimized image) have the same image ID is shown. That is, it is assumed that a processed image having the same ID image and an unprocessed image are transferred from the image generating apparatus 100. In such a case, patient information, examination information, and the like are registered in the database using the supplementary information of the previously received image.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table when the pre-processing image (original image) indicated by the image ID “421580” is received after the state of the table shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, as indicated by the supplementary information 61 relating to the image ID “421580” in FIG. 6, “1” is written as a flag in the pre-processing column to indicate that the pre-processing image (original image) has been received. (Set a flag). On the other hand, when the processed image (optimized image) is not yet registered, 0 is written in the processed column. In FIG. 6, nothing is written in the path because, as described above, the processed file (optimized image) is preferable as the physical file name written in the path. However, any physical file name may be used by having a configuration in which both images can be easily referred to by associating the processed image and the pre-processing image.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state of the table when a further processed image (for example, a processed image (optimized image) attached with the image ID “421580”) is received following the state of the table illustrated in FIG. 6. It is. In FIG. 7, “1” is written in the processed column for the image indicated by the accompanying information 71 in order to indicate that the processed image attached with the image ID “421580” has been received. In addition, the physical file name of the processed image for the image is written in the path string. As described above, it is desirable to store the physical file name of the image before processing in association with the physical file name of the processed image. For example, as the pre-processing image of the image ID “421580”, the file name “421580_raw.dcm” (in this example, a specific character string is only added to the physical file name of the processed image), By following a certain file naming rule, it is possible to associate with processed images having the same ID.

  As in the example described above, the physical file name of the pre-processing image may be managed in the database in addition to associating the pre-processing image and the post-processing image with the file name. Any method may be used as long as it can be associated.

  As described above, images that have undergone processing suitable for interpretation (optimized images) and images that have not been subjected to processing (original images) are managed in association with each other for interpretation and differential processing. It is possible to properly use images appropriately according to the application. Further, a difference image with few artifacts can be obtained by performing the difference process using the original image without performing the difference process using the image for interpretation. That is, the image management system according to the present embodiment can save the trouble of performing image processing for difference processing again on an image that has been subjected to optimization processing for interpretation. It is possible to solve the problem that an artifact occurs in the difference image generated by the difference. Further, when obtaining a difference image, it is not necessary to perform image processing for performing difference processing from the optimized image, it is only necessary to use a managed original image, and the processing time can be shortened.

<Second Embodiment>
In the first embodiment described above, one server 109 and one viewer 118 are connected via the network 119 as an image management system. On the other hand, a configuration in which a plurality of viewers are connected to the server 109 via the network 119 may be adopted. In this case, each viewer performs the operation described in the first embodiment. However, an instruction on which viewer to display a difference image, an optimized image, or the like is related to the first embodiment. This is realized by adding to the processing in the image management system.

<Third Embodiment>
In the first embodiment described above, one server 109 and one viewer 118 are connected via the network 119. However, both the server 109 and the viewer 118 are arranged in the same information terminal device. It may be a configuration. At this time, the information terminal device has a function having both functions of the server 109 and the viewer 118.

<Fourth Embodiment>
In the image management system having the configuration shown in each embodiment described above, when a difference image generation instruction is issued from the viewer 118, either an image that has been optimized for interpretation or an unprocessed image is selected. Thus, the difference image may be generated from either image.

<Fifth Embodiment>
In the image management system shown in each of the embodiments described above, the server 109 acquires an image from the image generation apparatus 100 connected via the network 119, but offline storage such as MO and DVD is not performed via the network 119. By reading from a medium or the like, the same process as described above can be performed. For example, when the image generating apparatus 100 is mounted on a medical examination bus and cannot directly communicate with a hospital server, the configuration of this embodiment may be taken. In this configuration, the image receiving unit 201 shown in FIG. 2 does not directly receive an image from the network 119 but reads an image from offline media.

<Sixth Embodiment>
When receiving an image generated from the image generation apparatus 100 with respect to the image management system described above, processing is performed on an image (optimized image) that has been subjected to image processing so as to be an image suitable for interpretation observation. The configuration may be such that the previous image (original image) is received by different servers. That is, a processed image server and a pre-processing image server are prepared separately, and each server manages images independently. At this time, when the image is normally displayed using the viewer 118, the optimized image is displayed with reference to the processed image server, and when the difference image is displayed, an instruction to generate the difference is issued to the pre-processing image server. A difference image created using the original image is displayed.

<Other embodiments>
Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention can take embodiments as, for example, a system, an apparatus, a method, a program, or a storage medium (recording medium). The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a single device or an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowchart shown in the figure) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer of the system or apparatus Is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, or the like.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program, for example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD-R) and the like.

  As another program supply method, a client computer browser is used to connect to an Internet homepage, and the computer program of the present invention itself or a compressed file including an automatic installation function is downloaded from the homepage to a recording medium such as a hard disk. Can also be supplied. It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer based on the instruction of the program is a part of the actual processing. Alternatively, the functions of the above-described embodiment can be realized by performing all of them and performing the processing.

  Furthermore, after the program read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or The CPU or the like provided in the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a hardware block diagram of the image management system which performs medical image management which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the function of the image management system which concerns on 1st Embodiment provided with the hardware constitutions shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation | movement from reception of an image in the server 109 to a preservation | save in the image management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation | movement from the reading of the image in the viewer 118 in the image management system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention to difference image production | generation / display. It is a figure which shows an example of the table in which the image supplementary information is stored in the image supplementary information holding | maintenance part 206 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a table when a pre-processing image (original image) indicated by an image ID “421580” is received after the state of the table shown in FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows the mode of a table at the time of receiving the processed image further after the state of the table shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image generator 101, 110 Network interface 102, 111 Memory 103, 112 CPU
104, 113 Control device 105, 114 Storage device 106, 115 System bus 107, 116 Input device 108, 117 Display device 109 Server 118 Viewer 119 Network 200 Image generation unit 201 Image reception unit 202 Attached information reading unit 203 Image discrimination unit 204 Image Registration unit 205 Image holding unit 206 Image supplementary information holding unit 207 Image display unit 208 Difference image generation unit

Claims (7)

An input means for inputting a first image of an image type that has undergone or has undergone image processing;
Storage means for storing the first image;
Based on the supplementary information attached to the first image, it is determined whether the type of the first image is an image type that has undergone image processing or an image type that has not been subjected to image processing, and is attached to the first image. Registration determination means for determining whether or not a second image of the same image type as the first image, which is auxiliary information identical to the information, is registered in the system;
When the second image is not registered in the system, it is included in the image identification information included in the auxiliary information attached to the first image and the auxiliary information attached to the second image. If the image identification information is different from the first image, the incidental information of the first image is registered in association with the first image, and the second image is not registered in the system, When the identification information of the image included in the incidental information attached to the one image is the same as the identification information of the image included in the incidental information attached to the second image, the incidental information of the first image First registration means for registering in association with the incidental information of the second image ,
Second registration means for registering information indicating that the first image has been registered when the second image is registered in the system and incidental information of the second image is registered; An image management system comprising:   The image management system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs the first image generated by a specific image generation apparatus via a network.   The image management system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit reads and inputs the first image generated by a specific image generation device and stored in a portable storage medium.   The second image including identification information identical to the identification information assigned by the image generating apparatus that has generated the first image included in the incidental information of the first image is registered in the system. 2. The image management system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the image management system is registered. An input step of inputting a first image of an image type that has undergone image processing or image processing before being input to the image management system;
A storing step of storing the first image in the image management system;
Based on the supplementary information attached to the first image, it is determined whether the type of the first image is an image type that has undergone image processing or an image type that has not been subjected to image processing, and is attached to the first image. A determination step of determining whether or not a second image having the same image type as the first image and the same auxiliary information as the information is registered in the image management system;
When the second image is not registered in the image management system, the image identification information included in the supplementary information attached to the first image and the supplementary attached to the second image When the identification information of the image included in the information is different, the incidental information of the first image is registered in association with the first image, and the second image is not registered in the system. When the identification information of the image included in the supplementary information attached to the first image is the same as the identification information of the image contained in the supplementary information attached to the second image, the first image A first registration step of registering the incidental information of the second image in association with the incidental information of the second image ;
Second registration for registering information indicating that the first image has been registered when the second image is registered in the image management system and the supplementary information of the second image is registered An image management method comprising the steps of: On the computer,
An input procedure for inputting a first image of an image type that has been processed or is not yet processed;
A storage procedure for storing the first image;
Based on the supplementary information attached to the first image, it is determined whether the type of the first image is an image type that has undergone image processing or an image type that has not been subjected to image processing, and is attached to the first image. A determination procedure for determining whether or not a second image having the same image type as that of the first image is registered as the incidental information same as the information;
In the case where the second image is not registered, the image identification information included in the supplementary information attached to the first image and the image included in the supplementary information attached to the second image If the identification information is different, the incidental information of the first image is registered in association with the first image, and the second image is not registered in the system, and the first image When the identification information of the image included in the supplementary information attached to the image and the identification information of the image contained in the supplementary information attached to the second image are the same, the supplementary information of the first image is A first registration procedure for registering in association with the incidental information of the second image ;
When the second image is registered and the incidental information included in the second image is registered, a second registration procedure for registering information indicating that the first image has been registered is executed. Program to let you.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 6.

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