JP2010253189A - Image management device, image reproducing device, image management system, image reproducing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set ahead the start time of an image file and minimize reproduction waiting time in reproducing the image file. <P>SOLUTION: An image management device 110 connected to an image reproducing device 130 to communicate with each other through a network 140 includes a retrieval part 113, a network speed acquiring part 116, a split image file generating part 115, and a communicating part 112. The retrieval part 113 retrieves the image file according to a request of the image reproducing device 130. The network speed acquiring part 116 acquires a network speed to the image reproducing device. The split image file generating part 115 splits the retrieved image file into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed to generate a split image file. The communicating part 112 sequentially transmits the split image file according to a request of the image reproducing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image management apparatus, an image reproduction apparatus, an image management system, an image reproduction method, and a program.

  Conventionally, means for digitizing a medical image obtained by imaging a patient has been realized in a medical field. For example, there are CR (Computed Radiography), CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, an endoscopic diagnostic apparatus, and the like. Such a medical image generation apparatus (hereinafter referred to as modality) generates so-called medical image data.

  Since the medical image data is digital data, it can be easily managed by a database on the network. As this management system, a medical image management system called PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) is known.

  In PACS, medical image data from a modality can be received and stored in a database, and specific image data can be retrieved from the database and transmitted to the client in response to an image request from a client such as an image viewer. is there. A communication protocol between the modality and the PACS and a standard that determines the data format for communication is DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine).

  DICOM transfers and stores medical image data from different types of devices (multi-modalities) by different manufacturers (multi-vendors) inside and outside the hospital, using a network or a recording medium for image data. An industry standard that has been realized. It contributes to reducing management costs and improving diagnostic accuracy, and its versatility is still being expanded.

  In the DICOM standard, a file format of medical image data is defined. The DICOM file format is composed of medical image data and supplementary information for explaining image data such as patient information and examination contents, and is a format formed by a single file (hereinafter referred to as a DICOM image file). . Version 3 of the latest DICOM standard is standardized so that not only still image data but also moving image data can be handled (Non-patent Document 1).

DICOM PS 3 2008

  In the above conventional example, when the transmitting side transmits a series of data files, the data file is received at the receiving side, and the data file is processed, the receiving side cannot start processing the data file quickly. There was a problem.

  That is, in the above conventional example, in the transmission / reception of a DICOM standard file, since the processing of this data file cannot be started unless reception of all data files is completed on the receiving side, the data file is processed quickly on the receiving side. I couldn't get started.

  For example, in the medical field, when long-term medical image data containing test results is converted into a single file and transmitted from a server device such as PACS to a receiving terminal via a network, it is transmitted on the receiving side. There are cases where it is desirable to quickly diagnose a patient by looking at medical image data. However, it took a long time until the reception of all the medical image data files was completed, and it was not possible to start viewing this image.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to advance the start time of an image file and minimize the reproduction waiting time in the image file reproduction processing.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problem, an image management apparatus according to a first invention is an image management apparatus that is communicably connected to an image reproduction apparatus via a network, and includes a search unit and a network speed acquisition unit. A divided image file generation unit, and a communication unit. The search unit searches for an image file in response to a request from the image playback device. The network speed acquisition unit acquires a network speed with the image playback device. The divided image file generation unit generates the divided image file by dividing the searched image file into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed. The communication unit sequentially transmits the divided image file in response to a request from the image reproduction device.

  Here, the division size of the image file is determined according to the network speed, and the divided image file is sequentially transmitted to the reproduction device, thereby speeding up the start time of the image file and the reproduction waiting time in the reproduction process of the image file. Can be minimized.

  An image management apparatus according to a second aspect is the image management apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the divided image file generation unit calculates a predetermined size based on a ratio between the network speed and the frame rate of the image file. To do.

  Here, by calculating a predetermined size based on the ratio between the network speed and the frame rate of the image file, the image file can be divided into sizes that match the playback speed of the image playback device. Increase efficiency.

An image management apparatus according to a third invention is the image management apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the divided image file generation unit is configured to determine N as a network speed and W as a transmission request for the first image file from the playback terminal 130. A predetermined size S (n) is calculated by the following equation, where B is the frame rate of the image file, and B is the time to start playback of the image file.
S (n) = N ⁿ × W / B ^n-1

  Here, particularly when the network speed is larger than the frame rate, the size of the divided image file is divided so as to be cumulatively increased, so that an image can be efficiently reproduced.

An image management apparatus according to a fourth invention is the image management apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the divided image file generation unit is configured such that N is a network speed, W is a time until reproduction of an image file, and B is an image file. A predetermined size S ′ (n) is calculated by the following equation, assuming that R = 1 when N> B and R <N / B when N ≦ B.
S ′ (n) = (N ⁿ × W) / (B ⁿ⁻¹ × R)

  Here, particularly when the network speed is equal to or lower than the frame rate, the size of the divided image file is divided so as to be cumulatively increased, so that an image can be efficiently reproduced.

  An image reproduction apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is provided so as to be communicable with the image management apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, transmits an image file search request, and stores divided image files. A receiving communication unit, an input unit for inputting information for specifying an image file, a display unit for displaying a divided image file, a memory for storing the divided image file, a communication unit, an input unit, and a display unit And a control unit for controlling the memory. The control unit further controls to receive the next divided image file at the same time as reproducing the divided image file.

  In this case, the divided image file divided in advance into a predetermined size is sequentially transmitted from the image management apparatus to the image reproducing apparatus, and the image reproducing apparatus is controlled to receive the next divided image file simultaneously with the reproduction of the divided image file. , Images can be played back without waiting time.

  An image management system according to a sixth invention is an image management device according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, an image reproduction device according to the fifth invention, and the same image management device and the same image. And a network connecting the playback device.

  An image reproduction method according to a seventh aspect is an image reproduction method for reproducing a predetermined image file using an image reproduction device and an image management device connected to the image reproduction device via a network. It has the following procedure. The image management device searches the stored image file, acquires the network speed between the image playback device and the image management device, and divides the searched image file into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed. To generate a split image file. Then, the image reproduction device receives the divided image file from the image management device, reproduces the received divided image file, and simultaneously receives the next divided image file from the image management device.

  An image reproduction program according to an eighth invention is an image reproduction program for causing an image reproduction device and an image management device connected to the image reproduction device via a network to perform reproduction of a predetermined image file. Then, the following processing is executed. The image management device searches the stored image file, acquires the network speed between the image playback device and the image management device, and divides the searched image file into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed. To generate a split image file. The image reproduction device receives the divided image file from the image management device, reproduces the received divided image file, and simultaneously receives the next divided image file from the image management device.

  As described above, the present invention is an image management apparatus that is communicably connected to an image reproduction apparatus via a network, and includes a search unit that retrieves an image file in response to a request from the image reproduction apparatus, and the image reproduction A network speed acquisition unit that acquires a network speed with the device, a divided image file generation unit that generates a divided image file by dividing the searched image file into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed, and a divided image file A communication unit that sequentially transmits the image file in response to a request from the image reproduction apparatus, so that in the image file reproduction process, the start time of the image file is advanced and the reproduction waiting time is minimized. Made possible.

  That is, by determining the division size of the image file according to the network speed and sequentially transmitting the divided image file to the playback device, the start time of the image file and the playback waiting time are reduced in the playback processing of the image file. It can be minimized.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The functional block diagram of the server which concerns on the said one embodiment. The block diagram of a DICOM image file. The block diagram of the DICOM image file which concerns on the said one embodiment. The block diagram of the division | segmentation image file which concerns on the said one embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the information contained in the DICOM image file. The figure which shows an example of the connection information of a DICOM image file. The figure which shows an example of the information contained in the division | segmentation image file which concerns on the said one embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the information contained in the division | segmentation image file which concerns on the said one embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the information contained in the division | segmentation image file which concerns on the said one embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of the division | segmentation process of an image file. The flowchart which shows the flow of the reproduction process of an image file.

<1. Overview of Image Management System 100>
Hereinafter, the image management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The normal Arabic numerals (0, 1 to 9) described below are expressed in decimal numbers. When expressed in hexadecimal numbers (0, 1 to 9, A to F), A number is expressed by adding “0x” as a prefix character (for example, decimal number 10 is expressed as 0xA in hexadecimal number).

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an image management system 100 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, in an image management system 100, an image server (image management device) 110, a modality 120, and a playback terminal (image playback device) 130 are connected via a network 140, and each can communicate data. It is connected like that.

  The modality 120 is a medical image generation device that takes a medical image and generates a DICOM image file. The modality 120 transmits the generated DICOM image file to the image server 110.

  The image server 110 is a medical image management apparatus that stores and manages DICOM image files. The image server 110 receives and stores the DICOM image file transmitted from the modality 120.

  Further, in response to a DICOM image file acquisition request from the playback terminal 130, the image server 110 logically divides one DICOM image file into a plurality of DICOM image files according to the network speed to the playback terminal 130. And transmitted to the playback terminal 130. Here, in each of the divided DICOM image files, connection information indicating a part of a series of DICOM image files is stored as supplementary information.

  The playback terminal 130 is a device that displays a medical image and its supplementary information based on DICOM image file information. The playback terminal 130 transmits a DICOM image file search request to the image server 110 using various incidental information such as patient information as keywords. Further, the playback terminal 130 connects the divided DICOM image files based on the connection information stored in the divided DICOM image files, and continuously plays back as a single DICOM image file. A user such as a doctor performs interpretation or diagnosis on the playback terminal 130.

  The playback terminal 130 includes a communication unit that is a communication interface to the network 140, a storage unit including an internal memory such as a RAM and a ROM and an external memory, a display unit such as an LCD for displaying image data, a keyboard, a touch panel, and a mouse. And a control unit such as a CPU for controlling each of these units.

<1.1. Configuration of Image Server 110>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the image server 110 according to the present embodiment.

  According to FIG. 2, the image server 110 of the present embodiment includes a database 111, a communication unit 112, a data search unit (search unit) 113, a report data construction unit 114, a network speed detection unit (network speed acquisition unit) 116, and A data writing unit 117 is provided.

  The database 111 is a database that stores a DICOM image file group. The DICOM image file received from each modality is stored and managed in this database 111. The database 111 may be provided in the server 110, or may be provided in another device such as a database server and connected to the network 140.

  The communication unit 112 is a functional block that is connected to the network 140 and transmits / receives image data to / from a communication device on the network 140. A protocol defined by the DICOM standard is used as a communication protocol serving as a transmission / reception means. The DICOM standard stipulates that communication is performed using TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol).

  The communication unit 112 according to the present embodiment will be described as a network interface compatible with the IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.3u standard known as 100BASE-TX having a maximum communication speed of 100 Mbps. However, the network to which the image server 110 is connected may be any system that can transmit and receive image data using TCP / IP, and is not limited to the one shown here. For example, it may be a network interface compatible with IEEE 802.3 known as a maximum communication speed of 10 Mbps and 10BASE-T.

  The data writing unit 117 is connected to the communication unit 112 and the database 111, and is a block that stores the DICOM image data received by the communication unit 112 from the modality 120 via the network 140 in the database 111.

  The network speed detection unit 116 is a block that detects a network communication speed between the image server 110 and the playback terminal 130 when a communication request is made from the playback terminal 130 to the image server 110. As an example of a method for detecting the communication speed, there is a method using a PING (Packet Internet Grouper) command. PING is a program for diagnosing the TCP / IP network such as the Internet and intranet. How much data can be sent to the specified data size by executing the command specifying the IP address of the terminal to be diagnosed and the data size to be transmitted It can be measured whether it takes time. The network speed detected in advance may be stored in a memory and acquired as necessary.

  The data search unit 113 is a block that searches for a DICOM image file that matches a parameter specified from the database 111 in response to a search request from the playback terminal 130. The search request is transmitted to the image server 110 when a user such as a doctor who uses the playback terminal 130 specifies parameters for specifying an image file such as a patient name, an examination date, and a modality.

  The report data construction unit 114 is a block that constructs report data listing the DICOM image files retrieved by the data retrieval unit 113 and transmits them using the communication unit 112 to the playback terminal 130 that has transmitted the retrieval request. is there. The report data construction unit 114 incorporates a divided image file generation unit 115.

  The divided image file generation unit 115 converts one DICOM image file into a plurality of DICOM images based on the network speed detected by the network speed detection unit 116 between the image server 110 and the playback terminal 130 that transmitted the search request. A block that is logically divided into files. Details of a method of logically dividing one DICOM image file into a plurality of DICOM image files will be described later.

  The functions of the data search unit 113, the report data construction unit 114, the divided image file generation unit 115, the network speed detection unit 116, and the data writing unit 117 of the image server 110 are controlled by a control unit such as a CPU such as a ROM. This is realized by executing a predetermined program stored in the program.

<1.2. Image file format>
<1.2.1. Format according to DICOM standard>
FIG. 3 shows the format of the DICOM image file 201. This format is defined by the DICOM standard.
The DICOM image file 201 in FIG. 3 includes information elements called a plurality of elements. Since each element holds one piece of information, FIG. 3 shows that a DICOM image file is composed of N elements (N is an integer of 1 or more) (202 to 204 in the figure). Accordingly, the contents of patient information, examination information, and medical image data are managed as elements, respectively, and constitute one DICOM image file. Which DICOM information element is required for image data is determined by the DICOM standard according to the modality. The medical image data is image data generated by a modality. For example, the content of a JPEG file is retained for a still image, and the content of a Motion-JPEG or MPEG format file is retained for a moving image. The target is MPEG format moving images.

  Each information element includes a tag portion 205 indicating an ID, a length portion 206, and an information portion 207. The length part 206 holds the length of the information part 207 in bytes, and is specified in the DICOM standard so that it always becomes an even number of bytes by adding padding information to the information part 207 as necessary. ing.

  The tag unit 205 is composed of two elements each consisting of a 2-byte field of a group number 208 and an element number 209, and has a mechanism capable of categorizing information and uniquely identifying element contents. ing. The numbers of group number 208 and element number 209 and their contents are defined by the DICOM standard. Also, the tag unit 205 can be attached with unique private information by the manufacturer, and it is possible to mix information elements defined in the DICOM standard and private information elements unique to the user. (Hereafter, the group number 208 and element number 209 are expressed as a mathematical matrix if necessary).

<1.2.2. Dividing image files>
FIG. 4 is an image diagram when one DICOM image file 301 is divided into a plurality of DICOM image files (310 to 312 in FIG. 5). Here, a method for dividing the DICOM image file will be described in detail.

  In the DICOM image file, the image data is stored in the information part of the information element of (group number, element number) = (0x7FE0, 0x0010) as pixel data. In FIG. 4, a DICOM header portion 302 indicates a portion other than the image data portion of the DICOM image file 301. That is, the DICOM header part 302 includes an information element other than the Pixel Data, and a tag part and a length part of the Pixel Data.

  Here, it is assumed that the network speed between the image server 110 and the playback terminal 130 detected by the network speed detection unit 116 in FIG. 2 is N bytes / second, and the frame rate of the image data of the image file is B bytes / second.

  The frame rate of the image data is the difference between the presentation time stamp (hereinafter referred to as PTS) written in the MPEG packet at the beginning of the image data and the PTS written in the MPEG packet at the end. It can be easily calculated from the size of the image data stored in the length part of the Pixel Data element.

Further, when the allowable waiting time until the start of reproduction is set to W seconds, N × W bytes of image data can be received after W seconds. In addition, the reproduction time when reproducing N × W byte image data at the normal speed is N × W / B seconds. In the reproduction time of N × W / B seconds, image data of N ² × W / B bytes can be received. Furthermore, the playback time of N ² × W / B bytes of image data at normal speed is N ² × W / B ² seconds, and N ³ × W / B ² bytes of image data can be received during the same playback time. become. As described above, when the file is divided at the reproduction time interval at the normal speed, the nth division size S (n) bytes can be defined as the following Expression 1.

S (n) = N ⁿ × W / B ⁿ⁻¹ (Expression 1)
However, n is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Moreover, the size of a DICOM header part shall be disregarded as being sufficiently small with respect to the size of moving image data.

  Here, when the network speed N <the frame rate B of the image data, when reproduction is performed at the normal speed, according to (Equation 1), S (n) decreases as n increases. It will be. In order to prevent this, (Equation 1) is extended as follows using the recommended playback speed R%.

S ′ (n) = (N ⁿ × W) / (B ⁿ⁻¹ × R) (Formula 2)
However, n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 Here, R shall be set as follows.

When network speed N> frame rate B of image data,
R = 100% (Normal playback speed recommended)
Otherwise,
R <N / B (slow playback at R% is recommended for normal playback speed)
A value that satisfies

  In other words, the recommended playback speed R% does not fail when playback of image data transferred from the image server 110 is performed even when the network speed is slower than the frame rate of the image data. It guarantees that the supply is in time for regeneration, and is the ratio of the playback speed to the normal playback speed.

  FIG. 4 is an image diagram when the image data unit 303 is divided into a plurality of image data units 304 to 305 (hereinafter referred to as divided image data units). In FIG. 4, the divided image data unit 304 and the divided image data unit 305 are regions that are continuous from the head portion of the image data unit 303, and the image data unit 306 shows one of the end portions of the image data unit 303. Yes. That is, it indicates that another divided image data part divided into a plurality of parts exists between the divided image data part 305 and the divided image data part 306. In this example, the network speed is faster than the frame rate of the image data.

  When taking FIG. 4 as an example, the image data unit 303 is based on (Equation 2), the divided image data unit 304 having a size of S ′ (1), and the image data unit 305 having a size of S ′ (2). Finally, it is divided into n image data portions, like an image data portion 306 having a size of S ′ (n).

  Here, when the sum of S ′ (1) to S ′ (n) exceeds the size of the image data portion 303, the size S ′ (n) of the nth image data portion is a value derived from the following Expression 3. It is self-evident.

S ′ (n) = size of the image data section 303−ΣS ′ (x) (Expression 3)
However, x = 1 to (n−1)
In order to configure the image data part divided into a plurality of parts as individual divided DICOM image files in this way, it is necessary to add a DICOM header part to each image data part.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which the DICOM header portions 307 to 309 are assigned to the divided image data portions 304 to 306, and individual DICOM image files 310 to 312 are configured. Here, the divided image data portions 304 to 306 are indicated as divided image data portions 304 (a) to 306 (a). This is not only a method of physically dividing the image data unit 303 into a plurality of different files, but the storage position of the divided image data units 304 to 306 in the image data unit 303 is not changed on the file system, This means that it is possible to select a method of connecting to each DICOM header part as link information.

  Next, a description will be given of means for adding a DICOM header part 307 to 309 (hereinafter referred to as a divided DICOM header part) to the divided image data parts 304 to 306 and constituting a divided image file.

<1.2.3. Generation of split image files>
FIG. 6 shows an example of information included in the DICOM image file 301.

  The tag part (group number, element number), length part, and information part are described from the left, and the meaning of each tag is described in the explanation column. The length part represents the specific length of the information part.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, as examination information, examination date is February 28, 2009, examination time is 16: 15: 30.00 seconds, modality is MR examination (Magnetic Resonance), manufacturer is Panasonic, patient name Is composed of Taro Matsushita and 1 gigabyte (1,000,000,000 bytes) of image data.

  FIG. 7 is information configuration information newly added in the present embodiment, and is a configuration example of connection information for integrating a plurality of divided DICOM image files into one DICOM file. As described above, in the DICOM standard, it is possible to have a private information element that is uniquely defined as an information element. Therefore, a private information element is used as connection information of the DICOM file. In this example, the private information reservation character string, the inspection time in the DICOM image file forward in time series, the inspection time in the DICOM image file, and the recommended playback speed are added as private information elements.

  FIG. 8 shows an example in which the divided DICOM header section 307 of FIG. 5 is configured using the DICOM information obtained by adding the private information element of FIG. 7 to the DICOM information of FIG. Similarly, FIGS. 9 and 10 are examples in which the divided DICOM header sections 308 and 309 shown in FIG. 5 are configured, respectively. In this way, the basic components such as modality, manufacturer, patient information, etc. are all common, but the front DICOM file so that the examination time + examination time becomes the examination time in the DICOM file that is chronologically behind. By storing the inspection time in the DICOM file that is forward in time series at the inspection time, connection information as a DICOM image file can be configured.

  The inspection time stored in the divided DICOM header parts 307 to 309 is given when the divided image file generation unit 115 generates the connection information. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the divided image data portions 304 to 306 are generated by dividing the image data portion 303 of the DICOM image file 301, the time corresponding to the size of each divided image data portion is calculated. The calculated time is acquired as the inspection time of each divided image data portion.

  Further, the inspection time given to the second and subsequent divided image files to be connected is calculated by adding the inspection time of the front file to the front file inspection time. As a result, the time-series relationship between the divided image files, that is, the inspection time of the divided image file = the inspection time of the front file + the inspection time of the front file is stored as information of the header part. Therefore, when the reproduction terminal 130 reproduces the image file, the image file can be reproduced sequentially based on the connection information.

<1.3. Process Flow by Image Management System 100>
<1.3.1. Image file split processing>
FIG. 11 is a flowchart until the image server 110 transmits report data as a search result in response to a request from the playback terminal 130.

  The playback terminal 130 transmits a DICOM information acquisition request (search request) to the server 110 in accordance with information such as patient information, examination date, and modality acquired by the user's input operation (S001).

  When the server 110 receives the DICOM information acquisition request via the communication unit 112, the network speed detection unit 116 detects the network speed up to the requested playback terminal 130 (S002). The detection of the network speed may be performed by using a DICOM information acquisition request as a trigger, or may be detected by periodically inquiring a client such as the connected playback terminal 130.

  Next, the server 110 causes the data search unit 113 to search for a corresponding DICOM image file from the database 111 according to the search information from the playback terminal 130 (S003).

The server 110 determines whether a desired DICOM image file has been detected (S004).
When the desired DICOM image file cannot be detected, the server 110 constructs report data indicating that the corresponding DICOM image file does not exist in the database 111 (S007), and notifies the playback terminal as report data. (S008).

  On the other hand, when the desired DICOM image file can be detected, the server 110 calculates (Equation 2) by the divided image file generation unit 115 based on the network speed detected in S002 and the calculated frame rate, Determine the file split size. According to this division size, one DICOM image file is divided into a plurality of DICOM image files (S005). Then, the divided image file generation unit 115 constructs report data using the report data construction unit 114 (S006), and notifies the playback terminal 130 of the report data via the communication unit 112 (S008).

The report data transmitted to the playback terminal 130 is stored in the storage unit of the playback terminal 130.
In addition, the said process sequence is not limited to said thing, It can change within the range which does not deviate from this invention.

<1.3.2. Image file playback processing>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart when the server 110 side continuously reproduces a DICOM image file divided into a plurality of files. Here, for the sake of convenience, description will be made using a parameter of initial value 1 called n.

  First, the playback terminal 130 transmits an acquisition request for the first (nth: n = 1), that is, the head DICOM image file, to the server 110 (S101). Which DICOM image file is the head can be determined by referring to report data transmitted from the server 110 and stored in a memory or the like.

In response to the DICOM image file acquisition request, the server 110 reads and transmits the requested DICOM image file (S102).
Since the playback terminal 130 can play back the requested DICOM image file, the playback terminal 130 starts playback of the first (nth: n = 1) DICOM image file at the recommended playback speed. (S103).

  When the connection information is present in the first (nth: n = 1) DICOM image file, that is, when there is a DICOM image file that continues in time series, the playback terminal 130 is the second (n + 1th: The server 110 is requested to acquire the DICOM image file of n = 1) (S105).

In response to the DICOM image file acquisition request, the server 110 reads and transmits the requested second (n + 1th: n = 1) DICOM image file (S106).
The playback terminal 130 waits for the playback of the first (nth: n = 1) DICOM image file to end (S107), counts up n (n = 2) (S108), and second (nth) : N = 2) starts to play the DICOM image file at the recommended playback speed (S103).

  In this way, by performing the processing from S103 to S108 until there is no connection information in the nth DICOM image file, the DICOM image file divided into a plurality of files is continuously reproduced without requiring a reproduction waiting time. be able to.

  Note that the processing of the playback terminal 130 is realized by the control unit executing a predetermined program stored in a memory such as a ROM. Moreover, the said process sequence is not limited to said thing, It can change within the range which does not deviate from this invention.

<1.4. Effects of this embodiment>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the file division size is determined based on the speed of the network between the server 110 and the playback terminal 130 for the original DICOM image file, and the connection information is included. Generate and provide multiple DICOM image files. Thus, in the conventional method, what cannot be started unless the entire DICOM image file is downloaded can be started simply by downloading the first file of the divided DICOM file. Based on the connection information, the DICOM image to be reproduced next can be specified and downloaded in parallel with the reproduction. Therefore, it is possible to provide a playback system with good response.

  According to the present embodiment, particularly in the medical field, for example, the time until the start of interpretation by a diagnostician is greatly shortened, which is effective in improving usability. In addition, the system or apparatus according to the present embodiment can use the file format according to the DICOM standard as it is, and thus can be easily introduced.

  The present invention is useful as an image management apparatus, an image reproduction apparatus, an image management system, an image reproduction method, and a program.

100 Image management system 110 Image server (image management device)
111 Database 112 Communication unit 113 Data search unit (search unit)
114 Report data construction unit 115 Split image file generation unit 116 Network speed detection unit (network speed acquisition unit)
117 Data writing unit 120 Modality 130 Playback terminal (image playback device)
140 network

Claims (8)

An image management device that is communicably connected to an image playback device via a network,
A search unit for searching for an image file in response to a request from the image playback device;
A network speed acquisition unit for acquiring a network speed with the image reproduction device;
A divided image file generation unit that generates a divided image file by dividing the searched image file into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed;
A communication unit that sequentially transmits divided image files in response to a request from the image reproduction device;
An image management apparatus comprising: The divided image file generation unit calculates the predetermined size based on a ratio between the network speed and a frame rate of the image file.
The image management apparatus according to claim 1. The divided image file generation unit calculates the predetermined size S (n) according to the following equation, where N is the network speed, W is the time to start playback of the image file, and B is the frame rate of the image file. calculate,
S (n) = N ⁿ × W / B ^n-1
The image management apparatus according to claim 1. The divided image file generation unit is configured such that N is the network speed, W is a time until the start of reproduction of the image file, B is a frame rate of the image file, R = 1 when N> B, and N ≦ B Where R <N / B, the predetermined size S ′ (n) is calculated by the following equation:
S ′ (n) = (N ⁿ × W) / (B ⁿ⁻¹ × R)
The image management apparatus according to claim 2. A communication unit provided so as to be communicable with the image management apparatus according to claim 1, transmits a search request for the image file, and receives the divided image file;
An input unit for inputting information for specifying the image file;
A display unit for displaying the divided image file;
A memory for storing the divided image file;
A control unit for controlling the communication unit, the input unit, the display unit, and the memory;
With
The controller is
Control to receive the next divided image file simultaneously with playing the divided image file,
Image playback device. An image management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An image reproduction device according to claim 5;
A network connecting the image management device and the image reproduction device;
An image management system comprising: An image playback method for playing back a predetermined image file using an image playback device and an image management device connected to the image playback device via a network.
By the image management device,
Search the stored image file,
Obtaining a network speed between the image playback device and the image management device;
The searched image file is divided into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed to generate a divided image file,
By the image reproduction device,
Receiving the divided image file from the image management device;
Reproducing the received divided image file and simultaneously receiving the next divided image file from the image management device.
Image playback method. An image reproduction program for causing an image reproduction device and an image management device connected to be communicable with the image reproduction device via a network to execute reproduction of a predetermined image file,
By the image management device,
Search the stored image file,
Obtaining a network speed between the image playback device and the image management device;
The searched image file is divided into a predetermined size according to the acquired network speed to generate a divided image file.
To do that,
By the image reproduction device,
Receiving the divided image file from the image management device;
Reproducing the received divided image file and simultaneously receiving the next divided image file from the image management device.
To do that,
Image playback program.

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