JP2001094714A - Image processing unit and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing unit and an image processing method that can execute image processing different for each image generating device connected via a network. SOLUTION: The image processing unit identifies a data transmission source based on transmission data from an image generating device via the network. Furthermore, the image processing unit identifies the kind of devices having generated the image data, that is, the modality of e.g. an MR device or a CT device or the like. Moreover, the image processing unit decides image processing to be executed based on identified data and a processing decision table. The table consists of two kinds of tables that correlate the image processing with the data transmission source and the kind of the image generating device and decides the processing based on the identified transmission source and the identified kind of the device. The image processing unit applies gradation processing to the image data with a gamma curve different for each device and applies its processing to the image data with revised image processing and a revised print output mode or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for executing image data processing of various image generating apparatuses connected to a network, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus for processing images obtained by a medical image diagnostic apparatus. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method of a network connection type, which receives a received image via a PC, performs predetermined image processing, and executes print output processing by a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various image diagnostic apparatuses have been used as medical diagnostic apparatuses. For example, as a representative device, an ultrasonic diagnostic device, an MR (Magnetic re)
sound) device, CT (Computerize)
d Tomography) device, CR (Computing)
ed Radiography) device. These diagnostic imaging devices are called modality devices. Image data photographed by these various modality devices is processed in various modes, such as being printed out by a film printer, or stored in storage means for data storage.

For example, in a diagnosis using a CT apparatus,
A CT technician, which is an image diagnostic apparatus, is operated by a laboratory technician, and a tomographic image or the like of a patient is captured. This image can also be displayed on a video display on the console of the device. Further, by operating a film recorder called an imager connected to a modality (CT device), an image necessary for diagnosis is specified, and the specified image is input to the imager and printed on a large-format film by a printer, for example. Be out. This film is given to a doctor as a diagnostic image, and a patient is diagnosed.

Usually, several frames of diagnostic images are laid out on one film. Further, attribute information such as a patient name, a patient ID, an examination date and time, examination conditions, a patient's date of birth and a doctor in charge may be added to the diagnostic image recorded on the film, as necessary.

The above-mentioned ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, MR (Magne
tic resonance) device, CT (Compu)
Terminated Tomography) equipment, CR
(Computed Radiography) Various image data shot by various modality devices such as devices are connected to their own printers and printed out, or when one printer is shared by a plurality of modalities, Is generally connected to a print server via a dedicated line dedicated to the modality device, and images from a plurality of modalities are printed out by a single printer.

When performing output by a printer, an image generating apparatus that generates image data to be output, that is, performing image processing that is optimal according to the modality, for example, performing gradation processing, and outputting a high quality output is required. It is a condition for obtaining.

[0007] That is, if the device that has captured the image is an MR device, image processing corresponding to the characteristics of the MR device is performed, and if the device is a CT device, image processing corresponding to the CT device is performed. It is necessary to get. For these processes, it is necessary to provide a configuration in which individual image processing parameters corresponding to the apparatus are prepared, parameters are extracted according to each image, and image processing is performed according to the parameters.

In a conventional configuration in which images from a plurality of modalities are printed out by a single printer, connection channels (dedicated lines) of a plurality of modality devices are identified to determine which device is the input data. In the image processing apparatus, the image processing corresponding to each apparatus is executed to execute the print processing.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional dedicated line connection type image communication processing system. Various modalities (image diagnostic equipment) 1
01 to 106 make a dedicated line connection to the workstation 107 functioning as a print server. When the workstation 107 receives an input of image data, the workstation 107 identifies an input channel to determine an input from any modality. It is configured to be able to determine whether the image is an image. The workstation 107 has
A display 108 and printers 109 and 110 are connected.

The workstation 107 has an image processing mode of an input image set in advance for each channel, and has setting information thereof. For example, it is determined that the image data from the modality 101 is input via the channel 1 (Ch1), and the gradation processing method to be used for the image input from the channel 1 is set in advance. After performing the gradation processing, the printout is executed using the printers 1 and 108, for example. Note that tone processing is generally performed using a γ curve in which an exposure amount and an output density value are associated with each other. That is, after the image processing in which the gradation processing based on the specific γ (gamma) curve prepared for the image diagnostic apparatus of channel 1 is performed, the output by the printer is executed.

In FIG. 1, it is determined based on the input channel that the data input via channel 2 is image data from the modality 102. Can be subjected to gradation processing and printed out. For each of the channels Ch3 to Ch6, gradation processing using a γ curve to be used is designated according to each input channel, and each gradation processing is executed based on the designated γ curve.

However, with the recent progress of communication network technology, there has been a demand for constructing a medical image filing system and handling a diagnostic image by a computer system.

FIG. 2 shows a communication network configuration for medical images. As shown in FIG. 2, the modality devices 101 to 106 and the database 111 are connected to the network. Image data captured by each of the modalities 101 to 106 is input via a network to a workstation 107 having a display 108, and after executing predetermined image processing,
9, 110. However, in such a network type configuration, since the image data input method to the workstation 107 as shown in FIG. 1 is not an input through a dedicated line channel, the workstation 107 is data sent from any modality. Cannot be identified by the channel.

Therefore, it is difficult to make the mode of various image processing and print processing such as setting of gradation processing according to the modality device easy for each modality device in the system using the dedicated channel of FIG. .

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been developed in a network-type image transfer system in which a plurality of medical image diagnostic apparatuses (modalities) are connected to a network. To provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that can execute different image processing according to each modality device, for example, different image processing and print output processing, for example, gradation processing with a different γ curve according to each modality device. It is intended for.

Further, according to the present invention, the type of image data transferred via a network is determined by the type of each connected modality device, for example, image data captured by an MR device, a CR device, or a CT device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can execute gradation processing according to different print outputs, for example, different γ curves.

Further, according to the present invention, even when image data transferred via a network is transferred by a plurality of different image communication protocols, an image input source is identified according to each protocol, and the input source is identified. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of executing a process according to the above.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object, and a first aspect of the present invention is to transmit data transmitted from a network-connected data processing device via a network. An image processing apparatus for receiving and performing image processing, based on transmission data from the data processing apparatus, a data transmission source identification processing means for identifying a transmission source of the transmission data, and the data transmission source identification processing means Processing determining means for determining an image processing mode relating to transmission data from the data processing apparatus based on the data transmission source identified in the above, and image processing for executing image processing according to the processing determined by the processing determining means And an image processing apparatus.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The processing determination means has a processing determination table in which processing for each of the data processing devices connected to the network is associated, and by searching the processing determination table, the data transmission source identified by the data transmission source identification processing means is determined. It is characterized by having a configuration for determining a corresponding image processing mode.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention further comprises a data generation apparatus type identification processing means for identifying the type of the image generation apparatus which has generated the image of the transmission data based on the transmission data from the data processing apparatus. Wherein the processing determining means determines an image processing mode relating to transmission data from the data processing device based on the data generation device identified by the data generation device type identification processing means. I do.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The processing determining means has a processing determining table in which processing according to the type of the image generating apparatus connected to the network is associated, and is identified by the data generating apparatus type identifying processing means by searching the processing determining table. It is characterized by having a configuration for determining an image processing mode corresponding to the type of the image generating device.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it has a function as a print server to which one or more printers are connected.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The data source identification processing means has a configuration corresponding to a plurality of communication protocols, and has a configuration for executing a data transmission source identification process in a different mode according to a communication protocol of data transmitted from a data processing device. It is characterized by the following.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The data generation device type identification processing means has a configuration corresponding to a plurality of communication protocols, and executes different types of data generation device type identification processing according to a communication protocol of data transmitted from the data processing device. It is characterized by having.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The image processing unit may have a configuration that holds a γ curve for performing a plurality of different types of gradation processing, and executes the gradation processing by selecting the γ curve determined by the processing determination unit. Features.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The processing determining means is configured to execute processing for specifying a printer to be used in print output processing using a printer.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The processing determining means is configured to execute processing for determining a print mode in print output processing using a printer.

Further, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention,
The data processing device is a medical image diagnostic device.

Further, a second aspect of the present invention is an image processing method for receiving data transmitted from a data processing device connected to a network via a network and executing image processing. A data transmission source identification processing step for identifying a transmission source of the transmission data based on the transmission data; and a transmission data from the data processing apparatus based on the data transmission source identified in the data transmission source identification processing step. An image processing method includes: a process determining step of determining an image processing mode; and an image processing step of executing image processing according to the process determined in the process determining step.

Further, in the image processing method of the present invention,
The processing determining step determines an image processing mode corresponding to the data transmission source identified in the data transmission source identification processing step by searching a processing determination table that associates processing for each of the data processing devices connected to the network. It is characterized by the following.

Further, in the image processing method of the present invention,
Further, based on transmission data from the data processing device,
A data generation device type identification processing step for identifying a type of the image generation device that has generated the image of the transmission data, wherein the processing determination step is based on the data generation device identified by the data generation device type identification processing step And determining an image processing mode relating to transmission data from the data processing apparatus.

Further, in the image processing method of the present invention,
The processing determining step corresponds to the type of the image generating apparatus identified in the data generating apparatus type identifying processing step by searching a processing determining table that associates processing according to the type of the image generating apparatus connected to the network. The image processing mode is determined.

[0033]

An image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present invention are, for example, CT (Computed Tomograph).
phy) device, CR (Computed Radiog)
(Raphy) device, MR (Magnetic Reso)
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which are connected to a modality device such as a nonce device, a terminal device such as a workstation, or the like, and process a print request from these external devices.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention has
It has a function as a print server for printing a medical diagnostic image supplied from a modality device on a photosensitive film. The print server has a plurality of print output targets. That is, a plurality of film printers are locally connected to the print server, or the locally connected film printer supports a plurality of output films.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires in advance the output characteristics from each of the locally connected printers. The output characteristics here include film size,
Resolution, film type, etc. are included.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when receiving a print request or a data storage request from a modality device or another terminal device, performs a processing request in addition to a process of receiving image data to be printed or stored in a database. A source information acquisition process is executed to identify the source.

When the image processing apparatus according to the present invention receives a print request from a modality device or another terminal device, the image processing apparatus receives not only the image data to be printed but also the transmission source information of the processing request source. Execute acquisition processing. Further, the type of the image generation device (modality) that has captured the received image data is identified.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is a data processing apparatus for transferring identified image data, for example, CT, M
Change the image processing mode according to the modality device such as R,
Further, changes in the printing method, for example, film orientation (vertical / horizontal), film size, recording format (frames per page), background density, gradation characteristics, film type (blue / clear), etc. Is changed according to the identified transmission source information.

By applying the image processing apparatus according to the present invention to a network, a modality, a workstation, or the like, which is a print request source, can send a print server without instructing the processing mode one by one when transmitting image data. On the image processing apparatus side having the function, identify the data transmission source, or the data transmission source, or the type of the data generation apparatus, and automatically execute processing according to the image processing mode set according to the identification result. And an appropriate print output is achieved.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention are:
It will become apparent from the following more detailed description based on the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

[0041]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 3 schematically shows a configuration example of a network system 300 to which an image processing apparatus and an image processing method of the present invention are applied. In the network system 300, a plurality of modality devices 50
A, 50B... Can be handled by a plurality of workstations 10A, 10B, 10C.

The workstation 10A operates as an image viewer. The workstation 10B is a workstation 10 constituting the image processing apparatus of the present invention.
B, 301, which functions as a print server.
The workstations 10B and 301 have one or more locally connected printers 302 and 303, and print image data. Also, the workstation 10
C functions as a file server 304,
The image data is stored in a database 305 connected to the server 304.

The image viewer attached to the workstation 10A extracts a plurality of past diagnostic images from the database 305 attached to the file server 304, for example, and checks the progress of the recovery or the progress of the medical condition on the display screen. The CRT (Cathode) has a large screen and a high resolution.
(Ray Tube) display and the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, a workstation 10 functioning as a print server on a network
By disposing B, 301, an expensive printer for film printing can be shared among a plurality of modality devices. That is, an image file captured on the modality device can be transferred to a remote print server and printed out. Further, by arranging the file server 304 on the network, the image file can be stored in a shared database, and the diagnostic data of many patients can be collectively managed in the hospital. Further, by taking out the diagnostic image from the file server at a later date, it is possible to compare and display the diagnostic image with the latest captured image and determine the healing status and the progress of the medical condition. Further, a workstation for browsing images different from the modality device may be provided on the network.

The workstations 10B and 301 are connected to the printers # 1 and 302,
2, 303 as appropriate to each modality device 50A,.
Alternatively, a print output process of image data transferred from the workstation 10A or the like via a network is executed. Further, the file server 304 performs a process of storing the transfer image data in the database 305.

Each of the workstations 10... That electronically handles diagnostic images and each of the modality devices 50... Are usually connected to a network by a network interface card (NIC: not shown).

In FIG. 3, a network is, for example, a LAN (Local Area) laid in a single hospital.
Network). The LAN may be composed of a single LAN segment 20 or a plurality of LAN segments interconnected via a router (or gateway) 30. Alternatively, the network
A WAN (Wide Area Network) configured by connecting LANs of remote hospitals via a dedicated line or the like.
k) or a wide area network such as the Internet.

On the network, an MR (Magnetic R) for magnetic resonance for computer tomography is provided.
Esonance) device 50A, RI device 50B, US
Device 50C, DSA for digital subtraction angiography
Apparatus 50D, CT (Computed Tomograph)
phy) device 50E, CR (Computed Radiography) for computer radiography
A plurality of modality devices, such as a device 50F, which are medical image supply sources, and other workstations 10A,
.. Are connected. Usually, each modality device 5
Are provided in dedicated diagnostic rooms (not shown) in the hospital.

The workstations 10B and 301 include:
The printer is mounted via an adapter card (not shown). The workstations 10B and 301 provide an appropriate γ corresponding to the received image data to the image data transferred from each of the modality devices 50 on the network.
After performing various image processing, such as gradation processing using a curve, and various processing such as format processing (including layout processing on a film of a predetermined size) and image enlargement or reduction processing, Output images with a printer.

As the output printer for medical diagnostic images, a film printer of a type that forms an image on a photosensitive film instead of plain paper is generally used. The use of a film as an output medium has much higher resolution (particularly, a larger dynamic range) than plain paper, and relies on being able to accurately observe an affected area based on an output image.

The file server 304 has a database 305 as a large-capacity storage device for storing a huge amount of diagnostic image files.

Each workstation 1 on the network
0, and each of the modality devices 50, and the workstations 10B and 301 are transparently connected according to a predetermined communication protocol. For example, OSI
(Open Systems Interconnect
In the reference standard model, the physical layer and the data link layer of the network are Ethernet, and the transport layer and the network layer are TCP / IP (Trans).
Mission Control Protocol /
Internet Protocol). Further, for the upper layers above the session layer, each medical product maker prepares a dedicated protocol.

One of the typical upper layer protocols in the industry is DICOM (Digital Imaging).
g and Communication for M
achine). DICOM is the US ACR
(American College of Radi
and NEMA (The Nationa)
l Electrical Manufacturer
s Association) is a communication protocol for medical images. In addition to DICOM, communication using a protocol unique to a modality device product manufacturer connected to the network is performed.

According to the medical image communication system 300 shown in FIG. 3, by digitizing all medical diagnostic data acquired in the hospital, the diagnostic data can be distributed and shared among a plurality of terminal devices on the network. can do. That is, diagnostic data obtained in one diagnostic room can be browsed in another diagnostic room (or a diagnostic room of a remote hospital). In addition, by extracting past diagnostic images from the database 305 as appropriate, it is possible to confirm the progress of recovery and the evolution of medical conditions. Modality equipment 5
An expensive printer for outputting an image captured at 0... Or an image extracted from the database 305 can be shared between a plurality of modality devices and workstations.

The workstations 10B and 301 include:
Normally, a plurality of (two in the example shown in FIG. 3) film printers 302 and 303 are connected, and
By providing a printer with one or more trays, a client can be provided with a large number of film sizes and types of films (the number of printers that can be connected to one print server is, for example, It depends on the number of ports supported by the application, etc.).

Each film printer has a gradation characteristic,
There are differences in output capabilities such as recording format and resolution. The film size mentioned here is half cut (350m
mx 430mm), large angle (350mm x 350mm),
There are variations such as B4 (360 mm × 240 mm). Two types of films, blue and clear, are available. Further, the recording format means the number of frames per one page of the film or the vertical / horizontal setting.

On the other hand, modality devices that generate diagnostic images also use various output characteristics. For example,
CT (Computed) that generates a slice image of the affected part
In general, a tomography (512) apparatus has a 512 × 512 structure in which one diagnostic image is composed of 1 to 24 frames.
Supply the dot image. Similarly, an MR (Magnetic Resonance) that generates a slice image
e) In the case of the device, one diagnostic image is 100 to 20
A 1024 × 1024 dot image including 0 frames is supplied. In addition, CR (C
The outputRadiography device outputs, for example, an image of 4300 × 3500 dots.

As described above, each modality device 50.
And the workstations 10 are networked, the film printer is a modality device 50.
... and in a separate room, a remote location.
For this reason, each modality device 50 that is the print request source
..., it is difficult to specify an appropriate print output mode while sequentially checking the print mode at the time of printing.

The workstations 10B and 301, which are the image processing apparatuses of the present invention, receive image data output from various medical diagnostic image capturing apparatuses such as a CT apparatus, an MR apparatus, and a CR apparatus, that is, image data output from the modality apparatuses 50. When the print processing is executed, the modality devices 50... Which are transfer sources of the image data are identified, and a predetermined image processing is executed.

FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram for explaining the functions of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The image processing device (workstation) 400 is connected to a network via an interface. A plurality of modality devices 410 to 412 as image diagnostic apparatuses are connected to the network, and a file server 40 having a database 408.
7. Workstation 40 with image display
Various devices such as 9 are connected.

The modality devices 410 to 412 connected to the network transmit various types of diagnostic image data to the image processing device 400. Further, the workstation 409 extracts, for example, the past stored images of the various modality devices 410 to 412 stored in the database 408, checks them on a display, designates a print page or an area, or performs a predetermined editing process. After that, the image data can be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 400.

Upon receiving the image data from the workstation 409 and the various modality devices 410 to 412, the image processing apparatus 400 prints out the image data using the printers 405 and 406 locally connected to the image processing apparatus 400. -Function as a server.

The function of the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. When the image processing device 400 receives data from the workstation 409 and the modality devices 410 to 412 connected to the network, first, the data transmission source identification processing unit 401 executes a process of identifying the data transmission source.

The data transmission source identification processing unit 401 has a configuration that can support a plurality of communication protocols used by each device connected to the network, and determines the modality of the data transmission source according to each protocol. Execute For example, when data is received in accordance with DICOM, which is often used as a medical image data communication protocol, an application entity title (Applica) transmitted when a data communication session is established.
and a data transmission source is identified based on this data. For example, FINP (Fuji In
formation NetworkProtoco
When l) is used, tag data is transmitted as information relating to a transmission image in a step before transmitting image data, so that “starting device” information included in the tag data is extracted and the information transmission source is transmitted. To identify. In addition, a data transmission source identification process corresponding to each communication protocol used on the network is executed to determine a device that has transmitted data.

In the data transmission source identification processing unit 401,
When the data transmission source is determined, the data generation device type identification processing unit 402 executes a process of specifying the type of the image data generation device, for example, an image diagnostic device such as MR or CT. This device type identification processing is executed by reading the device type data from the attribute information added to the received image data. However, in each image communication protocol used in the network, if the device type data is not defined in the attribute information of the image data, the device type data is not read. That is, the data generation device type identification processing unit 402 executes the data generation device type identification process in accordance with a plurality of communication protocols used by each device connected to the network.
However, even when the attribute information of the image data has a field for defining the device type data in the image communication protocol, the data may not be written in some cases. Is not executed.

The data transmission source (device ID) identified in the data transmission source identification processing unit 401 and the data device type data identified in the data generation device type identification processing unit 402 are sent to the processing determination unit 403 as device identification data. Will be sent. However, the data device type data is sent to the process determining unit 403 only when the device type is extracted.

The processing determining unit 403 determines an image processing mode to be executed based on a data transmission source (device ID) or data device type data. To determine the image processing mode, the processing determination table 40 held by the processing determination unit 403
Use 4.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the processing decision table. FIG. 5 is a data transmission device correspondence table (A) in which a device ID indicating a device of a data transmission source is associated with a γ curve for determining a gradation processing mode, a type of a device for generating image data,
For example, γ for determining the gradation processing mode such as CT, MR, etc.
It is the figure which showed the sample of the data generation apparatus type correspondence table (B) which matched the curve.

The data transmission device correspondence table in FIG. 5A is a table in which the device that transmitted the image data, that is, the data transmission source identified by the data transmission source identification processing unit 401 in FIG. . 5B is a table in which the data device type data identified by the data generation device type identification processing unit 402 in FIG. 4 is associated with a γ curve.

The γ curve is data for gradation processing in which the exposure amount and the density correspond to each other. The image processing unit 405 in FIG.
It holds a plurality of γ curve data. Fig. 6 shows an example of a γ curve.
Shown in FIG. 6 shows six types of γ curves (k) to (p), and the image processing unit 405 in FIG. 4 selects one of the plurality of γ curves and receives Printer (film printer) 421, 4
The output is performed by 22.

A table for selecting a γ curve capable of executing optimum gradation processing from a plurality of γ curves is the processing determination table shown in FIG. If the device type is specified, the process determining unit 403 selects a γ curve defined in the table based on the data generation device correspondence table in FIG. 5B. In this table, the identification values (k to p) of the γ curve that can execute the optimum gradation processing according to the devices connected to the network are set.

However, as described above, some communication protocols used in the network do not have device type data as attribute information. In such a case, (A) data transmission shown in FIG. A γ curve is selected based on the device correspondence table. Further, even if the data generation device type can be specified, if the device type is not defined in the table B, for example, a modality is additionally connected to the network but the table data is not updated. For example, when the device type is not found in the table B, the data transmission device correspondence table in FIG. 5A is used.

An example in which processing is determined using the table of FIG. 5 will be described. For example, at a workstation 409 having an image viewer shown in FIG. 4, past accumulated data is retrieved from the database 408 and observed,
Thereafter, when sending the print processing to the workstation 400 having the print server function, the data transmission source is the workstation 409, and the data transmission source identification processing unit 401 in the workstation 400 uses the workstation 409 as the data transmission source. Identify. Further, the data generation device type identification processing unit 402 identifies a device, for example, a modality (MR) 410 or the like, from which the image data is generated, from the attribute information of the image data.

If it is determined that the image data has been shot by the MR, a gamma curve for gradation processing that is optimal for the MR is selected from the data generator type correspondence table of FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the γ curve (p)
Will be selected.

Also, for example, when image data photographed from the modality (MR) 410 shown in FIG. 4 is directly sent to the workstation 400 as a print server, the same data identification processing is performed. In this case, since the data transmission source matches the photographing device, that is, the image generation device, the same applies when using either the (A) data transmission device correspondence table or the (B) data generation device type correspondence table shown in FIG. A gamma curve is selected.

However, when it is desired to use different γ curves when a plurality of MR devices are connected on the network, etc., MR1, MR2,. It is also possible to configure a table that enables identification between the same devices, and by adopting such a table configuration, it is possible to execute optimal gradation processing most suitable for each device even in the same type of device. Becomes possible.

When a new device is connected to the network, device identification data identified according to the communication protocol used by the device is added to the processing determination table as an identification value of the device, and the processing details are newly added to the table. , It is possible to easily set the processing content of a new device added to the network.

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, in a network-type image transfer system in which a plurality of medical image diagnostic apparatuses are connected to a network, a transmission source that has transmitted image data or an image data is generated. Different image processing can be performed depending on the device (modality) used, and high-quality output data can be obtained.

Further, according to the configuration of the present invention, even when the image data transferred via the network is transferred by a plurality of different image communication protocols, the data source identification processing unit 401 can transmit the image data corresponding to the protocol. Since the configuration is such that the source identification process is executed, it is possible to identify an image input source corresponding to each protocol and execute a process according to the input source.

Further, according to the configuration of the present invention, even when the image data transferred via the network is transferred by a plurality of different image communication protocols, the data generation device type identification processing section 402 is compatible with the protocol. Since the configuration is such that the data generation device type identification processing is executed, it is possible to identify an image generation source corresponding to each protocol and execute a process according to the image generation source.

[Second Embodiment] In the first embodiment, a configuration in which only the gradation processing using the γ curve can be changed as the image processing has been described. In the second embodiment, still another image processing mode is adopted. , Output mode, etc. are also defined in the processing determination table, and an example is shown in which these can be changed.

The workstation having a print server function according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. The difference from the first embodiment is the configuration of the processing determination table 404 of the processing determining unit 403.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an example of the processing decision table in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view showing the state of FIG.
This corresponds to the data transmission device correspondence table in FIG. FIG.
Corresponds to the data generation device type correspondence table in FIG.

The identification value corresponding to each device connected to the network is recorded at the left end of the table shown in FIG. 7, and the printer (B) to which data from each device is to be output is shown in the right column (B). The printer identification value to be specified is set, and the γ curve selection data for gradation processing described in the first embodiment is set in (C) γ curve.

Further, the table contains (D) background color density
The image processing mode and the print output mode are set up to the (J) direction. Items of output number, output film size, direction (L: Landscape (landscape), P: Po
rtrait (vertical)), background color density (B: Bright, D: Dark, M: middl)
e), polarity (N: Normal, R: Reverse)
For example, various processes and output modes can be set.

In setting the processing determination table, a set value is selected from an image processing mode executable by the image processing unit shown in FIG. 4, an output mode of the connected printer, and a controllable mode. It is necessary to set. Further, when a new printer is connected, the identification value of the printer can be added to the (B) printer column of the processing determination table, and the processing settings according to the performance of the new printer can be added to the table.

FIG. 8 shows a data generation device type correspondence table. At the left end of the table shown in FIG. 8, data (MR, CT,...) Indicating the type of device for generating image data among the devices connected to the network. ) Is recorded, and a printer identification value for specifying a printer to which data from each device is to be output is set in the right column (B).
In column (C), data for selecting a γ curve for gradation processing are set. Further, similarly to FIG. 7, (D) is added to the table.
The image processing mode and the print output mode are set from the background color density to the (J) direction.

In the second embodiment, depending on the data transmitting device,
Alternatively, when the type of data generation device is specified, various image processing and output modes can be automatically changed and output according to the type of data generation device, so that high-quality The output can be obtained automatically.

The process determination tables shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 are merely examples, and an item for setting more detailed image processing parameters may be added.

Next, an image processing method using an image processing apparatus (workstation) functioning as a print server according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing method using the print server of the present invention. Hereinafter, each step of the flowchart of FIG. 9 will be described.

First, in step 901, the print server receives data transmitted from each data transmission device via the network. After receiving the data, in step 902, a data transmission source identification process corresponding to each communication protocol is executed.

The data transmission source identification processing in step 902 is performed by different processing according to the communication protocol as described with reference to FIG. For example, when the protocol is DICOM, an application entity title (Application Entity) transmitted when a data communication session is established.
y Title), and performs data source identification based on this data. The communication protocol is FI
In the case of NP, the “starting device” information included in the tag data relating to the transmission image is extracted.

When the data transmission source is identified in step 902, it is next determined in step 903 whether or not identification processing of the type of the data generation device can be executed. This is because, as described above, depending on the image communication protocol, the device type may not be defined as the attribute information of the image data, and even if it is defined, the data may not be written. In the case of,
The determination in step 903 is No, and the process proceeds to step 906.

In step 906, the processing is determined using a data transmission device correspondence table (for example, FIG. 5A or FIG. 7) as the processing determination table.

If the determination in step 903 is Yes, that is, if the identification processing of the type of the data generation device can be executed, the process proceeds to step 904, where it is determined whether or not the device type-specific parameters are set. That is, the identified data generation device type is set in the data generation device type correspondence table (for example, FIG. 5B or FIG. 8), and it is determined whether the processing parameter has been set.

If the determination in step 904 is No, that is,
If the device type-specific parameter is not set in the data generation device type correspondence table, the process proceeds to step 906, and processing is performed using a data transmission device correspondence table (for example, FIG. 5A or FIG. 7) as a process determination table. To determine.

If the determination in step 904 is Yes, that is, if the parameter setting for each device type is found in the data generation device type correspondence table, the process proceeds to step 905, and the data generation device type correspondence table (for example, FIG. The processing is determined using (B) or FIG. 8).

Step 906 or 907
When the processing is determined using the data transmission apparatus correspondence table or the data generation apparatus type correspondence table, the processing is executed in step 907, that is, gradation processing and image processing according to the γ curve set in each table. Image processing according to the parameters and output processing according to the output mode are executed, and the processing ends.

The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. However, it is obvious that those skilled in the art can modify or substitute the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, the present invention has been disclosed by way of example, and should not be construed as limiting. In order to determine the gist of the present invention, the claims described at the beginning should be considered.

[0101]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention, in a network type image transfer system in which a plurality of medical image diagnostic apparatuses are connected to a network, the image data is transmitted via the network. It is possible to automatically select an image processing mode different for each device that transmits the image, for example, a γ curve for performing a different gradation process, and automatically execute an optimal image process.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention, the type of the apparatus which has generated the image data transferred via the network is identified, and the optimum image processing mode corresponding to the type of the apparatus is provided. For example, the optimum image processing can be automatically executed by appropriately selecting a γ curve for performing different gradation processing.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention, even when the image data transferred via the network is transferred by various different image communication protocols, the image data can be transferred according to each protocol. It is possible to identify the transmission source or the type of the image generation device, and to execute a process according to the identification.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention, the image data transferred via the network is identified by the data transmission source or the type of the image generation apparatus, and various types according to the identification are identified. Image processing and output mode can be set in a table and automatically executed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a conventional system configuration for transmitting a medical image to a server via a dedicated channel.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a network system for sharing medical images between terminal devices.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a network system provided for implementing the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention and a network system.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a process determination table of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a γ curve used for gradation processing of the image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data transmission device correspondence table that is a process determination table of the image processing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a data generation device type correspondence table which is a process determination table of the image processing device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a process in the image processing apparatus of the present invention as a flowchart.

[Explanation of symbols]

101-106 Modality equipment 107 Workstation 108 Display 109,110 Printer 111 Database 10 ... Workstation 20 ... LAN 30 ... Router 50 ... Modality equipment 300 ... Network system 301 Workstation 10B (print server) 302,303 Printer 304 File -Server 305 Database 400 Print server 401 Data source identification processing unit 402 Data generation device type identification processing unit 403 Processing determination unit 404 Processing determination table 405 Image processing unit 407 File server 408 Database 409 Workstation 410, 411, 412 Modality 421,422 printer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 12/54 H04L 11/20 101C 12/58 F-term (Reference) 5B021 AA01 AA02 BB02 CC05 EE02 LG08 5C062 AA13 AA35 AB38 AB42 AC24 AC58 AF01 BA04 5K030 HA07 HB02 HD03 HD07 JT02 9A001 CC02 HH31 HH34 JJ09 JJ21 KK25

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus which receives data transmitted from a data processing apparatus connected to a network via a network and executes image processing, wherein the transmission data is transmitted based on transmission data from the data processing apparatus. Data transmission source identification processing means for identifying the transmission source of the data, and processing determination means for determining an image processing mode relating to transmission data from the data processing device based on the data transmission source identified by the data transmission source identification processing means And an image processing means for executing image processing in accordance with the processing determined by the processing determining means. 2. The processing determining means has a processing determining table in which processing for each of the data processing devices connected to the network is associated, and is identified by the data transmission source identifying processing means by searching the processing determining table. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a configuration for determining an image processing mode corresponding to the data transmission source. 3. The image processing apparatus further includes a data generation apparatus type identification processing unit for identifying a type of the image generation apparatus that has generated an image of the transmission data based on transmission data from the data processing apparatus. Wherein the processing determining means determines an image processing mode relating to transmission data from the data processing device based on the data generation device identified by the data generation device type identification processing means. Item 3. The image processing device according to item 1 or 2. 4. The processing determining means has a processing determining table in which processing according to the type of the image generating apparatus connected to the network is associated, and the data generating apparatus type identification processing is performed by searching the processing determining table. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a configuration for determining an image processing mode corresponding to the type of the image generation apparatus identified by the means. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus has a function as a print server to which one or more printers are connected. 6. The data transmission source identification processing means has a configuration corresponding to a plurality of communication protocols, and performs data transmission source identification processing in a different mode according to a communication protocol of data transmitted from a data processing device. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus has a configuration for executing the processing. 7. The data generation device type identification processing means,
2. The data generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a configuration corresponding to a plurality of communication protocols, and has a configuration for executing a data generation apparatus type identification process in a different mode according to a communication protocol of data transmitted from the data processing apparatus. 7. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 6. 8. The image processing means holds a γ curve for executing a plurality of different types of gradation processing, and selects the γ curve determined by the processing determining means to execute the gradation processing. 8. A structure having a configuration.
An image processing device according to any one of the above. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing determining means is configured to execute processing for specifying a printer to be used in print output processing using the printer. apparatus. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing determining means is configured to execute processing for determining a printing mode in a print output processing using a printer.
An image processing device according to any one of the above. 11. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data processing apparatus is a medical image diagnostic apparatus. 12. Receiving data transmitted from a data processing device connected to a network via a network,
An image processing method for performing image processing, comprising: a data transmission source identification processing step for identifying a transmission source of the transmission data based on transmission data from a data processing device; and A processing determining step of determining an image processing mode regarding transmission data from the data processing device based on a data transmission source; and an image processing step of performing image processing according to the processing determined in the processing determining step. An image processing method characterized by the following. 13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing determination step includes searching a processing determination table in which processing for each of the network-connected data processing apparatuses is associated with an image corresponding to the data transmission source identified in the data transmission source identification processing step. 2. A processing mode is determined.
3. The image processing method according to 2. 14. The image processing method further includes a data generation device type identification processing step of identifying a type of an image generation device that has generated an image of the transmission data based on transmission data from the data processing device. 13. The image processing method according to claim 12, wherein the processing determining step determines an image processing mode regarding transmission data from the data processing device based on the data generation device identified by the data generation device type identification processing step. 14. The image processing method according to item 13. 15. The image generation apparatus identified in the data generation apparatus type identification processing step by searching a processing determination table in which processing according to the type of the image generation apparatus connected to the network is associated. The image processing method according to claim 14, wherein an image processing mode corresponding to the type is determined.