JPH02214978A - Picture filing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the erasion of the picture retrieving data by repetitively copying the retrieving data recorded to a memory unit to a retrieving data back-up optical disk stored in a library unit in the prescribed timing. CONSTITUTION:Plural sheets of optical disks 31 including a retrieving data back-up optical disk are stored in a store part 30. Then the back-up optical disk is loaded into the drive parts 12 and 13 in each prescribed timing via a handling means. Then the retrieving data stored in a memory unit 17 is copied to the back-up optical disk. Thus the erasion of a picture retrieving data base can be surely prevented with no intervention of an operator. Furthermore the data base if destroyed in the unit 17 can be easily and quickly restored.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention records image data on an optical disk, records search data for searching the image data in a storage unit, and stores data recorded in the storage unit. The present invention relates to an image filing device that performs an image search based on search data.

(Prior Art) Image filing devices that file image data are used in various fields. For example, in medical institutions such as hospitals, many medical images are used for medical treatment or research.

Most of these medical images are radiographic images, but recently, C7 images and MR images have also been increasingly used.

By the way, it is necessary to keep such medical images in order to know the changes in the patient's injury and disease, and the law requires that they be kept for a specified period of time. will increase day by day. Conventionally, these medical images have been stored in the form of hard copies, so securing storage space, management work, and search work have become a heavy burden on each hospital.

However, in recent years, images such as medical images have been recorded (filed) in a searchable manner on recording media in the form of image data.
A so-called image filing device has been proposed. If medical images are recorded on a recording medium using this image filing device, space and labor savings will be realized in image storage, and image retrieval operations will be facilitated and speeded up.

In the image filing device that records image data as described above, a database is constructed by recording search data for searching the image corresponding to each image data, and image searches are performed based on this database. It is done.

By the way, since the amount of image data carrying the above-mentioned medical images is enormous even for one image, an optical disk with an extremely large storage capacity is usually used as a recording medium for recording this image data. . On the other hand, as a recording medium for recording search buttons corresponding to each image data, it is possible to use a storage unit equipped with, for example, a magnetic disk, which has a smaller recording capacity than the above-mentioned optical disk, but is rewritable and suitable for high-speed searching. . In this way, a large number of image data, for example 1000 or more, can be recorded on one optical disc, and at the same time, the image search speed can be sufficiently increased. Furthermore, even though the storage unit described above has a smaller recording capacity than an optical disk,
Since the amount of search data recorded and accumulated therein is overwhelmingly smaller than image data, it is possible to accumulate a large amount of search data in this storage unit.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, some storage units such as magnetic disks are easily damaged if handled incorrectly, and the stored contents may be destroyed if strong noise from lightning strikes or the like mixes in. be. Therefore, if it is used continuously for a long period of time, it is quite possible that damage will occur during that period. If the storage unit that stores search data is damaged, the database that has been built up to that point will be lost. In this case, although the image data itself is stored on the optical disk, it becomes impossible to search for the image data and re-download the image.
The image filing device becomes virtually useless. In this case, the search data is usually recorded on the optical disk along with the corresponding image data, so it is theoretically possible to read out the search data one by one and transfer it to the database storage unit to reconstruct the database. However, if a large amount of image data and associated search data have already been accumulated, it may take several days to rebuild the database, and during that time, the continuous filing of image data may be stopped. If an image filing device is used to file X-ray images at a hospital,
There is a risk that a problem beyond the permissible limit may occur, such as having to suspend radiography 1 diagnosis for several days.

In order to avoid this problem, it is conceivable to copy the search data (database) recorded in the storage unit on a regular basis, such as every month, to an optical disk (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-13 [i67 (see publication). If the database in the storage unit is destroyed after making regular copies in this way, copy the data from the optical disk back to the storage unit, and the image data will be stored after the above regular copying. If the search data corresponding to the image data has been added one by one, the database can be completely restored in a short period of time, such as 15 to 20 minutes.

However, since an optical disk for recording image data is usually inserted into a drive means for recording data on an optical disk or reading data recorded on an optical disk, search data recorded in a storage unit cannot be transferred to an optical disk. When copying, it is necessary to temporarily stop recording image data and load an optical disk for search data backup into the drive means in place of the optical disk for recording image data. It is cumbersome to operate, and
Since there is, for example, a month between the previous operation and the next operation, it is often forgotten, and even if a program for copying is prepared, it is expected that it will not necessarily be utilized in many cases.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention prevents the disappearance of the image search database without bothering the operator, and easily restores the database in a short time when the database in the storage unit is destroyed. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image filing device that can perform the following tasks.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An image filing device of the present invention includes a storage section that stores a plurality of optical disks on which a large amount of data is recorded, and a storage section in which the optical disks are loaded and data is recorded on the optical disks. a drive unit that reads data recorded on the optical disc; and a drive unit that takes out the optical disc stored in the storage unit from the storage unit and loads it into the drive unit, and also loads the optical disc loaded in the drive unit into the drive unit. a library unit for recording a large amount of image data on the optical disk, and a storage unit for recording search data for searching the image data;
and search data transfer means for repeatedly copying the search data recorded in the storage unit onto a search data backup optical disk stored in the library unit at a predetermined timing.

Here, the above-mentioned "predetermined timing" is not limited to a specific timing, but for example, every time it becomes impossible to record any more image data on each optical disk, a certain number of image data are recorded. The timing is selected every time.

(Function) Since the present invention stores a plurality of optical disks in the storage section of a library unit, it is necessary to store both an optical disk for recording image data and an optical disk for backing up search data in the storage section. Can be done. An optical disk for recording image data is usually loaded in the drive section of Library Uni Soto, but the library unit is loaded at a predetermined timing to copy the search data recorded in the storage unit to the optical disk for backup of search data. An optical disk for search data backup is loaded into the drive unit by the handling means instead of an optical disk for recording image data, and the search data (database) recorded in the storage unit is copied to the optical disk for search data backup. Database loss can be prevented without compromising your hands.

In addition, when the database in the storage unit is destroyed, the database is copied from the search data backup optical disk to the storage unit, and then only the most recent search data that is missing in the database is read out from the image data recording optical disk. The database at the time of destruction can be completely restored by simply transferring it to the storage unit, and therefore, the database can be easily restored in a short time when the database in the storage unit is destroyed. Furthermore, since the database is automatically copied from the storage unit to the search data backup optical disk at a predetermined timing as described above,
Even if the frequency of the above predetermined timing is increased, there is no burden on the operator. Therefore, by increasing the frequency of the predetermined timing, when the database of the storage unit is destroyed, search data can be retrieved one by one from the optical disk for recording image data. The effort required to read data is reduced, and restoration becomes easier and takes less time.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the appearance of an embodiment of an image filing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the general configuration of the image filing device.

This image filing device 1 is comprised of a system control unit IO, a library unit 30, a control unit 40 for controlling the library unit, and an operation unit 50.

Two image reading processing devices 100 and 110 and an image display CRT display device 120 are connected to the system control unit 10, and image data S1 and associated data are exchanged with these devices. It will be done. Here, the image reading and processing devices 100 and 110 are X-ray image reading and processing devices that handle X-ray images, and the data accompanying the image data Sl includes patient information (patient name, patient name, etc.) corresponding to each X-ray image. data representing number, gender, disease name, etc.)
There are data (data indicating the distinction between normal imaging, tomography, contrast imaging, etc.) S3, and image processing conditions S4 when performing image processing on image data. Here, patient information S2 and imaging information S
3 is search data S5 used for image search.

The system control unit 10 includes a computer section 11.2
Drive unit 12. ], 3, these drive parts 1
2 and 3, and a magnetic disk section 17 having a magnetic disk 16. Magnetic disk section 1 equipped with this magnetic disk 16
7 is an example of a storage unit that records search data for searching image data according to the present invention.

The library unit 30 also includes a large number of optical disks 31.
a, 31b, ..., 31m, ..., 31
A large number of shelves 32a, 32b, . . . store n sheets one by one.
..., 32m, ..., 32n, and a large number of optical discs 31a stored in the storage section 32.
, 31b, . . . , and records data on the loaded optical disc 33 and reads data recorded on the optical disc 33; a storage unit; Optical disk 31a31 stored in 32
b, . It is configured. The library unit 30 has a front door 30a (see Figure 1).
The optical discs 31a, 31b, . . . can be stored in and taken out from the respective columns 32a, 32b, . control uni soto 4
0 is a control unit 1 built into the system control unit 10
4.15, and controls the drive unit 34 and also controls the above-mentioned nodding means to transfer optical discs between the storage unit 32 and the drive unit 34. The system control unit 10
This is a device that plays the role of transmitting information from the library unit 30 to the library unit 30. The operation unit 50 has a keyboard 51 and a CR
It has a T-display 52, which is used by the operator to give instructions to the image filing device 1 and to confirm the status of the device 1.

Image data S1, search data S5 consisting of patient information S2 and imaging information S3 attached to the image data S1, and image processing conditions S4 are transferred from each image reading processing device 100, 110 to the image filing device 1, and searched. The data S5 is recorded on the magnetic disk 16 to construct an image search database, and the image data S1 is sent to the library unit along with the search data S5 (patient information S2, imaging information S3) and image processing conditions S4 via the control unit 40. The image data is recorded on an optical disk for recording image data loaded in the drive unit 34 of No. 30.

Further, the drive unit 1213 of the system control unit 10 manually loads optical discs one by one, and
4, image data S1, patient information S2, imaging information S
3 and for recording image processing conditions S4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a recording format of an optical disc for recording image data. The recording of the image data S1, patient information S2, imaging information 83, etc. onto the optical disc will be described in detail with reference to this figure.

In the figure, one scale on the vertical axis indicates one track on the optical disc.
One scale on the horizontal axis indicates one sector.

The image data S1 is recorded one image at a time in a sufficiently wide image data recording area 80 on the optical disc. Before and after the image data 81 for one image, there is a header 81A1 and an image reading processing bag ff for recording patient information S2, imaging information 83, etc. corresponding to the image data 81.
Blocks 81B and 81C are provided for recording image processing conditions S4 in 1lo[l, 110.

When the image data 81 is recorded on the optical disc as described above, the image directory 83 (83A
, 83B, 83C...) are recorded. This image directory 83 basically records the start address of the header 81A of each image data 81, the sector length of the image data 81, and characteristic information regarding the image data 81.

The optical disc for recording image data has the above-mentioned area 80.
In addition to 82, there are replacement directories 89A and 89 for replacing the recorded contents of the image directory 83 with the changed ones when the recorded contents of the image directory 83 are changed.
9B, 89C, etc., and an area 84 for forming a directory corresponding to new data when, for example, medical chart contents are newly recorded.
5th grade is provided.

In addition, the first track of the optical disc contains a block 8G for recording the serial number of each disc and the identification code of sides A and B, and a block 8G for recording the disc's serial number and identification code for sides A and B. Block 8 shown
7 along with a number of directory entry blocks 88
A, 88B, 88C, . . . are provided. The first directory entry block 88A indicates that a group of image directories 83A, 83B, 83C, . . . is formed, and the start address and sector length of the image directory group formed in the area 82 are recorded. The second directory entry block 88B records the start address and sector length of the replacement directory group (89A, 119B, 89C...), and the third and subsequent directory entry blocks 88G... will be sequentially formed in the future. A space is provided to record the start address and sector length of each directory group.

As described above, the optical disc contains image data Sl, patient information S2 accompanying this image data S1, and imaging information S.
3. Image processing conditions 84 and the like are sequentially recorded for each image. In this way, patient information S2. Shooting information 33. In addition to the image processing conditions 84, etc., image data S1 with a very large amount of data is recorded, but if known image data compression technology is applied, for example, 100
It is possible to record and accumulate approximately 0 images. On the other hand, the magnetic disk 16 has a smaller recording capacity than the optical disk, but only the search data S5 consisting of the patient information S2 and the imaging information S3 is recorded therein.
It is possible to record and accumulate search data S5 for about 1,000,000 sheets.

As described above, the search data S5 is recorded on the magnetic disk 16 to construct a database, and the image data S1 and associated data 82 to S4 are stored on the image data recording optical disk loaded in the drive unit 34 of the library unit 30. is recorded.

In this image filing device 1, the search data S5 (database) recorded on the magnetic disk 16 every month is searched by the search data backup optical disk (here, the optical disk 31a stored in the shelf 32a) stored in the library unit 30. (assuming it is for data backup).

This copying is performed as follows.

First, after one month has passed since the previous copy (or after the transfer, etc., of new image data S1 is in progress at that time), the drive is The optical disk for recording image data loaded in the section 34 is taken out and stored on the shelf corresponding to the optical disk. Next, the optical disc 31a for retrieval data backup is taken out from the shelf 32a by the handling means and loaded into the drive section 34. After that, all the search data (database) recorded on the magnetic disk 16 is read out by the magnetic disk unit 17,
Search data backup optical disk 31a transferred to the library unit 30 and loaded into the drive unit 34
recorded in After this recording is performed, the optical disc 31a is taken out by the handling means and stored on the corresponding shelf 32a. Thereafter, the optical disk for recording image data that has been used up to that point is taken out from the storage section 32 and loaded into the drive section 34, and recording of the image data 81 and the like is resumed.

In this embodiment, a means for determining Δ1 between 117 in one power month for copying the computer section 11, and a means for reading search data from the magnetic disk 16, transferring it to the library unit 30, and recording it on the optical disk 31a. A combination of the above is considered as the search data transfer means of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the recording format of the search data recording optical disc 31a.

The search data recording optical disc 31a is loaded into the drive unit 34 instead of the image data recording optical disc as described above, and search data is recorded on this optical disc 31a.

The search data read from the magnetic disk 16 is recorded in the search data recording area 40 of the optical disk 31a every time it is transferred. In this way, the search data recording area 4
0 each data file 41A in which search data is recorded.
, 41B, 41C, etc. are formed one by one every month. Also, each time each data file is created, a data file directory 43 corresponding to each data file is added to the data file directory area 42.
A, 43B, 43C, . . . are formed one by one. These data files BUILEF I・S43A, 4
3B, 43C, . . . basically have respective data files 41A, 41. The start address of B, 41C, . . . and the sector length of each data file are recorded. Further, the first track of the optical disc 31a includes a block 44 for recording the number of each optical disc and the identification code of sides A and B, as well as a block 44 for recording the number of each optical disc and the identification code of sides A and B. A number of directory entry blocks 46A, 413B, 4GC, . 1st directory entry block 4
[iA is the data file directory 43A, 43B
, 43C, . . . are formed, and the start address and sector length of the data file directory group are recorded. The second and subsequent directory entry blocks 46B, 413C, . . . are used to record the start address and sector length of each new directory group that will be provided as needed in the future.

As described above, the search data recorded on the magnetic disk 16 is transferred to the search data backup optical disk 31.
transferred to a.

If the storage contents of the magnetic disk 65 are destroyed, the operator can operate the keyboard 51 to select the most recently transferred data to the optical disk 31a from among the databases transferred monthly to the search data backup optical disk 31a. The database is read from the optical disk 31a and transferred to the magnetic disk 16. Also, from this recent database or from the magnetic disk 16 to the optical disk 31a
If new image data 81, etc. are input from the image reading processing device 100, 110 after being transferred to the image data processing device 100, 110, the image data recording optical disk on which the new image data 81, etc. are recorded is transferred to the image data recording optical disk by the handling means. The search data is loaded into the drive section 34, and the search data is directly read from the image data recording optical disk and transferred to the magnetic disk 16, thereby completely restoring the database on the magnetic disk 16.

Next, image search and re-output of reproduced images will be explained.

As mentioned above, the magnetic disk 16 shown in FIG.
A database for image search has been constructed. The operator displays the CRT display 52 of the operation unit 50.
By operating the keyboard 51 while observing the
Enter the desired search data.

The system control unit 10 searches for images corresponding to the input search data from the database built on the magnetic disk 16, and displays a list of these images on the CRT.
It is displayed on the display 52. In principle, all information among the patient information S2 and the imaging information S3 can be used as the above-mentioned search data. For example, when a patient name in the patient information S2 is specified as search data, the CRT display 52 displays an image list showing the image numbers of all images related to the specified patient, patient information other than the name S2, and imaging information S3. Is displayed. The operator looks at this displayed image list and selects a desired image. This selected image number is the computer unit ■
stored in memory within 1.

By storing the image number selected in this way, the image reading processing device 100, 110 and the image display CR
Even if the device to which the retrieved image data is to be transferred among the T-display devices 120 is being used for the purpose of the current location,
It becomes possible to perform image retrieval work independently. Furthermore, even if the searched image is recorded on an optical disk other than the optical disk 33 loaded in the drive unit 34 at the time of the search, the search work is not wasted, and the above selection Thereafter, the optical disk on which the selected image is recorded is loaded into the drive section 34 by the aforementioned handling means, and the image data is read out for re-outputting the image.

After the above selection is made, information indicating that the device to which the image data is to be transferred has stopped operating is sent to the system control unit 1.
0, the system control unit 10 drives the drive unit 34 to read out the reserved image from the optical disc 33.

When performing this image reading 1, the first directory entry block 88A (see FIG. 4) serves as a pointer and an instruction to read the image directory group (area 82) is given, and the image directories 83A, 83B, 83C are read.
... is read. One image directory 83 in which the reserved image number is recorded serves as a pointer, and one header 81A indicated by the image directory 83 is used as a pointer.
is specified, and the recorded contents of the header 81A and the corresponding image data 81 and blocks 81B and 181C are read out.

Image data 81 (Sl) read out as described above
The patient information S2 and imaging information S3 recorded in the header 81A, and the image processing conditions S4 recorded in blocks 81B and 81C are stored in the system control unit 10.
from there to the target device.

As described above, image data is recorded on the optical disk, image data is read from the optical disk, and the database constructed on the magnetic disk 16 is copied to the optical disk every month.

In the above embodiment, 16 magnetic disks are generated every month.
The entire database constructed by recording the search data is copied to the optical disk 31a, but the entire database in the magnetic disk 16 is not necessarily copied to the optical disk 31a.
It is not necessary to copy to 1a; for example, only the database constructed after the previous copy may be copied. Moreover, the cycle of this copying is not limited to every month, but may be every week, every day, etc. Furthermore, for example, every time a predetermined number of image data Sl is accumulated, or every time when one optical disc is It may be irregular in time, such as every time it becomes impossible to record any more.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, the image filing device of the present invention stores a plurality of optical disks including an optical disk for backup of search data in the storage section, and selects the optical disk for backup of the search data at each predetermined timing. Since the optical disc is loaded into the drive unit by the handling means and the search data recorded in the storage unit on the optical disc is copied to the search data backup optical disc loaded in the drive unit, the operator is not bothered. The image retrieval database is reliably prevented from disappearing, and even if the database in the storage unit is destroyed, the database can be easily restored in a short time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing the external appearance of one embodiment of the image filing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration showing the general configuration of the image filing device whose external appearance is shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of the recording format of an optical disc for recording image data, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a recording format of an optical disc for backing up search data. 1... Image filing device 10... System control unit 12. 13... Drive unit 17... Magnetic disk unit 80... Library unit 31a, 81b, --, 31n- Optical disk 32...
・Storage section 32a, 32b, -..., 32n
- Shelf 34... Drive unit 40... Control unit 50... Operation unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] a storage unit that stores a plurality of optical discs on which a large amount of data is recorded; a drive unit that loads the optical disc and records data on the optical disc and reads data recorded on the optical disc; handling means for taking out the optical disk stored in the storage section from the storage section and loading it into the drive section, and for taking out the optical disk loaded in the drive section from the drive section and storing it in the storage section. a library unit for storing a large amount of image data; a storage unit for recording search data for searching the image data; and a storage unit for storing the search data recorded in the storage unit in the library unit. An image filing device comprising search data transfer means for repeatedly copying search data to a search data backup optical disk at a predetermined timing.