Abstract: An image data dissemination system and method for anticipating user image requests from a user workstation and for locating, transforming and, as necessary, migrating anticipated representations of image data files to a local storage area for efficient access. An anticipated image request is determined based on a number of factors including the image retrieval historical information associated with a user and/or the user workstation. An anticipated representation of the image data file is also determined. An image data file that satisfies the anticipated image request and is in the anticipated representation is then identified, copied and stored in an optimal local storage area. When a user workstation generates the anticipated image request, the corresponding image data file stored on the optimal local storage area is provided the user workstation.

Abstract: An image archiving system includes imaging modalities, an acquisition workstation and a number of PACS networks. Each PACS network includes storage access points that access and provide medical image meta-data from a clinical database and image data files from temporary and permanent storage areas and to a plurality of clients. The temporary and permanent storage areas each have a location repository and a storage device for storing medical images and the details associated with the image data. When triggering events occur, image data files stored in a permanent storage area are considered for deletion and image data file copies stored in a temporary storage area are considered for replacement. Various selection criteria and indicia are used to determine whether or not to delete or replace image data files.