Abstract: An imaging system in a hospital includes plural diagnostic units each having a picture filing memory in which medical picture data of patients are stored. The memories are located in the diagnostic units at dispersed locations in the hospital. Each diagnostic unit includes a retrieval unit by which image data can be retrieved from the respective memory. A network interconnects the diagnostic unit and permits transmission of image data among the diagnostic units.

Abstract: A network system includes a plurality of low-order networks which each have a plurality of nodes coupled through data transfer paths and are mutually coupled by a repeater for data communication between the nodes. The repeater has a switching circuit system including a plurality of switching circuits for selectively coupling the low-order networks. The repeater further has a switch controller for controlling the switching operation of the switching circuits in accordance with a communication request from each node.

Abstract: When medical image data is acquired by imaging equipment of modality, modality outputs an image data transfer request command to a data base, via a network. After a memory area of a TMD (temporal magnetic disc) of the data base is secured, the acquired image data is transferred from modality to the TMD. When an image data retrieval request command is input from a WS (work station) of a console to data base through network, retrieval of the image data stored in the data base is performed, the retrieved data is transferred to the WS, and is displayed. The operator requests data base to read out image data by retrieval result. Data base is searched memory address of the requested image data. When the requested image data is stored in OD (optical disc), image data stored in OD is transferred to TMD. Image data stored in TMD is transferred to WS, and is displayed.

Abstract: A network interface in a local area network system for transferring a message from a first terminal to a second terminal at high speed comprises a receiving section for receiving the message from the first terminal, a first sending section for sending the received message to a first network on the basis of a first control instruction, a second sending section for sending the received message to a second network on the basis of a second control instruction, and a network control section for detecting a message size of the received message and for outputting the first and second control instruction to the first and second sending section in accordance with the message size.

Abstract: A database system is provided in a network system capable of exchanging medical data, including at least image data and key data associated therewith, and can store and retrieve the medical data via the network system. The database system has first and second data file devices and a file management device. The first data file device stores image data supplied via the network system in a first rewritable storage. The second data file device stores image data transferred from the first storage in a non-rewritable second storage. The file management device has an index data storage for storing the key data, supplied via the network system, and memory addresses of image data, which correspond to the key data, on the first and second storages in correspondence with each other, and manages storing and reading of the image data in and from the first and second data file devices.