Abstract: A medical data storing method by which management and retrieval can be performed easily without complicating the hierarchy structure of medical data when the medical data on medical images, examination results, or the like retained by plural medical facilities are centrally stored in a data center. This medical data storing method includes the steps of: creating, in the client terminal, third identification information by coupling patient identification information and medical facility identification information, which correspond to the medical data, in order to store the medical data obtained by imaging or examination for the purpose of diagnosis; transmitting the medical data with at least the third identification information from the client terminal to the database server; and recording, in the database server, the received medical data and at least the received third identification information in association with each other in a recording medium.

Abstract: An examination appointment method capable of reducing a burden for printing out hospital information and map images of an examination appointment destination. The method is used in an examination appointment system which is configured by connecting a client terminal and a server provided in a data center via a network and making an appointment of an examination intended for diagnosis. The method includes the steps of: transmitting hospital information data and/or map image data on a hospital, which is an appointment destination of the examination, from the server to the client terminal when requested by the client terminal; transmitting examination appointment information data, which represents examination appointment information on the appointment of the examination, from the client terminal to the server; printing out an image based on the hospital information data and/or the map image data by background processing in the client terminal; and receiving the examination appointment information in the server.

Abstract: A server causes an examination request addressee terminal to display contents of examination appointment together with a medical image of a patient as a target of examination. The server includes a first storing unit for storing medical image data; a second storing unit for storing examination appointment data; a first processing unit for displaying, when there is a request from a first client terminal at an examination request client at a time of making an examination appointment, a medical image of the patient in the first client terminal; a second processing unit for causing the second storing unit to store the examination appointment data in correspondence with the medical image data as to the patient; and a third processing unit for displaying contents of the examination appointment data together with the medical image of the patient in a second client terminal at an examination request addressee.

Abstract: When the user inputs an instruction for accessing storage information stored in a fingerprint identification unit to a host computer, the host computer sends an identification instruction command to the fingerprint identification unit. A fingerprint detection section formed of an LED, a lens barrel, a CCD, and an A/D converter read the fingerprint of the user, identifies the fingerprint by using an identification controller, and allows the user to access the storage information only when the identification result is affirmative. The identification result is also sent to the host computer simultaneously.

Abstract: An information storage device is provided which includes a password input section for inputting a password to be notified only to the information storage device without outputting it to external equipment connected to it by way of a predetermined interface, a password collation section for collating the password input by way of the password input section and an access permission section for permitting an access to the storage section of the device from the external equipment connected by way of the predetermined interface in response to the collation of the password by the password collation section.

Abstract: In an interfacing method, a plurality of network printers, which are provided with different kinds of film for image reproduction, are connected by an interface unit to an image information network. Available kinds of film with respect to each of the network printers, which are connected to the interface unit, are recognized. A network printer, which is among the plurality of the network printers and which corresponds to a kind of film coinciding with an output request, is selected in accordance with the results of the recognition. An output instruction, which coincides with the output request, is given to the thus selected network printer. An image can thereby be reproduced with the printer, which corresponds to the kind of film desired by an operator, such that considerable time and labor may not be required of the operator.

Abstract: In an interfacing method, a plurality of network printers, which are provided with different kinds of film for image reproduction, are connected by an interface unit to an image information network. Available kinds of film with respect to each of the network printers, which are connected to the interface unit, are recognized. A network printer, which is among the plurality of the network printers and which corresponds to a kind of film coinciding with an output request, is selected in accordance with the results of the recognition. An output instruction, which coincides with the output request, is given to the thus selected network printer. An image can thereby be reproduced with the printer, which corresponds to the kind of film desired by an operator, such that considerable time and labor may not be required of the operator.

Abstract: Quality of a plurality of images having a common characteristic is confirmed collectively and the images after the confirmation are transferred collectively. Images acquired by a reading apparatus are input to a workstation and stored in a recording apparatus. At the time of image confirmation, the workstation groups image data representing the images stored in the recording apparatus into image groups classified by examination. For an image group including a plurality of images, the images included therein are displayed and their quality is judged by comparison therebetween. When the images are judged to be appropriate, the images are transferred collectively as the image group to a transfer destination apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image management system and image management method for automatically retaining necessary diagnostic image files without relying on manual operations and thereby averting the risk of involuntary data deletion. An image file server connected to modality apparatuses and image viewers permanently archives diagnostic images with a record indication attached automatically on a removable medium. It also displays the image once, and if there is no user indication within a certain period of time after displaying, then it permanently archives the diagnostic image automatically. Alternatively, the diagnostic image may be temporarily stored once with a reservation for permanent archiving, then after a certain period of time it may be permanently archived automatically. When no removable medium is loaded, a reservation may be made for permanent archiving.

Abstract: Quality of a plurality of images having a common characteristic is confirmed collectively and the images after the confirmation are transferred collectively. Images acquired by a reading apparatus are input to a workstation and stored in a recording apparatus. At the time of image confirmation, the workstation groups image data representing the images stored in the recording apparatus into image groups classified by examination. For an image group including a plurality of images, the images included therein are displayed and their quality is judged by comparison therebetween. When the images are judged to be appropriate, the images are transferred collectively as the image group to a transfer destination apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image-processing history storing unit for storing details of image processing performed for a medical image of a patient to correspond to a name of the patient; an image acquisition unit for newly obtaining a name of a patient and a medical image in such a manner that they correspond to each other; an image-processing details extraction unit for extracting the details of image processing stored in the image-processing history storing unit to correspond to the name of the patient newly obtained by the image acquisition unit; and an image processing unit for performing image processing having details that are the same as the extracted details of image processing, for the medical image newly obtained by the image acquisition unit.

Abstract: A medical image is separated into an image body M1 and supplementary information M2 including patient privacy information. The supplementary information M2 is sent using a high security dedicated circuit 4 and the image body M1 is sent using a public circuit 3. Since the data volume of the supplementary information M2 is less than the data volume of the image body M1, communication costs for using the dedicated circuit 4 can be reduced compared to a case of sending and receiving a whole medical image.

Abstract: A medical network server for receiving and transmitting information on electric medical charts from/to a plurality of medical institutions through a communication network.

Abstract: A medical support system for supporting a medical care of a patient includes: a wireless tag carried by the patient; a medical information database for storing medical information of the patient; and a medical support apparatus for communicating with the wireless tag and the medical information database. The medical support apparatus includes: a patient ID acquisition unit for obtaining a patient ID that identifies the patient from the wireless tag when the patient approached the medical support apparatus; a suitability determination unit for referring to the medical information database and determining whether or not the medical support apparatus is suitable for the patient identified by the obtained patient ID; and a warning unit for issuing a warning to the patient when the suitability determination unit determined that the medical support apparatus was unsuitable for the patient.

Abstract: In an image processing method, a direction transforming process is performed on an image signal representing an image and in accordance with information giving specifics about an image recording technique. In cases where a marker pattern, which is represented by a marker signal, is to be appended to the image represented by the image signal, the direction and the appending position of the marker signal are determined in accordance with the information giving specifics about the image recording technique. The marker signal is appended to the image signal in accordance with the thus determined direction and the thus determined appending position of the marker signal. The marker signal is thus appended to the image signal in an appropriate state in accordance with the specifics about the image recording technique.

Abstract: Secure detection of a finger in contact with a sensor. A fingerprint collation program is proposed, in which data outputted from a fingerprint reading sensor is classified into predetermined patterns according to data of a maximum threshold value or more, data of a minimum threshold value or less and an amplitude constituted by a difference obtained based on the maximum and the minimum values of the outputted data. Such fingerprint collation program determines the object that is in contact with the sensor based on the classified patterns. For example, determines whether the object is a finger or not. The present invention may be applied to a fingerprint collation apparatus.

Abstract: In an image processing method, a direction transforming process is performed on an image signal representing an image and in accordance with information giving specifics about an image recording technique. In cases where a marker pattern, which is represented by a marker signal, is to be appended to the image represented by the image signal, the direction and the appending position of the marker signal are determined in accordance with the information giving specifics about the image recording technique. The marker signal is appended to the image signal in accordance with the thus determined direction and the thus determined appending position of the marker signal. The marker signal is thus appended to the image signal in an appropriate state in accordance with the specifics about the image recording technique.

Abstract: A correspondence education system in which a terminal apparatus and an information processing apparatus are connected to each other via a network includes: authentication communication means disposed in the terminal apparatus for performing authentication processing on the basis of human body characteristics of a student and transmitting a predetermined authentication signal to the information processing apparatus via the network only when a positive result of the authentication processing is obtained; and control means disposed in the information processing apparatus for transmitting teaching material data representing lecture contents according to a predetermined educational program to the terminal apparatus via the network on the basis of the authentication signal received from the authentication communication means.

Abstract: A plurality of information-processing apparatus connected to an information management apparatus by a communication network. The information-processing apparatus generates elemental information in accordance with a predetermined condition. Authentication-information is generated irreversibly and univocally on the basis of the elemental information generated by the elemental-information-generating means. The information management apparatus receives a plurality of pieces of the authentication information which it transmits to the information-processing apparatus. The information-processing apparatus transmits the elemental information to the information management apparatus after reception of all the pieces of the authentication information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system including: authentication communication means of a portable type for performing authentication processing on the basis of human body characteristics of a user and outputting a predetermined authentication signal to an exterior thereof only when a positive result is obtained; and control means disposed separately from the authentication communication means for receiving the authentication signal outputted from the authentication communication means and performing predetermined control processing on the basis of the authentication signal.