JP2005322099A - Image data storage method and system, and terminal and server used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data storage method and the like capable of reducing a storage area for data in a data center, and capable of enhancing reliability in data storage, while making the best use of medical information mutually in a plurality of medical facilities. <P>SOLUTION: This image data storage method is provided with a step for dividing and copying an image data, based on division and copying information received from a server 24 installed in the data center 20, in a storage requesting client server 12, a step for setting area information to be transmitted to the storage requesting client server 12, and for recording the area information in a recording medium to correspond to information included in a storage request signal, in the server, and a step for storing the divided and copied image data dispersingly in a plurality of recording media in the client terminal, based on the received area information, in the storage requesting client server 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image data storage method and system for storing image data obtained by imaging for diagnosis in a plurality of medical facilities. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a client terminal and a management server used in such an image data storage system.

  Conventionally, in medical facilities such as practitioners and hospitals, medical imaging apparatuses using radiation (X-rays, α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), ultrasonic waves, MR (magnetic resonance), etc. A medical image is taken using. Such medical images need to be stored in order to know changes in a patient's medical condition, and are required to be stored for a predetermined period by law. Therefore, it is necessary to store a large amount of medical images in a medical facility. Conventionally, since a film or the like on which a medical image is taken is stored, securing a storage space for medical images, management work, and search work have been a heavy burden on medical facilities.

  On the other hand, in recent years, digitalization of medical image capturing apparatuses has progressed, and medical images are recorded as image data on an optical disk, a magnetic disk, or the like, thereby reducing storage space for medical images, management work, and search work. It is possible to save labor. However, since the medical information accumulated in each medical facility cannot be referred from other medical facilities, mutual use of medical information is planned when the same patient is receiving treatment at multiple medical facilities. It was not done.

  As a technique for mutually utilizing medical information, Patent Literature 1 below provides an environment in which the provision of medical information by a user can be promoted, thereby improving the efficiency and convenience of the medical and health promotion fields. A medical information sharing system that can be enhanced is disclosed. In this medical information sharing system, the server system receives a customer data storage unit for managing customer authentication information necessary for customer authentication, and medical information about the customer from the medical institution together with the customer authentication information, and converts it into the customer authentication information. If the legitimacy is determined based on the medical data storage unit for storing the medical information about the customer and the request for the customer's medical information together with the customer authentication information from any medical institution, A medical information providing unit for providing the medical information of the customer to the medical institution when the validity of the request is confirmed based on the request. In this way, medical information about customers can be shared by centrally managing them in the server system, and medical data registered through a medical examination center or a human dog can be acquired through a hospital.

However, in this medical information sharing system, medical data registered through a medical institution such as a medical examination center or a human dog is stored in a server system provided in the medical data center. There is a problem that a large-scale storage (storage device) for storing the data is necessary.
JP 2002-259573 A (pages 1, 4 and FIG. 2)

  Therefore, in view of the above points, the present invention can reduce the data storage area in the data center and improve the reliability of data storage while mutually utilizing medical information in a plurality of medical facilities. An object is to provide an image data storage method and system. A further object of the present invention is to provide a client terminal and a management server used in such an image data storage system.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image data storage method according to the present invention includes a plurality of client terminals installed in a plurality of medical facilities and a server installed in a data center that manages storage of image data. An image data storage method used in an image data storage system configured by connecting via a signal, and a signal for requesting divided duplication information regarding division and duplication of image data to be stored in order to store the image data Are transmitted from the storage request source client terminal to the server, the server sets the division copy information and transmits to the storage request source client terminal, and the storage request source client terminal receives the divided copy. The image data to be stored is divided based on the information, and the divided image data is divided. And a step of transmitting a storage information request signal for requesting area information relating to a storage area of the client terminal to which the divided and copied image data is to be distributed and stored to the server from the storage request source client terminal; In the server, the region information is set and transmitted to the client terminal of the storage request source, the region information is recorded on the recording medium in correspondence with the information included in the storage information request signal, and the storage request source The client terminal includes the step of distributing and recording the divided and duplicated image data on the recording media of the plurality of client terminals based on the received area information.

  The image data storage system according to the present invention includes image data configured by connecting a plurality of client terminals respectively installed in a plurality of medical facilities and a server installed in a data center via a network. In order to store image data, the storage system transmits a signal requesting divided copy information regarding division and duplication of image data to be stored to the server, and stores the image data based on the divided copy information received from the server. The image data to be divided is divided, the divided image data is duplicated, and the divided and duplicated image data is distributed, and a storage information request signal for requesting area information regarding the storage area of the client terminal is transmitted to the server. Based on the area information received from the server, the divided and duplicated image data is recorded in a plurality of client terminals. When a client terminal that records and records on a medium and a signal requesting split copy information are received from a client terminal that requests storage, the split copy information is set and transmitted to the client terminal that is the storage request source. When the storage information request signal is received from the original client terminal, the area information is set and transmitted to the storage request source client terminal, and the area information is recorded corresponding to the information included in the storage information request signal. And a server for recording on a medium.

  Furthermore, a client terminal according to the present invention is a client terminal that is installed in a medical facility and is connected to a server installed in a data center that manages storage of image data via a network, for storing image data. In addition, a signal requesting divisional duplication information regarding division and duplication of image data to be stored is transmitted to the server, the image data to be stored is divided based on the divisional duplication information received from the server, and the divided image data And a storage information request signal for requesting area information regarding the storage area of the client terminal to which the image data divided and copied by the division processing means should be distributed and stored is received from the server. The divided and duplicated image data is divided into recording media of a plurality of client terminals based on the area information. To; and a storage control unit for recording.

  In addition, the server according to the present invention is a server that is installed in a data center that manages the storage of image data and is connected to a plurality of client terminals installed in a plurality of medical facilities via a network. Split copy information setting that sets split copy information and sends it to the client terminal of the storage request source when a request for split copy information related to the division and copy of image data to be stored is received from the request source client terminal The area information is set when the storage information request signal for requesting the area information on the storage area of the client terminal to which the divided and copied image data should be distributed and stored from the means and the client terminal of the storage request source. Information sent to the storage request source client terminal and the area information included in the storage information request signal By corresponding and a storage area management means for recording on a recording medium.

  According to the present invention, in the client terminal that is the storage request source, the image data to be stored is divided, the divided image data is copied, and the divided and copied image data is distributed to the recording media of a plurality of client terminals. By recording the data, it is possible to reduce the storage area of the data in the data center and improve the reliability in storing the data while mutually utilizing the medical information in a plurality of medical facilities.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image data storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in this image data storage system, as an example of a medical facility, a plurality of clinics 10 are connected to a data center 20 via a network 30 such as a dedicated line, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), or the Internet. It is configured by being connected.

  Each clinic 10 receives an imaging modality 11 such as a radiographic imaging apparatus or an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and image data representing a medical image from the imaging modality 11 and stores the image data in cooperation with the data center 20. A client terminal 12, a firewall (FW) 13 for preventing unauthorized access, a printer 14 for printing out medical images on a film, and the like are connected to each other via a local area network (LAN). Yes.

  The data center 20 includes an authentication server 21 that performs authentication for access from the client terminal 12, a recording medium such as a hard disk in which an authentication database (DB) 22 that stores user information necessary for authentication is recorded, A firewall (FW) 23 for preventing unauthorized access, a management server 24 that manages storage and reference of image data, and a management database (DB) 25 that stores area information about the storage area of image data as metadata are recorded. And a recording medium such as a hard disk. Note that the authentication server 21 may be installed outside the data center 20.

  Here, metadata is data for providing basic information such as title, creator, creation date, etc. so that processing such as selection and collection can be performed efficiently without reading the entire contents of the information. It is. As metadata for managing image data, for example, region information relating to a storage region of image data is provided to engineers and doctors (hereinafter also referred to as “file creators”) involved in the creation of the image data file. Correspondingly, it can be recorded on a recording medium.

  In this embodiment, in order to divide the physical location while the client terminal and the management server cooperate, the image data is distributed and stored in the client terminals of a plurality of medical facilities. It only stores metadata and does not store image data. This eliminates the need for a large-scale storage for storing image data in the data center.

  Further, the client terminal that generated the image data generates image segments by dividing the image data, duplicates the data segments, and overlaps the plurality of client terminals respectively installed in the plurality of medical facilities. Let me keep it. As a result, even when a data segment stored in some client terminals is damaged, image data is converted based on the same data segment as the damaged data segment stored in duplicate in other client terminals. The reliability in storing image data is improved by enabling restoration.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a client terminal installed in a clinic. The client terminal 12 includes an input unit 41 such as a keyboard and a mouse used for inputting various instructions and the like, and a CRT or LCD display for displaying a medical image or the like represented by image data input from the imaging modality 11 A display unit 42, a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 43 to which an input unit 41 and a display unit 42 are connected via an interface 49, a memory 44, a hard disk 45, and data writing and reading in the hard disk 45 A hard disk control unit 46 for controlling the data, a DVD drive 47 for writing / reading data to / from a DVD (digital versatile disk), and a network interface 48 for connecting to a LAN. These portions 43 to 48 are connected to each other via a bus line.

  The memory 44 temporarily stores image data input from the imaging modality 11 and divided image data downloaded from a client terminal installed in another clinic. The hard disk 45 stores software (program) for causing the CPU 43 to perform an operation. As a recording medium for recording the program, in addition to the built-in hard disk 43 or DVD-ROM inserted into the DVD drive 47, an external hard disk, flexible disk, MO, MT, RAM, or CD-ROM Etc. can also be used.

Next, functional blocks 43a to 43f configured by the CPU 43 and software (program) will be described.
The image processing unit 43 a performs necessary image processing on the image data received from the inspection modality 11 and generates display data to be displayed on the display unit 42. The display data is supplied from the output unit 43b to the display unit 42 via the interface 49, and an image is displayed on the display unit 42. The image is confirmed by the operator. Further, the image data on which necessary image processing has been performed is stored in the memory 44, and further divided according to an instruction from the operator using the input unit 41 or set conditions, and patient attribute information and examination attribute information. Are stored in the hard disk 46 or a client terminal installed in another clinic.

  The division processing unit 43c divides image data on which necessary image processing has been performed to generate a plurality of data segments, and further duplicates these data segments. Therefore, the division processing unit 43c requests the division duplication information request signal for requesting the division duplication information signal designating the segment length and the data multiplicity according to the instruction of the operator using the input unit 41 or the set condition. Is transmitted to the management server 24, and the divided replication information signal transmitted from the management server 24 is received. The split copy information request signal includes medical facility identification information, client terminal identification information, or the like in order to identify the client terminal that is the storage request source of image data.

  Here, the segment length represents the data length of a data segment generated by dividing image data, and the data multiplicity represents the number of identical data segments obtained as a result of duplicating each data segment. . The division processing unit 43c divides the image data based on the segment length specified in the received divided duplication information signal to generate a data segment, and the data segment specified in the received divided duplication information signal. Duplicate each data segment based on severity.

  The storage control unit 43d stores an instruction from an operator using the input unit 41 or set conditions in order to distribute and store a plurality of data segments in the hard disk 46 and client terminals installed in other clinics. Accordingly, access to the data center 20 for storing image data is started. In the data center 20, in order to prevent falsification of image data, etc., authentication is requested for access to area information for storing or referring to image data.

  When the storage control unit 43d inquires of the authentication server 21 (FIG. 1) of the data center 20 about the access right for storing the image data, the authentication server 21 starts authentication. When the authentication server 21 grants an access right for image data storage, the storage control unit 43d transmits a storage information request signal to the management server 24 in order to request a storage area information signal regarding storage of each data segment. . The storage information request signal includes information for specifying the storage request source client terminal and file creator information.

  The management server 24 transmits a storage area information signal including area information indicating an area in which each data segment is to be stored to the client terminal 12. The storage control unit 43 d of the client terminal 12 receives the storage area information signal transmitted from the management server 24. Here, the area information indicating the area in which the data segment is to be stored corresponds to, for example, a URL (uniform resource locator) indicating a directory name in the client terminal and the client terminal.

  The storage control unit 43d uses the obtained URL to assemble a plurality of data segments together with image attribute information including patient attribute information, examination attribute information, division position information indicating a division position, and the like (hypertext transfer protocol: HTTP). In accordance with a protocol such as a transfer protocol (HTTP) or hypertext transfer protocol security (HTTPS), the data is uploaded and stored in the hard disk 46 or a client terminal installed in another clinic.

  According to this embodiment, transmission and reception of data between client terminals installed in a plurality of clinics, or between client terminals installed in clinics and various servers installed in a data center, are performed using HTTP or HTTPS. Therefore, there is an advantage that a special driver for a protocol such as iSCSI (Internet small computer system interface: ice caddy) is not required.

  The reference control unit 43e responds to an operator instruction using the input unit 61 in order to refer to image data distributed and stored in the hard disk 46 or client terminals installed in other clinics. Access to the authentication server 21 of the center 20 for image data reference is started. When the reference control unit 43e inquires the authentication server 21 about an access right for referring to image data, the authentication server 21 starts authentication.

  When the access right for image data reference is recognized in the authentication server 21, the reference control unit 43e transmits a reference information request signal to the management server 24 in order to request a reference area information signal related to the reference of each data segment. . The reference information request signal includes information for identifying the client terminal that is the reference request source and file creator information. The management server 24 transmits to the client terminal 12 a reference area information signal including area information indicating an area in which a data segment to be referenced is stored. The reference control unit 43e of the client terminal 12 receives the reference area information signal transmitted from the management server 24.

  Here, the region information indicating the region in which the data segment to be referenced is stored corresponds to the URLs of all the data segments corresponding to the file creator information included in the reference information request signal. Based on the URL included in the received reference area information signal, the reference control unit 43e retrieves all the client terminal directories represented by the URL, reads the data segment, and is recorded together with the data segment. All the data segments necessary to restore the desired image data are acquired based on the image supplementary information.

  The combination processing unit 43f restores the image data by combining a plurality of data segments acquired by the reference control unit 43e based on the division position information, and generates display data to be displayed on the display unit 42. The display data is supplied from the output unit 43b to the display unit 42 via the interface 49, and an image is displayed on the display unit 42. The image is confirmed by the operator.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 43a, the output unit 43b, the division processing unit 43c, the storage control unit 43d, the reference control unit 43e, and the combination processing unit 43f are configured by a CPU and software. You may comprise with a circuit.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the management server installed in the data center. The management server 24 includes an input unit 51 that is used for inputting various instructions, a display unit 52 that performs display for operation, and a central unit where the input unit 51 and the display unit 52 are connected via an interface 59. An arithmetic device (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 53, a memory 54, a hard disk 55, a hard disk controller 56 for controlling the hard disk 55, a network interface 57 for connecting to a LAN, and a management database (DB) 25 are recorded. And an interface 58 for controlling the hard disk or the like. These portions 53 to 58 are connected to each other via a bus line.

  The hard disk 55 stores software (program) for causing the CPU 53 to perform an operation. In addition to the built-in hard disk 55, an external hard disk, flexible disk, MO, MT, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or the like can be used as a recording medium for recording the program.

Next, functional blocks 53a to 53c configured by the CPU 53 and software (program) will be described.
The reception control unit 53a receives a divided duplication information request signal, a storage information request signal, a reference information request signal, and the like from the client terminal that is the storage request source.

  Based on the divided copy information request signal received by the reception control unit 53a, the divided copy information setting unit 53b sets a segment length and data multiplicity for the image data, and a divided copy information signal including these pieces of information is set. Sent to the client terminal requesting storage.

  When a storage information request signal transmitted from a storage request source client terminal is received by the reception control unit 53a, the storage area management unit 53c sets an area for storing a plurality of data segments and represents the area. A storage area information signal including the URL is transmitted to the client terminal of the storage request source. Further, the storage area management unit 53c records the URL representing the area in the management database 25 in association with the file creator information included in the storage information request signal.

  On the other hand, when the reference information request signal transmitted from the client terminal of the reference request source is received by the reception control unit 53a, the storage area management unit 53c includes the file creator information included in the reference information request signal and Correspondingly, all the plurality of URLs recorded in the management database 25 are searched, and all the searched URLs are referred to according to the information for specifying the client terminal of the reference request source included in the reference information request signal. Sent to the requesting client terminal.

  In the present embodiment, the reception control unit 53a, the divided copy information setting unit 53b, and the storage area management unit 53c are configured by a CPU and software, but may be configured by a digital circuit or an analog circuit.

Next, the operation of the image data storage system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image data storage system according to the present embodiment when storing image data.

  First, in step S11, the client terminal 12 of the clinic 10 inputs image data from the imaging modality 11, and the image data is stored in the memory 44 together with image supplementary information including patient attribute information and examination attribute information corresponding to the image data. To store.

  Next, in step S12, the division processing unit 43c of the client terminal 12 transmits a divided duplication information request signal to the management server 24 of the data center 20 according to an operator instruction using the input unit 41 or a set condition. To do.

  In step S21, the reception control unit 53a of the management server 24 receives the divided duplication information request signal. In step S <b> 22, the divided replication information setting unit 53 b of the management server 24 returns a divided replication information signal including information specifying the segment length and the data multiplicity to the client terminal 12. As the data multiplicity, an integer greater than or equal to “2” can be set within a range smaller than the number of client terminals subscribing to the system.

  In step S13, the division processing unit 43c of the client terminal 12 generates data segments by dividing the image data based on the segment length specified in the received divided copy information signal, and is specified in the divided copy information signal. Each data segment is replicated based on the data multiplicity being stored. The generated plurality of data segments are stored in the memory 44 together with image supplementary information including corresponding patient attribute information, examination attribute information, division position information, and the like.

  For example, when the segment length specified in the divided duplication information signal is a data length suitable for dividing the image data into four, the division processing unit 43c divides the image data into four based on the segment length. Thus, the first to fourth data segments are generated, and the division position information indicating the division position is attached to each data segment. Further, when the data multiplicity specified in the divided duplication information signal is “3”, the division processing unit 43c creates three files of the same data segment by duplicating each data segment file. A total of 12 files are prepared.

  In step S14, the storage control unit 43d of the client terminal 12 accesses the authentication server 21 of the data center 20 for storing image data in accordance with an operator instruction using the input unit 41 or a set condition. Query rights.

  When the authentication server 21 grants the access right for storing image data, the storage control unit 43d transmits a storage information request signal to the management server 24 of the data center 20 in step S15.

  In step S23, the reception control unit 53a of the management server 24 receives the storage information request signal. In step S24, the storage area management unit 53c of the management server 24 returns a storage area information signal including URLs indicating storage areas of a plurality of data segments to the client terminal 12.

  In step S25, the storage area management unit 53c manages URLs representing storage areas of a plurality of data segments in association with file creator information included in the storage information request signal received by the reception control unit 53a. Records in the recording medium of the database 25.

  In step S16, the storage control unit 43d of the client terminal 12 displays the data segment stored in the memory 44 and the image supplementary information corresponding to the data segment based on the URL included in the storage area information signal. The data is transmitted to a client terminal installed in the hard disk 45 or other clinic and uploaded.

  Next, in step S17, the storage control unit 43d determines whether all the generated data segments have been recorded. The storage control unit 43d ends the image data storage operation when all the data segments are recorded, and repeats steps S15 to S17 when there is a data segment that has not been uploaded.

  By repeating steps S15 to S17, for example, the first to third data segments are uploaded to the client terminal installed in the first clinic and the client terminal installed in the second clinic is uploaded. On the other hand, the second to fourth data segments can be uploaded, and the first, third and fourth data segments can be uploaded to the client terminal installed in the third clinic.

  Thus, by uploading and storing the duplicated data segment to the client terminals installed in a plurality of different clinics, for example, the data segment uploaded to the client terminal installed in the first clinic is damaged. Even in this case, since the first to fourth data segments are stored in the client terminals installed in the second to fourth clinics, the image data can be restored based on these data segments. .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the image data storage system according to the present embodiment when referring to image data.
First, in step S31, the reference control unit 43e of the client terminal 12 gives an access right for image data reference to the authentication server 21 of the data center 20 in response to an operator instruction using the input unit 41. Inquire.

  When the authentication server 21 grants the access right for image data reference, the reference control unit 43e transmits a reference information request signal to the management server 24 of the data center 20 in step S32.

  In step S41, the reception control unit 53a of the management server 24 receives the reference information request signal. In step S42, the storage area management unit 53c of the management server 24 records a plurality of information recorded in the management database 25 corresponding to the file creator information based on the file creator information included in the reference information request signal. Search the URL. In step S43, the storage area management unit 53c returns a reference area information signal including all the searched URLs to the requesting client terminal 12.

  In step S33, the reference control unit 43e of the client terminal 12 responds to the image data to the client terminal installed in another clinic based on one of all URLs included in the reference area information signal. The transmission of the data segment is requested by transmitting a data segment request signal including the image supplementary information to be transmitted.

  In step S34, the client terminal installed in another clinic checks whether or not there is a data segment corresponding to the received image supplementary information, and determines whether or not the data segment can be downloaded. . If the data segment cannot be downloaded, steps S33 and S34 are repeated for a client terminal installed in another clinic. On the other hand, when the data segment can be downloaded, in step S35, the reference control unit 43e acquires the requested data segment.

  Next, in step S36, the reference control unit 43e determines whether or not all data segments necessary for image data restoration have been acquired. If all the data segments necessary for image data restoration have not been acquired, steps S33 to S36 are repeated for a client terminal installed in another clinic. On the other hand, when all the data segments necessary for image data restoration have been acquired, the process proceeds to step S37.

  In step S37, the combination processing unit 43f of the client terminal 12 combines the data segments based on the division position information to restore the image data. In step S38, a medical image is displayed on the display unit 42 based on the restored image data. Thereby, the medical image represented by the desired image data can be browsed.

  The present invention can be used in an image data storage system that stores image data obtained by imaging for diagnosis in a plurality of medical facilities.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image data storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client terminal installed in a clinic. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the management server installed in a data center. It is a flowchart which shows the example of operation | movement of the image data storage system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention in storing image data. It is a flowchart which shows the example of operation | movement of the image data storage system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention when referring image data.

Explanation of symbols

10 Clinic 11 Imaging modality 12 Client terminal 13 Firewall (FW)
14 Printer 20 Data Center 21 Authentication Server 22 Authentication Database (DB)
23 Firewall (FW)
24 management server 25 management database (DB)
30 Network 41 Input unit 42 Display unit 43 Central processing unit (CPU)
43a Image processing unit 43b Output unit 43c Division processing unit 43d Storage control unit 43e Reference control unit 43f Connection processing unit 44 Memory 45 Hard disk 46 Hard disk control unit 47 DVD drive 48 Network interface 49 Interface 51 Input unit 52 Display unit 53 Central processing unit ( CPU)
53a Reception control unit 53b Divided / replica information setting unit 53c Storage area management unit 54 Memory 55 Hard disk 56 Hard disk control unit 57 Network interface 58, 59 interface

Claims (8)

Used in an image data storage system configured by connecting a plurality of client terminals respectively installed in a plurality of medical facilities and a server installed in a data center that manages storage of image data via a network. An image data storage method,
Transmitting a signal requesting divisional duplication information relating to division and duplication of image data to be saved from the client terminal of the storage request source to the server in order to store the image data;
In the server, setting split replication information and transmitting to the client terminal of the storage request source;
In the client terminal of the storage request source, dividing the image data to be stored based on the received divided copy information, and copying the divided image data;
Transmitting a storage information request signal for requesting area information relating to a storage area of a client terminal to which the divided and copied image data is to be distributed and stored, from the storage request source client terminal to the server;
In the server, setting area information and transmitting it to the storage request source client terminal, and recording the area information on a recording medium in correspondence with information included in the storage information request signal;
In the storage request source client terminal, based on the received area information, the divided and copied image data is distributed and recorded on the recording media of a plurality of client terminals;
An image data storage method comprising: In order to refer to the image data, a reference information request signal for requesting area information regarding the storage area of the client terminal that stores the divided and duplicated image data in a distributed manner is sent from the client terminal that is the reference request source to the server. Sending, and
In the server, on the basis of information included in the received reference information request signal, searching for area information recorded on the recording medium;
Transmitting the searched area information from the server to the client terminal of the reference request source;
Based on the received area information, the reference request source client terminal acquires a plurality of types of divided image data from a plurality of client terminals that store the divided and duplicated image data in a distributed manner. Reconstructing the image data by combining the types of divided image data;
The image data storage method according to claim 1, further comprising: An image data storage system configured by connecting a plurality of client terminals installed in a plurality of medical facilities and a server installed in a data center via a network,
In order to store the image data, a signal requesting divided copy information regarding division and duplication of the image data to be stored is transmitted to the server, and the image data to be stored is determined based on the divided copy information received from the server. Dividing, copying the divided image data, and transmitting the storage information request signal for requesting area information regarding the storage area of the client terminal to which the divided and copied image data should be distributed and stored, to the server, A client terminal for distributing and recording the divided and duplicated image data on the recording media of a plurality of client terminals based on the area information received from
When a signal requesting divisional copy information is received from the storage request source client terminal, the divisional replication information is set and transmitted to the storage request source client terminal, and the storage request source client terminal receives the storage information request signal A server that sets area information and transmits it to the client terminal of the storage request source, and records the area information on a recording medium in correspondence with the information included in the storage information request signal;
An image data storage system comprising: The client terminal transmits a reference information request signal for requesting area information regarding the storage area of the client terminal that stores the divided and duplicated image data in a distributed manner in order to refer to the image data, Based on the received area information, acquire multiple types of divided image data from multiple client terminals that store the divided and duplicated image data in a distributed manner, and combine multiple types of divided image data To restore the image data,
The server searches area information recorded in the recording medium based on information included in a reference information request signal received from a client terminal that is a reference request source, and uses the searched area information as the reference request. Send to the original client terminal,
The image data storage system according to claim 3. A client terminal installed in a medical facility and connected via a network to a server installed in a data center that manages storage of image data,
In order to store the image data, a signal requesting divided copy information regarding division and duplication of the image data to be stored is transmitted to the server, and the image data to be stored is determined based on the divided copy information received from the server. Division processing means for dividing and replicating the divided image data;
Based on the area information received from the server, the storage information request signal for requesting the area information regarding the storage area of the client terminal to which the image data divided and copied by the division processing unit should be distributed and stored is sent to the server. Storage control means for distributing and recording the divided and duplicated image data on recording media of a plurality of client terminals,
A client terminal. In order to refer to the image data, a reference information request signal for requesting area information regarding the storage area of the client terminal that stores the divided and duplicated image data in a distributed manner is transmitted to the server and received from the server Reference control means for acquiring a plurality of types of divided image data from a plurality of client terminals that distribute and store the divided and duplicated image data based on the region information;
A combination processing unit that combines the plurality of types of divided image data acquired by the reference control unit to restore the image data;
The client terminal according to claim 5, comprising: A server installed in a data center that manages storage of image data and connected to a plurality of client terminals installed in a plurality of medical facilities via a network,
Divided duplication that sets divided duplication information and transmits it to the client terminal that is the storage request source when a signal requesting division duplication information relating to division and duplication of image data to be saved is received from the client terminal that is the storage request source Information setting means;
When receiving a storage information request signal for requesting area information relating to the storage area of the client terminal from which the divided and copied image data should be distributed and stored from the client terminal of the storage request source, the area information is set. A storage area management means for transmitting to the client terminal of the storage request source and recording the area information on a recording medium in correspondence with the information included in the storage information request signal;
A server comprising:   The storage area management means searches the area information recorded on the recording medium based on the information included in the reference information request signal received from the client terminal of the reference request source, and finds the searched area information. The server according to claim 7, wherein the server is transmitted to the client terminal of the reference request source.

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