System and method for deployment of configuration and analysis software

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and system for deploying software, e.g., software modules designed for acquisition and/or post-processing of images related to a particular imaging agent. The modules can be remotely accessed from a software server.

1 . A method for deploying at least one software module, the method comprising: 
 requesting said at least one software module associated with an imaging agent; and    receiving said at least one requested software module from a software server via a network.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one software module is an acquisition module comprising at least one acquisition parameter.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 configuring an imaging workstation using said at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 conducting an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 forwarding collected data derived from said examination to said software server.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 requesting aggregated information from said software server.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said acquisition module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one software module is a post processing module comprising at least one post processing parameter.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 processing data collected from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one post processing parameter.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 forwarding said post processed data to said software server.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 requesting aggregated information from said software server.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said post processing module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         13 . A method for distributing at least one software module, the method comprising: 
 storing at least one software module associated with an imaging agent;    receiving a request for said at least one software module; and    forwarding said at least one requested software module to a client via a network.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one software module is an acquisition module comprising at least one acquisition parameter.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 receiving collected data derived from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said to at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 sending aggregated information derived from said collected data to said client.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said acquisition module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one software module is a post processing module comprising at least one post processing parameter.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 receiving post processed data from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one post processing parameter.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 sending aggregated information derived from said post processed data to said client.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said post processing module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for deploying at least one software module, comprising: 
 means for requesting said at least one software module associated with an imaging agent; and    means for receiving said at least one requested software module from a software server via a network.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one software module is an acquisition module comprising at least one acquisition parameter.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 means for configuring an imaging workstation using said at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 means for conducting an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 means for forwarding collected data derived from said examination to said software server.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 means for requesting aggregated information from said software server.    
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said acquisition module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one software module is a post processing module comprising at least one post processing parameter.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 means for processing data collected from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one post processing parameter.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 means for forwarding said post processed data to said software server.    
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said post processing module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for deploying at least one software module, comprising: 
 an imager; and    an imaging workstation for requesting said at least one software module associated with an imaging agent, and for receiving said at least one requested software module from a software server via a network.    
     
     
         34 . An apparatus for distributing at least one software module, comprising: 
 means for storing at least one software module associated with an imaging agent;    means for receiving a request for said at least one software module; and    means for forwarding said at least one requested software module to a client via a network.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one software module is an acquisition module comprising at least one acquisition parameter.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , further comprising: 
 means for receiving collected data derived from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said to at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 means for sending aggregated information derived from said collected data to said client.    
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein said acquisition module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one software module is a post processing module comprising at least one post processing parameter.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 means for receiving post processed data from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one post processing parameter.    
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 means for sending aggregated information derived from said post processed data to said client.    
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein said post processing module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         43 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for deploying at least one software module, comprising of: 
 requesting said at least one software module associated with an imaging agent; and    receiving said at least one requested software module from a software server via a network.    
     
     
         44 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43 , wherein said at least one software module is an acquisition module comprising at least one acquisition parameter.  
     
     
         45 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 configuring an imaging workstation using said at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         46 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 conducting an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         47 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 forwarding collected data derived from said examination to said software server.    
     
     
         48 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 requesting aggregated information from said software server.    
     
     
         49 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 44 , wherein said acquisition module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         50 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 43 , wherein said at least one software module is a post processing module comprising at least one post processing parameter.  
     
     
         51 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 processing data collected from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one post processing parameter.    
     
     
         52 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 51 , further comprising: 
 forwarding said post processed data to said software server.    
     
     
         53 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 requesting aggregated information from said software server.    
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said post processing module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         55 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for distributing at least one software module, comprising of: 
 storing at least one software module associated with an imaging agent;    receiving a request for said at least one software module; and    forwarding said at least one requested software module to a client via a network.    
     
     
         56 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein said at least one software module is an acquisition module comprising at least one acquisition parameter.  
     
     
         57 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 receiving collected data derived from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said to at least one acquisition parameter.    
     
     
         58 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 57 , further comprising: 
 sending aggregated information derived from said collected data to said client.    
     
     
         59 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 56 , wherein said acquisition module is a plug-in module.  
     
     
         60 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 55 , wherein said at least one software module is a post processing module comprising at least one post processing parameter.  
     
     
         61 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 60 , further comprising: 
 receiving post processed data from an examination using said imaging agent in accordance with said at least one post processing parameter.    
     
     
         62 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 61 , further comprising: 
 sending aggregated information derived from said post processed data to said client.    
     
     
         63 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 60 , wherein said post processing module is a plug-in module.