Medical diagnostic system service method and apparatus

Abstract

A system is provided for remotely servicing medical diagnostic systems. The diagnostic systems may include a range of modalities and system types. A remote service facility may be contacted by the diagnostic systems, or may contact the diagnostic systems via a network link. Service requests, messages, protocols, data and log files, and so forth, may be transmitted between the diagnostic systems and the service facility. The service requests are handled by the service facility interactively with the medical diagnostic systems. The diagnostic systems are thereby apprised of the status of service requests, service reports, and so forth. A uniform interface and platform are provided for facilitating interactive communications of service requests and data between the diagnostic systems and the service facility.

1 .- 44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A method for providing remote service to a medical diagnostic system, the method comprising the steps of: 
 originating a service request for operational servicing of the medical diagnostic system via a user interface in the medical diagnostic system;    transmitting the service request to a service facility via a network connection;    acknowledging receipt of the service request automatically by the service facility via an electronic message to the medical diagnostic system.    
   
   
       46 . The method of claim  22 , comprising the further step of transmitting operational data from the medical diagnostic system to the service facility representative of a potential operational malfunction of the medical diagnostic system.  
   
   
       47 . The method of claim  23 , wherein the operational data is transmitted from the medical diagnostic system to the service facility in response to a prompt by the service facility.  
   
   
       48 . The method of claim  24 , wherein the prompt is generated by the service facility automatically in response to the service request.  
   
   
       49 . The method of claim  22 , comprising the further step of transmitting from the medical diagnostic system data representative of the medical diagnostic system type and identification.  
   
   
       50 . The method of claim  22 , wherein the service request is generated through a preconfigured browser page accessible on the user interface.  
   
   
       51 . The method of claim  22 , comprising the further step of displaying a visual indicia at the medical diagnostic system indicating receipt of the electronic message from the service facility.  
   
   
       52 . A method for exchanging service data between a plurality of medical diagnostic systems and a central service facility, the method comprising the steps of: 
 composing a service message on a medical diagnostic system, the service message relating to operational servicing of the medical diagnostic system;    linking the medical diagnostic system to a remote service facility via a network connection;    transmitting the service message from the medical diagnostic system to the remote service facility for remote operational servicing of the medical diagnostic system; and    automatically replying to the service message by the service facility to the medical diagnostic system via a return electronic message.    
   
   
       53 . The method of claim  29 , wherein the service message is composed via a user interface.  
   
   
       54 . The method of claim  29 , wherein the service message includes data uniquely identifying the medical diagnostic system.  
   
   
       55 . The method of claim  31 , comprising the further step of automatically accessing electronic records relating to the medical diagnostic system by the service facility in response to the service message.  
   
   
       56 . The method of claim  32 , wherein the electronic records include data representative of an operational service subscriber status of the medical diagnostic system.  
   
   
       57 . The method of claim  32 , wherein the electronic records include data representative of operational service history for the medical diagnostic system.  
   
   
       58 . The method of claim  29 , comprising the further steps of: 
 determining at the service facility log data required to reply to the service message;    automatically linking the service facility to the medical diagnostic system via a network connection; and    transmitting the log data from the medical diagnostic system to the service facility.