Data distribution system

Abstract

An interactive system for obtaining data for diagnostic purposes from a server having access to stores of said data wherein the server supplies the data and software to a data requesting user that enables the user to receive the data progressively so as to decide during the receipt of the data what portions of the data are to be received thereby decreasing the time required to receive the data and that enables the user to load the software to process the supplied data.

1 . An interactive method for allowing a user to obtain image data for diagnostic purposes from a server having access to stored data, comprising: 
 connecting a user's computer to the server over a communication network;    receiving from the server image selection software for the user's computer;    requesting specific image data for transmission from the server to the user's computer, using the image selection software;    progressively transmitting the requested specific data over the network to the user's computer;    reconstructing images of progressively improving quality from the progressively received data;    using the produced improved images of progressively produced quality to decide on processing of the images; and    interactively selecting regions of interests in the images based on said progressively improved images, prior to the progressively received data being completely received,    wherein said data transmission continues while said regions are being selected on an image reconstructed from previously transmitted data of a lower quality.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said image data represents a set of images and wherein using the produced images to decide comprises using the produced images to decide on processing images which have not yet been received.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising deciding on a termination of transmission of said progressive image data, responsive to a decision based on said reconstructed images.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises converting said image data to image data representing an image with fewer bits per pixel, which fewer bits represent a gray scale component of said image, wherein said converting does not affect the number of pixels in said image.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises selecting a region of interest of said images.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said processing said images is performed on said image data, at said server, prior to their being transmitted to said user's computer.  
     
     
         7 . An interactive method for allowing a user to obtain image data for diagnostic purposes from a server having access to stored data, comprising: 
 connecting a user's computer to the server over a communication network;    receiving from the server image selection software for the user's computer;    requesting specific image data for transmission from the server to the user's computer, using the image selection software;    reducing the bit-per-pixel ratio of parts of the data being transmitted, responsive to said request, which fewer bits represent a gray scale component of said image, wherein said converting does not affect the number of pixels in said image; and    transmitting the reduced data.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said reduction in bit-per-pixel ratio is performed responsive to user input at said user's computer.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein said user input comprises selection of an image portion.  
     
     
         10 . An interactive method for allowing a user to obtain image data for diagnostic purposes from a server having access to stored data, comprising: 
 connecting a user's computer to the server over a communication network;    segmenting an image into background parts and tissue parts; and    transmitting the tissue parts first.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , comprising requesting said image data for transmission from the server to the user's computer.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising stopping the transmission before transmitting the background part.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising transmitting the background part to achieve loss-less transmission of the image.  
     
     
         14 . An interactive method for allowing a user to obtain image data for diagnostic purposes from a server having access to stored data, comprising: 
 connecting a user's computer to the server over a communication network;    receiving from the server image selection software for the user's computer;    requesting specific image data for transmission from the server to the user's computer, using the image selection software;    transmitting the requested specific image data over the network from the server to user's computer;    stopping said transmission at an arbitrary point, by command from a user at said user's computer, responsive to said user viewing at least one image reconstructed from said image data; and    continuing said transmission after a time, responsive to a command from said user.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said continued transmission is modified by said user, responsive to images reconstructed from said stopped transmission.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein stopping said transmission stops compression of images at said server.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein stopping said transmission comprises stopping said transmission after a reduced-resolution representation of the image data is transmitted.  
     
     
         18 . An interactive method for allowing a user to obtain image data for diagnostic purposes from a server having access to stored data, comprising: 
 connecting a user's computer to the server over a communication network;    receiving from the server image reconstruction software for the user's computer;    requesting specific image data for transmission from the server to the user's computer;    transmitting the requested specific image data over the network from the server to user's computer; and    reconstructing a diagnostic quality image, from the image data, using the reconstruction software on the user's computer.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said requesting comprises requesting using said received image reconstruction software.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 14 , comprising reconstructing and showing progressively improved images to said user, using said transmitted image data, prior to said stopping.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising starting diagnosis by a physician using said progressively reconstructed image while receiving further image data for progressively improving said image.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising manipulating said progressively reconstructed image while receiving further image data for progressively improving said image, said manipulating being done in a manner which will affect an improved image.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said requesting comprises requesting specific image data for transmission from the server to the user's computer after said receiving and during a same session.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein segmenting comprises automatically segmenting the image into background parts and tissue parts.