# US 12,763,191 B2 · Utilizing multi-layer caching systems for storing and delivering images > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,763,191 B2 - Document ID: US12763191B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/110,671 - Filed: 2020-12-03 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-03 - Assignees: Cerner Innovation, Inc. - Applicants: Cerner Innovation, Inc. - Inventors: Juan David Narvaez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12763191B2 ## CPC - G16H 30/20: for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS - G06F 12/0802: Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches - G06F 16/53: Querying - G06F 2212/60: Details of cache memory - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Methods, systems, and computer-storage media are provided for utilizing a multi-layer caching system to provide fast and accurate diagnostic image renderings to a healthcare provider. After receiving a request to view medical image data that comprises at least one image frame, the system accesses a least recently used (LRU) memory cache and a local database to determine whether the requested medical image data is stored locally. If the medical image data is not stored locally, the system accesses a remote image storage and retrieves the medical image data requested. The medical image data is then transformed from a compressed format to a decompressed format and transmitted to a user for review. Additionally, the decompressed medical image data is stored locally at either the LRU memory cache or the local database until no longer needed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dynamic multi-layer caching system useful for providing fast diagnostic image renderings to a healthcare provider for viewing of one or more medical images, the system comprising one or more processors configured to: receive a first request from a first user to view a first medical image comprising medical image data, wherein the medical image data comprises at least one image frame; access a least recently used (LRU) memory cache to determine whether the first medical image is stored in the LRU memory cache; determine that the first medical image is not stored in the LRU memory cache in response to the first medical image not being located in the LRU memory cache; upon determining that the first medical image is not stored in the LRU memory cache, access a local database to determine whether the first medical image is stored in the local database; determine that the first medical image is not stored in the local database in response to the first medical image not being located in the local database; upon determining that the first medical image is not stored in the local database, access a remote image storage; determine that the first medical image is located on the remote image storage; retrieve the first medical image from the remote image storage; decompress the medical image data for the first medical image; transmit the first medical image comprising the decompressed medical image data to the first user, via a first user interface, for review by the first user; and store the decompressed medical image data at one of the LRU memory cache and the local database for future requests for the first medical image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to receive a second request for the first medical image from a second user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the system is further configured to access one of the LRU memory cache and the remote image storage to retrieve the first medical image in response to the second request. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the system is further configured to transmit the previously decompressed medical image data to the second user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein a transmission, by the system, of the medical image data in response to the second request is faster than a transmission by the system, of the medical image data in response to the first request. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the transmission of the medical image data in response to the second request occurs at a higher frame rate than the transmission of the medical image data in response to the first request. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the system is further configured to receive an indication that the second user has completed reviewing the medical image data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein, in response to the indication that the second user has completed reviewing the medical image data, the system is configured to migrate the medical image data from one of the LRU memory cache and the local database to the remote image storage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system is further configured to dynamically modify a storage capacity of the LRU memory cache based determining an amount of available RAM and an amount of RAM required for each image frame comprising the medical image data. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the medical image data transmitted to the first user is displayed as one or more radiological images. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the medical image data of the first medical image is separated, the separation of the medical image data comprises separating pixel data from metadata for each image frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the medical image data requested comprises a series of radiological images. ### Claim 13 A dynamic multi-layer caching system useful for providing diagnostic image renderings to a healthcare provider for viewing of one or more medical images, the system comprising: a least recently used (LRU) memory cache; a local database comprising a disk cache; a remote image storage; an application; one or more processors; and a storage device storing a computer program product comprising computer instructions that, upon execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: receiving a first request from a first user, via an application, for a first medical image comprising medical image data; in response to the first request, accessing each of the LRU memory cache, the local database, and the remote image storage to determine a location of the medical image data for the first medical image requested, wherein the accessing comprises: accessing the LRU memory cache, the local database, and the remote image storage in sequence in response to the first medical image not being located in the LRU memory cache and the local database until the first medical image is located in the remote image storage; in response to the first medical image being located in the remote image storage, retrieving the medical image data for the first medical image from the remote image storage, wherein the medical image data retrieved is in a compressed format; decompressing the retrieved medical image data for the first medical image received; after the decompressing, transmitting the decompressed medical image data for the first medical image to the first user, via a first user interface, for review by the first user; storing the decompressed medical image data for the first medical image at one of the LRU memory cache and the local database in which the first medical image was not located; receiving a second request for the first medical image from a second user; accessing and retrieving the medical image data for the first medical image from one of the LRU memory cache and the local database; and transmitting the first medical image to the second user, via a second user interface, for review by the second user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the system is further configured to receive a communication from the application that the first medical image is no longer needed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the system is further configured to migrate the first medical image to the remote image storage in response to receiving the communication that the first medical image is no longer needed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the local database comprises more storage space for storing the first medical image than the LRU memory cache. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the first medical image comprises at least one image frame. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the system is further configured to determine the location of the first medical image based on an assignment of an identification number to the first medical image. ### Claim 19 A method carried out by a server to utilize a dynamic multi-layer caching system useful for providing diagnostic image renderings to a healthcare provider for viewing of one or more medical images, the method comprising: receiving a first request from a first user using an image viewing application for a first medical image comprising medical image data; in response to the first request, accessing a plurality of storage devices in sequence in response to not locating the first medical image in one or more of the plurality of storage devices including a LRU memory cache, a local database, and a remote image storage to determine a location of the first medical image requested; in response to the first medical image being located in the remote image storage, retrieving the medical image data for the first medical image from the remote image storage, wherein the medical image data retrieved is in a compressed format; decompressing the retrieved medical image data for the first medical image received; after the decompressing, transmitting the first medical image comprising the decompressed medical image data to the first user, via a first user interface, for review by the first user; after the transmitting, storing the decompressed medical image data for the first medical image at one of the LRU memory cache and the local database in which the first medical image was not located to be available for a second request; receiving the second request, subsequent to the first request, to view the first medical image from a second user; retrieving the first medical image from one of the LRU memory cache and the local database; and transmitting the first medical image comprising the decompressed medical image data, via a second user interface, for review by the second user. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising migrating the first medical image to the remote image storage in response to receiving a communication that the first medical image is no longer needed.