US 5,668,998 AGranted

Application framework of objects for the provision of DICOM services

AssigneeEastman Kodak Company

InventorsDonald Mason, Betsy Ann Zimmerman

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Abstract

A application program interface is provided to a toolkit framework of service objects which enable rapid creation of application computer programs which implement the services and protocol of the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard. A framework of service objects is provided which enables a programmer to easily develop application methods which provide DICOM services or other custom services. An object-oriented application interface is provided. The service objects provide a familiar connection between the familiar DICOM standard service objects and a group of associated methods within the framework. The associated methods work together to provide a DICOM service. Service Class User and Service Class Provider objects manage service object communications and are derived from baseclasses in the framework.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method for creating application programs that provide DICOM services on a computer comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a framework of service objects mapped to a DICOM standard;
(b) providing a baseclass for each service object in the framework;
(c) deriving a plurality of related service objects from the framework;
(d) providing a service handler and service provider for each derived service object;
(e) providing an application interface to the framework of service objects;
(f) accepting from the application interface a request for service request to generate an application program to provide the requested service;
(g) determining a set of related objects to perform the requested service;
(h) providing a first mapping from the related service objects to a set of methods which perform a selected service;
(i) providing a DICOM service by invoking the execution of the related objects selected by the mapping;
and
(j) providing a unique association between the service handler and the service provider;
(k) providing a map between the association and the service handler and the service provider;
(l) providing object-oriented call-backs between the service handler and the service provider;
and
(m) sending and receiving messages between the service handler and the service provider over the unique association;
(n) instantiating a service object;
(o) providing a service class provider;
(p) providing a unique association between the service object and service class provider;
and
(q) providing a service interface object to encapsulate information and data.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.