Picture archiving and communication system employing improved data compression

A system for managing image data, the system comprising:

• compression means for compressing uncompressed image data files to create a hybrid compressed image data files from each of the image data files, each hybrid compressed image data file including a descriptive header portion, a compression header portion, and a compressed image data portion;
• server means coupled to the compression means for receiving, storing and accessing the hybrid compressed image data files;
• and
• decompression means for decompressing the hybrid compressed image data files for reconstruction of a user viewable image based upon uncompressed image data.

A system managing image data, the system comprising:

• a memory device configured to store hybrid compressed image files, each hybrid compressed image file including a descriptive portion, compression header portion, and a compressed data portion, at least one of the descriptive portion, compression header portion, or the compressed data portion including compression code identifying a compression routine used to create the compressed data portion and wherein the compression header portion of the hybrid compressed data files includes identification of a plurality of algorithms used to create the compressed data portion;
• a file server coupled to the memory device for accessing the hybrid compressed data files upon demand;
• a decompression circuit for decompressing the hybrid compressed data files in accordance with the compression code;
• and
• a library for storing compression routines identifiable by the compression code and accessible by the decompression circuit for decompression of the hybrid compressed data files, wherein the library stores the plurality of algorithms for use by the decompression circuit.

A picture archiving and communication system comprising:

• a file server for storing hybrid compressed image data files, each data file including an uncompressed descriptive header, an uncompressed compression header, and compressed image data;
• a library configured to store compression and decompression algorithms used to compress and decompress the compressed image data of the hybrid compressed image data files;
• and
• a decompression client coupled to the file server for accessing the hybrid compressed image data files and decompressing the files upon demand, and to access algorithms from the library for decompression of the files in accordance with identifying code contained in the files, wherein the identifying code is at least partially interspersed in the compressed image data.