Patent ID: 7106890

Claim:
In a picture archiving and communication system, apparatus for locating and accessing image data stored on a first image storage unit at a first location and a second image storage unit at a second location comprising in combination: a network extending between the first and second locations; a single server located at the first location and connected to facilitate transfer of data between the first image storage unit and the second image storage unit through the network; a first imaging device located at the first location and connected to generate for transmission on the network first imaging data resulting from a first patient and first identification data identifying the first imaging data; a first interface unit located at the first location and arranged to store first stored image data of the first patient on the first image storage unit in response to the first imaging data and to store first stored identification data on the server located at the first location in response to the first identification data; a second imaging device located at the second location and connected to generate for transmission on the network second imaging data resulting from a second patient and second identification data identifying the second imaging data; a second interface unit located at the second location and arranged to store second stored image data of the second patient on the second image storage unit in response to the second imaging data and to store second stored identification data on the server located at the first location in response to the second identification data; a first workstation located at the first location and connected to create a first image in response to the first stored image data, to create a second image in response to the second stored image data, to view said first and second identification data by accessing said first and second stored identification data in the server through said network and to transmit at least a first request for the second stored image data from the second image storage unit resulting in transfer of the second stored image data from the second image storage unit so that said second image can be created at the first workstation; and a second workstation located at the second location connected to create a third image in response to the first stored image data, to create a fourth image in response to the second stored image data, to view said first and second identification data by accessing said first and second stored identification data in the server through said network and to transmit at least a second request for the first stored image data from the first image storage unit resulting in transfer of the first stored image data from the first image storage unit so that said first image can be created at the second workstation.