Method of recording ultrasound images and electronic device performing the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for recording ultrasound images and an electronic device for performing the same. A method for recording ultrasound images according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include the steps of acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device, acquiring a luminance change amount between the plurality of ultrasound image frames, determining whether the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, increasing a first counter based on the determination that the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, determining whether the first counter is greater than or equal to a second threshold value, and initiating the recording of ultrasound images based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for recording ultrasound images and an electronic device for performing the same, and more specifically, to a technology that automatically records the entire medical examination in video and audio, has a structure independent of the ultrasound diagnostic device manufacturer, and includes a local buffer capable of retransmission even in the event of a failure. Background Technology

[0002] Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) are currently widely used in the fetal ultrasound diagnostic market. PACS is a system that digitally stores and manages medical imaging data, enabling medical professionals to efficiently view and analyze it. In particular, the ability to systematically store various image data generated during the ultrasound diagnostic process and access it quickly when needed has become an essential element in the medical field. This technology plays a crucial role in helping medical staff improve diagnostic accuracy and manage patient data over the long term.

[0003] However, currently used PACS systems have several limitations. Notably, existing PACS systems rely on manually storing only still images or short clips generated during the ultrasound diagnostic process. This makes it difficult for medical staff to store or manage the vast amount of data generated during ultrasound examinations in real time. In particular, when diagnosis requires real-time observation of fetal movements or conditions, these limitations can reduce the efficiency of medical staff.

[0004] Furthermore, manual storage methods increase the likelihood of data loss and make it difficult to guarantee the continuity and completeness of stored data. This can affect the reliability of diagnoses and, in the long term, impose restrictions on the utilization of data for patient management and research purposes. Therefore, current PACS technology requires a new approach to more effectively store and manage data generated during the fetal ultrasound diagnostic process. The problem to be solved

[0005] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for recording ultrasound images and an electronic device for performing the same, which automatically records medical data as images and audio, has a structure not dependent on a specific manufacturer, and includes a local buffer capable of retransmission even in the event of a data transmission failure. means of solving the problem

[0006] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for recording an ultrasound image may be provided. The method may include the steps of: acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device; acquiring a luminance change amount between the plurality of ultrasound image frames; determining whether the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; increasing a first counter based on the determination that the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; determining whether the first counter is greater than or equal to a second threshold value; and initiating the recording of an ultrasound image based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include the step of acquiring the plurality of ultrasound image frames, the step of collecting an image signal output from the ultrasound diagnostic device through a capture device, and the step of converting the image signal into the plurality of ultrasound image frames through the capture device.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include: selecting at least one pixel of a current frame among a plurality of ultrasound image frames; determining whether the luminance value of the at least one pixel is less than or equal to a third threshold value; increasing a second counter based on the determination that the luminance value of the at least one pixel is less than or equal to the third threshold value; determining whether the second counter is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value; and terminating the recording of the ultrasound image based on the determination that the second counter is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold value.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include the steps of: acquiring an ultrasound image file based on the termination of recording of the ultrasound image; transmitting the ultrasound image file to a server device; retrying transmission after a first time based on the failure of the transmission; determining whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to a fifth threshold value; and retrying transmission after a second time longer than the first time based on the determination that the number of retries is greater than or equal to the fifth threshold value.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include the step of moving the ultrasound image file to a temporary storage directory within the storage based on the success of the transmission, and the step of deleting the file from the temporary storage directory if the file storage period in the temporary storage directory exceeds a predefined period or the usage of the storage exceeds a predefined maximum usage.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of ultrasonic image frames includes a first ultrasonic image frame and a second ultrasonic image frame, and the step of obtaining the luminance change amount may include the step of calculating the difference in luminance values ​​between the first ultrasonic image frame and the second ultrasonic image frame following the first ultrasonic image frame, the step of counting the number of pixels in which the difference in luminance values ​​exceeds a sixth threshold value, and the step of calculating the luminance change amount based on the number of counted pixels.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of acquiring the plurality of ultrasound image frames may include receiving a session start signal including patient identification information from a scanner device and acquiring the plurality of ultrasound image frames in response to the session start signal.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include the steps of acquiring an audio signal synchronized with the plurality of ultrasound image frames from the ultrasound diagnostic device and encoding the audio signal with the plurality of ultrasound image frames corresponding to the ultrasound image.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of initiating the recording of the ultrasound image may include determining the resolution of the plurality of ultrasound image frames, selecting one of a plurality of predefined Constant Rate Factor (CRF) values ​​based on the determined resolution, determining the quality of encoding based on the selected CRF value, and recording the ultrasound image based on the quality of encoding.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device may include at least one processor including a processing circuit and at least one memory storing at least one instruction, and by the at least one processor executing the at least one instruction, the electronic device may acquire a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device, acquire a luminance change amount between the plurality of ultrasound image frames, determine whether the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, increase a first counter based on the determination that the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, determine whether the first counter is greater than or equal to a second threshold value, and begin recording an ultrasound image based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value. Effects of the invention

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of ultrasound image frames are acquired from an ultrasound diagnostic device, and the recording of ultrasound images is automatically initiated based on changes in luminance, thereby allowing the entire medical examination to be automatically recorded in video and audio. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, by adopting a structure independent of the manufacturer of the ultrasound diagnostic device, compatibility with various ultrasound diagnostic devices can be maintained without being dependent on a specific manufacturer. Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, by enabling data retransmission even in the event of a failure through a local buffer, data loss can be prevented and stable recording can be ensured. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0017] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S310 of Figure 3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S320 of Figure 3. Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S310 of Figure 3. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S350 of Figure 3. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments will be described clearly and in detail so that a person skilled in the art can easily practice the present disclosure. However, the scope of the rights is not limited or restricted by these embodiments. Identical or similar reference numerals are used for similar components in each drawing, and redundant descriptions of identical or similar components are omitted.

[0019] The terms used in the following description have been selected as common and universal in the relevant technical field, but other terms may exist depending on technological development and / or changes, conventions, preferences of the skilled technician, etc. Therefore, the terms used in the following description should not be understood as limiting the technical concept, but as illustrative terms to explain the embodiments.

[0020] In addition, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant in specific cases, and their detailed meanings will be described in the relevant explanatory section. Therefore, the terms used in the description below must be understood not merely as their names, but based on their meanings and the content throughout the specification.

[0021] Singular expressions may include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, may have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art as described in this specification. Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first" or "second," used in this specification may be used to describe various components, but said components should not be limited by said terms. Such terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0022] When a part of a specification is described as "comprising" a certain component, this means that, unless specifically stated otherwise, it does not exclude other components but may include additional components. Furthermore, terms such as "part" or "module" as used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and this may be implemented in hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software.

[0023] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, in order to clearly explain the present disclosure in the drawings, parts unrelated to the explanation have been omitted, and similar parts throughout the specification have been given similar reference numerals. Also, the reference numerals used in each drawing are for the purpose of explaining each drawing, and different reference numerals used in different drawings are not intended to indicate different elements. The present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0024] An 'ultrasound diagnostic device' may refer to a medical device that uses ultrasound to visualize the internal structure of the human body. Ultrasound diagnostic devices are primarily used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and allow for non-invasive observation of the human body's interior. An ultrasound diagnostic device can acquire multiple ultrasound image frames, calculate changes in luminance, and initiate ultrasound image recording based on this. Additionally, image signals output from the ultrasound diagnostic device can be collected via a capture device and converted into ultrasound image frames.

[0025] 'Variation in luminance' is a value representing the degree of change in image brightness and can be an important factor in image processing and analysis. Variation in luminance can be used to detect or analyze specific events by calculating the difference between image frames. Variation in luminance can be calculated based on the difference in luminance values ​​between ultrasound image frames and can be used as a criterion for initiating ultrasound image recording when it exceeds a first threshold. Additionally, variation in luminance can be utilized to determine whether to terminate ultrasound image recording by calculating the difference in luminance values ​​between pixels.

[0026] A 'capture device' may refer to a device that collects video signals and converts them into digital data. The capture device may also be referred to as a capture board. The capture device can be connected to various video sources to process and store data. The capture device can collect video signals output from an ultrasound diagnostic device and convert them into multiple ultrasound video frames. Additionally, it can periodically monitor the device file status of the capture device and automatically reset it if an abnormal state is detected.

[0027] The 'temporary storage directory' refers to a directory for temporarily storing data. It can be used for efficient data management and storage space optimization within the system. The temporary storage directory can serve as a storage space to move ultrasound image files after they have been successfully transmitted to the server. Additionally, files within the temporary storage directory may be deleted if their storage period exceeds a set duration or if storage usage exceeds the maximum limit.

[0028] A 'scanner device' may refer to a device that reads or inputs data. The scanner device can recognize and process data in various formats, such as barcodes and QR codes. The scanner device can be connected via the HID protocol and can initiate an ultrasound image recording session by scanning patient identification information from a barcode or QR code. Additionally, multiple ultrasound image frames can be acquired in response to a session start signal received from the scanner device.

[0029] 'CRF (Constant Rate Factor)' refers to an encoding parameter that balances quality and file size in video encoding. A lower CRF value generates higher-quality images, while a higher value can reduce file size. CRF can be used to determine encoding quality by selecting one of predefined values ​​based on the resolution of the ultrasound image frames. Additionally, the recording quality of the ultrasound images can be adjusted based on the selected CRF value.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the operation of recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, a system for recording ultrasound images may include an ultrasound diagnostic device (200), an electronic device (100), a network (10), a server device (300), and a user terminal (400). The electronic device (100) may include a capture device (110) and an ultrasound image recording module (120). The ultrasound diagnostic device (200) may generate an ultrasound image signal and transmit it to the electronic device (100). The electronic device (100) may record the received signal and transmit it to the server device (300) via the network (10). The user terminal (400) may access the image stored in the server device (300) via the network (10).

[0032] The ultrasound diagnostic device (200) may be a medical device that generates a cross-sectional image of the inside of the human body using ultrasound. The ultrasound diagnostic device (200) may transmit ultrasound to the human body through a probe. The ultrasound diagnostic device (200) may receive the reflected sound waves and reconstruct them into an image. The ultrasound diagnostic device (200) may output the generated ultrasound image as a real-time video signal through a standard video output port. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the ultrasound diagnostic device (200) may not be limited to a specific manufacturer or model. Any type of ultrasound equipment that supports standard image output may be used.

[0033] The electronic device (100) can receive an image signal (e.g., a fetal image signal) output from an ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The electronic device (100) can automatically record the medical process. The electronic device (100) can perform the function of transmitting the recorded image file to a server device (300). The electronic device (100) may include at least one processor including a processing circuit and at least one memory storing at least one instruction. The at least one processor of the electronic device (100) can acquire a plurality of ultrasound image frames from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200) by executing at least one instruction. Additionally, the electronic device (100) can acquire a change in brightness between the plurality of ultrasound image frames. The electronic device (100) can determine whether the change in brightness is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. The electronic device (100) can increase a first counter based on the determination that the change in brightness is greater than or equal to the first threshold value. The electronic device (100) can determine whether the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value and start recording an ultrasound image. The electronic device (100) may include a capture device (110) and an ultrasound image recording module (120).

[0034] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device (100) can acquire a change in characteristic values ​​(e.g., color, pattern, movement, etc.) between a plurality of ultrasound image frames. The electronic device (100) can determine whether the change in characteristic values ​​is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. Based on the determination that the change in characteristic values ​​is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the electronic device (100) can increase a first counter.

[0035] A capture device (110) can be connected to the image output of an ultrasound diagnostic device (200) to collect analog or digital image signals. The capture device (110) can perform the function of converting the collected image signals into a processable digital data format, namely, multiple ultrasound image frames. The capture device (110) can support a universal video interface so as to operate independently of the manufacturer of the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). For example, the capture device (110) may be HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), Component, S-Video, Composite, SDI (Serial Digital Interface), or DisplayPort. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0036] The ultrasound image recording module (120) can automatically detect the start and end of a medical examination by analyzing multiple ultrasound image frames received from the capture device (110) in real time. The ultrasound image recording module (120) can acquire a change in brightness between multiple ultrasound image frames. The ultrasound image recording module (120) can determine whether the change in brightness is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. Based on the determination that the change in brightness is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the ultrasound image recording module (120) can increase a first counter. The ultrasound image recording module (120) can determine whether the first counter is greater than or equal to a second threshold value. Based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the ultrasound image recording module (120) can start recording an ultrasound image. Additionally, the ultrasound image recording module (120) can acquire an audio signal synchronized with multiple ultrasound image frames from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The ultrasound image recording module (120) can encode multiple ultrasound image frames corresponding to the ultrasound image and the audio signal. When the recording is finished, the ultrasound image recording module (120) can transmit the generated image file to the server device (300) via the network (10).

[0037] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pause command may be received during the recording of an ultrasound image. In this case, the ultrasound image recording module (120) may terminate the image segment file currently being recorded. Subsequently, when a resume command is received, the ultrasound image recording module (120) may begin recording a new image segment file. When the recording of the ultrasound image is finally terminated, the ultrasound image recording module (120) may merge the generated plurality of image segment files into a single image file.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an electronic device (100) may acquire an ultrasound image file based on the termination of recording of an ultrasound image. The electronic device (100) may transmit the acquired ultrasound image file to a server device (300). If the transmission of the ultrasound image file to the server device (300) fails due to a network (10) problem, the electronic device (100) may store the file in a temporary directory of the built-in storage. Based on the transmission failure, the electronic device (100) may retry the transmission after a first time. The electronic device (100) may determine whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to a fifth threshold. Based on the determination that the number of retries is greater than or equal to the fifth threshold, the electronic device (100) may retry the transmission after a second time that is longer than the first time. This retransmission mechanism enables the ultrasound image to be stored stably in the server device (300) without data loss even in the event of a temporary network failure.

[0039] The network (10) may serve to mediate communication between an electronic device (100), a server device (300), and a user terminal (400). The network (10) may be a wired or wireless communication network for transmitting data packets. For example, the network (10) may be Ethernet, Wi-Fi, a cellular network such as 3G, 4G (LTE), 5G, Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Near Field Communication (NFC). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0040] The server device (300) may be a central system that receives and safely stores and manages ultrasound image files transmitted from the electronic device (100). The server device (300) may be equipped with large-capacity storage to store multiple ultrasound image files. The server device (300) may store each image file in a database along with metadata such as patient information and treatment date to enable systematic management. Additionally, the server device (300) may perform the function of streaming image data to an authenticated user or providing it in the form of a download upon a request from the user terminal (400).

[0041] The user terminal (400) may be a client device that enables medical staff or patients to access and view ultrasound images stored in the server device (300). The user terminal (400) may connect to the server device (300) through a web browser or a dedicated application. The user may search for a specific patient's medical records using the user terminal (400). The user may play or analyze the corresponding ultrasound images. For example, the user terminal (400) may be a desktop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet PC, a smartphone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a smart watch, or a projector. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device (100) can perform the function of processing and recording an image signal received from an ultrasound diagnostic device. Details regarding the electronic device (100) that overlap with those described in FIG. 1 are omitted. The electronic device (100) may include a capture device (110), an ultrasound image recording module (120), a scanner device (130), and a storage (140). Additionally, the ultrasound image recording module (120) may include a session initiation module (121), a luminance change amount calculation module (122), and an ultrasound image encoding module (123).

[0044] Regarding the capture device (110), details that overlap with those described in FIG. 1 are omitted. The capture device (110) can perform the role of collecting an image signal output from an ultrasound diagnostic device (200) and converting it into digital data. The capture device (110) can be connected to the image output port of the ultrasound diagnostic device (200) to receive an analog or digital image signal. The capture device (110) can convert the received continuous image signal into a sequence of individual ultrasound image frames and transmit it to an ultrasound image recording module (120).

[0045] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the capture device (110) may support various standard video interfaces to be compatible with ultrasound diagnostic devices (200) of various manufacturers. For example, the capture device (110) may receive video signals via a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), Component Video, S-Video, Composite Video, DisplayPort, and Serial Digital Interface (SDI). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. This allows the electronic device (100) to be used universally without being dependent on an ultrasound diagnostic device (200) of a specific manufacturer.

[0046] The scanner device (130) can perform the function of acquiring patient identification information to start a medical session. The scanner device (130) can scan a medium containing the patient's unique information to extract data in the form of a string. The scanner device (130) can transmit the extracted patient identification information to the session initiation module (121) to request the initiation of a new recording session.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the scanner device (130) can read a code encoded with patient identification information. For example, the scanner device (130) can obtain patient identification information by scanning a barcode or a QR code (Quick Response code). The scanner device (130) is connected to the electronic device (100) via a Human Interface Device (HID) protocol and can transmit the scanned data to the electronic device (100), such as keyboard input.

[0048] Regarding the ultrasound image recording module (120), details that overlap with those described in FIG. 1 are omitted. The ultrasound image recording module (120) can analyze ultrasound image frames received from the capture device (110) and automatically detect the start and end of the treatment to control image recording. The ultrasound image recording module (120) can perform a systematic image recording process by including a session start module (121), a brightness change amount calculation module (122), and an ultrasound image encoding module (123).

[0049] The session initiation module (121) can manage a recording session based on patient identification information received from the scanner device (130). When the session initiation module (121) receives a session start signal along with the patient identification information, it can initialize a new recording process for the patient. The session initiation module (121) can include the patient identification information in the metadata of the image file to be recorded to facilitate future data management and retrieval.

[0050] The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can detect changes in the image by analyzing a sequence of ultrasound image frames received from the capture device (110) in real time. The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can quantify the degree of dynamic change in the image by calculating the difference in luminance values ​​between consecutive frames. The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can determine that actual treatment has started if the calculated luminance change amount exceeds a predefined threshold value.

[0051] The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can calculate the difference in luminance values ​​in pixels between the first ultrasound image frame and the second ultrasound image frame in the next sequence. The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can count the number of pixels in which the difference in luminance values ​​of pixels at the same location in the two frames exceeds a sixth threshold. The luminance change amount calculation module (122) calculates the final luminance change amount based on the number of counted pixels, and if this value is greater than or equal to a first threshold, it can increase a first counter.

[0052] When the first counter exceeds the second threshold value, the luminance change amount calculation module (122) can instruct the ultrasonic image encoding module (123) to start image recording. This multi-stage judgment process can prevent image recording from starting unnecessarily due to minor movements of the ultrasonic probe or noise. The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can control recording to start only when a stable and meaningful image change is detected.

[0053] When the ultrasound image encoding module (123) receives a recording start signal from the luminance change amount calculation module (122), it can perform the task of encoding ultrasound image frames into a video file. The ultrasound image encoding module (123) can receive a synchronized audio signal from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200) along with the image data and encode them together. The ultrasound image encoding module (123) can store the generated image file in the storage (140).

[0054] The ultrasound image encoding module (123) can determine the resolution of the input ultrasound image frames before starting the encoding. Based on the determined resolution, the ultrasound image encoding module (123) can select one value from a plurality of predefined Constant Rate Factor (CRF) values. The ultrasound image encoding module (123) determines the encoding quality by applying the selected CRF value, and thereby can record the ultrasound image by optimizing the balance between image quality and file size.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the ultrasound image encoding module (123) can process pause and resume commands during recording. When a pause command is received, the ultrasound image encoding module (123) can terminate the image segment file currently being recorded and complete the saving. Subsequently, when a resume command is received, the ultrasound image encoding module (123) can begin recording a new image segment file. Finally, when recording is terminated, all generated image segment files can be merged into a single image file.

[0056] Storage (140) can function as a space for temporarily or permanently storing ultrasound image files generated by the ultrasound image encoding module (123). Storage (140) can serve as a local buffer to safely store data until the recorded image file is successfully transmitted to the server device (300). Storage (140) can provide sufficient storage capacity and fast input / output speeds for the stable storage of data. For example, storage (140) may be a Solid State Drive (SSD), Hard Disk Drive (HDD), Flash Memory, Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) storage, Secure Digital (SD) card, Universal Flash Storage (UFS), or Embedded MultiMedia Card (eMMC). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1 and 2, a method for recording an ultrasound image can be performed by an electronic device (100).

[0059] In step S310, the electronic device (100) can acquire a plurality of ultrasound image frames from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The electronic device (100) can receive an image signal through a capture device (110) connected to the image output terminal of the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The electronic device (100) can process the received analog or digital image signal by converting it into a sequence of continuous digital image frames.

[0060] In step S320, the electronic device (100) can acquire a change in luminance between multiple ultrasound image frames. The electronic device (100) can calculate the difference in luminance values ​​in pixels between two temporally consecutive frames, for example, a previous frame and a current frame. The electronic device (100) can combine the calculated pixel-by-pixel luminance difference values ​​to produce a single value representing the total amount of change in luminance between frames.

[0061] In step S330, the electronic device (100) can determine whether the amount of change in brightness is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. The first threshold value may be set as a reference value to distinguish between meaningful image changes and noise or minor movements that occur when the ultrasound diagnosis begins. The electronic device (100) can determine whether the amount of change in brightness calculated in step S320 exceeds a preset first threshold value.

[0062] In step S340, the electronic device (100) may increase a first counter based on determining that the amount of change in brightness is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. The electronic device (100) may increase the value of the first counter, which it maintains internally, by 1 whenever a frame is detected in which the amount of change in brightness exceeds the first threshold value. The first counter may be used as an indicator to measure how continuously a meaningful change in image occurs.

[0063] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of increasing the first counter may be performed when frames in which the amount of luminance change is greater than or equal to a first threshold value are detected continuously a predetermined number of times. For example, the electronic device (100) may increase the first counter only when five frames continuously show a luminance change exceeding the first threshold value. This method can prevent recording from starting incorrectly due to transient noise or momentary movement.

[0064] Afterward, the electronic device (100) can determine whether the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value.

[0065] In step S350, the electronic device (100) may begin recording an ultrasound image based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value. The second threshold value is a condition for confirming that an actual medical procedure has begun, and when the first counter reaches this value, the electronic device (100) may start the image recording process. The electronic device (100) may begin storing ultrasound image frames in the storage (140) in the form of files.

[0066] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (100) can acquire an audio signal synchronized with a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device (200). Additionally, the electronic device (100) can encode the audio signal with a plurality of ultrasound image frames corresponding to the ultrasound image. For example, the electronic device (100) can collect the voice of a medical professional or ambient sound through a microphone simultaneously with the start of image recording. The electronic device (100) can encode the collected audio data into a single media file by synchronizing it with the image frames in time.

[0067] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (100) may terminate the currently recording image segment file when a pause command is received during the recording of an ultrasound image. Additionally, the electronic device (100) may begin recording a new image segment file when a resume command is received. Furthermore, when the recording of the ultrasound image is finally completed, the electronic device (100) may merge the generated multiple image segment files into a single image file. For example, a medical professional may input a pause command when temporarily removing the probe during a medical examination. The medical professional may input a resume command when resuming the examination. Finally, when all examinations are completed, the separated image files may be automatically merged to create a single complete medical record image.

[0068] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S310 of Figure 3.

[0069] Referring to FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4, FIG. 4 may be a flowchart showing detailed steps of step S310 of FIG. 3. The step of acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device (S310) may be performed by an electronic device (100). The step of acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames (S310) may include the step of collecting an image signal output from an ultrasound diagnostic device (200) through a capture device (110) (S410) and the step of converting the image signal into a plurality of ultrasound image frames through the capture device (110) (S420).

[0070] In step S410, the electronic device (100) can collect an image signal output from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200) through the capture device (110). The capture device (110) can be physically connected to the image output terminal of the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The capture device (110) can receive an image signal in analog or digital form generated by the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The electronic device (100) can control the capture device (110) to start or stop the collection of the image signal. This structure can provide universality that is not dependent on the ultrasound diagnostic device (200) of a specific manufacturer. For example, the image signal interface supported by the capture device (110) may be Composite Video, S-Video, Component Video, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), SDI (Serial Digital Interface), or DisplayPort. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0071] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (100) may periodically monitor the status of a device file corresponding to a capture device (110). The electronic device (100) may check the existence or accessibility of a device file representing the capture device (110) at the operating system level. If the status of the device file is found to be abnormal, the electronic device (100) may automatically reset the capture device (110). For example, the electronic device (100) may reload the driver of the capture device (110). Alternatively, the electronic device (100) may perform the reset by cutting off and then restoring power to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port to which the capture device (110) is connected. This automatic reset function can improve the stability of the system. Additionally, the system can automatically recover from hardware errors that may occur during long-term operation.

[0072] In step S420, the electronic device (100) can convert an image signal into a plurality of ultrasound image frames through the capture device (110). The capture device (110) may include an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) that converts the collected analog image signal into digital data. The capture device (110) may decode the collected digital image signal and convert it into a sequence of individual image frames. Each frame may be two-dimensional pixel data representing an ultrasound cross-sectional image at a specific point in time. The converted ultrasound image frames may be sequentially stored in a buffer within the memory of the electronic device (100). The frame conversion speed may be determined according to the output frame rate of the ultrasound diagnostic device (200).

[0073] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, the steps of the ultrasound image recording method illustrated in FIG. 5 can be performed by an electronic device (100). The steps of FIG. 5 can be performed after step S350 of FIG. 3.

[0075] In step S510, the electronic device (100) can select at least one pixel of the current frame among a plurality of ultrasound image frames. The electronic device (100) can select a pixel in a specific area of ​​the image frame. For example, the specific area may be a center or a corner area. The electronic device (100) can determine the presence or absence of a signal through the selected pixel. Additionally, the electronic device (100) can select multiple pixels within a predefined sampling area. The electronic device (100) can calculate the average luminance value of the selected multiple pixels.

[0076] In step S520, the electronic device (100) can determine whether the luminance value of at least one pixel is less than or equal to a third threshold value. The third threshold value can be set as a reference value for detecting a state without an image signal, i.e., a black screen state. For example, if the luminance value of a pixel is a very low value close to 0, the electronic device (100) can determine that a valid image signal is not received from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200).

[0077] In step S530, the electronic device (100) may increment a second counter based on determining that the luminance value of at least one pixel is less than or equal to a third threshold. The second counter may count the number of consecutive occurrences of frames suspected of image signal loss. In a specific frame, the luminance value of a pixel may exceed the third threshold. In this case, the electronic device (100) may initialize the second counter to 0. By doing so, the electronic device (100) can prevent malfunctions caused by temporary noise or signal instability.

[0078] In step S540, the electronic device (100) can determine whether the second counter is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold. The fourth threshold may define the minimum number of consecutive signal loss frames required to end the recording. The electronic device (100) can set the fourth threshold. Through this, the electronic device (100) can accurately determine the actual termination of treatment or equipment disconnection situation, rather than a brief momentary signal interruption.

[0079] In step S550, the electronic device (100) may terminate the recording of the ultrasound image based on the determination that the second counter is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold value. The electronic device (100) may automatically terminate the recording. This prevents unnecessary black screen images from being included in the file. The electronic device (100) may reduce the waste of storage space. Additionally, the electronic device (100) may allow the user to view only valid medical images.

[0080] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (100) may select at least one pixel of the current frame among a plurality of ultrasound image frames. The electronic device (100) may determine whether the luminance value of at least one pixel is less than or equal to a third threshold value. The electronic device (100) may increase a second counter based on the determination that the luminance value of at least one pixel is less than or equal to the third threshold value. The electronic device (100) may determine whether the second counter is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value. The electronic device (100) may include the step of terminating the recording of the ultrasound image based on the determination that the second counter is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold value.

[0081] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of terminating the recording of an ultrasound image may be performed when the luminance value of the current frame is detected to be less than or equal to a third threshold value for a predetermined number of consecutive times. The electronic device (100) may determine such consecutive detections as loss of an image signal from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The electronic device (100) may proceed with a recording termination procedure based on said determination.

[0082] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0083] Referring to FIGS. 5 and FIGS. 6, steps after the recording of the ultrasound image has ended can be performed by the electronic device (100).

[0084] In step S610, the electronic device (100) can acquire an ultrasound image file based on the end of recording the ultrasound image. The electronic device (100) can combine multiple recorded ultrasound image frames and an audio signal. The electronic device (100) can generate a single video file by encoding the combined data.

[0085] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pause command may be received during the recording of an ultrasound image. In this case, the image segment file currently being recorded may be terminated. Subsequently, when a resume command is received, the recording of a new image segment file may be initiated. When the recording of the ultrasound image is finally terminated, the generated plurality of image segment files may be merged into a single image file.

[0086] In step S620, the electronic device (100) can transmit an ultrasound image file to a server device (300). The electronic device (100) can upload an ultrasound image file stored in storage (140) to the server device (300) via the network (10). The server device (300) can store the received file in a database or storage system so that a user terminal (400) can access it.

[0087] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of transmitting an ultrasound image file to a server device (300) may include an authentication procedure. An electronic device (100) may receive a JSON Web Token (JWT) from an authentication server. After performing authentication for the server device (300) using the received JSON Web Token, the electronic device (100) may transmit data.

[0088] In step S630, the electronic device (100) may retry the transmission after a first time based on the failure of the transmission. The file transmission may fail due to temporary instability of the network (10) or a response delay of the server device (300). In this case, the electronic device (100) may not retry the transmission immediately, but wait for a predefined first time and then retry the transmission.

[0089] In step S640, the electronic device (100) can determine whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to a fifth threshold. The electronic device (100) can count the number of transmission retries for each file. The electronic device (100) can determine a transmission policy by comparing the counted number of retries with a preset fifth threshold.

[0090] In step S650, the electronic device (100) may retry transmission after a second time longer than the first time based on the determination that the number of retries is greater than or equal to the fifth threshold. If the number of retries exceeds the fifth threshold, the electronic device (100) may determine that the problem with the network (10) is prolonged. Accordingly, the electronic device (100) may increase the retry interval to a second time longer than the first time to reduce the system load and attempt stable transmission.

[0091] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of retrying transmission may increase the retry interval exponentially. As the number of retries (n) increases, the electronic device (100) 'initial delay time * 2 (n-1) The retry interval can be calculated based on the formula. However, to prevent the retry interval from becoming indefinitely long, it may be set so as not to exceed a predefined maximum delay time.

[0092] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for recording an ultrasound image according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0093] Referring to FIGS. 6 and FIGS. 7, the steps for managing ultrasound image files can be performed by an electronic device (100). The steps of FIG. 7 can be performed after step S620 of FIG. 6.

[0094] In step S710, the electronic device (100) can move the ultrasound image file to a temporary storage directory within the storage (140) based on the success of the transmission. After confirming that the transmission of the ultrasound image file to the server device (300) has been successfully completed, the electronic device (100) can move the file to a designated temporary storage space. This file movement can increase management efficiency by clearly distinguishing between files that have been uploaded and files that are still waiting to be uploaded or have failed. The temporary storage directory may be a folder created separately within the storage (140) and can serve as a backup for the successfully transmitted data.

[0095] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (100) may record status information, including metadata of an ultrasound image file, an upload status, and system configuration information, in a local database. Upon system restart, the electronic device (100) may restore the status information from the local database. For example, the electronic device (100) may store information for each ultrasound image file, the current status of the file, and related system setting values ​​in the database. In this way, even if an unexpected system shutdown or reboot occurs, the electronic device (100) can accurately restore the previous operating state to maintain data integrity and prevent duplicate transmission.

[0096] In step S720, the electronic device (100) may delete files from the temporary storage directory if the file storage period in the temporary storage directory exceeds a preset period or if the usage of the storage (140) exceeds a preset maximum usage. The electronic device (100) may periodically inspect the temporary storage directory to efficiently manage the space of the storage (140). The electronic device (100) may delete files if the time a file has been kept in the temporary storage directory exceeds a preset threshold. Additionally, if the usage relative to the total capacity of the storage (140) exceeds a preset limit, the electronic device (100) may secure storage space by sequentially deleting the oldest files first.

[0097] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of deleting a file from a temporary storage directory may be performed when at least one of two conditions is satisfied. The first condition may be that the storage period of a file in the temporary storage directory exceeds a first set period. The second condition may be that the usage relative to the total storage space of the storage (140) exceeds a second set ratio. For example, the first set period may be set to 30 days, and the second set ratio may be set to 95%. This condition-based deletion policy can prevent the storage (140) from becoming full and ensure that the system operates stably.

[0098] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S320 of Figure 3.

[0099] Referring to FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 8, the step (S320) of acquiring a change in brightness between a plurality of ultrasound image frames can be performed by an electronic device (100).

[0100] In step S810, the electronic device (100) can calculate the difference in luminance values ​​between a first ultrasound image frame and a second ultrasound image frame following the first ultrasound image frame. The electronic device (100) can sequentially compare the continuously input ultrasound image frames. The electronic device (100) can calculate the difference by comparing the luminance values ​​of pixels at the same location in each frame. The process of calculating the difference in luminance values ​​can be performed to quantitatively identify movement or change occurring within the image.

[0101] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the luminance value can be calculated according to the ITU-R BT.601 standard using the formula `Luminance = 0.299 * R + 0.587 * G + 0.114 * B`. In the formula, R, G, and B may represent the Red, Green, and Blue channel values ​​of the pixel, respectively. The electronic device (100) can convert each pixel of a color image frame into a grayscale luminance value. The electronic device (100) can analyze the change in brightness between frames using the converted luminance value.

[0102] In step S820, the electronic device (100) can count the number of pixels in which the difference in luminance values ​​exceeds a sixth threshold. The electronic device (100) can compare the difference in luminance values ​​of each pixel calculated in step S810 with a predefined sixth threshold. The electronic device (100) can consider a pixel as having undergone a significant change only if the difference in luminance values ​​exceeds the sixth threshold. The electronic device (100) can count the total number of pixels in the entire frame in which the difference in luminance values ​​exceeds the sixth threshold.

[0103] In step S830, the electronic device (100) can calculate the amount of change in luminance based on the number of counted pixels. The electronic device (100) can calculate the ratio of the amount of change by dividing the number of pixels counted in step S820 by the number of pixels in the entire frame. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (100) can use the number of counted pixels itself as the amount of change in luminance. The calculated amount of change in luminance can be used as an indicator to determine whether to initiate ultrasound image recording.

[0104] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S310 of Figure 3.

[0105] Referring to FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 9, the step of acquiring ultrasound image frames (S310) may include the detailed steps illustrated in FIGS. 9.

[0106] In step S910, the electronic device (100) may receive a session start signal containing patient identification information from the scanner device (130). The electronic device (100) may identify a new recording session based on the patient information input through the scanner device (130). The patient identification information may serve to ensure that the ultrasound image to be recorded is accurately linked to the medical record of a specific patient. The session start signal may clearly define the starting point of the ultrasound image recording. The session start signal may systematize data management.

[0107] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames may include receiving a session start signal including patient identification information from a scanner device (130). The step of acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames may include acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames in response to the session start signal.

[0108] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the scanner device (130) may be connected to the electronic device (100) via the Human Interface Device (HID) protocol. Patient identification information may be a string scanned from a barcode or QR code. The HID protocol may support universal connection without the installation of a separate driver. The barcode or QR code may be printed on the patient's registration wristband, chart, or receipt.

[0109] For example, the scanner device (130) may be a barcode scanner, a QR code reader, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, a Near Field Communication (NFC) reader, a magnetic stripe reader, a smart card reader, or an iris scanner. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0110] In step S920, the electronic device (100) may acquire multiple ultrasound image frames in response to a session start signal. The electronic device (100) may begin acquiring ultrasound image frames only after receiving a session start signal containing valid patient identification information. The electronic device (100) may activate the capture device (110). The electronic device (100) may collect an image signal output from the ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The collected image signal may be converted into consecutive digital frames. The converted digital frames may be prepared for a subsequent processing step.

[0111] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (100) may obtain a filename corresponding to patient identification information based on a session start signal. The filename may be defined according to predefined conditions. For example, the filename may be defined as a name that can identify the file, such as a patient identification code and / or a date. The electronic device (100) may record a plurality of ultrasound image frames within a file having the filename.

[0112] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the detailed steps of step S350 of Figure 3.

[0113] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 10, steps S1010 to S1040 can be performed by an electronic device (100).

[0114] In step S1010, the electronic device (100) can determine the resolution of a plurality of ultrasound image frames. The electronic device (100) can analyze the properties of the image signal received from the capture device (110). Through analysis, the electronic device (100) can determine the number of horizontal and vertical pixels of the image frame. For example, the electronic device (100) can identify whether the resolution is Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD), or Full High Definition (FHD).

[0115] In step S1020, the electronic device (100) may select one of a plurality of predefined Constant Rate Factor (CRF) values ​​based on the determined resolution. The Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value may be a setting value that controls quality during video encoding. The electronic device (100) may efficiently manage file size by selecting a relatively high Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value for high-resolution images. Conversely, the electronic device (100) may minimize image quality degradation by selecting a relatively low Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value for low-resolution images.

[0116] In step S1030, the electronic device (100) can determine the quality of the encoding based on a selected Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value. The electronic device (100) can set the selected Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value as a parameter of the encoder. The encoding quality may include factors such as bitrate, quantization level, and frame compression rate. The electronic device (100) can adjust the balance between the quality and size of the video file to be finally generated according to the Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value.

[0117] In step S1040, the electronic device (100) can record an ultrasound image based on the quality of the encoding. The electronic device (100) can compress an audio signal synchronized with the ultrasound image frames according to the determined encoding quality setting. The electronic device (100) can store the compressed data in the form of an image file in storage (140). In this process, the electronic device (100) can process the image data input in real time to generate a continuous video file.

[0118] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of initiating recording of an ultrasound image may include determining the resolution of a plurality of ultrasound image frames. The step of initiating recording of an ultrasound image may include selecting one of a plurality of predefined Constant Rate Factor (CRF) values ​​based on the determined resolution. The step of initiating recording of an ultrasound image may include determining the quality of encoding based on the selected Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value. The step of initiating recording of an ultrasound image may include recording an ultrasound image based on the quality of encoding.

[0119] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0120] Referring to FIG. 11, the electronic device (1000) may be a device for performing an ultrasound image recording method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The electronic device (1000) may be a configuration corresponding to the electronic device (100) of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The electronic device (1000) may include a processor (1100), memory (1200), user interface (1300), communication interface (1400), capture device (110), scanner device (130), and storage (140).

[0121] The processor (1100) may be a processing circuit that controls the overall operation of the electronic device (1000). The processor (1100) may execute one or more instructions stored in memory (1200). The processor (1100) may be electrically connected to other components included in the electronic device (1000) to exchange data and signals.

[0122] The processor (1100) can perform an ultrasound image recording method by executing an ultrasound image recording module (120) stored in memory (1200). For example, the processor (1100) can acquire a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device (200). The processor (1100) can acquire a change in brightness between the plurality of ultrasound image frames. The processor (1100) can determine whether the change in brightness is greater than or equal to a first threshold value. Based on the determination that the change in brightness is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the processor (1100) can increase a first counter. The processor (1100) can determine whether the first counter is greater than or equal to a second threshold value. Based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the processor (1100) can start recording an ultrasound image.

[0123] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the processor (1100) may have a single-core or multi-core architecture. For example, the processor (1100) may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a Microcontroller Unit (MCU), or a System on Chip (SoC). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0124] The memory (1200) can store data, programs, and instructions necessary for the operation of the processor (1100). The memory (1200) can store an operating system (OS) and various applications to be executed by the processor (1100). The memory (1200) can store an ultrasound image recording module (120).

[0125] The memory (1200) may be volatile memory or non-volatile memory. For example, the memory (1200) may be Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Flash Memory, Solid State Drive (SSD), or Hard Disk Drive (HDD). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0126] Regarding the ultrasound image recording module (120), details that overlap with those described in FIG. 2 are omitted. The ultrasound image recording module (120) may be a software module executed by a processor (1100) to perform automatic recording and management of ultrasound images. The ultrasound image recording module (120) may include a session initiation module (121), a luminance change amount calculation module (122), and an ultrasound image encoding module (123).

[0127] The session initiation module (121) can manage the start of an ultrasound image recording session. The session initiation module (121) can receive a session start signal containing patient identification information from the scanner device (130). The session initiation module (121) can control the processor (1100) to initiate an ultrasound image frame acquisition procedure in response to the received signal.

[0128] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device (1000) may receive a session start signal including patient identification information from a scanner device (130). Additionally, the electronic device (1000) may acquire a plurality of ultrasound image frames in response to the session start signal.

[0129] The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can analyze the luminance change of ultrasound image frames collected through the capture device (110). The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can calculate the difference in pixel luminance values ​​between consecutive frames. The luminance change amount calculation module (122) can be used to determine whether to start recording by calculating the luminance change amount of the entire frame based on the calculated difference.

[0130] The ultrasound image encoding module (123) can perform the function of encoding ultrasound image frames that have been recorded into a video file. The ultrasound image encoding module (123) can determine the resolution of the acquired frames. The ultrasound image encoding module (123) can adjust the encoding quality and file size by selecting an optimal Constant Rate Factor (CRF) value according to the determined resolution.

[0131] Regarding the capture device (110), details that overlap with those described in FIG. 2 are omitted. The capture device (110) can collect an image signal output from an ultrasound diagnostic device (200). Additionally, the capture device (110) can convert the collected image signal into a plurality of ultrasound image frames.

[0132] Regarding the scanner device (130), details that overlap with those described in FIG. 2 are omitted. The scanner device (130) may be an input device that acquires patient identification information and transmits it to the session initiation module (121).

[0133] Regarding the storage (140), details that overlap with those described in FIG. 2 are omitted. The storage (140) may be a storage space for permanently or temporarily storing encoded ultrasound image files.

[0134] The user interface (1300) may provide an interface that allows a user to check the status of or control the operation of the electronic device (1000). The user interface (1300) may provide visual, auditory, or tactile output. For example, the user interface (1300) may be a touchscreen, a display panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a button, a light-emitting diode (LED), or a speaker. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0135] The communication interface (1400) can enable the electronic device (1000) to communicate with another device, such as a server device (300), through the network (10). The communication interface (1400) can perform the function of transmitting an ultrasound image file stored in the storage (140) to the server device (300). The communication interface (1400) can support wired or wireless communication methods.

[0136] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the communication interface (1400) may support various communication protocols. For example, the communication interface (1400) may be an Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Near Field Communication (NFC), 3rd Generation (3G), 4th Generation (4G), or 5th Generation (5G) communication module. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0137] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may perform the step of increasing the first counter when frames in which the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value are detected continuously a predetermined number of times.

[0138] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of terminating the recording of the ultrasound image may be performed when the luminance value of the current frame is detected to be less than or equal to the third threshold value continuously for a predetermined number of times and is determined to be an image signal loss from the ultrasound diagnostic device.

[0139] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of deleting from the temporary storage directory may be performed when at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: the storage period of a file in the temporary storage directory exceeds a first set period, or the usage relative to the total storage space of the storage exceeds a second set ratio.

[0140] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when a pause command is received during the recording of the ultrasound image, the image segment file currently being recorded may be terminated, and when a resume command is received, the recording of a new image segment file may be started, and when the recording of the ultrasound image is finally terminated, the generated plurality of image segment files may be merged into a single image file.

[0141] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the scanner device may be connected via a Human Interface Device (HID) protocol, and the patient identification information may be a string scanned from a barcode or QR code.

[0142] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the status of a device file corresponding to the capture device can be monitored periodically, and if the status of the device file is confirmed to be abnormal, the capture device can be automatically reset.

[0143] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of transmitting the ultrasound image file to a server device may perform authentication of the server device using a JSON Web Token (JWT) issued by an authentication server.

[0144] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, status information including metadata of the ultrasound image file, upload status, and system configuration information can be recorded in a local database, and the status information can be restored from the local database upon system restart.

[0145] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of retrying the transmission may increase the retry interval exponentially based on the formula `initial delay time * 2^(n-1)` as the number of retries (n) increases, but not exceed a predefined maximum delay time.

[0146] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the luminance value may be calculated according to the ITU-R BT.601 standard using the formula `Luminance = 0.299 * R + 0.587 * G + 0.114 * B` (where R, G, and B are the Red, Green, and Blue channel values ​​of the pixel, respectively).

[0147] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may include the steps of: acquiring a plurality of second ultrasound image frames from the ultrasound diagnostic device; acquiring a second numerical change amount between the plurality of second ultrasound image frames; determining whether the second numerical change amount is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; increasing a third counter based on the determination that the second numerical change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; determining whether the third counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value; and resuming the recording of the terminated ultrasound image based on the determination that the third counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value.

[0148] The method of the present disclosure described above consists of a combination of steps presented as examples, but is not limited thereto. Within the spirit of the present disclosure, at least one of the described steps may be omitted, and one or more steps corresponding to other technical features explicitly or implicitly disclosed in the present disclosure may be added. Additionally, two or more steps may be combined into a single step, a single step may be separated into multiple sub-steps, and the order of execution of the steps may be changed. All such variations should be understood to fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0149] A method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided by being included in a computer program product. The computer program product may be traded between a seller and a buyer as a product. The computer program product may be distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g., compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed online (e.g., download or upload) through an application store or directly between two user devices (e.g., smartphones). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product (e.g., downloadable app) may be temporarily stored or temporarily created on a device-readable storage medium, such as the memory of a manufacturer's server, an application store's server, or a relay server.

[0150] In the embodiments described above, components according to the technical concept of the present disclosure have been described using terms such as first, second, third, etc. However, terms such as first, second, third, etc. are used to distinguish components from one another and do not limit the technical concept of the present disclosure. Terms such as first, second, third, etc. do not imply an order or any numerical meaning.

[0151] The embodiments described above are specific embodiments for carrying out the present disclosure. It should be understood that the present disclosure includes not only the embodiments described above, but also embodiments that can be simply modified or easily modified using the embodiments described above. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments described above, but should be defined by the claims set forth below, as well as equivalents to the claims of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0152] 10: Network 100: Electronic device 1000: Electronic device 110: Capture device 1100: Processor 120: Ultrasound image recording module 1200: Memory 121: Session Initiation Module 122: Luminance change calculation module 123: Ultrasound image encoding module 130: Scanner device 1300: User Interface 140: Storage 1400: Communication interface 200: Ultrasound diagnostic device 300: Server device 400: User terminal

Claims

Claim 1 A method for recording ultrasound images comprises: acquiring a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device; acquiring a luminance change amount between the plurality of ultrasound image frames; determining whether the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; increasing a first counter based on the determination that the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; determining whether the first counter is greater than or equal to a second threshold value; initiating recording of ultrasound images based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value; and acquiring an audio signal synchronized with the plurality of ultrasound image frames from the ultrasound diagnostic device. A method comprising the step of encoding the plurality of ultrasound image frames corresponding to the ultrasound image and the audio signal, wherein the audio signal includes the voice of a medical professional or ambient sound, and the plurality of ultrasound image frames include a first ultrasound image frame and a second ultrasound image frame that are temporally consecutive, and the step of obtaining the luminance change amount includes: a step of calculating the difference in luminance values ​​of pixels at the same location in the first ultrasound image frame and the second ultrasound image frame; a step of counting the number of pixels in which the difference in luminance values ​​exceeds a sixth threshold value; and a step of calculating the luminance change amount based on the number of counted pixels, and the step of increasing the first counter includes: a step of determining whether, among the plurality of ultrasound image frames, the number of ultrasound image frames in which the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value exists continuously for a predetermined number of times; and a step of increasing the first counter based on the determination that the number of ultrasound image frames in which the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value exists continuously for a predetermined number of times. Claim 2 The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the plurality of ultrasound image frames comprises: a step of collecting an image signal output from the ultrasound diagnostic device through a capture device; and a step of converting the image signal into the plurality of ultrasound image frames through the capture device. Claim 3 A method according to claim 2, comprising: selecting at least one pixel of a current frame among the plurality of ultrasound image frames; determining whether the luminance value of the at least one pixel is less than or equal to a third threshold value; increasing a second counter based on the determination that the luminance value of the at least one pixel is less than or equal to the third threshold value; determining whether the second counter is greater than or equal to a fourth threshold value; and terminating the recording of the ultrasound image based on the determination that the second counter is greater than or equal to the fourth threshold value. Claim 4 A method according to claim 3, comprising: a step of acquiring an ultrasound image file based on the termination of recording of the ultrasound image; a step of transmitting the ultrasound image file to a server device; a step of retrying transmission after a first time based on the failure of the transmission; a step of determining whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to a fifth threshold; and a step of retrying transmission after a second time longer than the first time based on the determination that the number of retries is greater than or equal to the fifth threshold. Claim 5 A method according to claim 4, comprising: a step of moving the ultrasound image file to a temporary storage directory within the storage based on the success of the transmission; and a step of deleting the file from the temporary storage directory when the file storage period in the temporary storage directory exceeds a predefined period or the usage of the storage exceeds a predefined maximum usage. Claim 6 A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ultrasound image frames includes a first ultrasound image frame and a second ultrasound image frame, and the step of obtaining the luminance change amount comprises: a step of calculating the difference in luminance values ​​between the first ultrasound image frame and the second ultrasound image frame following the first ultrasound image frame; a step of counting the number of pixels in which the difference in luminance values ​​exceeds a sixth threshold value; and a step of calculating the luminance change amount based on the number of counted pixels. Claim 7 The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring the plurality of ultrasound image frames comprises: receiving a session start signal including patient identification information from a scanner device; and acquiring the plurality of ultrasound image frames in response to the session start signal. Claim 8 delete Claim 9 A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of initiating the recording of the ultrasound image comprises: determining the resolution of the plurality of ultrasound image frames; selecting one of a plurality of predefined Constant Rate Factor (CRF) values ​​based on the determined resolution; determining the quality of encoding based on the selected CRF value; and recording the ultrasound image based on the quality of encoding. Claim 10 In an electronic device, the electronic device comprises at least one processor including a processing circuit; and at least one memory storing at least one instruction, wherein the at least one processor executes the at least one instruction, the electronic device: acquires a plurality of ultrasound image frames from an ultrasound diagnostic device, acquires a luminance change amount between the plurality of ultrasound image frames, determines whether the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, increments a first counter based on the determination that the luminance change amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, determines whether the first counter is greater than or equal to a second threshold value, and starts recording an ultrasound image based on the determination that the first counter is greater than or equal to the second threshold value, acquires an audio signal synchronized with the plurality of ultrasound image frames from the ultrasound diagnostic device, encodes the audio signal with the plurality of ultrasound image frames corresponding to the ultrasound image, wherein the audio signal includes the voice of a medical professional or ambient sound, and the plurality of ultrasound image frames include a first ultrasound image frame and a second ultrasound image frame that are temporally consecutive, and the first ultrasound image frame and the second ultrasound image frame An electronic device that calculates the difference in luminance values ​​of pixels at the same location, counts the number of pixels whose difference in luminance values ​​exceeds a sixth threshold, calculates the amount of luminance change based on the counted number of pixels, determines whether, among the plurality of ultrasound image frames, the number of ultrasound image frames in which the amount of luminance change is greater than or equal to the first threshold exists continuously for a predetermined number of times, and increases the first counter based on the determination that the number of ultrasound image frames in which the amount of luminance change is greater than or equal to the first threshold exists continuously for a predetermined number of times.

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