Medical Image Storage Using Split Metadata and Sub-Image Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cloud storage systems for medical data, particularly image data, face inefficiencies in storage and query speed due to the need to upload and download large files in their entirety, which hampers storage efficiency and query speed.

Innovation Solution

A system that separates metadata and image data, encrypts and compresses the metadata, and divides image data into sub-image datasets for storage on different devices, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval by storing metadata on one device and sub-image datasets on another, with access information linking the two.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If image data is stored as a complete file on a cloud server, then data integrity is maintained, but storage efficiency and query speed deteriorate due to the need to upload and download entire files

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoiddata structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides image data into multiple sub-image datasets and stores them separately on different storage devices. Only metadata and access information are stored on the cloud server, enabling partial data retrieval without transferring complete files. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by improving storage efficiency and query speed while managing complexity through structured data organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Speed

If complete image files are uploaded to cloud storage, then data completeness is ensured, but query speed deteriorates due to large data transfer requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequery speedVSAvoiddata transfer volume
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts essential access information and metadata from complete image files and stores them on the cloud server, while the actual sub-image datasets remain on local or distributed storage devices. When querying, only the small metadata and access information need to be transferred, dramatically reducing data transfer volume and improving query speed while maintaining data completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If metadata is encrypted and compressed, then security and storage efficiency are improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies encryption and compression to metadata during the initial storage phase, before retrieval operations. This preliminary processing ensures security and storage efficiency are built into the system architecture, while retrieval operations only require decryption and decompression of already-processed metadata, minimizing processing complexity during actual use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3992807A1Systems and methods for data storage
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING METAHEALTHCARE CO LTD
  • EP3992807A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3992807A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3992807A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for data storage may be provided. The method may include storing metadata of an image file onto a first storage device. The method may include dividing image data of the image file into at least one sub-image data set. The method may also include storing each sub-image data set of the at least one sub-image data set, onto a second storage device of at least one second storage device. The method may further include storing access information of the at least one second storage device onto the first storage device.