Dynamic Medical Processing Module Allocation for Emergency Queue Prioritization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical image processing systems face challenges in efficiently managing urgent and non-urgent medical image processing requests, leading to potential delays in emergency systems due to resource strain and high operational costs, especially when using shared server configurations.

Innovation Solution

A medical information processing system utilizing a server cluster with virtual machines, where processing requests are distributed between non-emergency and emergency queues, and the number of processing modules is dynamically adjusted based on demand, allowing for temporary stoppage and activation of modules to ensure timely processing of both urgent and non-urgent requests while minimizing resource usage and costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a central processing server is used to share processing resources among multiple medical institutions, then operation cost is reduced, but processing requests from emergency systems may be delayed due to resource strain from non-emergency processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation costVSAvoidprocessing waiting time for emergency requests

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the number of processing modules based on the urgency of processing requests. When emergency requests are detected, the system activates additional processing modules to handle them, while non-emergency requests share the remaining resources. This dynamic resource allocation ensures that emergency requests are processed promptly while maintaining cost efficiency through shared infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If processing modules are increased to handle emergency requests promptly, then processing speed for emergency systems is improved, but operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speed for emergency requestsVSAvoidoperational cost

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system activates additional processing modules only when emergency requests are detected, rather than maintaining a fixed large number of modules. This allows the system to achieve high processing speed for emergency requests when needed, while reducing operational costs by using fewer modules during periods when emergency requests are not present.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a dedicated server for emergency processing is maintained, then emergency processing reliability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases due to idle capacity during low-demand periods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency processing reliabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system activates dedicated emergency processing modules only when emergency requests are received, rather than maintaining them continuously. This dynamic approach ensures that emergency processing reliability is maintained when needed, while avoiding the waste of idle resources during low-demand periods, thus improving overall resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Speed

If processing requests are handled strictly by priority (emergency first), then emergency processing speed is improved, but non-emergency processing is delayed beyond allowable waiting time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speed for emergency requestsVSAvoidprocessing waiting time for non-emergency requests

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the number of processing modules allocated to emergency versus non-emergency requests based on the current workload and urgency levels. By activating additional modules for emergency requests while maintaining sufficient capacity for non-emergency requests, the system ensures that both types of requests are processed within their respective allowable waiting times, avoiding the problem of non-emergency requests being excessively delayed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20230409390A1Medical information processing system and medical information processing method, medical information processing service providing method, and program

Publication Date: 2023.12.21 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

The medical information processing system, which includes a server cluster configured using a plurality of virtual machines, includes a first controller that distributes a processing request to a non-emergency system processing request queue or an emergency system processing request queue depending on a type of the received processing request, a non-emergency system processing module that performs a process corresponding to a non-emergency system processing request stacked in the non-emergency system processing request queue, an emergency system processing module that performs a process corresponding to an emergency system processing request stacked in the emergency system processing request queue, and a second controller that controls the number of the processing modules, in which control by the second controller includes temporarily stopping a part of a plurality of non-emergency system processing modules in operation and newly activating the emergency system processing module.