Patient Image Association Using Capture Time and ID Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image management systems fail to correctly associate patient images with the correct identification information due to random ordering of content and identification information or non-unique image capturing sequences, leading to potential misassociation of images with wrong patient information.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus and method that analyzes images to identify affected areas and identification objects, extracts relevant information such as image capturing details and patient data, and performs matching to ensure correct association of images with patient records.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content information and identification information are imported as separate images in random order, then the system can handle flexible input formats, but the association between patient images and identification information becomes incorrect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinput format flexibilityVSAvoidassociation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an image capturing time stamp as an intermediary parameter to mediate the association between target images and identification information. By comparing the image capturing time of target images with the time when service information is provided, the system can correctly match images with patient identification even when imported in random order, thus resolving the contradiction between input flexibility and association accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter used for association from relying on import order to using image capturing time stamps. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain accurate associations regardless of the random order in which images are imported, effectively resolving the technical contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the order of image capturing is not uniquely determined, then the system can handle various capturing scenarios, but the association between imported images and patient identification information becomes incorrect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapturing scenario flexibilityVSAvoidimage identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses image capturing time as an intermediary to bridge the gap between non-unique capturing orders and accurate patient identification. By introducing this time parameter, the system can determine the correct temporal sequence of events and accurately associate images with the corresponding patient identification information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary recording of image capturing time stamps when images are acquired. This preliminary action of time recording enables subsequent accurate matching and association even when the capturing order is not uniquely determined, as the time information is already embedded in the image data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If identification is based solely on image content analysis, then the system can identify subjects in images, but it cannot correctly associate images with patient information when capturing order is ambiguous

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubject identification accuracyVSAvoidpatient information association accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges two identification approaches: image content analysis (identifying the subject in the image) and temporal analysis (comparing image capturing time with service provision time). By combining these two methods, the system achieves both accurate subject identification and correct patient information association, even when capturing order is ambiguous

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12511928B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-program-readable recording medium for associating an image with identificaiton information

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 CANON KK

AI summary

An information processing apparatus acquires a plurality of images related to a target person who receives a service and image information added to each of the plurality of images, extracts an identification image including a subject to identify the target person by analyzing the plurality of images, acquires, based on the image information, image capturing information of each of the plurality of images, acquires, based on identification information corresponding to the identification image, service information regarding a service received by a target person associated with the identification information, performs matching between the image capturing information of a target image and the service information, the target image different from the identification image from among the plurality of images, and controls, based on a result of the matching, the identification information to be stored in association with each of the target images.