Policy-Based Storage Management for Medical Imaging Data
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The exponential growth of digital data in medical imaging poses challenges for storage systems, leading to operational problems and potential compromises in patient care due to difficulties in determining which data sets to store in rapidly accessible versus slower storage subsystems.
Innovation Solution
A policy-based information storage management system that identifies relevant digital assets using predefined policies related to medical conditions, symptoms, or diagnoses, and migrates them to appropriate storage subsystems based on deterministic storage characteristics for expedited access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If all digital assets are stored in rapidly accessible storage subsystems, then access speed is improved, but storage cost and system complexity increase exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments digital assets into different categories (active, inactive, archived) and stores them in different storage subsystems with appropriate access speeds. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fast access for critical medical data while storing less frequently accessed data in slower, more cost-effective storage, thereby resolving the contradiction between access speed and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different storage characteristics to different subsets of digital assets based on their access patterns and medical relevance. Critical patient data receives high-priority fast storage, while routine data uses standard storage, optimizing the overall system without requiring all components to be at maximum speed.
2Quantity of substance
If data partitioning is implemented to manage storage capacity, then storage efficiency is improved, but difficulty in determining which data sets to store where increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated policies that independently determine the appropriate storage location for each digital asset based on predefined criteria such as data type, access frequency, and medical urgency. This automation eliminates the need for manual data placement decisions, resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and decision complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by evaluating digital assets against multiple parameters (access patterns, data criticality, storage cost) and dynamically assigning them to storage subsystems that best match their characteristics. This systematic parameter-based approach simplifies the data placement decision process while optimizing storage capacity utilization.
3Loss of energy
If storage systems reach capacity, then storage cost is reduced, but immediate access to data for patient care is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively identifying and migrating data that is likely to be needed for patient care to fast storage subsystems before it is actually accessed. This anticipatory approach ensures that critical data is readily available when needed, maintaining patient care reliability while optimizing storage cost by not keeping all data in expensive fast storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor data access patterns and storage system performance, automatically adjusting data placement decisions to balance cost and reliability. When access patterns indicate that certain data should be moved to fast storage, the system responds by migrating that data, ensuring patient care needs are met while managing storage costs effectively.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a policy-based information storage management system for digital assets are provided. The storage management system includes multiple physical storage subsystems, each with deterministic storage characteristics. A method includes receiving a data item related to a subject and looking up a record for the subject. The record identifies corresponding digital assets that are stored in the storage subsystems. The method also includes applying a policy to the corresponding digital assets based upon the data item. The method further includes determining a subset of the digital assets in the record that are relevant to the data item. The relevance determination is made in response to application of the policy. The method also includes migrating the relevant digital assets to at least one designated storage subsystem, based upon corresponding storage characteristics, for expediting access to the relevant digital assets.