Token-Based Locking for Multi-Modality Medical System Resource Deadlocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-modality medical systems face resource deadlocks due to lack of synchronization between independent modules, which can adversely affect patient safety and treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A token-based locking scheme is implemented to manage shared resources, ensuring exclusive access and preventing resource deadlocks by authorizing and managing access to shared resources among independent modality components, and revoking tokens in case of errors to halt critical actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If independent modality modules are used to handle different diagnostic workflows, then system versatility and adaptability are improved, but resource deadlocks and synchronization issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
A centralized resource management module is introduced as an intermediary between independent modality modules and shared resources. This mediator receives resource requests from various modalities, manages token distribution, and coordinates access to shared resources like display viewports and processing units, thereby preventing deadlocks while preserving system versatility
Solution Approach 2:
Tokens are pre-allocated and managed by the resource management module before modality components need access to shared resources. The system establishes a token-based authorization mechanism in advance, where tokens must be explicitly requested, transferred, and returned, ensuring proper sequencing and preventing simultaneous access conflicts
2Productivity
If shared resources are accessed by multiple modality components simultaneously, then system efficiency is improved, but resource deadlocks and workflow errors occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic token transfer mechanisms where authorization tokens are transferred between modality components based on workflow requirements. Tokens can be passed from one modality to another through defined workflows, allowing efficient resource sharing while maintaining controlled access sequences that prevent deadlocks and ensure workflow reliability
3Reliability
If a locking scheme is implemented to manage shared resources, then resource deadlock prevention is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex deadlock prevention logic is extracted into a separate resource management module that handles token distribution and coordination independently from modality components. This extraction centralizes the complexity in a dedicated manager rather than distributing it throughout the system, making the overall architecture more manageable while maintaining reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Generally, the present disclosure is directed to managing shared resources in a multi-modality medical system. A multi-modality medical system acquires, stores, processes, and displays data associated with a plurality of different medical modalities. Although different, independent modules within the medical system handle different modality workflows, such modules rely on common resources in the system. The method and systems described herein coordinate usage of the common resources, such as a display viewport, among the independent modality modules. For example, a token-based, locking scheme is utilized to exclusively assign a shared resource to a single modality component. This locking scheme prevents, for example, resource deadlocks from occurring during a patient procedure, thus enhancing patient safety. This scheme also ensures, for example, that one diagnostic step in a patient procedure is completed before a second diagnostic step is started, and that all workflow operations halt in the event of an error.