Application service provider based redundant archive services for medical archives and/or imaging systems

Abstract

A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method and system for application service provider based redundant archive services for medical archives and/or imaging systems. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises a data source providing medical data, a status monitor for controlling the transfer of the medical data from the data source to a remote data store, and a remote data store receiving the medical data and storing the medical data. Additionally, the remote data store may restore the medical data to the data source. Also, the remote data store preferably may transfer the medical data to a second data source. Preferably, the remote data store is an application service provider.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A central data archiving system, said system comprising: 
 a data source providing medical data;    a status monitor for controlling the transfer of said medical data from said data source to a remote data store; and    a remote data store receiving said medical data and storing said medical data.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said status monitor verifies said transfer of said medical data from said data source to said remote data store.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an access authenticator for authenticating access to said remote data store by said data source.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said access authenticator authenticates access to said data source.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said data source further stores medical data.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said remote data store further restores said medical data to said data source.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote data store stores a copy of said medical data.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second data source for storing medical data, wherein said remote data store transfers said medical data to said second data source.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote data store comprises an application service provider.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said remote data store is stored at a plurality of locations.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said status monitor controls the transfer of data from said data source to said remote data store at a definable interval.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said definable interval comprises a timed interval.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said definable interval comprises an event-based interval.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said definable interval comprises a manual interval.  
     
     
         15 . A system for remotely accessing a centralized data store, said system comprising: 
 a remote data store storing medical data;    a status monitor for controlling the transfer of said medical data from said remote data store to a data source; and    a data source receiving said medical data and storing said medical data.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second data source storing medical data.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said status monitor controls the transfer of said copy of said medical data between said remote data store and said second data source.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said status monitor verifies the transfer of said copy of said medical data between said remote data store and said second data source.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an access authenticator for authenticating access to said remote data store.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said status monitor verifies said transfer of said medical data between said first data source and said remote data store.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said remote data store comprises an application service provider.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said remote data store is stored at a plurality of locations.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said remote data store restores said medical data at said data source.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said remote data store comprises at least one directory corresponding to said first data source.  
     
     
         25 . A method for remotely archiving medical data, said method comprising: 
 transferring said medical data from a data source to a remote data store; and    storing said medical data at said remote data store.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of obtaining said medical data.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of storing said medical data at said data source.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said storing step further comprises storing said medical data at said remote data store in a directory corresponding to said data source.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said transferring step further comprises verifying said transfer of medical data from said remote data store to said data source.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of authenticating access to said remote data store.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said transferring step occurs after a definable interval.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said definable interval comprises a timed interval.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said definable interval comprises an event-based interval.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said definable interval comprises a manual interval.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of restoring said medical data to said data source from said remote data store.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step of copying said medical data from said remote data source to a second data source.  
     
     
         37 . A method for restoring medical data to a data source from a remote data store, said method comprising: 
 detecting an error in accessed medical data;    transferring a copy of said medical data from a remote data store to said data source; and    restoring said medical data by replacing said medical data at said data source with said copy of said medical data.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of previously obtaining said medical data at said data source and storing said medical data at said remote data store.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of copying said medical data to a second data source.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said transferring step further comprises verifying said transferring of medical data from said remote data store to said data source.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising the step of authenticating access to said remote data store.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said transferring step further comprises transferring said medical data from a directory representative of said data source at said remote data store to said data source.  
     
     
         43 . A method for installing medical data from a first data source to a second data source, said method comprising: 
 storing data remotely from a first data source to a remote data store;    providing access to a second data source;    transferring said medical data from said remote data store to said second data source; and    storing said medical data at said second data source.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said transferring step further comprises transferring said medical data from a directory representative of said first data source at said remote data store to said second data source.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said transferring step further comprises transferring files of medical data from said remote data store to said second data store.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said transferring step further comprises transferring the entire contents of said first data source from said remote data store to said second data source.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said transferring step further comprises verifying said transferring of medical data from said remote data store to said second data source.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising the step of authenticating access to said remote data store.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said transferring step occurs after a definable interval.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said definable interval comprises a timed interval.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said definable interval comprises an event-based interval.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said definable interval comprises a manual interval.