Radiation image signal output control method and apparatus

1. A radiation image signal output control method, comprising the steps of:

obtaining by a processor distance information that indicates a distance between an output unit, which reads out image signals from a radiation image recording medium according to a radiation image recorded thereon and outputs the image signals read out therefrom after converting to wireless communication signals, and a receiving unit that receives the wireless communication signals outputted from the output unit;

controlling by the processor the wireless communication signals to be outputted from the output unit if the distance indicated by the distance information obtained is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and not to be outputted therefrom if the distance is greater than the predetermined value;

temporarily storing image signals read out from the radiation image recording medium according to the radiation image recorded thereon;

determining if the image signals temporarily stored in the storage means and outputted from the output unit after converted to wireless communication signals are correctly received by the receiving unit; and

making, when the wireless communication signals are determined to have been correctly received by the receiving unit, the image signals temporarily stored in the storage means corresponding to the wireless communication signals correctly received by the receiving means unreadable.

2. A radiation image signal output control apparatus, comprising:

a distance information obtaining means for obtaining distance information that indicates a distance between an output unit, which reads out image signals from a radiation image recording medium according to a radiation image recorded thereon and outputs the image signals read out therefrom after converting to wireless communication signals, and a receiving unit that receives the wireless communication signals outputted from the output unit;

an output control means for controlling the wireless communication signals to be outputted from the control unit if the distance indicated by the distance information obtained by the distance information obtaining means is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and not to be outputted therefrom if the distance is greater than the predetermined value;

a storage means for temporarily storing image signals read out from the radiation image recording medium according to the radiation image recorded thereon;

a determination means for determining if the image signals, which are temporarily stored in the storage means and outputted from the output unit after converted to wireless communication signals, are correctly received by the receiving unit; and

an image signal control means for making, when the wireless communication signals are determined by the determination means to have been correctly received by the receiving unit, the image signals temporarily stored in the storage means corresponding to the wireless communication signals correctly received by the receiving means unreadable.

3. A radiation image signal output control apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein:

a distance d between the output unit and the receiving unit is calculated based on a time t 1 , which is an amount of time elapsed between a timing at which the distance information obtaining means outputs a distance measuring wireless communication signal and a timing at which a response signal output from the receiving unit is received, according to the following formula:

d=c ·( t 1− t 2)/2

wherein c is the speed of light, and t 2 is an amount of time elapsed between a timing at which the receiving unit receives the distance measuring wireless communication signal and a timing at which the receiving unit outputs the response signal.

4. A radiation image signal output control apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein:

the output unit outputs a signal that indicates that the wireless communication signals cannot be transmitted due to the distance between the output unit and the receiving unit being too great to the receiving unit.

5. A radiation image signal output control apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein:

the determination means determines that the receiving unit has correctly received the wireless communication signals in cases that an amount of time elapsed between a timing at which the wireless communication signals are output from the output unit and a timing at which a reception completion signal output by the receiving unit when the wireless communication signals are correctly received by the receiving unit is a predetermined amount of time or less.

6. A radiation image signal output control apparatus as defined in Claim 2 , wherein:

the image signal control means stores the image signals in the storage means in an encrypted state.

7. A radiation image signal output control apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein:

the image signal control means deletes an encryption key for decrypting the image signals stored in the storage means after the encryption key is employed to decrypt the image signals stored in the storage means, output by the output unit, and the determination means determines that the wireless communication signals have been correctly received by the receiving unit.

8. A radiation image signal output control apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein:

the image signal control means deletes an encryption key for decrypting the image signals stored in the storage means after the encrypted image signals in the storage means and the encryption key are output by the output unit as the wireless communication signals, and the determination means determines that the wireless communication signals have been correctly received by the receiving unit.

9. A radiation image signal output control apparatus as defined in claim 2 , wherein:

the image signal control means overwrites the image signals stored in the storage means with random data.