User interface for configuring image presentation

1. A user interface system for determining image display presentation characteristics, comprising:

a cursor control device for receiving command data related to a displayed cursor in response to user physical interaction with the device;

a displayed image parameter selection control for providing image parameter selection data, responsive to the received command data and comprising,

a shape having an origin and one or more different sectors associated with one or more corresponding different sets of parameters determining image color or grayscale characteristics and

a linear element lying along a line from said origin to a perimeter of said shape and being rotatable about said origin,

(a) within a sector to select at least one value within a corresponding range of values determining a group of image display characteristics and

(b) between sectors to select one of said different sets of parameters determining image color or grayscale characteristics; and

a display processor for initiating display of an image having display presentation characteristics determined by said image parameter selection data.

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said image is a medical image and

said image display characteristics comprise luminance or a function of luminance.

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein

said function of luminance comprises gamma.

4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said linear element includes at least one marker movable by a user along the linear element to overlay and select a point in a sector representing a parameter value determining an image luminance, the selected parameter value determining a maximum or minimum characteristic value.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein

said characteristic value comprises a gamma determining value.

6. A system according to claim 4 , wherein

said characteristic value comprises at least one of, (a) a brightness determining value and (b) a contrast determining value.

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said shape substantially comprises a two dimensional circle.

8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said shape substantially comprises a three dimensional sphere.

9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said shape is three dimensional.

10. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said shape substantially comprises at least one of, (a) a square, (b) an ellipse, (c) a rectangle and (d) a cube.

11. A system according to claim 1 , wherein

said linear element includes first and second different markers movable by a user along the linear element to overlay and select points in a sector representing parameter values determining a image color or grayscale characteristic, the selected values determining a maximum and minimum characteristic value.

12. A system according to claim 11 , wherein

said first and second different markers represent a range of said characteristic value between said maximum and minimum characteristic value and said range is inverted in response to reversing relative position of said first and second markers on said linear element.

13. A user interface system for determining image display presentation characteristics, comprising:

a cursor control device for receiving command data related to a displayed cursor in response to user physical interaction with the device;

a displayed image parameter selection control for providing image parameter selection data, responsive to the received command data and comprising,

a plurality of individually user selectable adjacent sectors associated with one or more corresponding different sets of parameters determining image color or grayscale characteristics and

a marker movable within a user selected individual sector to select a value within a range of values determining a first image display characteristic; and

a display processor for initiating display of an image having display presentation characteristics determined by said image parameter selection data.

14. A system according to claim 13 , wherein

said plurality of individually user selectable adjacent sectors are parallel and individually have a shape comprising at least one of, a rectangle or a bar.

15. A system according to claim 13 , wherein

said image is a medical image and

said first image display characteristic comprises luminance or a function of luminance.

16. A system according to claim 15 , wherein

said function of luminance comprises gamma.

17. A system according to claim 13 , wherein

said marker is movable to select a point in a sector representing a parameter value determining an image luminance, the selected value determining a maximum or minimum characteristic value.

18. A system according to claim 17 , wherein

said characteristic value comprises a gamma determining value.

19. A system according to claim 17 , wherein

said characteristic value comprises at least one of, (a) a brightness determining value and (b) a contrast determining value.

20. A method employed within a user interface system for determining image display presentation characteristics, comprising the activities of:

receiving command data related to a displayed cursor in response to user physical interaction with the device;

displaying an image parameter selection control for providing image parameter selection data, responsive to the received command data and comprising,

a shape having an origin and one or more different sectors associated with one or more corresponding different sets of parameters determining image color or grayscale characteristics and

a linear element lying along a line from said origin to a perimeter of said shape and being rotatable about said origin,

(a) within a sector to select a value within a range of values determining a first image display characteristic and

(b) between sectors to select one of said different sets of parameters determining image color or grayscale characteristics; and

initiating display of an image having display presentation characteristics determined by said image parameter selection data.