Systems and methods for delivering media content and improving diagnostic reading efficiency

1. A computer-implemented method for transferring image data via a delivery chain for display at a client workstation, said method comprising:

establishing, using a processor, a general loading plan to specify a recommended priority for delivery of image data in a data list, the data list describing image data to be delivered to implement an imaging workflow, wherein the general loading plan includes a description of 1) an associated imaging workflow, 2) data involved for each stage of the associated imaging workflow and 3) an appropriate retrieval and delivery mechanism for each stage of the imaging workflow;

generating, using a processor, a node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain, the node loading plan to be separate from but based on the general loading plan and the imaging workflow, wherein the node loading plan for a node is to serve as an operational algorithm for the node;

reconciling, using a processor, the general loading plan and the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain; and

delivering, using a processor, the image data via the nodes of the delivery chain based on the general loading plan, the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain, and the data list.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data list is represented as a graph of resources.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a node in the delivery chain includes a plurality of node loading plans for a plurality of image data delivery workflows.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein reconciling further comprises coordinating loading plans for a plurality of delivery nodes to reduce data congestion and bottleneck along the delivery chain.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein reconciling further comprises changing at least one of priority, order, data retrieval speed, data transfer speed, and data processing by nodes in the delivery chain in response to an updated node loading plan resulting from at least one of loading plan conflict and resource availability.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering further comprises concurrently delivering image data by nodes in the delivery chain for a plurality of independent workflows.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing a compression strategy with respect to the image data for delivery of the image data in conjunction with the general loading plan, the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain, and the data list.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying initial information for a user while delivering the image data in a background of the client workstation processing.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pre-loading a next viewing application with next image data in the background while the image data delivered is viewed on the client workstation.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pre-loading includes loading the next image data with tools, a hanging protocol, and applicable prior images configured and ready for viewing at the client workstation.

11. A picture archiving and communication system, said system comprising:

a delivery chain including a of nodes retrieving image data from storage and transmitting the image data from a server to a workstation for display;

a processor and associated memory including a data list and a general loading plan, the data list describing image data to be delivered to implement an imaging workflow and the general loading plan to specify a recommended priority for delivery of the image data in the data list, the processor providing a node loading plan to each node in the delivery chain, the node loading plan to be separate from but based on the general loading plan and the imaging workflow, wherein the node loading plan for a node is to serve as an operational algorithm for the node, wherein the general loading plan and the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain are to be reconciled in according with the imaging workflow, and

wherein the general loading plan includes a description of 1) an associated imaging workflow, 2) data involved for each stage of the associated imaging workflow and 3) an appropriate retrieval and delivery mechanism for each stage of the imaging workflow, and

wherein the delivery chain operates with the data list, general loading plan, and each node loading plan to deliver requested image data via the delivery chain.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the data list is represented as a graph of resources.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein a node in the delivery chain includes a plurality of node loading plans for a plurality of image data delivery workflows.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor and the delivery chain coordinate node loading plans for a plurality of delivery nodes to reduce data congestion and bottleneck along the delivery chain.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor adjusts at least one of priority, order, data retrieval speed, data transfer speed, and data processing by nodes in the delivery chain in response to an updated node loading plan resulting from at least one of loading plan conflict and resource availability.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein nodes in the delivery chain concurrently deliver for a plurality of independent workflows based on a plurality of node loading plans.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor and the delivery chain employ a compression strategy with respect to the image data for delivery of the image data in conjunction with the general loading plan, the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain, and the data list.

18. The system of claim 11 , further comprising displaying initial information for a user while delivering the image data in background processing of the workstation.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor pre-loads a next viewing application with next image data in the background at the workstation while the image data delivered is viewed on the workstation.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the pre-loading includes loading the next image data with tools, a hanging protocol, and applicable prior images configured and ready for viewing at the workstation.

21. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor resides on at least one of a picture archiving and communications server and the workstation, and wherein the delivery chain resides on the picture archiving and communications server and a network connecting the server with the workstation.

22. A tangible computer readable medium having a set of instructions for execution on a computing device, the set of instructions executing a method for transferring image data via a delivery chain for display at a client workstation, the method comprising:

establishing a general loading plan to specify a recommended priority for delivery of image data in a data list, the data list describing image data to be delivered to implement an imaging workflow, wherein the general loading plan includes a description of 1) an associated imaging workflow, 2) data involved for each stage of the associated imaging workflow and 3) an appropriate retrieval and delivery mechanism for each stage of the imaging workflow;

generating a node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain, the node loading plan to be separate from but based on the general loading plan and the imaging workflow, wherein the node loading plan for a node is to serve as an operational algorithm for the node;

reconciling the general loading plan and the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain; and

delivering the image data via the nodes of the delivery chain based on the general loading plan, the node loading plan for each node in the delivery chain, and the data list.