Previous Page TOC Index Next Page

2.8.34 RP - reference pointer

Components: <pointer (ST) > ^ < application ID (HD)> ^ <type of data (ID)> ^ <subtype (ID)>

Subcomponents of application ID: <namespace ID (IS)> & <universal ID (ST)> & <universal ID type (ID)>

This data type transmits information about data stored on another system. It contains a reference pointer that uniquely identifies the data on the other system, the identity of the other system, and the type of data.

2.8.34.1 Pointer (ST)

A unique key assigned by the system that stores the data. The key, which is an ST data type, is used to identify and access the data.

2.8.34.2 Application ID (HD)

Subcomponents: <namespace ID (IS)> & < universal ID (ST)> & <universal ID type (ID)>

A unique designator of the system that stores the data. It is an HD data type (See Section 2.8.18, "HD - hierarchic designator"). It is equivalent to the application ID of the placer or filler order number (see Chapter 4). Application ID’s must be unique across a given HL7 implementation.

2.8.34.3 Main type of data (ID)

2.8.34.3.1

An ID data type that declares the general type of data. Refer to HL7 table 0191- Main type of referenced data for valid values.

Table 0191 - Main type of referenced data

Value

Description

SI

Scanned image (HL7 v 2.2 only)

NS

Non-scanned image (HL7 v 2.2 only)

SD

Scanned document (HL7 v 2.2 only)

TX

Machine readable text document (HL7 v 2.2 only)

FT

Formatted text (HL7 v 2.2 only)

Image

Image data (HL7 v 2.3)

Audio

Audio data (HL7 v 2.3)

Application

Other application data, typically uninterpreted binary data (HL7 v 2.3)

2.8.34.4 Subtype (ID)

An ID data type declaring the format for the data of subcomponent <main type>. Refer to HL7 table 0291 - Subtype of referenced data for valid values.

Table 0291 - Subtype of referenced data

Value

Description

TIFF

TIFF image data

PICT

PICT format image data

DICOM

Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine

FAX

Facsimile data

JOT

Electronic ink data (Jot 1.0 standard)

BASIC

ISDN PCM audio data

Octet-stream

Uninterpreted binary data

PostScript

PostScript program

JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language

RTF

Rich Text Format

2.8.34.5 Main type-subtype combinations

Possible subtypes are specific to main types (though in principle the same subtype could be used for more than one main type), and so are defined under their main types.

Additional subtypes may be added to this Standard. In addition, private, non-standard subtypes may be defined by agreement between cooperating parties. All private, non-standard subtypes should begin with the letter Z to distinguish them from the standard subtypes.

2.8.34.5.1 Image subtypes

TIFF = TIFF image data

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is one of the common formats for scanned images. Its first version was developed in 1986 by Aldus Corporation as a standard for encoding scanned images. The official version of the TIFF standard is now maintained by Adobe Corporation. TIFF format is specified in the document "TIFF, Revision 6.0."Adobe Systems Incorporated, 1585 Charleston Road, P.O. Box 7900, Mountain View, CA 94039-7900

415-961-4400

The subtype "TIFF" implies recognition of that trademark and all the rights it entails.

PICT = PICT format image data

PICT is one of the common formats for scanned images. PICT is a graphics format developed by Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, California. PICT format is officially defined in the book set "Inside Macintosh,"published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Reading, Massachusetts.

DICOM = the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard

DICOM is the format developed jointly by the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) as the standard for interchange of radiological images and ancillary data. It is standardized as NEMA PS3, and is available from:

NEMA

2101 L Street NW

Washington, DC 20037

DICOM specifies a complete communications standard, including a generic messaging service for two-way exchange of imaging-related information between applications, as well as transfer of the actual images. In HL7, the use of DICOM data is limited to images only.

Images in this subtype shall be encoded according to the Generic DICOM File Format defined in DICOM Part 10, Media Storage and File Format (NEMA PS3.10). This shall be in accordance with the Image Information Object Definitions of DICOM Part 3 (NEMA PS3.3), Data Structure and Semantics of DICOM Part 5 (NEMA PS3.5), and the Data Dictionary of DICOM Part 6 (NEMA PS3.6).

The Generic DICOM File Format consists of two parts: a DICOM File Meta Information Header, immediately followed by a DICOM Data Set. The DICOM Data Set contains the image or images specified according to DICOM Part 10. The DICOM File Meta Information Header contains, among other information, a Transfer Syntax UID (Unique Identifier) which completely specifies the encoding of the Data Set according to DICOM Part 5. This encoding defines big endian vs. little endian byte ordering, as well as image compression via the JPEG (Joint Photographics Experts Group) standard (ISO/IS 10918-1 and 10918-2). The transfer syntax of the File Meta Information Header itself is little endian byte ordered, as required by DICOM Part 10.

FAX = facsimile data

Facsimile data as specified by CCITT standards F1.60, F1.80, F1.82, and F1.84.

Jot = electronic ink data, as specified by the Jot 1.0 standard

The JOT standard, proposed jointly by Slate Corporation, Microsoft, Apple, Lotus, GO, and General Magic, allows handwritten notes, sketches, signatures and other free-form written data to be transmitted. It is the standard by which portable pen computers or workstations equipped with stylus-input tablets can represent and exchange information.

It represents electronic ink as a series of stylus strokes, and therefore contains necessary information for potential automatic handwriting recognition, which would be lost if converted to other image representations. It may, however, be readily converted to another image representation for purposes of printing or display.

The JOT 1.0 standard is available from:

Software Publishers Association

1730 M Street Northwest, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20036-4510

202-452-1600

2.8.34.5.1.1 Audio subtypes

basic = ISDN PCM audio data

Telephone quality audio data, encoded as 8-bit ISDN mu-law Pulse Code Modulation sampled at 8 kHz, according to CCITT Fascicle III.4, Recommendation G.711. This subtype may be used for voice mail messages as well as voice dictation.

2.8.34.5.1.2 Application subtypes

octet-stream = uninterpreted binary data

This subtype is for binary data which has none of the other standard formats as given by Section 2.8.34.3, "Main type of data ID" Its interpretation by the system utilizing the data must be mutually agreed upon by sending and receiving parties.

PostScript = PostScript program

A PostScript language program typically representing a formatted document for printing on a PostScript printer, or for display on a computer screen via a PostScript interpreter.

PostScript consists of the original specification, PostScript level 1, described in "PostScript Language Reference Manual," Addison-Wesley, 1985, and a more advanced variant, PostScript level 2, described in "PostScript Language Reference Manual," Addison-Wesley, Second Edition, 1990. PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe Systems, Inc. Use of the subtype "PostScript" implies recognition of that trademark and all the rights it entails.

Other types may be added as needed.

Example:

|1234A321634BC^EFC^SD|

Previous Page TOC Index Next Page