Four related but independent aspects are described: (1) a method and a system to derive mesh surface descriptions (also called connectivity-wireframes) from objects represented as a scalar field (e.g. discrete multi-dimensional data), scalar functions (e.g. implicit surfaces) or any other surface description, (2) a compact, optionally multi-scalable, optionally view-dependent, optionally animation-friendly, multi-dimensional surface representation method and system comprising a combination of a surface mesh description associated with a reference grid, (3) a digital coding and decoding method and system of a combined surface mesh representation with connectivity information and a reference grid, and (4) a method and system for conversion of other surface descriptions to the combined surface mesh representation and reference grid. The presentation of the surface of an object may be transmitted across a communications channel by means of a bit stream.

Four related but independent aspects are described: (1) a method and a system to derive mesh surface descriptions (also called connectivity-wireframes) and material properties from objects represented as a scalar field (e.g. discrete multi-dimensional data), scalar functions (e.g. implicit surfaces) or any other surface description, (2) a compact, optionally multi-scalable, optionally view-dependent, optionally animation-friendly, multi-dimensional surface representation method and system comprising a combination of a surface mesh description and material properties associated with a reference grid, (3) a digital coding and decoding method and system of a combined surface mesh representation with connectivity information and material properties and a reference grid, and (4) a method and system for conversion of other surface descriptions to the combined surface mesh representation and reference grid. The presentation of the surface of an object may be transmitted across a communications channel by means of a bit stream.

A system prevents the creation of duplicate records and identifies, groups, and consolidates duplicate records and manages the associated workload. A method consolidates multiple records that are associated with a single entity and are stored in at least one record repository. The method involves identifying first and second records and applying record matching criteria to compare data element content of the first and second identified records to determine commonality data. The commonality data is indicative of a likelihood the first and second records are associated with a common entity. The first and second record content is merged into a composite record in response to the determined commonality data. One of the first and second records are selected as a surviving record based on earliest date of record creation or relative content of the first and second records.

A pharmacy prescription order identification system that has a uniquely identified tag that travels with the prescription order throughout the pharmacy and is wirelessly connected to a computer system. The tag includes one or more worker signaling devices, such as lights or an audio speaker, that activate in response to either input from the pharmacy worker or other predetermined criteria to identify the prescription order to the pharmacy worker. In a preferred embodiment, the tag includes a plurality of worker signaling devices, and the activation of each transducer alerts a pharmacy worker to a different status of the prescription order. More preferably, the prescription order identification system includes a computer system that allows a pharmacy worker to individually access a customer's record, then activate the worker singling devices on the tag associated with that customer's prescription order, thereby allowing a particular prescription order within the pharmacy to be easily identified. In addition, the computer system can automatically monitor the status of all pending prescription orders within the pharmacy and using predefined criteria, such as the elapsed time the prescription order has been within the pharmacy, automatically activate the worker signaling devices on the tags associated with particular prescription orders meeting that criteria.

The present invention is directed to a networked scanner environment wherein each scanner is communicatable with one or more databases configured to store data associated with previously executed imaging sessions. The one or more databases may be queried by a user to determine, based on a set of user inputs, an historical evaluation of the prior imaging sessions conducted in accordance with scan parameters similar to the scan parameters of an imminent imaging session. The present invention includes a global database that is accessible by a series of remotely located imaging systems as well as includes one or more databases particular to a specific treatment facility housing one or more imaging scanners. The present invention is also applicable with a stand-alone imaging system having a database local to that particular imaging system for storing and accessing data associated with imaging sessions conducted on that particular imaging system.