DICOM to ISO-DICOM Report to joint ISO TC215/WG2 – DICOM WG10 meeting January 24, 2004, San Diego

2 DICOM becoming an ISO standard DICOM first explored the field by working on the approved workitem for “Web Access to DICOM persistent Objects”. The copyright issue had to be resolved between NEMA and ISO, first for the approved workitem. We are now ready to move forward with the entire DICOM standard. Letter with our understanding of the route to follow send on January 15, 2004 to Sophie Clivio, ISO Central Secretariat. Response back January 16, 2004, with agreement on principles and only small remaining issues.

3 DICOM becoming an ISO standard The DICOM Standards Committee is an internationally recognized standardization body with a Type A liaison to the ISO. Therefore, according to ISO's published procedures for the fast-track Process (type c), it may submit a complete and final version of the DICOM Standard (but not a draft) to ISO for consideration. Under these procedures, DICOM personnel would prepare a copy of the comprehensive version of the DICOM Standard with an ISO cover page and send it to ISO for forwarding directly to the voting members of the ISO for ballot.  CORRECT

4 DICOM becoming an ISO standard ISO members could choose to approve or reject it, in its entirety, but they could not alter it.  PARTLY CORRECT: The document will be sent to the ISO members for approval, and the may all APPROVE, REJECT AND COMMENT. If the document is approved ALL THE COMMENTS RECEIVED SHALL BE STUDIED BY A SMALL GROUP COMPRISING AT LEAST DICOM AND THE TC215 CHAIR. DICOM CAN CHOOSE TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE COMMENTS IN THE CURRENT VERSION (BOTH IN THE ISO AND DICOM VERSION), BUT DICOM CAN ALSO DECIDE NOT TO ACCEPT ANY COMMENTS AT THAT STAGE. They would be sent for inclusion in a subsequent revision of the standard. IT WILL THEN BE UP TO THE TC215 CHAIR TO DECIDE IF IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISO TC215 COMMUNITY OR NOT. IF NOT, THEN THE DOCUMENT SHALL NOT BE PUBLISHED BY ISO. IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN GUARANTEE TO DICOM THAT THE FINAL DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED BY ISO WITHOUT DICOM FULL AGREEMENT.  PROPOSED DICOM ACTION: ACCEPT

5 DICOM becoming an ISO standard The new Standard will be published and sold around the world by ISO with an ISO number and ISO copyright. At the same time, the DICOM Standards Committee may sell or otherwise distribute that same Standard with its own cover page and its own copyright. Neither organization would be authorized to sell or distribute any documents bearing the other's copyright. The DICOM Standard would include in its Foreword a sentence indicating that it "...is equivalent to ISO XXXXX." The ISO document would bear a similar reference to the DICOM Standard.  CORRECT

6 DICOM becoming an ISO standard The "current“ official version of the DICOM Standard always consists of the latest published document PLUS the FINAL text of any supplements and change items that were approved since the published version was issued. All of these documents are made available for free to the public on the DICOM Web Page. Every two years or so, these supplements and change items are folded into the most recently published comprehensive version to create a new edition of the Standard. Each new edition would be submitted to ISO for another ballot and, if approved, for subsequent publication.

7 DICOM becoming an ISO standard  PROPOSED CHANGE: This could be acceptable to ISO with a slight modification to make it in accordance with ISO rules for supplements or changes to a standard between official versions ( new editions). When a standard needs regular and frequent updates, A MAINTENANCE AGENCY (M.A.) IS CREATED, after approval by the ISO TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT BOARD (TMB). This latter delegates the authority to modify part of the standard to the M.A. It is proposed that such a M.A. be allocated to DICOM with no change to the DICOM procedure describes on the previous slide, and with changes provided on a DICOM webpage. The M.A. could also include some TC215 experts. Ideally the DICOM members should be ISO TC215 REPRESENTATIVE?? as well.

8 DICOM becoming an ISO standard  PROPOSED DICOM ACTION: 1.DICOM to send a letter confirming that we will act as Maintenance Agency for the standard. 2.Resolution for TC15 to approve DICOM as M.A. for the standard ( during next meeting in May). 3.Resolution and DICOM letter to be send to the ISO TMB for approval ( 1 month by correspondence). 4.Small note in the foreword of the standard to explain that the M.A. is with DICOM, changes at the DICOM web page. 5.All the above may be done in parallel to the DIS approval, but must be solved before the final publication of the ISO standard.

9 DICOM becoming an ISO standard Because of its size (over 2000 pages), complexity and the very rapid pace of revision, there will be no requirement to translate the DICOM Standard into any other language, nor to reformat the entire set of 16 documents to match precisely the current ISO word template – except for the cover page and introductory sections.  CORRECT

10 DICOM becoming an ISO standard Either party to the agreement may dissolve the agreement with 90 days notice to the other party.  DISCUSSION What would be the implications? Would ISO still be able to maintain its own standard in case DICOM decides to terminate the agreement? ISO process to withdraw a standard is not automatic and longer than 90 days. 6 months notice would then be more appropriate.  PROPOSED DICOM ACTION: Contractual statement that on termination ISO will withdraw the ISO version of the DICOM standard.