1. A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for musculoskeletal tissue segmentation, comprising:
a) collecting MRI image data using at least two different-three-dimensional (3D) MR sequences;
b) using voxel values from data from each 3D MR sequence as elements of a feature vector;
c) comparing the feature vector with classification boundaries to classify musculoskeletal tissue type of the voxel;
d) repeating steps b-c for a plurality of voxels;
e) generating an image from the classified musculoskeletal tissue types for the plurality of voxels to provide a musculoskeletal segmentation image;
f) processing the collected MRI image data to obtain anatomical information;
g) generating additional geometrical information for each voxel from the anatomical information; and
h) using the generated additional geometrical information as elements of the feature vector along with the voxel values from the collected MRI image data.
2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein at least three different 3D MR sequences are used.
3. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein one of the at least three different D MR sequences is SPGR (spoiled gradient recalled echo).
4. The method, as recited in claim 3, wherein at least one of the three different 3D MR sequences is at least one of balanced SSFP (steady state free precession), double-echo steady state, IDEAL (iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation) gradient-echo, 3D (three dimensional) fast spin-echo, and Magnetization Transfer.
5. The method, as recited in claim 4, wherein the musculoskeletal tissue types are bone, cartilage, muscle, meniscus, and ligament.
6. The method, as recited in claim 4, wherein the musculoskeletal tissue types are cartilage and non-cartilage.
7. The method, as recited in claim 4, further comprising generating the classification boundaries, comprising:
i) collecting second MRI image data using at least two different 3D MR sequences;
j) using voxel values from data from each 3D MR sequence as elements of a second feature vector;
k) assigning the second feature vector to a musculoskeletal tissue type;
l) repeating steps f-h for a plurality of voxels; and
m) generating at least one hyperplane separating clusters of feature vectors of different musculoskeletal tissue types for the plurality of voxels.
8. The method, as recited in claim 7, wherein the assigning each feature vector uses a manual classification.
9. The method, as recited in claim 8, wherein the generating the hyperplane uses machine learning.
10. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the anatomical information comprises location and shape of bone and the additional geometrical information comprises distance from the closest bone surface, angle between tissue surface normal direction and the direction of the main magnetic field.
11. A method for generating classification boundaries for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for musculoskeletal tissue segmentation, comprising:
a) collecting MRI image data using at least two different three-dimensional (3D) MR sequences;
b) using voxel values from data from each 3D MR sequence as elements of a feature vector;
c) marking each feature vector to a musculoskeletal tissue type;
d) repeating steps b-c for a plurality of voxels;
e) generating at least one hyperplane separating clusters of feature vectors of different musculoskeletal tissue types for the plurality of voxels;
f) processing the collected MRI image data to obtain anatomical information;
g) generating additional geometrical information for each voxel from the anatomical information; and
h) using the generated additional geometrical information as elements of the feature vector along with the voxel values from the collected MRI image data.
12. The method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the marking each feature vector uses a manual classification.
13. The method, as recited in claim 12, wherein the generating the hyperplane uses machine learning.
14. The method, as recited in claim 13, wherein one of the at least two different-3D MR sequences is SPGR.
15. The method, as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of the at least two different 3D MR sequences is selected from the group of balanced SSFP, double-echo steady state, IDEAL gradient-echo, 3D fast spin-echo, and Magnetization Transfer.
16. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein the musculoskeletal tissue types are at least two of bone, cartilage, muscle, meniscus, and ligament.
17. The method, as recited in claim 15, wherein the musculoskeletal tissue types are cartilage and non-cartilage.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-27. (canceled)
28. A method, comprising:
identifying, in a wireless communication apparatus of a first network having a first set of frequency channels, a proxy apparatus of a second network having a second set of frequency channels, wherein the second set of frequency channels overlaps at least partially with the first set of frequency channels;
causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit a transmission request message to the identified proxy apparatus on at least a primary channel of the first network and on a primary channel of the second network;
receiving a transmission response message from the proxy apparatus as a response to the transmission request message; and
upon reception of the transmission response message, causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit data to a receiver apparatus of the first network.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
receiving a list of candidate proxy apparatuses and primary channel information of the candidate proxy apparatuses; and
selecting the proxy apparatus from the list of candidate proxy apparatuses according to a determined criterion and utilizing the primary channel information in communication with the selected proxy apparatus.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the method is carried out during a transmission opportunity of the wireless communication apparatus, the further comprising:
causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit a second transmission request message addressed to the receiver apparatus during the transmission opportunity;
upon reception of a second transmission response message from the receiver apparatus in response to the second transmission request message, causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the data to the receiver apparatus during the transmission opportunity.
31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:
receiving from an access point of the first network a message comprising an information element identifying a proxy apparatus the access point is currently using; and
causing the transmission of the transmission request message to the proxy apparatus identified in the message received from the access point.
32. A method, comprising:
configuring a wireless communication apparatus of a first network to operate in a proxy mode in which the wireless communication apparatus communicates with wireless communication apparatuses of a second network, wherein a set of frequency channels of the first network overlaps with a set of frequency channels of the second network;
receiving, from a transmitter apparatus of the second network at least on the primary channel of the first network, a transmission request message querying availability of at least said primary channel for data transmission;
causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit a transmission response message as a response to the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus at least on the primary channel of the first network, wherein the transmission response message indicates at least one channel the proxy apparatus has detected as available for the data transmission.
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:
determining an identity of the transmitter apparatus from which the transmission request message was received;
if the transmitter apparatus is identified as not belonging to the first network, causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus at least on the primary channel of the first network and on the primary channel of the second network.
34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
if the transmitter apparatus is identified as belonging to the first network, causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus at least on the primary channel of the first network and not on the primary channel of the second network.
35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:
determining from contents of the received transmission request message, a transmission criteria for transmitting the transmission response message; and
causing the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus if the transmission criteria is fulfilled.
36. The method of claim 28, wherein the first network and the second network each form a basic service set of an IEEE 802.11 network.
37. The method of claim 28, wherein the transmission request message and the transmission response message are used to reserve designated at least one frequency channel for said data transmission.
38. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
identify, for a wireless communication apparatus of a first network having a first set of frequency channels, a proxy apparatus of a second network having a second set of frequency channels, wherein the second set of frequency channels overlaps at least partially with the first set of frequency channels;
cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit a transmission request message to the identified proxy apparatus on at least a primary channel of the first network and on a primary channel of the second network;
receive a transmission response message from the proxy apparatus as a response to the transmission request message; and
upon reception of the transmission response message, cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit data to a receiver apparatus of the first network.
39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
receive a list of candidate proxy apparatuses and primary channel information of the candidate proxy apparatuses; and
select the proxy apparatus from the list of candidate proxy apparatuses according to a determined criterion and utilizing the primary channel information in communication with the selected proxy apparatus.
40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
carry out said transmission and reception during a transmission opportunity of the wireless communication apparatus,
cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit a second transmission request message addressed to the receiver apparatus during the transmission opportunity;
upon reception of a second transmission response message from the receiver apparatus in response to the second transmission request message, cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the data to the receiver apparatus during the transmission opportunity.
41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
receive from an access point of the first network a message comprising an information element identifying a proxy apparatus the access point is currently using; and
cause the transmission of the transmission request message to the proxy apparatus identified in the message received from the access point.
42. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including a computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
configure a wireless communication apparatus of a first network to operate in a proxy mode in which the wireless communication apparatus communicates with wireless communication apparatuses of a second network, wherein a set of frequency channels of the first network overlaps with a set of frequency channels of the second network;
receive, from a transmitter apparatus of the second network at least on the primary channel of the first network, a transmission request message querying availability of at least said primary channel for data transmission;
cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit a transmission response message as a response to the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus at least on the primary channel of the first network, wherein the transmission response message indicates at least one channel the proxy apparatus has detected as available for the data transmission.
43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
determine an identity of the transmitter apparatus from which the transmission request message was received;
if the transmitter apparatus is identified as not belonging to the first network, cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus at least on the primary channel of the first network and on the primary channel of the second network.
44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
if the transmitter apparatus is identified as belonging to the first network, cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus at least on the primary channel of the first network and not on the primary channel of the second network.
45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to:
determine from contents of the received transmission request message, a transmission criteria for transmitting the transmission response message; and
cause the wireless communication apparatus to transmit the transmission response message to the transmitter apparatus if the transmission criteria is fulfilled.
46. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the first network and the second network each form a basic service set of an IEEE 802.11 network.
47. The method of claim 38, wherein the transmission request message and the transmission response message are used to reserve designated at least one frequency channel for said data transmission.