Method and apparatus for configuring and monitoring a system unit in a medical diagnostic system

The present invention relates generally to the field of medical diagnostic systems, such as imaging systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a technique for configuring and monitoring a system unit in a medical diagnostic system. Configuration and monitoring a system unit includes providing field service, upgrades, characterization data, and so forth to imaging systems. Further, configuration and monitoring a system unit provides for automatic configuration of the system to the particular field replaceable unit. A method for configuring and monitoring a system unit in a medical diagnostic system includes establishing a communication connection between the medical diagnostic system and a remote facility, communicating characteristic information regarding operation of the system unit in the medical diagnostic system from the remote facility to the medical diagnostic system, configuring the medical diagnostic system in accordance with the characteristic information regarding operation of the system unit, and monitoring the operation information of the system unit in the medical diagnostic system using an operator workstation at the medical diagnostic system. A corresponding apparatus includes a storage medium coupled to the system unit which stores information for the system unit in the medical diagnostic system and a communication interface configured to allow communications between the medical diagnostic system and a remote facility. The communications provide for the configuring of the medical diagnostic system to accept the system unit and for monitoring of the system unit.