A Hanging Protocol entity specifies the viewing preferences of a specific user or group, for a specific type of study (Modality, Anatomy, Laterality combination, and optionally Procedure, and/or Reason), that may be exchanged between connecting devices that claim conformance to the DICOM Standard. The Hanging Protocol contains information about the Hanging Protocol, the creator, the type of study it addresses, the type of image sets to display, the intended display environment, and the intended layout for the screen(s).

A Hanging Protocol is not related to other Information Entities of the DICOM real-world model, as it is not associated with a specific patient. The E-R model for the Hanging Protocol IOD is shown in Figure A.44.2-1.

Table A.44.3-1 lists the modules that make up the Hanging Protocol IOD.