Simulation of an image network in a medical image information system

The desirability of an integrated (digital) communication system for medical images is widely accepted. In the USA and in Europe several experimental projects are in progress to realize (a part of) such a system. Among these is the IMAGIS project in the Netherlands. From the conclusions of the preliminary studies performed, some requirements can be formulated such a system should meet in order to be accepted by its users. For example, the storage resolution of the images should match the maximum resolution of the presently acquired digital images. This determines the amount of data and therefore the storage requirements. Further, the desired images should be there when needed. This time constraint determines the speed requirements to be imposed on the system. As compared to current standards, very large storage capacities and very fast communication media are needed to meet these requirements. By employing cacheing techniques and suitable data compression schemes for the storage and by carefully choosing the network protocols, bare capacity demands can be alleviated. A communication network is needed to make the imaging system available over a larger area. As the network is very likely to become a major bottleneck for system performance, effects of variation of various attributes have to be carefully studied and analysed. After interesting results had been obtained (although preliminary) using a simulation model for a layered storage structure, it was decided to apply simulation also to this problem. Effects of network topology, access protocols and buffering strategies will be tested. Changes in performance resulting from changes in various network parameters will be studied. Results of this study at its present state are presented