Technical Barriers In The Realization Of PACS: Network Operation

The volume of image and other data to be moved around an IMACS network requires a mean data rate which is not excessive by modern network standards. The mean data rate, however, ignores protocol overhead and the bursty nature of image transmission. IMACS operation requires software which makes network operation transparent to the user. That is, the user should not have to know where the requested data is. The network software should be integrated with the database so that all data movement is done smoothly. Another aspect of barriers the network poses to IMACS is the way in which devices interface to the network. Custom designs are costly, and standards are still being developed. This paper discusses the problems posed by network operation, and presents some of the solutions possible.