Abstract
In this chapter, the authors examine the technical background behind the general problem of multimedia content deployment, and the architectural and technical choices and legal implications to be considered in order to build an effective client/server multimedia content deployment platform. This platform is suited for the implementation and spreading of a series of services, integrated with the Health Information System and the related educational and recreational facilities and support activities. Such infrastructure requires a strong convergence of expertise and innovative technologies to integrate system components and guarantee security, usability, and interoperability as recommended by IHE.
TopBackground
In this section we’ll examine the general motivations behind the development of a multichannel/multimedia content delivery platform (particularly in health environments) and the technological issues lying behind it, detailing important issues such as streaming and communication technologies.
Key Terms in this Chapter
E-Health: e-Health is an emerging field in the intersection of medical informatics, public health and business, referring to health services and information delivered or enhanced through the Internet and related technologies. In a broader sense, the term characterizes not only a technical development, but also an attitude and a commitment for networked, global thinking, to improve health care locally, regionally, and worldwide by using information and communication technology.
Multimedia Content: Multiple streams or aggregation of multimedia objects, possibly comprising audio, video, images, text, and various other modalities.
Multimedia Content Description Interface: The ISO/IEC International Standard 15938 (also known as MPEG-7), which provides a rich set of tools for completely describing multimedia content. It includes a description of the media’s content and supports a broad range of applications.
Multimedia Content Description Interface: The ISO/IEC International Standard 15938 (also known as MPEG-7), which provides a rich set of tools for completely describing multimedia content. It includes a description of the media’s content and supports a broad range of applications.
Multimedia Content Delivery: Delivery of multimedia content (over a wired or wireless network and/or the Internet). It addresses both the multimedia nature of the content and the capabilities of the diverse client platforms the content is being delivered to.
Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE): An initiative by healthcare professionals and industry to improve the way computer systems in healthcare share information. IHE promotes the coordinated use of established standards to address specific clinical need in support of optimal patient care. Systems developed in accordance with IHE communicate with one another better, are easier to implement, and enable care providers to use information more effectively.
E-Health: e-Health is an emerging field in the intersection of medical informatics, public health and business, referring to health services and information delivered or enhanced through the Internet and related technologies. In a broader sense, the term characterizes not only a technical development, but also an attitude and a commitment for networked, global thinking, to improve health care locally, regionally, and worldwide by using information and communication technology.
Health Information System: A set of organized components and procedures with the objective of generating information for improving health care management decisions at all levels of the health system.
Health Information System: A set of organized components and procedures with the objective of generating information for improving health care management decisions at all levels of the health system.
Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE): An initiative by healthcare professionals and industry to improve the way computer systems in healthcare share information. IHE promotes the coordinated use of established standards to address specific clinical need in support of optimal patient care. Systems developed in accordance with IHE communicate with one another better, are easier to implement, and enable care providers to use information more effectively.
Multimedia Content Delivery: Delivery of multimedia content (over a wired or wireless network and/or the Internet). It addresses both the multimedia nature of the content and the capabilities of the diverse client platforms the content is being delivered to.
Client/Server: A communication paradigm between two applications (not necessarily on the same computer) characterized by who is waiting and who starts a communication, and a common communication protocol. The application initiating communication is referred to as the client; the server is the application waiting for the requests. Normally the client application contacts the server by sending a request, then waits and proceeds only after getting the answer. The application server, after receiving a client’s request, performs the necessary computation and sends it a response containing the requested data.
Multimedia Content: Multiple streams or aggregation of multimedia objects, possibly comprising audio, video, images, text, and various other modalities.
Client/Server: A communication paradigm between two applications (not necessarily on the same computer) characterized by who is waiting and who starts a communication, and a common communication protocol. The application initiating communication is referred to as the client; the server is the application waiting for the requests. Normally the client application contacts the server by sending a request, then waits and proceeds only after getting the answer. The application server, after receiving a client's request, performs the necessary computation and sends it a response containing the requested data.