An Experimental Computer Network for Mcdical Data Processing

Methods for supplying medical personnel, especially in isolated areas, with the same sophisticated medical information and computational facilities that are available in major medical centers, were investigated. Inexpensive, readily available input/output terminals, including the pushbutton telephone, were tested with several biomedical application programs. An experimental network, consisting of several independent commercial time-sharing computers linked to user terminals through a small communication control computer, was constructed to demonstrate an efficient and flexible approach to remote computer access. The communication control computer, acting as a message handling and translating interface, allowed the use of a uniform terminal control language and common data handling conventions. By linking to the most powerful commercial time-sharing systems available, a reliable medical data processing network was established without a major investment in computer hardware or system software. This experimental work is a major part of the Medical Information Telecommunication Project in the Division of Computer Research and Technology (DCRT) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Die Arbeit beschreibt methodische Untersuchungen, medizinischem Personal in entlegenen Gebieten die gleichen hochentwickelten! medizinischen Informationsdienste und Computereinrichtungen, wie sie größeren medizinischen Zentren zur Verfüg ing stehen, zugänglich zu machen. Billige, leicht beschaffbare Einund Ausgabe-Geräte, einschließlich des Drucktasten-Telefons, wurden mit verschiedenen biomedizinischen Anwendungsprogrammen getestet. Ein experimentelles, aus mehreren, voneinander unabhängigen, kommerziellen Time-Sharing-Anlagen bestehendes und durch einen kleinen Kontrollcomputer miteinander verbundenes Computer-Netz wurde zusammengestellt, um einen leistungsfähigen und flexiblen Lösungsweg für einen Computer-Zugriff von entfernten Stationen aufzuzeigen. Der die Verbindung herstellende Kontrollcomputer, der als Nachrichtenverarbeiter und übersetzender Zwischenpuffer dient, gestattet die Benutzung einer einheitlichen Programmiersprache und gemeinsamer Regeln für die Datenverarbeitung. Durch Amchluß an die leistungsfähigsten kommerziell verfügbaren Time-Sharing-Systeme konnte ohne größere Investitionen für Computer-Hardware bzw, System-Software ein zuverlässig funktionierendes Datenverarbeitungsnetz aufgebaut werden. Die vorliegende experimentelle Studie beinhaltet einen Großteil des medizinischen Datenfernübertragungs-.Projektes der Division of Computer Research and Technolojy (DCRT) der National Institutes of Health.

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