Mediaflux™ DINS is a software tool that enables distributed, collaborative analysis of image data. A typical image source is a video camera connected to an optical or electron microscope, but just about any image source can be used (still image camera, computer screen, files, etc.). Images and notes are published to a secure web site, where they can be viewed by any invited and authorized person using a standard web browser. Integrated text-based chat allows everyone to discuss the content. All images, notes and the chat transcript are preserved in the Mediaflux™ archive for later access.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

DINS consists of one (or more) consoles connected to a Mediaflux™ server. The console is a software application installed on a PC to which the image acquisition device is attached. The Mediaflux™ server is Arcitecta's digital asset management system that is used to store images, notes and other data, and to serve the DINS web site to remote participants.

DINS is optimized to work over low bandwidth internet connections, enabling maximum accessibility to published images. For this reason no video is published or streamed, and image size is configurable in the browser. However, images captured and archived can be of very high quality, depending on the characteristics of the image source.

IMAGE SOURCES

DINS was conceived as a microscopic diagnostic tool, where the image source would be a video camera mounted on an optical or electron microscope. However, the video camera could be mounted anywhere, or hand held. Alternatively, a video player (VCR or camcorder) could provide pre-recorded tape playback as the source.

The console can be configured to capture still images from the video source, either periodically (say, every 5 seconds) or on operator request. Each new image can be automatically or manually published to the web site.

Image sources other than a video feed provide greater flexibility and the ability to integrate with other software and hardware. The DINS console can be configured to monitor a directory; each new image file is displayed as a static image in the console. Alternatively, images can be automatically or manually captured from the PC screen.

COLLABORATION

In DINS a unit of work is a "session". Sessions can be saved and restored and new sessions created at any time. For each session a new and unique micro web site is established on the Mediaflux™ server.

A population of DINS users is maintained on the Mediaflux™ server by the console application. Each user has a unique id and password. Only when the console operator has added a user to a session is that user able to access the session's web site.

The console operator can send a pre-configured session invitation email to each participant. The email contains the participant's user id and password, and a link to the session's web site. When the recipient clicks on the link, their browser will open at the web site and they will be prompted to enter their credentials. If successful, their browser displays the last published image and notes, a list of all participants and the text chat tool.

Each new image published to the web site is automatically displayed in the browsers of all logged in participants, together with the cumulative image notes for the session. Participants can discuss images and notes using the text chat tool. The tool consists of a field for entering text and a larger field where the entire chat transcript for the session is displayed. (Late entrants to a session can read the entire transcript.)

Every image published in a session is added to a thumbnail catalog, accessible to the browser. Each image's unique number can be used to explicitly refer to any image in the text chat or notes.

At the end of a session, the console operator can generate a formal session record, including date and time, list of participants, and all published images and image notes. This document is published on the same web site and an email notification of its availability can be automatically sent to all participants.

ANNOTATIONS AND FILTERS

The console operator can annotate images before publication, in order to highlight or describe particular features. Annotations include lines, arrows, ovals, rectangles and text. Annotations are re-applied to each new image until the operator removes or changes them.

A scale bar is a particular type of annotation used for magnified images. The console operator first creates and calibrates a scale bar for a specific microscope and magnification level. Once calibrated, a scale bar can be used as a ruler to show the size of any object in the image. Any number of scale bars can be created and used.

The console operator can perform simple image processing before publication. Filters include brightness and contrast, sharpness and color correction.

ARCHIVING AND RETRIEVAL

Everything published to the web-site images, notes and chat - is automatically stored on the Mediaflux™ server until deleted by the console operator. In addition, the operator can save an image to Mediaflux™ at any time, specifying metadata (cataloging information) that is stored with the image.

The operator can search the image archive, using operator and system (e.g. creation date) metadata as search criteria. Any image retrieved in this way can be published to the web site as a "comparison" image, and viewed by remote participants.

In addition, all images and other objects stored on the Mediaflux™ server can be searched and retrieved using standard Mediaflux™ tools, which include a browser based search application.

ORIGINS

DINS was conceived by the CSIRO's Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) in Geelong, Victoria. AAHL and Arcitecta collaborated to develop DINS using Mediaflux™. AAHL contains a biologically secure containment area and DINS is uniquely capable of providing access to diagnostic samples within this area.

For further information about AAHL, see www.csiro.au/aahl.

Arcitecta have subsequently commercialized DINS and are actively developing and supporting the product.