Telematics Healthcare Through Digital Terrestrial Television Networks: Applications and Perspectives

Abstract

Background: The trend nowadays is the interconnection of rural health centers with a specialized monitoring medical center. Aim: The paper investigates the qualitative and quantitative characteristics that degrade the perceived video picture quality for a variety of short MPEG-4 video clips. Methods: In the present work our approach was considered in three branches; first the customization of video quality in terms of video and data compression, so maximum quality is achieved, second the use of the optimized video data transfer for emergency situations and third the subsequent creation of a “virtual doctor”. Results: Further on, novel architectures will be suggested in order to achieve the creation of a broadcasting network for healthcare telematics. Remote medical supervision and healthcare treatment will be provided to remote patients in rural health centers and understaffed areas that lack telemetry infrastructures and medical expertise personnel. Conclusions: The proposed architecture, along with the optimized data transmission, demonstrates the integration of present and forthcoming telecommunication network technologies enabling remote interactivity for fixed, portable and mobile users.