Remote Robot Medical Image Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile two-way teleconferencing systems, such as the InTouch Technologies' COMPANION and RP-6/RP-7 robots, primarily focus on visual and audio inspection, lacking the capability to integrate and transmit medical images effectively, which limits their utility in remote patient examination and interaction.
Innovation Solution
A remote controlled robot system that includes a mobile robot and a remote control station, equipped with a medical image device, allowing for the transmission of medical images over a network with a larger bandwidth allocation, enabling real-time video conferencing and interaction with medical personnel while displaying both robot and medical images simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system transmits both robot video images and medical images simultaneously, then the capability for remote patient examination is improved, but the network bandwidth is insufficient to allocate adequate transmission resources to both image types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allocating different network bandwidth resources to different image types based on their specific requirements. Medical images receive a larger portion of network bandwidth compared to robot video images, as medical images require higher quality and more transmission resources for accurate diagnosis. This differentiated resource allocation resolves the bandwidth insufficiency while maintaining both transmission functions.
2Measurement precision
If the system allocates more network bandwidth to medical images, then the quality of medical image transmission is improved, but the available bandwidth for robot video images is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by assigning different quality levels and bandwidth allocations to different transmission streams. Medical images are prioritized with higher bandwidth allocation to ensure diagnostic quality, while robot video images are allocated the remaining bandwidth. This resolves the contradiction by accepting reduced video quality in exchange for superior medical image transmission quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote controlled robot system that includes a mobile robot and a remote control station. The mobile robot is controlled by the remote control station and includes a robot monitor, and a robot camera that captures a robot image. The system also includes a medical image device that can be coupled to the robot. The remote control station includes a camera that captures a remote station image, and a monitor that displays the robot image captured by the robot camera in a robot view field, displays the remote station image in a station view field. The robot transmits the robot and medical images to the remote control station such that a larger portion of a network bandwidth is allocated for the medical image than the robot image.