SkyStream Contributes IP Video Solution to ``DREAMS'' Mobile Medical Communications System.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2004 -- Collaboration Among U.S. Army, Texas A&M University and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Enables The Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services An Emergency medical service (abbreviated to initialism "EMS" in many countries) is a service providing out-of-hospital acute care and transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient believes constitutes a medical emergency. Project (DREAMS(TM)) to Deliver Medical Expertise To Remote Locations SkyStream(R) Networks, the leader in IP video delivery solutions, today announced its key role in providing video solutions for the Disaster Response and Emergency Medical Services (DREAMS) Project. DREAMS is a next-generation initiative meeting the needs of Homeland Security Noun 1. Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Department of Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States , the U.S. Department of Defense agencies and the nation's hospitals for mobile medical communications and emergency treatment that can reach injured people anywhere in the U.S. DREAMS can help first responders deliver expert treatment to victims of car accidents, plane or train wrecks, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, war and other emergencies. Funded by the United States Army United States Army Major branch of the U.S. military forces, charged with preserving peace and security and defending the nation. The first regular U.S. fighting force, the Continental Army, was organized by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, to supplement local Medical Research and Materiel ma·te·ri·el or ma·té·ri·el n. The equipment, apparatus, and supplies of a military force or other organization. See Synonyms at equipment. Command's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center, the DREAMS project -- based at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT-Houston) -- has designed an on-the-go communications system In telecommunication, a communications system is a collection of individual communications networks, transmission systems, relay stations, tributary stations, and data terminal equipment (DTE) usually capable of interconnection and interoperation to form an integrated whole. that enables two-way video, audio and data communications data communications, application of telecommunications technology to the problem of transmitting data, especially to, from, or between computers. In popular usage, it is said that data communications make it possible for one computer to "talk" with another. in ambulances, military vehicles Military vehicles include all land combat and transportation vehicles, excluding rail-based, which are designed for or are in significant use by military forces. See also list of armoured fighting vehicles. and remote hospitals. In preparation for its operational launch, DREAMS has selected the SkyStream Mediaplex-20(TM) video headend system for the UT-Houston satellite hub. It is currently road-testing civilian ambulances and military vehicles (High Mobility Military Wheeled Vehicle Noun 1. wheeled vehicle - a vehicle that moves on wheels and usually has a container for transporting things or people; "the oldest known wheeled vehicles were found in Sumer and Syria and date from around 3500 BC" axle - a shaft on which a wheel rotates -- HMMWV's or civilian version humvee) mounted with cameras, satellite video, audio, and data communications equipment See DCE. Data Communications Equipment - Data Communication Equipment that can transmit and receive data and video from multiple sources, including the satellite hub. The Mediaplex-20 is the only product that met the program's tough requirement for an integrated network A network that supports both data and voice and/or different networking protocols. See converged network and new public network. services system that can source, distribute and bridge between video and data services over multiple network architectures across the U.S. "The Mediaplex-20 is a complete, all-in-one video headend system that allows us to integrate with multiple networks for receiving of both video and data, manipulate it and distribute it over both IP and satellite networks to reach emergency medical workers anywhere," said Dave Beering, principle of Infinite Global Infrastructure, the lead system designer and integrator on the Houston hub project. "SkyStream's Mediaplex-20 was a cost-effective solution that eliminated the requirement to source multi-vendor equipment and whose modular design met our future growth needs." Mediaplex's support for high capacity IP and ATM data interfaces, as well as its various video interfaces, video processing capabilities for video multiplexing, de-multiplexing, encapsulation (1) In object technology, the creation of self-contained modules that contain both the data and the processing. See object-oriented programming. (2) The transmission of one network protocol within another. and de-encapsulation of incoming data and video made it the system of choice for the DREAMS network environment. In this network, Mediaplex's multi-in, multi-out, modular chassis-based platform allows for the manipulation and reliable delivery of both video and data services required by the receiving devices on the DREAMS network. "The idea behind DREAMS is to allow the best and most appropriate medical expertise to be leveraged in multiple locations simultaneously," said Dr. James H. "Red" Duke, Medical Director and principal investigator of DREAMS. "The versatile video delivery platform that makes it possible for medical experts to visually communicate with remote, on-site medics in the field or in-route to hospitals could save a lot of lives." With support from DREAMS, rural hospital-based medical personnel or ambulance-based emergency medical technicians e·mer·gen·cy medical technician n. Abbr. EMT A person trained and certified to appraise and initiate the administration of emergency care for victims of trauma or acute illness before or during transportation of victims to a health care with limited expertise can watch a monitor and receive video-based acute care and expert diagnostics and treatment remotely from a team of medical experts based in major hospital centers. Using a video camera with a satellite uplink mounted in the vehicle, the medical team can see the patients' injuries and analyze their vital signs via the vehicle's diagnostic equipment, which is connected to the mobile communications platform. "The role of video technology in saving lives is just beginning," said Jim Olson, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of SkyStream. "We are proud that the versatility of Mediaplex-20's video delivery capabilities over any network can be utilized so effectively by the DREAMS project, which has the resources and leadership to make on-the-go, video-based emergency treatment a reality very soon." The DREAMS ambulances and HMMWV's connect to the DREAMS network via a 60cm antenna using new tracking methodologies and serving as a Ku-band land-mobile satellite downlink. Inside the ambulance, a rack-mounted system includes a complete communications system with computers, analog and digital high-speed connectivity, power supply, cell phone, satellite phone and video cameras. About SkyStream Networks SkyStream provides IP video delivery platforms that enable service providers to transform their business. SkyStream is the leader in IP video with over 200 customers. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion