- Email: [email protected]
Implementations
Smart cards get healthy A one year trial has begun in the UK for the storage of medical records on microcomputer cards. Although the use of smart cards for such applications is already well-tried on the European continent, the recent launch of the Care Card scheme by the Exeter District Health Authority is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK. The scope of the project embraces a wide range of activities, from the development and installation of software to training health care staff in the system's use. Interest will focus particularly on the feasibility of patient-retained portable medical data, an assessment of patients' views on the use of such cards, and
the effects of the system on the quality and continuity of patient care. Some 8 500 patients will be issued with cards, on which details of medical history and medicines currently being prescribed will be held. Patients, who retain their own card, will each have a PIN, and health professionals authorized by the patient to examine data will need a key Care Card and its PIN. In this way, security should be maintained, and access limited to specific functions within the system through the additional use of a series of passwords. Equipment for the pilot project is being installed in the Royal Devon & Exeter District Hospital, the Exmouth
Satellite boost for Pacific rim The determination of government and private business in the Pacific basin to utilize the most advanced technology available in building telecommunications systems has been signalled by two recent announcements. In separate moves, the Republic of Indonesia has announced its purchase of a satellite link, and five Japanese firms have outlined their intention to establish private business television networks in Japan. A satellite network that will provide interactive data, video and voice communications to as many as 4 000 sites on the 13 677 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia is to be installed under a $50M contract by US-based company Scientific Atlanta Inc and Indonesian firm Citra Sari Makmur (CSM), beginning in late 1989. The multi-year contract, awarded by Indonesia's Ministry of Telecommunications, Perumtel, is for a communications network using low cost, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology. The turnkey SKYLINX.25 network includes master earth stations and remote site terminals, with remote site equipment that will include digital satellite modem and 1.8 metre antennas. The VSAT will operate
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independently of Indonesia's public packet switched network, but an important consideration in the selection of SKYLINX.25, say Scientific Atlanta, was its ability to communicate with the existing public network that serves the country's five largest cities. Meanwhile, in Japan, Scientific Atlanta has been selected to construct five private television networks using the company's B-MAC satellite communications system. Nippon Telephone & Telegraph Company (NTT) of Tokyo, along with Nikken, Telecom Sat and Video Sat, plan to send video signals to JC-sat, Japan's new communications satellite that was scheduled for launch in April of this year. Another company, Supemet, will operate over Space Communications Corporation's (SCC) satellite, also scheduled for launch in April. The signals will then be distributed to individual business and educational sites around Japan. B-MAC uses proprietary software to encrypt and decode each signal, so it can only be received and decrypted by selected B-MAC decoders. (Scientific Atlanta Inc., One Technology Parkway, Box 105600, Atlanta, GA 30348, USA) []
Hospital Outpatients' Department, in two general practices, eight pharmacies, and in one dental practice. The system comprises hardware and software components supporting the Care Card supplied by Bull HN Information Systems Ltd., with other hardware and software components supporting the Clinical Information System supplied by Abies Infomatics. The Care Card consists of a singlechip computer embedded in a conventional plastic card which is accessed via a number of external contacts. Included is a memory which can be partitioned to provide various levels of access control, together with a microprocessor to manage the memory and hold the application-specific keys. Security is a function of the card itself, since it is the card's own microprocessor which determines access authorization. In compliance with the UK's Data Protection Act, patients can read the information held on their own card by using their PIN. One of the prime objectives is the ability to transfer information between General Practitioners (GP), hospital clinicians, pharmacists and other health workers. In the hospital, the cards will be used without disrupting established hospital procedures through a system of record print-out and on-screen card updating. GPs, most of whom have their own terminals, will view and update a patient's card directly, without the need to produce printouts. In addition, pharmacists will have restricted access to the system, allowing them to issue medication consistent with a patient's history. A major benefit of the system is seen as the improvement of communication between health care workers in different locations and disciplines. This is particularly relevant to special groups such as pregnant women, diabetics and the elderly who are treated in more than one place. The admission of patients and the administration of out-patient clinics is also expected to be streamlined, and the overall efficiency of clinical-hospital administration should be made more efficient. (Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SWlA 2NS, UK) []
computer communications
A
AA extends DP facilities with an eye on future growth The UK's largest motoring organization, the Automobile Association (AA), has expanded its data processing facilities in a move to a new corporate data centre. Under a £7 M contract, ICL has supplied a Local Area Network (LAN), most of the workstations, all the mainframe computers, network gateway technology and associated services for the AA's new Durie Centre. The AA hopes that such an expansion in computing capability will meet its central data processing requirements for the next 20 years. The AA's purpose-built corporate data centre in Basingstoke is the hub of the organization's UK-wide private communications network, AANET, which aims to provide an efficient, low cost interchange of computer data between over 200 AA shops and offices across the UK. By the early 1990s, the AA predict that they will have more than 300 locations, each requiring connection through AANET to the Durie Centre. The centre's mainframe equipment consists of four ICL Series 39 Level 80 systems, each with 64Mbytes of memory, and with a total of 175Gbytes of disc storage. The operating system for the Series 39s is VME, which has enabled the AA to install additional smaller but fully compatible distributed mainframes in their regional 'Command and Control' centres across the UK. The AA's Durie Centre was specifically designed to allow for a predicted future expansion of data communications equipment, both at the main data processing centre and in existing and future country-wide offices, so the new purpose-built centre was designed with the capacity for up to 12 mainframes and supporting data storage equipment. The Series 39 machines include a Content Addressable File Store (CAFS) search processor, which scans the contents of high disc files and extracts items that would take up to 60 times longer to retrieve using conventional methods. This tech-
vol 12 no 4 august 1989
nique has been used by the M to speed up the response to users at terminals, and reduce the load on the main Series 39 processor, in a number of applications. Incorporated in the Series 39 equipment are high speed fibre optic cables (50 Mbit/s), known as Macrolan, which connect high speed peripherals to the central processing nodes, reducing the cabling when compared to that required by traditional computers. In addition, the fibre optic cable has allowed the AA to locate processors and peripherals in separate computer rooms, as with fibre optic cable the central processors can be located up to 2 km from the peripherals. The data centre uses ICL's OSI conformant I_AN, known as OSLAN, running at 10Mbit/s. OSLAN also supports the IEEE 802.3 standard, enabling workstations conforming to this standard to communicate between one another. In addition, AA computer users can also access the OSI network using nonconformant workstations, as they are connected to OSLAN via an ICL Open Systems Link Unit (OSLU). Within AA buildings the OSI networks are connected together using OSI bridges over AANET, enabling all users to access data held on the Series 39 mainframes. Some 150 AA information technology staff work in the Durie Centre, and with the organization's computer usage growing at a rate of about 35% a year, the Association expects to recruit another 150 information systems staff nationwide during 1989. Once the formal transition from theAA's old computer centre to the Durie Centre is complete, the organization believes that it will have one of the most up-to-date, well equipped and resilient computer centres in the UK.
(The Automobile Association, Fanum House, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2EA, UK. Tel: (0256) 20123. ICL Ltd., Bridge House, Putney Bridge, Fulham, London SW6 3JX, UK) []
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In brief Finnair is upgrading its airline reservation and business control capabilities with the acquisition of Unisys USAS 2000 and Airline Revenue Enhancement software systems. Enhancements to the USAS 2000 should enable the company to operate more e f f i c i e n t l y - the ARE system tracks booking and analyses demographic and industry trends, providing decision support information that should allow the airline to increase its turnover. In addition, two Unisys DCP/50 and one DCP/15 comms processor will enable Finnair to establish physical connections with the SITA network and other carriers. (Unisys Ltd.,
Stonebridge Park, London NWlO 8LS, UK) [] The UK's Meteorological Office is using two loosely-networked ELXSI 6420 computers to improve their satellite imagery service. Autosat-2 receives nearly 200 satellite transmissions a day, a total of some 3500 Mbytes, from which it will produce over 600 pictures of different parts of the world. The processing of satellite images places unique demands on computers, with both speed and backup needed to ensure reliability. The system will initially serve scientists in the Met Office's central forecasting unit. (The Met Office, London Road, Bracknell, Berks RG ?2 2SZ, UK) [] High speed packet-switching techniques will shortly be used bythe International Civil Aviation Organization for the communication of aeronautical information, replacing existing telegraphic methods. Following the trial of a new digital transmission system, Common ICAO Data Interchange Network, a Ferranti AFi-N message switching node is to be installed at London's Heathrow airport, providing a CIDIN capability. Transmission rates of 64 kbit/s are available with CIDIN on digital links, and the system is compatible with most current comms media as it is based on X.25 technology. (Ferranti
CS Ltd., Simonsway, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 5LA, UK) []
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the effects of the system on the quality and continuity of patient care. Some 8 500 patients will be issued with cards, on which details of medical history and medicines currently being prescribed will be held. Patients, who retain their own card, will each have a PIN, and health professionals authorized by the patient to examine data will need a key Care Card and its PIN. In this way, security should be maintained, and access limited to specific functions within the system through the additional use of a series of passwords. Equipment for the pilot project is being installed in the Royal Devon & Exeter District Hospital, the Exmouth
Satellite boost for Pacific rim The determination of government and private business in the Pacific basin to utilize the most advanced technology available in building telecommunications systems has been signalled by two recent announcements. In separate moves, the Republic of Indonesia has announced its purchase of a satellite link, and five Japanese firms have outlined their intention to establish private business television networks in Japan. A satellite network that will provide interactive data, video and voice communications to as many as 4 000 sites on the 13 677 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia is to be installed under a $50M contract by US-based company Scientific Atlanta Inc and Indonesian firm Citra Sari Makmur (CSM), beginning in late 1989. The multi-year contract, awarded by Indonesia's Ministry of Telecommunications, Perumtel, is for a communications network using low cost, Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) technology. The turnkey SKYLINX.25 network includes master earth stations and remote site terminals, with remote site equipment that will include digital satellite modem and 1.8 metre antennas. The VSAT will operate
236
independently of Indonesia's public packet switched network, but an important consideration in the selection of SKYLINX.25, say Scientific Atlanta, was its ability to communicate with the existing public network that serves the country's five largest cities. Meanwhile, in Japan, Scientific Atlanta has been selected to construct five private television networks using the company's B-MAC satellite communications system. Nippon Telephone & Telegraph Company (NTT) of Tokyo, along with Nikken, Telecom Sat and Video Sat, plan to send video signals to JC-sat, Japan's new communications satellite that was scheduled for launch in April of this year. Another company, Supemet, will operate over Space Communications Corporation's (SCC) satellite, also scheduled for launch in April. The signals will then be distributed to individual business and educational sites around Japan. B-MAC uses proprietary software to encrypt and decode each signal, so it can only be received and decrypted by selected B-MAC decoders. (Scientific Atlanta Inc., One Technology Parkway, Box 105600, Atlanta, GA 30348, USA) []
Hospital Outpatients' Department, in two general practices, eight pharmacies, and in one dental practice. The system comprises hardware and software components supporting the Care Card supplied by Bull HN Information Systems Ltd., with other hardware and software components supporting the Clinical Information System supplied by Abies Infomatics. The Care Card consists of a singlechip computer embedded in a conventional plastic card which is accessed via a number of external contacts. Included is a memory which can be partitioned to provide various levels of access control, together with a microprocessor to manage the memory and hold the application-specific keys. Security is a function of the card itself, since it is the card's own microprocessor which determines access authorization. In compliance with the UK's Data Protection Act, patients can read the information held on their own card by using their PIN. One of the prime objectives is the ability to transfer information between General Practitioners (GP), hospital clinicians, pharmacists and other health workers. In the hospital, the cards will be used without disrupting established hospital procedures through a system of record print-out and on-screen card updating. GPs, most of whom have their own terminals, will view and update a patient's card directly, without the need to produce printouts. In addition, pharmacists will have restricted access to the system, allowing them to issue medication consistent with a patient's history. A major benefit of the system is seen as the improvement of communication between health care workers in different locations and disciplines. This is particularly relevant to special groups such as pregnant women, diabetics and the elderly who are treated in more than one place. The admission of patients and the administration of out-patient clinics is also expected to be streamlined, and the overall efficiency of clinical-hospital administration should be made more efficient. (Department of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SWlA 2NS, UK) []
computer communications
A
AA extends DP facilities with an eye on future growth The UK's largest motoring organization, the Automobile Association (AA), has expanded its data processing facilities in a move to a new corporate data centre. Under a £7 M contract, ICL has supplied a Local Area Network (LAN), most of the workstations, all the mainframe computers, network gateway technology and associated services for the AA's new Durie Centre. The AA hopes that such an expansion in computing capability will meet its central data processing requirements for the next 20 years. The AA's purpose-built corporate data centre in Basingstoke is the hub of the organization's UK-wide private communications network, AANET, which aims to provide an efficient, low cost interchange of computer data between over 200 AA shops and offices across the UK. By the early 1990s, the AA predict that they will have more than 300 locations, each requiring connection through AANET to the Durie Centre. The centre's mainframe equipment consists of four ICL Series 39 Level 80 systems, each with 64Mbytes of memory, and with a total of 175Gbytes of disc storage. The operating system for the Series 39s is VME, which has enabled the AA to install additional smaller but fully compatible distributed mainframes in their regional 'Command and Control' centres across the UK. The AA's Durie Centre was specifically designed to allow for a predicted future expansion of data communications equipment, both at the main data processing centre and in existing and future country-wide offices, so the new purpose-built centre was designed with the capacity for up to 12 mainframes and supporting data storage equipment. The Series 39 machines include a Content Addressable File Store (CAFS) search processor, which scans the contents of high disc files and extracts items that would take up to 60 times longer to retrieve using conventional methods. This tech-
vol 12 no 4 august 1989
nique has been used by the M to speed up the response to users at terminals, and reduce the load on the main Series 39 processor, in a number of applications. Incorporated in the Series 39 equipment are high speed fibre optic cables (50 Mbit/s), known as Macrolan, which connect high speed peripherals to the central processing nodes, reducing the cabling when compared to that required by traditional computers. In addition, the fibre optic cable has allowed the AA to locate processors and peripherals in separate computer rooms, as with fibre optic cable the central processors can be located up to 2 km from the peripherals. The data centre uses ICL's OSI conformant I_AN, known as OSLAN, running at 10Mbit/s. OSLAN also supports the IEEE 802.3 standard, enabling workstations conforming to this standard to communicate between one another. In addition, AA computer users can also access the OSI network using nonconformant workstations, as they are connected to OSLAN via an ICL Open Systems Link Unit (OSLU). Within AA buildings the OSI networks are connected together using OSI bridges over AANET, enabling all users to access data held on the Series 39 mainframes. Some 150 AA information technology staff work in the Durie Centre, and with the organization's computer usage growing at a rate of about 35% a year, the Association expects to recruit another 150 information systems staff nationwide during 1989. Once the formal transition from theAA's old computer centre to the Durie Centre is complete, the organization believes that it will have one of the most up-to-date, well equipped and resilient computer centres in the UK.
(The Automobile Association, Fanum House, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2EA, UK. Tel: (0256) 20123. ICL Ltd., Bridge House, Putney Bridge, Fulham, London SW6 3JX, UK) []
-
-
-
-
-
-
In brief Finnair is upgrading its airline reservation and business control capabilities with the acquisition of Unisys USAS 2000 and Airline Revenue Enhancement software systems. Enhancements to the USAS 2000 should enable the company to operate more e f f i c i e n t l y - the ARE system tracks booking and analyses demographic and industry trends, providing decision support information that should allow the airline to increase its turnover. In addition, two Unisys DCP/50 and one DCP/15 comms processor will enable Finnair to establish physical connections with the SITA network and other carriers. (Unisys Ltd.,
Stonebridge Park, London NWlO 8LS, UK) [] The UK's Meteorological Office is using two loosely-networked ELXSI 6420 computers to improve their satellite imagery service. Autosat-2 receives nearly 200 satellite transmissions a day, a total of some 3500 Mbytes, from which it will produce over 600 pictures of different parts of the world. The processing of satellite images places unique demands on computers, with both speed and backup needed to ensure reliability. The system will initially serve scientists in the Met Office's central forecasting unit. (The Met Office, London Road, Bracknell, Berks RG ?2 2SZ, UK) [] High speed packet-switching techniques will shortly be used bythe International Civil Aviation Organization for the communication of aeronautical information, replacing existing telegraphic methods. Following the trial of a new digital transmission system, Common ICAO Data Interchange Network, a Ferranti AFi-N message switching node is to be installed at London's Heathrow airport, providing a CIDIN capability. Transmission rates of 64 kbit/s are available with CIDIN on digital links, and the system is compatible with most current comms media as it is based on X.25 technology. (Ferranti
CS Ltd., Simonsway, Wythenshawe, Manchester M22 5LA, UK) []
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