ISO/TS 16058:2004
(Main)Health informatics — Interoperability of telelearning systems
Health informatics — Interoperability of telelearning systems
ISO/TS 16058:2004 addresses the technical and system components of the telehealth reference architecture for telelearning systems. It does so by defining technical requirements to be satisfied for a compliant telelearning system. A compliant system will help to ensure that the telelearning technologies deployed for healthcare telelearning are capable of appropriately supporting and delivering distance learning as well as interoperating with disparate telelearning systems that are also compliant with this specification. The specification deals with both the telelearning instructor and learner systems, and addresses the interfaces of these systems with telecommunications networks. The specification also focuses on the use of real-time interactive communication in telelearning sessions. Most of the telelearning lecture and study material is delivered and distributed to all the learners prior to a telelearning session. This material is usually delivered in non-real time using the store-and-forward communications mode such as FTP download, email, fax or postal/courier services. The use of store-and-forward communications to deliver learning material is not addressed in the specification. It is recognized that a telecommunications network is integral to and critical in the delivery of telelearning services. In order for the telelearning systems to interoperate, the network needs to provide certain services. However, the network service requirement is diverse and complex and it is beyond the scope of this specification. Network-related issues in the context of telehealth are discussed in ISO/TR 16056-2, Health informatics -- Interoperability of telehealth systems and networks -- Part 2: Real-time systems.
Informatique de santé — Interopérabilité des systèmes de téléapprentissage
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 16058
First edition
2004-07-01
Health informatics — Interoperability of
telelearning systems
Informatique de santé — Interopérabilité des systèmes de
téléapprentissage
Reference number
ISO/TS 16058:2004(E)
©
ISO 2004
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ISO/TS 16058:2004(E)
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
Contents
Page
Foreword. vi
Introduction . vii
0.1 General. vii
0.2 Learning definition . vii
0.3 Telelearning definition . vii
0.4 Telelearning technology . viii
0.5 Telelearning workflow. viii
0.5.1 Course and session preparation. x
0.6 Telelearning use cases for the conduct session activity . xii
0.6.1 Telelearning instructor system use case. xii
0.6.2 Telelearning learner system use case . xv
0.7 Reference architecture. xvi
0.7.1 General. xvi
0.7.2 Operational architecture view . xvii
0.7.3 Systems architecture view. xvii
0.7.4 Technical architecture view. xvii
0.7.5 Telelhealth reference architecture . xviii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references. 2
3 Terms and definitions . 3
4 Abbreviations . 5
5 Telelearning instructor system . 6
5.1 System context. 6
5.2 Communications controller . 8
5.2.1 Network controller. 8
5.2.2 Audio/video CODEC . 9
5.2.3 Video switcher . 9
5.2.4 Audio mixer/amplifier. 10
5.2.5 Scan converter. 10
5.3 Telelearning software application. 10
5.3.1 General. 10
5.3.2 Requirements and recommendations of WAN connection/disconnection software . 11
5.3.3 WAN bandwidth control software . 11
5.3.4 Content delivery software. 12
5.3.5 System technical support software . 14
5.3.6 Software application user interface . 14
5.4 Input devices . 15
5.4.1 Text entry device . 15
5.4.2 Remote control device . 15
5.4.3 Microphone. 15
5.4.4 Video camera . 15
5.4.5 Document camera . 16
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
5.4.6 Video cassette player. 16
5.4.7 35mm slide projector. 17
5.5 Output devices. 17
5.5.1 General. 17
5.5.2 Speaker . 17
5.5.3 VCR. 17
5.5.4 Television/video monitor . 18
5.5.5 Computer display . 18
6 Telelearning learner system . 19
6.1 System context. 19
6.2 Communication controller . 20
6.2.1 Network controller. 20
6.2.2 Audio/video CODEC . 21
6.2.3 Video switcher . 21
6.2.4 Audio mixer/amplifier. 21
6.3 Telelearning software application . 22
6.3.1 General. 22
6.3.2 WAN connection/disconnection software . 22
6.3.3 WAN bandwidth control software . 22
6.3.4 Content delivery software. 22
6.3.5 Session technical support software . 22
6.3.6 Software application user interface . 22
6.4 Input devices. 23
6.4.1 General. 23
6.4.2 Text entry device . 23
6.4.3 Remote control device . 23
6.4.4 Microphone . 23
6.4.5 Video camera . 23
6.5 Output devices. 23
6.5.1 General. 23
6.5.2 Speaker . 23
6.5.3 Video cassette recorder. 23
6.5.4 Television/video monitor . 23
6.5.5 Computer display . 23
7 Telelearning system interoperability . 24
7.1 Overview . 24
7.2 External interfaces . 24
7.2.1 Telecommunications network access. 24
7.2.2 Interaction diagrams . 26
7.2.3 Cabling and connecting. 28
7.2.4 Circuit-switched network interface . 29
7.2.5 Packet-switched network interfaces . 31
7.2.6 Data transport protocols in multimedia conferencing. 33
7.3 Internal interfaces. 33
7.3.1 Cabling and connecting. 33
7.3.2 Text entry device interface . 34
7.3.3 Remote control device interface . 34
7.3.4 Microphone interface . 34
7.3.5 Audio line input interface. 34
7.3.6 Video camera interface . 34
7.3.7 Video cassette player interface . 35
7.3.8 Video cassette recorder interface . 35
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
7.3.9 35mm slide project interface . 35
7.3.10 Computer display input interface. 36
7.3.11 Speaker interface. 36
7.3.12 Audio line output interface . 36
7.3.13 Television/video monitor interface. 36
7.3.14 Computer display output interface . 36
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
In other circumstances, particularly when there is an urgent market requirement for such documents, a
technical committee may decide to publish other types of normative document:
— an ISO Publicly Available Specification (ISO/PAS) represents an agreement between technical experts in
an ISO working group and is accepted for publication if it is approved by more than 50 % of the members of
the parent committee casting a vote;
— an ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS) represents an agreement between the members of a technical
committee and is accepted for publication if it is approved by 2/3 of the members of the committee casting a
vote.
An ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is reviewed after three years in order to decide whether it will be confirmed for a
further three years, revised to become an International Standard, or withdrawn. If the ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is
confirmed, it is reviewed again after a further three years, at which time it must either be transformed into an
International Standard or be withdrawn.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/TS 16058 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 215, Health informatics.
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
Introduction
0.1 General
The field of telehealth encompasses a broad delivery of health related services using telecommunication technologies
at a distance. One of the areas included in the field of telehealth is “telelearning” which deals with the remote delivery
of health related educational content. This Technical Specification for Interoperability of Telelearning Systems has
been developed on the basis of the needs of healthcare instructors and learners to deliver health related distance
learning. Its main purpose is to ensure that technologies deployed for healthcare telelearning can appropriately
support and deliver distance learning as well as interoperate with disparate telelearning systems that comply with this
specification.
Throughout this document, specific words are used to indicate whether an item is mandatory, recommended or
optional. The usage of those words follows the guidelines in Annex G of ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, Rules for the
structure and drafting of International Standards.
0.2 Learning definition
Learning, in the context of healthcare, is focused on providing opportunities for continued learning in the area of
health provider education and patient education. Types of learning situations include:
• professional development which covers upgrading and improving professional skills and knowledge,
• medical education for physicians and other health care providers,
• patient education to enhance clients’ abilities to manage disease, e.g. cardiac disease, osteoporosis,
• academic clinical conferencing where expert content is broadcast to receiving sites for purposes such as teaching
rounds for residents and continuing medical education,
• case conferencing and grand rounds which are clinical department focused and content is delivered by
departmental and visiting speakers,
• multidisciplinary, patient or problem based teaching with a multidisciplinary team providing specialist advice on
pertinent clinical problems or issues, and
• other clinical, technical, educational and administrative teaching such as training for support aids, back clinics,
diabetes clinics, general orientation, administrative meetings, discharge planning, just in time training, and
computer training for regional employees.
0.3 Telelearning definition
Telelearning describes a learning situation where the instructor and learners are separated by a geographical
distance. Telelearning can be defined as follows:
“Telelearning is making connections among persons and resources through communications technology for
learning-related purposes” (Collis, B. (1996): Tele-learning in a digital world, the future of distance learning.)
The generally accepted definition of telelearning also covers situations where instructor and learner interactions are
separated by both distance and time. For the purposes of this specification, telelearning describes “real-time” learning
situations in which interaction between the instructor and learners occurs without substantial time delays.
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
0.4 Telelearning technology
Telelearning
Learner
Sy st em
Wide A rea
Telelearning T elelearn in g
Instructor Network Learner
(W A N)
Sy st em Sy st em
Telelearning
Learner
Sy st em
Figure 1. Typical telelearning system
Figure 1 shows the main subsystems of a typical telelearning system. An instructor uses a telelearning instructor
system to give presentation to learners at remote learning sites. The instructor and learner systems interface with a
wide area network (WAN) to exchange information. The WAN can be a circuit-switched network, a packet-switched
network or a combination of both. It must provide sufficient bandwidth and the necessary inter-networking services.
Telelearning systems make use of two modes of communications:
• real-time interactive mode typically implemented via videoconferencing technologies; and
• store-and-forward mode typically implemented by electronic mail, file transfer or multimedia messaging systems.
•
The primary component of telelearning uses real-time communications to transmit digitized visual, audio, textual and
clinical information between the sending site and one or more receiving sites. Typically, this is accomplished through
the use of “real-time” videoconferencing and document sharing technologies.
A secondary aspect of telelearning includes the use of store-and-forward communications for offline activities such as
planning, scheduling, preparing, archiving and evaluating telelearning sessions.
The use of store-and-forward communications to deliver telelearning content is not addressed in this specification,
which focuses on delivering real-time interactive learning sessions.
0.5 Telelearning workflow
A typical telelearning workflow is shown in Figure 2.
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
Identify Find/Confirm Book Learner
Confirm Date Publicize
Educ ational Appropriate Sites on
Book Bridge Session
Needs/T opics Instructors Bridge
Determine Previ ew
Instructor Instructor
Needs Slides
Connect Instructor Distribute
Bridge Sites
Instructor Arrival at Lear ning
Connection Confirmed
Peripherals Instructor Site Materials
Lear ner Si tes
Instructor Site
Lear ner Si te Cameras Pres et Session Session
Cameras
Connection Microphones Proceeds Evaluation
Pre-set
Muted
Bridge
Connection Session Ends
Terminated
Figure 2. Telelearning workflow
From the workflow, top-level use cases are identified to illustrate the context in which a telelearning system is used.
Figure 3 is the top-level use case diagram.
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
Course
Manager
Complete
Questionnaire
Course
Preparation
Session
Learner
Preparation
Learner site
Instructor site
technician
technician
Conduct Session
Instructor
Evaluate Questionnaires
Figure 3. Telelearning top-level use case diagram
0.5.1 Course and session preparation
Telelearning workflow begins with course and session preparation. Course preparation is typically a one time activity
that is independent of the time or place where the course is presented. Session preparation occurs each time the
course or a portion of the course is delivered. The Conduct Session activity is divided into additional use cases
representing the instructor and learner sites that are described in the next section. A telelearning system is utilized as
part of the Conduct Session activity.
The actors within the overall learning context are:
• course manager,
• instructor,
• learner,
• instructor site technician, and
• learner site technician.
Course preparation
i. the educational needs of learners (e.g. staff and patients) are identified and topics for educational sessions
are chosen,
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ISO TS 16058:2004(E)
ii. appropriate instructors are found, their level of interest, qualifications and capabilities are determined and
their availability is confirmed,
iii. the presentation needs of the instructor are determined and support is given for preparation of material, and
iv. it is important that any slides that the instructor will be using are previewed for their suitability for telelearning
and changes are made to ensure readability.
Session preparation
a) the date for the session is confirmed and the videoconference bridge (if required), telelearning room and system
support technician are booked,
NOTE Ideally this occurs 3 to 10 weeks before the session is held in order to allow time for instructor and systems preparation,
publicizing and attracting potential learners.
b) the sessions are publicized by various means (e.g. monthly calendar of events, individual session flyers),
c) learner sites enrol for the telelearning session and the instructor site books additional ports on the
videoconference bridge,
d) one day before the session is to occur, learner sites may be asked for final confirmation, and
e) handouts and evaluation questionnaires for the session are distributed to learners in advance of the session.
NOTE The methods by which, and how far in advance of the session, the handouts and evaluation questionnaires are distributed,
may vary.
Conduct session
a) one hour before the session, the instructor arrives at the instructor site. The telelearning system support
technician gives an introduction to instructor system,
b) the telelearning system support technician connects the instructor peripherals to the instructor system,
c) the telelearning system support technician turns on the instructor system and connects to the videoconference
bridge ideally 30 minutes before the session is to begin,
d) the learner sites connect to the videoconference bridge, preferably 20-30 minutes before the session,
e) the cameras at the instructor site are pre-set to focus in on the instructor,
f) the cameras at the learner sites are pre-set appropriately and the microphones are muted,
g) the session proceeds and the system support technicians monitor the session to ensure fluid movement of the
session (if needed, learner sites are dropped and cues are given to learner sites to mute microphones etc.). The
telelearning system support technician ensures that
...
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