A setup was created for controlled testing of image quality in a streaming context. A key functionality of the setup was the possibility to enforce network settings between server and client. This made it possible to test streaming solutions with controlled network bandwidth, packet loss, latency and jitter.
Technical and clinical test patterns were used to evaluate perceived quality.
These test patterns included greyscale and color test images including some AAPM TG18 test patterns, as well as relevant clinical images.
Quality of the test images was inspected for different streaming solutions, and for varying network characteristics. Image artifacts were quantified by comparing original images with the visualized streamed images.
In addition, a test panel of user (a mix of radiologists and other healthcare professionals) was requested subjective feedback on the quality of the solution related to smoothness of panning and zooming; window/level operations; scrolling; and the overall perceived image quality.