The Open System Interconnection as a building block in a health sciences information network

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Computer Networking
• Information Science

Background:

• Health sciences library systems require integration with other computer systems for effective information exchange.
• Current integration methods often rely on custom linkages, which are costly and inefficient.
• The need for standardized protocols to facilitate seamless data flow is paramount.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model.
• To explore the application of OSI standards in health sciences information networks.
• To identify remaining tasks for implementing OSI in health sciences computer systems.

Main Methods:

• Review of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model architecture.
• Analysis of OSI's seven-layer protocol structure.
• Discussion of the applicability of lower and higher OSI layers in health sciences networking.

Main Results:

• The Open System Interconnection (OSI) reference model provides a standardized framework for computer information exchange.
• The lowest three layers of OSI are largely available as off-the-shelf interfacing products.
• Higher OSI layers require specific development for health sciences applications.

Conclusions:

• The adoption of Open System Interconnection (OSI) standards is the most appropriate path for creating integrated health sciences information networks.
• Standardization through OSI offers a more efficient and scalable solution compared to custom linkages.
• Further development is needed for higher-layer OSI protocols to fully realize their potential in health sciences networks.