Mobile agents for Web-based medical image retrieval

In this paper we introduce the concept of using mobile agents (software entities capable of autonomous movement between hosts in a computer network) to analyze a large, distributed set of images and retrieve a small number that are considered highly relevant to a specific image of interest. A proposed application of this technique is the search and retrieval of diagnostic medical images over the WWW for telemedicine. We have developed a simple prototype using IBM´s Agent Software Development Kit and used it to compare images located on multiple servers to a target image. The results to date represent work in progress, and a number of enhancements will be required to demonstrate the utility of a mobile agent approach. Plans for implementing these enhancements are outlined and a number of anticipated issues discussed.