METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE AND ADAPTIVE VISUALIZATION OF GRAPHICAL IMAGE DATA

The invention relates to a method and system for remote visualization and data analysis of graphical data, in particular graphical medical data. A user operates a client machine (21) such as a thin client, a PC, a PDA, etc., and the client machine is connected to a server machine (20) through a computer network. The server machine runs an adaptive streaming module (ASM) which handles the connection between the client and the server. All data and data applications are stored and run on the server. A user at the client side requests data to be shown on the screen of the client, this request (24) is transferred to the server. At the server side the request is interpreted as a request for a particular screen image, and a data application generates the requested screen image and estimates a present available bandwidth (26) of a connection between the client and the server. Based on the estimated available bandwidth, the generated screen image is compressed using a corresponding compression method so that a compressed screen image is formed. The screen image may also be encrypted. The compressed (and possible encrypted) screen image is forwarded (22) to the client, and shown on the screen of the client (23). The compression method depends foremost upon the available bandwidth, however also the type of client machine (28), the type of request, etc. may be taken into account.