Configuring an Application Entity
An Application Entity (AE) is a local or remote DICOM service. In an image archival system, common DICOM services include storage and query/retrieve. Devices (local or remote imaging equipment or computers) may support one or more services, and one or more service roles. Roles define a device as a service class user (SCU) or a service class provider (SCP). A SCU role is typically associated with a client action. A SCP role is typically associated with a server action.
The Configuration tab of the DICOM Network Services utility allows you to create and modify Application Entities. You will typically define entities in conjunction with the following tasks:
The Configuration tab of the DICOM Network Services utility provides the ability to check machine availability and start and stop the Storage SCP service. See the following for details:
Default Application Entities
The DICOM Network Services utility defines four default Application Entities:
- IDL_AE_QUERY_SCU — uses the Query SCU service, which lets you ask a device (a file source) about DICOM files contained in its database. This service works in conjunction with the Query SCP service, which allows you retrieve DICOM files from the remote node. On the file source device (the server in this instance), the Query SCP service listens for and responds to queries. It also listens for requests and sends the specified DICOM files.
- IDL_AE_STOR_SCP — uses the Storage SCP service, which listens at the defined TCP/IP port for incoming DICOM files and writes them to a local disk directory.
- IDL_AE_STOR_SCU — uses the Storage SCU service, which lets you send local DICOM files to a remote node.
- IDL_AE_ECHO_SCU — uses the Echo SCU service, which lets you determine if a remote SCP node is accessible.
The network characteristics of the default entities can be modified, but they cannot be deleted. You can also define new AEs. See the following section for details:
Replacing a Default Entity
You can use the default IDL_AE_ECHO_SCU, IDL_AE_QUERY_SCU, and IDL_AE_STOR_SCU Application Entities for echo, query and send operations without making any modifications. If you decide to define new entities to replace these, you will need to select the entity in the Configuration tab.
After defining a new entity as described in Defining a New Application Entity in the following section, complete the following steps:
- Open the DICOM Network Services utility by entering:
- In the upper right quadrant of the Configuration tab, select the name of the new Application Entity in the Application Entity Name droplist to indicate the entity to be associated with the Echo SCU, Query Retrieve SCU or Storage SCU services.
- Click Save to record the changes.
Defining a New Application Entity
To define a new Application Entity for a service, complete the following steps:
- Select the Configuration tab of the DICOM Network Services utility that has been started in local or system configuration mode. See Starting the Network Services Utility for details.
- In the Application Entities area, click the New button to invoke Application Entity definition mode. This desensitizes other utility areas and clears fields within the Application Entities area, shown in the following figure.
- Configure the properties of the Application Entity as follows:
- Complete the Application Entity configuration. Click Save to save the Application Entity definition in the local or system configuration file. Click Cancel to dismiss the changes and exit Application Entity definition mode.
- Stop and restart the Storage SCP Service any time you modify Application Entities that use the Storage_SCP service type while in system configuration mode (when you have started the DICOM Network Services utility with the SYSTEM keyword). See Managing the Storage SCP Service for details.
| Application Entity Name |
A locally unique, descriptive identifier for the Application Entity consisting of a maximum of 30 characters. |
| Application Entity Title |
A non-unique identifier for the Application Entity consisting of a maximum of 15 characters. An Application Entity with the same title may support more than one service (e.g. support Query SCP and Storage SCP). |
| Host Name |
The machine host name or IP address consisting of a maximum of 30 characters. The term Note - See Determining the IP Address for instructions on accessing a machine's IP address. |
| TCP/IP Port Number |
The valid port number of the local or remote SCP service consisting of a maximum of 5 digits. Set to 9999 for a SCU service type. The default ITT Visual Information Solutions-defined SCP service value is 2510. Note - See Determining TPC/IP Port Numbers for information on returning port status. |
| Service List Name |
Select the service list type from the droplist. Options are: |
| Service Type |
Select the service type from the droplist. This value should correspond to the service list type selected in the previous field. Options are: |
Modifying an Application Entity
On the Configuration tab of the DICOM Network Services utility, you can modify the characteristics of default or custom application entities. For the default, Application Entities (those listed in Default Application Entities), you can modify the following fields:
For a custom Application Entity, you can modify any configurable characteristic. Complete the following steps to modify an Application Entity definition:
- Launch the DICOM Network Services utility in local or system configuration mode if needed. See Starting the Network Services Utility for details.
- Select the Application Entity to be modified from the Existing Entities droplist on the Configuration tab.
- Click in any available field and make the desired changes. Other areas of the dialog are desensitized while in Application Entity definition mode.
- Complete the Application Entity modification. Click Save to save the changes to the Application Entity definition in the local or system configuration file. Click Cancel to dismiss the changes and exit Application Entity definition mode.
Deleting an Application Entity
You can delete any custom Application Entity definitions that you have defined. You cannot delete the default Application Entities (those listed in Default Application Entities). To delete an Application Entity, complete the following steps:
