What is SPFTP and ASPFTP?

SPFTP (Simple Partial File Transfer Protocol) is a proprietary transport protocol for communication within the IMPAX cluster (cannot be used over the Internet for remote connections). ASPFTP (Authenticated Simple Partial File Transfer Protocol) is the same high-performance transfer syntax with authentication for security.

SPFTP/ASPFTP is used to:

• Transfer images from a cache to an IMPAX Client station.

• Transfer images from one cached station to another.

SPFTP/ASPFTP provides the following benefits over DICOM:

• Allows the transfer of raw data without the overhead presented by DICOM.

  In DICOM, the data is wrapped up as a DICOM object when transferred. In SPFTP/ASPFTP, the raw bits of data are transferred over the network.

• Provides the ability to transfer only specified parts of a file.

  In DICOM, the entire data object must be transferred. In SPFTP/ASPFTP, a client can request only parts of a data object.