2.3 SCIRun Modules, Networks, and Sub-Networks

The functional unit of a data-flow environment is the module . Figure 2.2 contains a generic SCIRun module, with a User Interface (UI) button for graphically accessing the module's user interface, and input and output ports for receiving and sending data, respectively. On the right is a simple example of a data-flow network. Data passes through the output port of the top module, through the data pipe, and into the input port of the bottom module. The User Interface enables the selection of a desired isochrone surface.

Figure 2.2: Example of a SCIRun module

 

Modules may contain other elements, but all have at least one input or one output port. Most modules have input and output ports connected to other modules. Data readers are modules with only an output port. Their ``input'' is read from a file. The Viewer module provides input ports only; scene data arrives on its input ports and a screen visualization is its ``output''.

A subnet is a collection of modules that behave as one. Sub-Networks can be created, edited, and saved just like networks. Sub-Networks can be reused in other networks, including other sub-networks. Sub-networks simplify the construction of complex networks. SCIRun ships with a set of subnets. See Creating a Sub-Network for details.

It is important to understand the concepts of modules, connections, networks and data-flow. See Working with Networks for more information on modules, subnets, ports, connections, and networks.