1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a first detector module of an x-ray CT imaging system to perform operations comprising: receiving by the first detector module a first digital video signal comprising an electronic representation of image data from a second detector module of the x-ray CT imaging system; appending an electronic representation of image data received at a plurality of detector elements of the first detector module to the electronic representation of image data received from the second detector module to generate a combined image data set; and transmitting a second digital video signal comprising the combined image data set from the first detector module; wherein the electronic representation of image data received from the second detector module comprises a reference detector signal that represents a flux of photons leaving an x-ray tube of an x-ray CT imaging system before the photons impinge on an object being imaged.