Patent Publication Number: US-7711523-B2

Title: System for remote monitoring and control of an instrument

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a divisional patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/855,081, filed May 27, 2004, which is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/262,084, filed Sep. 30, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,279, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/086,914, filed Mar. 1, 2002, now abandoned which in turn claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/272,553, filed Mar. 1, 2001. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an improved analytical instrument, and more particularly to an analytical instrument incorporating remote monitoring and control features. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Numerous types of analytical instruments are well known and widely used in many settings. Common examples of such instruments include molecular spectroscopy instruments, thermal and elemental analysis instruments, inorganic analysis instruments, chromatography instruments, and numerous others. Such instruments can often be found in research laboratories, universities, medical laboratories, and in many other locations. 
   Traditionally, analytical instruments included some integrated type of user interface which allowed a user to control operation of the instrument and to observe instrument output. However, this arrangement suffered from a number of disadvantages. One such disadvantage was that the interface, being an integral part of the instrument, was not easily modified or upgradeable. If it was desired to upgrade the interface in any significant way, it was often necessary to replace the entire interface. Another disadvantage was that, although the integrated interfaces may have allowed for some rudimentary storage and manipulation of output data, such functions were typically severely limited. 
   With the advent of the personal computer, these disadvantages were obviated by interfacing analytical instruments with an instrument controller computer rather than or in addition to the integrated interface. The user interface could then comprise computer software executing on the instrument controller computer. This allowed for the provision of more complex instrument operations as well as facilitating the storage and manipulation of output data. Connecting the instrument to an instrument control computer having instrument interface software executing thereon also provided the benefit of allowing the instrument control interface to be easily modified or updated simply by updating the software. However, such arrangements still suffered from a number of disadvantages. One of such disadvantages was that the instrument could only be controlled by, and the instrument output data could only by viewed on, the particular instrument control computer directly connected to the instrument. 
   It was discovered that this and other disadvantages could be obviated if the instrument controller computer was connected to a network of computers. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a known network  10  incorporating an instrument controller computer  12  is shown. Instrument controller computer  12  generally comprises a CPU, a memory, and various input and output devices, as is commonly known. One or more analytical instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  are directly connected to instrument controller computer  12  by way of some hard-wired connection, such as a serial or parallel connection. Executing on instrument controller computer  12  is instrument interface software. The instrument interface software is used to control each of analytical instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  connected to instrument controller computer  12 . More specifically, instrument interface software receives user input, for example, by receiving commands via keystrokes, menus, icons, etc., and translates this user input into control signals which are transmitted to the appropriate one of analytical instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  by way of the hard-wired connection. The instrument interface software also receives signals output by each of analytical instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  via the hard-wired connection, translates the signals into data useful to the user, and displays the data. The data may also be stored on an instrument database  20  connected to instrument controller computer  12 . 
   It should be noted that the instrument interface software is typically unique to each instrument  14 ,  16 ,  18  being controlled. Thus, different software must be employed to control different types or even different models of instruments supplied by the same manufacturer and to control the same types of instruments supplied by different manufacturers. As such, the particular instrument cannot be controlled by instrument controller computer  12  unless the unique instrument interface software which is appropriate for the particular instrument desired to be controlled has been installed on instrument controller computer  12 . 
   One or more additional computers  22 ,  24 ,  26  may be in communication with instrument controller computer  12  by a network connection  28 , such as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN) or the like. Computers  22 ,  24 ,  26  may be used to control one or more of instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  so long as computer  22 ,  24 ,  26  has the unique instrument interface software which is appropriate for the particular instrument desired to be controlled installed thereon. When such is the case, instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  are controlled by computers  22 ,  24 ,  26  as described above with respect to instrument controller computer  12 . More specifically, the instrument interface software executing on computers  22 ,  24 ,  26  receives commands via keystrokes, menus, icons, etc., and translates this user input into control signals which are transmitted to the appropriate one of analytical instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  via network connection  28 , instrument controller computer  12  and the hard-wired connection. The instrument interface software also receives signals output by each of analytical instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  via the hard-wired connection, instrument controller computer  12  and network connection  28 , translates the signals into data useful to the user, and displays the data. 
   Although network  10  allows a user to control instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  using computers  22 ,  24 ,  26  other than instrument controller computer  12  directly connected to instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18 , network  10  still suffers from a number of disadvantages. One such disadvantage is that any of computers  22 ,  24 ,  26  which are utilized to control instruments  14 ,  16 ,  18  must have the appropriate instrument interface software installed thereon. This is disadvantageous for a number of reasons. For example, it may be desirable for a user to be able to control an instrument from a computer which is not typically used for instrument control (e.g., from home or while traveling). It would be highly disadvantageous to require the user to install the appropriate instrument interface software on such computers. Moreover, when the instrument interface software is updated, network  10  would require that the instrument interface software be updated on each of the (possibly numerous) computers  22 ,  24 ,  26  on network  10  in addition to instrument controller computer  12 . This would be a time-consuming and inefficient process. 
   What is desired, therefore, is an analytic instrument which incorporates remote monitoring and control features, which includes an interface which is easily modifiable or upgradeable, which facilitates storage and manipulation of output data, and which does not require that instrument interface software unique to the instrument be installed on computers used to remotely monitor and control the instrument. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an analytic instrument which incorporates remote monitoring and control features. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an analytic instrument having the above characteristics and which includes an interface which is easily modifiable or upgradeable. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide an analytic instrument having the above characteristics and which facilitates storage and manipulation of output data. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide an analytic instrument having the above characteristics and which does not require that instrument interface software unique to the instrument be installed on computers used to remotely monitor and control the instrument. 
   In one embodiment, these and other objects of the present invention are achieved by provision of a web-based instrument and data management system including an instrument controller computer system having at least one analytical instrument connected thereto. At least one remote computer is in communication with the instrument controller computer system via a network connection, the at least one remote computer having web browser software executing thereon. Web-based instrument interface software executing on the instrument controller computer system receives a web file from the web browsing software executing on the at least one remote computer, extracts a command or a request for status information from the web file, generates and transmits to the at least one analytical instrument a signal indicative of the extracted command or request for status information, receives a signal from the at least one analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof, and generates and transmits to the web browsing software executing on the at least one remote computer a web file based upon the received signal from the at least one analytical instrument indicative of the status thereof. 
   In a related embodiment, the system further includes an instrument database accessible by the instrument controller computer system. In this embodiment, web-based instrument interface software executing on the instrument controller computer system receives a web file from the web browsing software executing on the at least one remote computer, extracts a request for data from the web file, retrieves the requested data from the at least one analytical instrument or the instrument database, and generates and transmits to the web browsing software executing on the at least one remote computer a web file based upon the retrieved requested data. 
   The instrument controller computer system may comprise a single instrument controller computer or an instrument controller computer and a web server computer. Moreover, the at least one remote computer may be in communication with the instrument controller computer system via the Internet. Preferably, the web files comprise HTML files. It is also preferable that the web-based instrument interface software confirms whether a user of the at least one remote computer is authorized for the command, the request for status information or the request for data before executing the user&#39;s command. 
   In another aspect of the invention, a web-based instrument and data management system includes an instrument controller computer system having at least one analytical instrument connected thereto. The system also includes a permissions database accessible by the instrument controller computer system. At least one remote computer is in communication with the instrument controller computer system via a network connection, the at least one remote computer having web browser software executing thereon. Web-based instrument interface software executing on the instrument controller computer system receives a web file from the web browsing software executing on the at least one remote computer, extracts a user identifier and a requested action from the web file, determines whether a user of the at least one remote computer is authorized for the requested action based upon the user identifier, the requested action and data stored on the permissions database, performs the requested action if the user is authorized, and if the user is not authorized generates and transmits to the web browsing software executing on the at least one remote computer a web file indicating that the user is not authorized for the requested action. 
   The requested action may comprise an instrument command, a request for instrument status information or a request for data. 
   The invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an analytical instrument incorporating a prior art instrument controller network; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an embodiment of an analytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and data management system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of another embodiment of an analytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and data management system in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating in more detail operation of the analytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and data management system of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating in more detail operation of an embodiment of an authorization scheme which may be employed by the analytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and data management system of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating in more detail the instrument control and status monitoring aspects of the analytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and data management system of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating in more detail the data management aspect of the analytical instrument incorporating a web-based instrument and data management system of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a web-based instrument and data management system  110  in accordance with the present invention is shown. System  110  includes an instrument controller computer  112  which generally comprises a CPU, a memory, and various input and output devices, as is commonly known. One or more analytical instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118  are directly connected to instrument controller computer  112  by way of some hardwired connection, such as a serial or parallel connection. Executing on instrument controller computer  112  is web-based instrument interface software  120 . One or more additional computers  122 ,  124 ,  126  may be in communication with instrument controller computer  112  by a network connection  128 , such as an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a virtual private network (VPN) or the like. Instrument controller computer  112  and additional computers  122 ,  124 ,  126  thus comprise a first network  130  connected by network connection  128 . 
   As is similar to network  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , web-based instrument interface software  120  is used to control each of analytical instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118  connected to instrument controller computer  112 . More specifically, web-based instrument interface software  120  receives user input, for example, by receiving commands via keystrokes, menus, icons, etc., and translates this user input into control signals which are transmitted to the appropriate one of analytical instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118  by way of the hard-wired connection. Web-based instrument interface software  120  also receives signals output by each of analytical instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118  via the hard-wired connection, translates the signals into data useful to the user, and displays the data. The data may also be stored on an instrument database  121  connected to instrument controller computer  112 . 
   However, unlike network  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , web-based instrument interface software  120  is web-enabled, meaning that it may be implemented on a system of the type illustrated in  FIG. 2  which is comprised of a client side (comprising additional computers  122 ,  124 ,  126 ) and server side (comprising instrument controller computer  112 ) interconnected by network connection  128 . On the client side of the system, each of computers  122 ,  124 ,  126  runs a web browser. Computer  122 ,  124 ,  126  may be any suitable type of computer such as an Apple computer, IBM or IBM compatible computer, UNIX workstation, etc. On the server side of the system, instrument controller computer  112  has web server software running on an appropriate machine as is known in the art. The web server software may comprise a part of instrument interface software  120  or may be discrete therefrom. The web server software may comprise, for example, Microsoft Information Server web server software or Peer Web Service web server software including the Active Server Pages framework incorporating a scripting engine. 
   The client side of the system may also comprise additional computers on additional networks  132 ,  134 ,  136  as well as additional stand alone computers, such as home computers  138 ,  140 ,  142 , connected to instrument controller computer  112  via the Internet. All that is required of additional computers on additional networks  132 ,  134 ,  136  and additional stand alone computers, such as home computers  138 ,  140 ,  142 , is that each of such computers has a web browser running thereon. In addition, instrument and data management system  110  may include a permissions database  144  accessible by instrument controller computer  112 , the purpose of which is described more fully below. 
   In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3 , the server software of system  110 ′ is running on a server computer  146 , rather than on instrument controller computer  112 ′. In this case, web-based instrument interface software  120 ′ may also be running on server computer  146 . In substantially all other respects, instrument and data management system  110 ′ operates as discussed with respect to instrument and data management system  110 . 
   In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 4 , web-based instrument interface  120  generates HTML files using Active Server Page files in response to requests from the web browser  148  running on computers on the client side (including computers  122 ,  124 ,  126 , additional computers on additional networks  132 ,  134 ,  136  and additional stand alone computers, such as home computers  138 ,  140 ,  142 ). More specifically, web-based instrument interface  120  receives input, including commands, from remote users via an HTML file  150  via a network connection. Web-based instrument interface  120  extracts commands from HTML file  150  and generates and transmits command signals  152  to an instrument, for example instrument  114 . Instrument  114  can then execute the commands represented by command signals  152 . Remote users can view and manage data  154  received either directly from instrument  114  or from instrument database  121  in a similar manner. Data  154  is received by web-based instrument interface  120 , and is incorporated into an HTML file  156  which is then transmitted to web browser  148  via a network connection. In this manner instrument  114  can be controlled and monitored from a remote location using a computer with only a web browser running thereon. 
   Web-based instrument interface  120  preferably includes a user authorization routine to prevent unauthorized control of instruments and/or access to unauthorized data. Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an example of such an authorization scheme is illustrated. Web-based instrument interface  120  receives from the user a unique user identifier at  200 , and awaits user input at  202 . At  204 , web-based instrument interface  120  receives from the user an instrument command for a particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 , a request for status information data for a particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 , and/or a request for particular data for a particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 . Web-based instrument interface  120  then determines, at  206 , whether the particular user (based upon the received user identifier) is authorized for the requested action. The information to allow web-based instrument interface to make this determination is stored on permissions database  144 . If the user is so authorized, web-based instrument interface  120  executes the requested command and/or transmits the requested status information or data, as indicated at  208 . If the user is not so authorized, web-based instrument interface  120  generates and transmits to the user a message, as indicated at  210 , informing the user that he or she is not authorized for the requested action. Web-based instrument interface  120  then awaits further user input. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the command and status information portion of the authorization scheme is shown in more detail. A user, by way of a user computer  212  running a web browser transmits to web-based instrument interface  120  one or more HTML files  214  which include his or her unique user identifier and an instrument command for a particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118  and/or a request for status information data for a particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 . Web-based instrument interface  120  then determines for the particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118  for which action was requested (as indicated at  216 ,  216 ′,  216 ″) whether the user is authorized for the requested action. If the user is so authorized, the command is transmitted by web-based instrument interface  120  to the appropriate instrument  114 ,  116 ,  118  (as indicated at  218 ) and/or the status information is transmitted by the appropriate instrument  114 ,  116 ,  118  to web-based instrument interface  120  (as indicated at  220 ). Web-based instrument interface  120  then generates and transmits to user computer  212  an HTML file  220  informing the user that he or she is not authorized for the requested action, confirming that the requested command has been executed or displaying the requested instrument status information. 
   Data concerning whether the user is authorized for the requested action is stored on permissions database  144  which is accessible by web-based instrument interface. It should be understood that great flexibility is possible using this authorization scheme. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the user may be authorized to give commands and receive status information for only one or a select number of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 . Moreover, the user may be authorized, for example, to view status information for one or more instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 , but not be authorized to give commands. Furthermore, the user may be authorized only to give certain commands and/or to view only certain status information for particular instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the data management portion of the authorization scheme is shown in more detail. A user, by way of a user computer  212  running a web browser transmits to web-based instrument interface  120  one or more HTML files  222  which include his or her unique user identifier and a request for data for a particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 . Web-based instrument interface  120  then determines for the particular one of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118  for which data was requested (as indicated at  224 ,  224 ′, 224 ″) whether the user is authorized to view the requested data. If the user is so authorized, the data  226 ,  226 ′,  226 ″ is transmitted by the instrument database  120  to web-based instrument interface  120  (as indicated at  228 ). Web-based instrument interface  120  then generates and transmits to user computer  212  an HTML file  230  informing the user that he or she is not authorized to view the requested data or displaying the requested data. 
   Data concerning whether the user is authorized for the requested action is stored on permissions database  144  which is accessible by web-based instrument interface. It should be understood that great flexibility is possible using this authorization scheme. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the user may be authorized to view data for only one or a select number of instruments  114 ,  116 ,  118 . Moreover, the user may be authorized only to view certain data files for a particular instrument, but not other data files for that instrument. 
   The present invention, therefore, provides an analytic instrument which incorporates remote monitoring and control features, which includes, an interface which is easily modifiable or upgradeable, which facilitates storage and manipulation of output data, and which does not require that instrument interface software unique to the instrument be installed on computers used to remotely monitor and control the instrument. 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.