Patent ID: 7937228

Claim:
A method of automated sample processing comprising the steps of: establishing a network including a plurality of stainers, each stainer having an automated process operation capability that causes automated process operation events through movement of a robotic member; receiving a protocol in at least one of a plurality of stainers via the network; scheduling a plurality of sample process operations based on the protocol; automatically processing at least one biological sample arranged on a first slide using the at least one stainer at least in part through operation of said robotic member sequencing through said scheduled plurality of sample process operations; inserting a second slide into the at least one stainer, wherein inserting the second slide does not interfere with movement of the robotic member related to the first slide; monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information, wherein said operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information comprises usage information of the at least one stainer; and informing at least one person of at least some exteriorly-consequential information in response to said step of monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information.