Remote witnessed analysis system

• US 20040015449A1
• Filed: 12/26/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
• Inventors: Imai, Hideaki, Ibe, Sadao, Kohno, Teiichiro
• Application Number:
  US10/312,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015449A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/32 Polishing; Etching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2866 Grinding or homogeneising
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00881 network configurations
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals

Abstract

A terminal on the side of a pretreatment apparatus, a terminal on the side of a measurement apparatus and a terminal on the data analysis side are connected to a terminal on the client side, to a server for displaying the fees and to a server for data analysis through a communication circuit. The data obtained from the pretreatment apparatus or the measurement apparatus are displayed on the screens at the terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus, at the terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus and at the terminal on the client side. The data obtained from the server for data analysis are displayed on the terminal on the data analysis side and on the terminal on the client side. Each terminal is provided with communication means, and a person in charge of the pretreatment, a person in charge of the measurement or a person in charge of the data analysis and the client work to carry out the processing while viewing their respective screens and maintaining communication between them. On the screen are displayed indication means indicated by the person in charge and indication means indicated by the client, enabling the person in charge and the client to communicate their intentions. The fees incurred thus far can also be displayed on the screen.

Claims

1. A virtual pretreatment, measurement and data analysis collaboration system comprising:

a pretreatment apparatus;

a terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus having a display unit for displaying pretreatment data obtained from said pretreatment apparatus on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the pretreatment data to a terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side;

a measurement apparatus;

a terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus having a display unit for displaying measured data obtained from said measurement apparatus on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the measured data to the terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client side, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side;

a terminal for data analysis having a display unit for displaying analytical data obtained by the data analysis of the measured results on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the analytical data to the terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side;

the terminal on the client side having a display unit for displaying, on a screen, pretreatment data received from said terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus, measured data received from said terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus, or analytical data received from said terminal on the data analysis side, a communication unit for communicating with the side of the pretreatment apparatus, with the side of the measurement apparatus or with the data analysis side, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus, of the terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus or of the terminal on the data analysis side; and

a server for data analysis storing software for having the terminal on the data analysis side execute the data analysis and for storing the measured data.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a server for displaying fees, which calculates fees incurred in the pretreatment, fees incurred in the measurement or fees incurred in the data analysis, and which displays the fees on the screen at the terminal on the client side together with the pretreatment data, measurement data or analytical data.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said display unit displays plural pretreatment data, plural measurement data or plural data analysis data simultaneously on the screen.

7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus transmits electronic data obtained by the measurement to the client side through a communication circuit.

4. A virtual pretreatment and measurement collaboration system comprising:

a pretreatment apparatus;

a terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus having a display unit for displaying pretreatment data obtained from said pretreatment apparatus on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the pretreatment data to a terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client side, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side;

an measurement apparatus;

a terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus having a display unit for displaying measurement data obtained from said measurement apparatus on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the measured data to the terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client side, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side; and

the terminal on the client side having a display unit for displaying, on a screen, pretreatment data received from said terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus or measured data received from said terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus, a communication unit for communicating with the side of the pretreatment apparatus or with the side of the measurement apparatus, and indication means for indicating, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus or of the terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus.

5. A system according to claim 4, further comprising a server for displaying fees, which calculates the fees incurred in the pretreatment or fees incurred in the measurement, and which displays the fees on the screen at the terminal on the client side together with the pretreatment data or measured data.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said display unit displays plural pretreatment data or plural measured data simultaneously on the screen.

8. A virtual pretreatment collaboration system comprising:

a pretreatment apparatus;

a terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus having a display unit for displaying pretreatment data obtained from said pretreatment apparatus on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the pretreatment data to a terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client side, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side; and

the terminal on the client side having a display unit for displaying, on a screen, pretreatment data received from said terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus, a communication unit for communicating with the side of the pretreatment apparatus, and means for indicating, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said display unit displays plural pretreatment data simultaneously on the screen.

10. A system according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a server for displaying fees, which calculates the fees incurred in the pretreatment, and which displays the fees on the screen at the terminal on the client side together with the pretreatment data.

11. A virtual measurement collaboration system comprising:

an measurement apparatus;

a terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus having a display unit for displaying measured data obtained from said measurement apparatus on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the measured data to a terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client side, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side; and

the terminal on the client side having a display unit for displaying, on a screen, measured data received from said terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus, a communication unit for communicating with the side of the measurement apparatus, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said display unit displays plural measured data simultaneously on the screen.

13. A system according to claim 11 or 12, further comprising a server for displaying fees, which calculates the fees incurred in the measurement, and which displays the fees on the screen at the terminal on the client side together with the measured data.

14. A system according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus transmits electronic data obtained by the measurement to the client side via a communication circuit.

15. A virtual analytical collaboration system comprising:

a terminal for data analysis having a display unit for displaying analytical data obtained by the data analysis of the measured results on a screen, a transmission/reception unit for transmitting part or all of the analytical data to a terminal on the client side, a communication unit for communicating with the client, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the client side; and

the terminal on the client side having a display unit for displaying, on a screen, analytical data received from said terminal for data analysis, a communication unit for communicating with the data analysis side, and means for displaying, on said screen, its own indication means and indication means of the terminal on the data analysis side.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said display unit displays plural analytical data simultaneously on the screen.

17. A system according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising a server for displaying fees, which calculates the fees incurred in the data analysis, and which displays the fees on the screen at the terminal on the client side together with the analytical data.

18. A system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein said terminal on the data analysis side makes an access to at least one of a data analytical system, an measurement database and an information database.

19. A system according to any one of claims 15 to 17, further comprising a server for data analysis storing software for having the terminal on the data analysis side execute the data analysis and for storing the measured data.

20. A terminal on the side of a pretreatment apparatus for a virtual pretreatment collaboration system, comprising:

a display unit for displaying on a screen pretreatment data of a sample that is to be measured;

a transmission/reception unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a terminal on the client side through a communication circuit;

a communication unit for communicating with the client side;

an operation unit for controlling indication means on a screen; and

a processing unit for transmitting part or all of said pretreatment data from said transmission/reception unit to said terminal on the client side, and for displaying, on said screen, indication means controlled by a signal from said operation unit and indication means controlled by a signal from said terminal on the client side.

21. A terminal according to claim 20, wherein said display unit simultaneously displays plural pretreatment data.

22. A terminal according to claim 20 or 21, wherein said processing unit displays fees incurred in the pretreatment on said screen together with said pretreatment data.

23. A terminal on the side of an measurement apparatus for a virtual measurement collaboration system, comprising:

a display unit for displaying, on a screen, measured data obtained from the measurement apparatus;

a transmission/reception unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a terminal on the client side through a communication circuit;

a communication unit for communicating with the client side;

an operation unit for controlling indication means on a screen; and

a processing unit for transmitting part or all of said measured data from said transmission/reception unit to said terminal on the client side, and for displaying, on said screen, indication means controlled by a signal from said operation unit and indication means controlled by a signal from said terminal on the client side.

24. A terminal according to claim 23, wherein said display unit simultaneously displays plural pretreatment data.

25. A terminal according to claim 23 or 24, wherein said processing unit displays fees incurred in the measurement on said screen together with said measured data.

26. A terminal on the person in charge of the analysis side for a virtual analytical collaboration system, comprising:

a display unit for displaying, on a screen, data obtained by analyzing measurement results;

a transmission/reception unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a terminal on a client side through a communication circuit;

a communication unit for communicating with the client side;

an operation unit for controlling indication means on a screen; and

a processing unit for transmitting part or all of said analytical data from said transmission/reception unit to said terminal on the client side, and for displaying, on said screen, indication means controlled by a signal from said operation unit and indication means controlled by a signal from said terminal on the client side.

27. A terminal according to claim 26, wherein said display unit simultaneously displays plural analytical data.

28. A terminal according to claim 26 or 27, wherein said processing unit displays fees incurred in the data analysis on said screen together with said analytical data.

29. A terminal according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein said transmission/reception unit makes an access to at least one of a data analyzing system, an measurement database or an information database.

30. A terminal according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein said terminal on the data analysis side makes an access to a server for data analysis, which is storing software for having the data analysis executed and for storing the analytical data.

31. A terminal on the client side comprising:

a transmission/reception unit for transmitting and receiving data to and from a terminal on the side of a pretreatment device, to and from a terminal on the side of an measurement apparatus or to and from a terminal on a data analysis side through a communication circuit;

a display unit for displaying, on a screen, pretreatment data, measured data or analytical data received by the transmission/reception unit;

a communication unit for communicating with the side of the pretreatment apparatus, with the side of the measurement apparatus or with the data analysis side;

an operation unit for controlling indication means on a screen; and

a processing unit for displaying, on the screen of said display unit, indication means controlled by a signal from the operation unit, and indication means controlled by a signal sent from the terminal on the side of the pretreatment apparatus, from the terminal on the side of the measurement apparatus or from the terminal on the data analysis side and received by said transmission/reception unit.

32. A terminal according to claim 31, wherein said display unit simultaneously displays plural pretreatment data, plural measured data or plural analytical data.

33. A terminal according to claim 31 or 32, wherein said processing unit displays the fees incurred in the pretreatment, measurement or data analysis on said screen together with said pretreatment data, said measured data or said analytical data.

34. A virtual pretreatment collaboration method comprising:

a step of displaying pretreatment data on a screen of a display unit on the side of a pretreatment apparatus in pretreating a sample that is to be measured;

a step of displaying part or all of the pretreatment data on a screen of the display unit on a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of carrying out pretreatment by determining the direction of the pretreatment while communicating between the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the client side by using a communication unit between the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the client side;

a step of displaying indication means on the side of the pretreatment apparatus and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion to which attention is to be given on the screens.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the steps of displaying the pretreatment data display plural pretreatment data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

36. A method according to claim 34 or 35, further comprising a step of displaying the fees incurred thus far in the pretreatment on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

37. A virtual measurement collaboration method comprising:

a step of conducting an measurement by using an measurement apparatus and displaying measured data on a screen of a display unit on the side of the measurement apparatus;

a step of displaying part or all of the measured data on a screen of the display unit on a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of carrying out the measurement by determining the direction of the measurement while communicating between the side of the measurement apparatus and the client side by using a communication unit between the side of the measurement apparatus and the client side;

a step of displaying indication means on the side of the measurement apparatus and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the side of the measurement apparatus and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the side of the measurement apparatus and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion on which attention is to be given on the screens.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the steps of displaying the measured data display plural measured data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

39. A method according to claim 37 or 38, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the measurement on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

40. A method according to any one of claims 37 to 39, further comprising a step of transmitting the electronic data obtained by the measurement to the client side through a communication circuit.

41. A virtual analytical collaboration method comprising:

a step of displaying analytical data on a screen of a display unit on a data analysis side in the data analysis of measured results;

a step of displaying part or all of the analytical data on the screen of the display unit of a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of carrying out the data analysis by determining the direction of the data analysis while communicating between the data analysis side and the client side by using a communication unit between the data analysis side and the client side;

a step of displaying indication means on the data analysis side and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the data analysis side and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the data analysis side and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion on which attention is to be given on the screens.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the steps of displaying the analytical data display plural analytical data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

43. A method according to claim 41 or 42, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the data analysis on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

44. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 43, further comprising a step of carrying out the data analysis by using at least one of a data analysis system, a measurement data base or an information database.

45. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 44, further comprising a step of carrying out the data analysis by using at least one of the data analysis system, the measurement database or the information database through a server for data analysis connected through said communication circuit.

46. A program for having a computer execute:

a step of displaying pretreatment data on a screen of a display unit on the side of a pretreatment apparatus in pretreating a sample that is to be measured;

a step of displaying part or all of the pretreatment data on a screen of the display unit of a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of displaying indication means on the side of the pretreatment apparatus and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion to which attention is to be given on the screens.

47. A program according to claim 46, wherein the steps of displaying the pretreatment data display plural pretreatment data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

48. A program according to claim 46 or 47, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the pretreatment on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

49. A program for having a computer execute:

a step of conducting a measurement by using a measurement apparatus and displaying measured data on a screen of a display unit on the side of the measurement apparatus;

a step of displaying part or all of the measured data on a screen of the display unit on a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of displaying indication means on the side of the measurement apparatus and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the side of the measurement apparatus and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the side of the measurement apparatus and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion to which attention is to be given on the screens.

50. A program according to claim 49, wherein the steps of displaying measured data display plural measured data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

51. A program according to claim 49 or 50, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the measurement on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

52. A program for having a computer execute:

a step of displaying analytical data on a screen of a display unit on the data analysis side in the data analysis of the measured results;

a step of displaying part or all of the analytical data on the screen of the display unit of a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of displaying indication means on the data analysis side and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the data analysis side and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the data analysis side and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion to which attention is to be given on the screens.

53. A program according to claim 52, wherein the steps of displaying the analytical data display plural analytical data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

54. A program according to claim 52 or 53, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the data analysis on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

55. A recording medium that can be read by a computer and for storing a program for a computer to execute, said program comprising:

a step of displaying pretreatment data on a screen of a display unit on the side of a pretreatment apparatus in pretreating a sample that is to be measured;

a step of displaying part or all of the pretreatment data on a screen of the display unit of a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of displaying indication means on the side of the pretreatment apparatus and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the side of the pretreatment apparatus and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion to which attention is to be given on the screens.

56. A recording medium according to claim 55, wherein the steps of displaying the pretreatment data display plural pretreatment data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

57. A recording medium according to claim 55 or 56, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the pretreatment on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

58. A recording medium that can be read by a computer and for storing a program for a computer to execute, said program comprising:

a step of conducting a measurement by using an measurement apparatus and displaying measured data on a screen of a display unit on the side of the measurement apparatus;

a step of displaying part or all of the measured data on the screen of the display unit of a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of displaying indication means on the side of the measurement apparatus and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the side of the measurement apparatus and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the side of the measurement apparatus and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion to which attention is to be given on the screens.

59. A recording medium according to claim 58, wherein the steps of displaying the measured data display plural measured data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

60. A recording medium according to claim 58 or 59, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the measurement on the screen of the display unit on the client side.

61. A recording medium that can be read by a computer and for storing a program for a computer to execute, said program having:

a step of displaying analytical data on a screen of a display unit on the data analysis side in the data analysis of the measured results;

a step of displaying part or all of the analytical data on the screen of the display unit of a client side which is connected through a communication circuit;

a step of displaying indication means on the data analysis side and indication means on the client side on both the screen of the display unit on the data analysis side and the screen of the display unit of the client side; and

a step in which the data analysis side and the client side control their own indication means to indicate a portion to which attention is to be given on the screens.

62. A recording medium according to claim 61, wherein the steps of displaying the analytical data display plural analytical data simultaneously on the screen of said display unit.

63. A recording medium according to claim 61 or 62, further comprising a step of displaying fees incurred thus far in the data analysis on the screen of the display unit on the client side.