Modular Diagnostic Instrument Workstation Architecture and Method
First Claim
1. A system for implementing a modular workstation architecture for managing a medical analysis instrument, comprising:
- a processor coupled to a memory unit and operable to retrieve and execute instructions stored in the memory unit to implement;
a data manager, an instrument manager and a user interface shell, each being communicatively coupled with each other via a communication interface;
the data manager being operative to host workstation services that are independent of specifications for the instrument, the services being arranged in a modular configuration and being communicatively coupled to a service manager for managing transactions involving the services;
the instrument manager being operative to host instrument specific functions and provide requests and responses to the data manager to fulfill service transactions; and
the user interface shell including components to provide input and output for a user and provide requests or responses to the data manager and the instrument manager to fulfill input or output transactions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A workstation architecture for one or more medical diagnostic instruments is provided using a modular approach. Elements common to operations for the instruments are grouped together as a set of service components that are made available to instrument specific software applications. Application developers can develop software specific to the instrument while accessing the common service components to speed software development. A user interface tool is provided to permit a customized user interface to be developed for the instrument, within a generally consistent interface environment. The resulting user interfaces have a consistent look and behavior among different instrument types to facilitate a simplified and familiar user experience. The common service components provide a broad variety of services that are useful to developers and are easily integrated with instrument specific software. Features such as language variability and secure access points are provided in a distributed environment.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A system for implementing a modular workstation architecture for managing a medical analysis instrument, comprising:
a processor coupled to a memory unit and operable to retrieve and execute instructions stored in the memory unit to implement; a data manager, an instrument manager and a user interface shell, each being communicatively coupled with each other via a communication interface; the data manager being operative to host workstation services that are independent of specifications for the instrument, the services being arranged in a modular configuration and being communicatively coupled to a service manager for managing transactions involving the services; the instrument manager being operative to host instrument specific functions and provide requests and responses to the data manager to fulfill service transactions; and the user interface shell including components to provide input and output for a user and provide requests or responses to the data manager and the instrument manager to fulfill input or output transactions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for implementing a modular workstation architecture on a numerical computation device for managing a medical analysis instrument, comprising:
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hosting workstation services in a data manager that are independent of specifications for the instrument and arranging the services in a modular configuration; hosting instrument specific functions in an instrument manager and providing requests and responses to the data manager to fulfill service transactions; and providing components in a user interface shell to permit user input and output and to permit requests or responses to be applied to the data manager and the instrument manager to fulfill input or output transactions. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A system for implementing a modular workstation architecture for managing a medical analysis instrument, comprising:
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a processor coupled to a memory unit and operable to retrieve and execute instructions stored in the memory unit to implement a data manager comprising; a service manager coupled to a plurality of service components and operative to manage service transactions among the service components; an object request broker for locating and loading service components; and a message processor for processing messages between service components and being operative to pass messages to the object request broker to cause a service component to be located and loaded upon invocation of the service component; wherein one of the service components is a configuration manager service for determining configuration settings for at least one service component, the configuration manager service being operative to provide configuration settings to the message processor when a service component is invoked, whereby the object request broker can load the service component in accordance with the configuration settings.
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Specification