Method and apparatus for globally-accessible automated testing

• US 5,841,975 A
• Filed: 12/10/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Beugelsdijk, Tony J., Layne, Scott P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/764,719
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.33, 395/200.47, 395/200.49, 395/200.57, 395/82, 395/84, 395/92, 345/329, 345/335, 345/336, 345/337, 348/12, 348/13
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with a plurality of autonomous remote clients is disclosed. In the disclosed method, in response to an access request message, a process controller transmits an access enabling message to the remote client. The access enabling message includes instructions performable by a remote client to generate test equipment commands. A process controller interprets and transforms these commands into automated test instrument suite commands, which are provided to laboratory modules to perform the indicated tests. Test data results are then obtained and transmitted to the remote client.

Claims

1. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions perfomable by the remote client to generate a test command message, the test instrument suite including an operation process control toolset;

receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command, and wherein the automated test instrument suite command permits for a selection, by the remote client, of different test protocols with the process control toolset;

providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

compiling the remote testing data results; and

transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of verifying that the automated test instrument suite commands are authorized.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an alert message is transmitted from the process controller when the selected remote testing options are not authorized.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the process control toolset further comprises information describing how to use the automated test instrument suite.

5. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test a command message;

receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

compiling the remote testing data results;

transmitting the complied remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises computer program instructions for performing simulations at the remote client of the automated test instrument suite operations.

6. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

compiling the remote testing data results;

transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises a plurality of standard automated test instrument suite operations.

7. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

compiling the remote testing data results;

transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the automated test instrument suite comprises a database for storing, retrieving, comparing, and analyzing test data and a plurality of interoperable automated test equipment modules.

8. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

compiling the remote testing data results;

transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises computational tools for analyzing the remote testing data results.

9. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

compiling the remote testing data results;

transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client;

wherein;

the method further comprises the step of providing a test specimen received from the remote client to the automated test instrument suite; and

the test message comprises automated test suite instructions to perform tests on the test specimen.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the process control toolset further comprises information describing how to prepare the test specimen for testing by the automated test instrument suite.

11. The method claim 9, further comprising the step of storing the complied remote testing data results in the database.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein

the test command message further comprises test specimen background information;

and

the method further comprises the step of storing the specimen information in the database.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the process control toolset further comprises process controller commands for controlling access to data generated by the remote client.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the specimen is potentially infected with a retrovirus, and the automated test instrument suite comprises:

means for treating the specimen to manifest an observable result, the observable result being selected from the infectious fraction of the virus, the reproductive number of the virus, the number of copies of an envelope protein or core protein associated with the virus, the number of copies of reverse transcriptase associated with the virus, the rate of spontaneous degradation of the virus, the genetic classification of the virus as determined by sequence hybridization, and the serotype of the virus as determined by reactivity with a panel of immunoglobins; and

means for controlling the means for treating the specimen in order to perform high throughput humoral, infectious testing on the specimen.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the automated test instrument suite further comprises means for measuring the observable result to generate the remote data testing results in response to the automated test instrument suite command.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the automated test instrument suite further comprises means for measuring the observable result to generate the remote data testing results in response to the automated test instrument suite command.

17. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

sending an access request message from the remote client to a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

receiving an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message, the test instrument suite including an operation process control toolset;

transmitting the test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command interpretable into test instrument suite commands for commanding the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results, the first instrument suite including different test protocols with the process control toolset, the different protocols being selectable by the remote client; and

receiving testing data results from the process controller.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the process control toolset further comprises information describing how to use the automated test instrument suite.

19. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

sending an access request message from the remote client to a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

receiving an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

transmitting the test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command interpretable into test instrument suite commands for commanding the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

receiving testing data results from the process controller; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises computer program instructions for performing simulations at the remote client of the automated test instrument suite operations.

20. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

sending an access request message from the remote client to a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

receiving an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

transmitting the test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command interpretable into test instrument suite commands for commanding the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

receiving testing data results from the process controller; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises a plurality of standard automated test instrument suite operations.

21. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

sending an access request message from the remote client to a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

receiving an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

transmitting the test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command interpretable into test instrument suite commands for commanding the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

receiving testing data results from the process controller; and

wherein the automated test instrument suite comprises a database for storing, retrieving comparing, and analyzing test data and a plurality of interoperable automated test equipment modules.

22. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

sending an access request message from the remote client to a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

receiving an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

transmitting the test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command interpretable into test instrument suite commands for commanding the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

receiving testing data results from the process controller; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises computational tools for analyzing the remote testing data results.

23. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

sending an access request message from the remote client to a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

receiving an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

transmitting the test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command interpretable into test instrument suite commands for commanding the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

receiving testing data results from the process controller; and

further comprising the step of providing a test specimen to the automated test instrument suite.

24. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite, the test instrument suite including a plurality of different test operation;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message, the test instrument suite including an operation process control toolset;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command, and wherein the automated test instrument suite command permits for a selection, by the remote client, of different test protocols with the process control toolset;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results; and

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising means for verifying that the automated test instrument suite commands are authorized.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein an alert message is transmitted from the process controller when the selected remote testing options are not authorized.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the process control toolset further comprises information describing how to use the automated test instrument suite.

28. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises computer program instructions for performing simulations at the remote client of the automated test instrument suite operations.

29. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises a plurality of standard automated test instrument suite operations.

30. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the complied remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the automated test instrument suite comprises a database for storing, retrieving, comparing, and analyzing test data and a plurality of interoperable automated test equipment modules.

31. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises computational tools for analyzing the remote testing data results.

32. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises information describing how to prepare the test specimen for testing by the automated test instrument suite.

33. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the complied remote testing data results to the remote client; and

further comprising means for storing the compiled remote testing data results in the database.

34. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the test command message further comprises test specimen background information, and the apparatus further comprises means for storing the specimen information in the database.

35. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the process control toolset further comprises process controller commands for controlling access to data generated by the remote client.

36. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automates test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results;

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client; and

wherein the specimen is potentially infected with a retrovirus, and the automated test instrument suite comprises;

means for treating the specimen to manifest an observable result, the observable result being selected from the infectious fraction of the virus, the reproductive number of the virus, the number of copies of an envelope protein or core protein associated with the virus, the number of copies of reverse transcriptase associated with the virus, the rate of spontaneous degradation of the virus, the genetic classification of the virus as determined by sequence hybridization, and the serotype of the virus as determined by reactivity with a panel of immunoglobins; and

means for controlling the means for treating the specimen in order to perform high throughput humoral, infectious testing on the specimen.

37. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite, and the remote client being at a sit removed from the instrument, such that the communication link includes an Internet link;

transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

compiling the remote testing data results; and

transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client.

38. A method of sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising the steps of:

sending an access request message from the remote client to a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite, and the remote client being at a site removed from the instrument, such that the communication link includes an Internet link;

receiving an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

transmitting the test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command interpretable into test instrument suite commands for commanding the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results; and

receiving testing data results from the process controller.

39. An apparatus for sharing integrated testing services with at least one autonomous remote client, comprising:

means for receiving an access request message from the remote client in a process controller via a communications link, the process controller communicatively coupled to a sharable automated test instrument suite, and the remote client being at a site removed from the instrument, such that the communication link includes an Internet link;

means for transmitting an access enabling message from the process controller to the remote client via the communications link when the remote client is authorized to access the integrated testing services, the access enabling message having a process control toolset including instructions performable by the remote client to generate a test command message;

means for receiving a test command message from the remote client in the process controller via the communications link, the test command message comprising a process controller command;

means for transforming the process controller command into at least one automated test instrument suite command;

means for providing the automated test instrument suite command to the automated test instrument suite to obtain remote testing data results;

means for compiling the remote testing data results; and

means for transmitting the compiled remote testing data results to the remote client.