System and method for operating scientific instruments over wide area networks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for operating a remote device over a network, comprising:
- (a) one or more client computers capable of simultaneously controlling the remote device, the one or more client computers configured to;
interact with one or more users to;
obtain one or more parameters that define a state of the remote device; and
issue commands for the operation of the remote device; and
receive results from the remote device;
(b) a proxy server computer capable of permitting simultaneous control of the remote device by the one or more client computers, and wherein the proxy server computer is coupled to the client computers and the proxy server computer is configured to;
receive the issued commands from the client computers;
translate the issued commands;
determine whether the translated commands can be executed;
queue the translated commands for the remote device until they can be executed;
transform results and status information received from the remote device into a form suitable for the client computer; and
transmit the transformed results and status information to all of the client computers configured to receive results without obtaining further user input requesting the results; and
(c) a device server computer, coupled to the proxy server computer and the remote device, the device server computer configured to;
retrieve the queued commands from the proxy server computer;
operate the remote device in accordance with retrieved commands; and
provide results and status information received from the remote device to the proxy server computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for operating remote devices over wide area networks such as the Internet. The system includes client computers for interacting with users to accept commands and display results, a proxy server computer for performing intermediate processing of commands and results, and a device server computer coupled to the remote device that executes the commands and generates the results.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for operating a remote device over a network, comprising:
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(a) one or more client computers capable of simultaneously controlling the remote device, the one or more client computers configured to; interact with one or more users to; obtain one or more parameters that define a state of the remote device; and issue commands for the operation of the remote device; and receive results from the remote device; (b) a proxy server computer capable of permitting simultaneous control of the remote device by the one or more client computers, and wherein the proxy server computer is coupled to the client computers and the proxy server computer is configured to; receive the issued commands from the client computers; translate the issued commands; determine whether the translated commands can be executed; queue the translated commands for the remote device until they can be executed; transform results and status information received from the remote device into a form suitable for the client computer; and transmit the transformed results and status information to all of the client computers configured to receive results without obtaining further user input requesting the results; and (c) a device server computer, coupled to the proxy server computer and the remote device, the device server computer configured to; retrieve the queued commands from the proxy server computer; operate the remote device in accordance with retrieved commands; and provide results and status information received from the remote device to the proxy server computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for operating a remote device over a network, comprising:
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(a) interacting with one or more users via one or more client computers to obtain one or more parameters that define a state of the remote device and issue commands for the operation of the remote device and to receive results from the remote device, the one or more client computers capable of simultaneously controlling the remote device; (b) receiving the issued commands from the client computers at a proxy server computer, translating the issued commands, determining whether the translated commands can be executed, queuing the translated commands for the remote device until they can be executed, transforming results and status information received from the remote device into a form suitable for the client computer, and transmitting the transformed results and status information from the proxy server computer to all of the client computers without obtaining further user input requesting the results; and (c) retrieving the queued commands from the proxy server computer to a device server computer coupled to the remote device, operating the remote device in accordance with retrieved commands, and providing results and status information received from the remote device to the proxy server computer.
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21. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for operating a remote device over a network, the method comprising:
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(a) interacting with one or more users via one or more client computers to obtain one or more parameters that define a state of the remote device and to issue commands for the operation of the remote device and to receive results from the remote device, the one or more client computers capable of simultaneously controlling the remote device; (b) receiving the issued commands from the client computers at a proxy server computer, translating the issued commands, determining whether the translated commands can be executed, queuing the translated commands for the remote device until they can be executed, transforming results and status information received from the remote device into a form suitable for the client computer, and transmitting the transformed results and status information from the proxy server computer to all of the client computers without obtaining further user input requesting the results; and (c) retrieving the queued commands from the proxy server computer to a device server computer coupled to the remote device, operating the remote device in accordance with retrieved commands, and providing results and status information received from the remote device to the proxy server computer.
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22. A system for operating a remote device over a network, wherein one or more users are capable of simultaneously controlling the remote device, the system comprising:
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means for interacting with one or more users to issue commands for the operation of the remote device; means for interacting with the one or more users to obtain one or more parameters that define a state of the remote device; means for determining whether the commands can be executed with the one or more parameters; means for optionally translating the commands into a form suitable for the remote device, means for optionally queuing the commands until they can be executed by the remote device; means for operating the remote device in accordance with the commands; means for gathering results and status information from the remote device; means for formatting the results and status information; and means for providing the results and status information to all of the users without obtaining further user input requesting the results.
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23. A method for operating a remote device over a network, wherein one or more users are capable of simultaneously controlling the remote device;
- the method comprising;
interacting with one or more users to issue commands for the operation of the remote device; interacting with one or more users to obtain one or more parameters that define a state of the remote device; determining whether the commands can be executed; optionally translating the commands into a form suitable for the remote device, optionally queuing the commands until they can be executed by the remote device; operating the remote device in accordance with the commands; gathering results and status information from the remote device; formatting the results and status information; and providing the results and status information to all of the users without obtaining further user input requesting the results.
- the method comprising;
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24. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for operating a remote device over a network, wherein one or more users are capable of simultaneously controlling the remote device, the method comprising:
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interacting with one or more users to issue commands for the operation of the remote device; interacting with the one or more users to obtain one or more parameters that define a state of the remote device; determining whether the commands can be executed; optionally translating the commands into a form suitable for the remote device, optionally queuing the commands until they can be executed by the remote device; operating the remote device in accordance with commands; gathering results and status information from the remote device; formatting the results and status information; and providing the results and status information to all of the users without obtaining further user input requesting the results.
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Specification