Method and system for viewing chromatographic peaks over a network

• US 6,961,072 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stratum Reservoir (US), LLC
• Original Assignee: InfoLogic, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Guo, Jiandong, Furr, David, Xu, Yubo, Stansbury, David
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, RYAN R
• Application Number:
  US10/126,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20030197717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 345/667, 345/668, 345/669, 345/670, 345/671, 382/129, 382/190
• US Class Current: 345/667
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 45/00 ICT specially adapted for bioinformatics-related data visualisation, e.g. displaying of maps or networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A method and system of publishing datafile and metafile images over a network connection. A user can use a web page to transmit the name of a datafile to the server hosting the peak viewing program. The server then processes the information, launches Chromview to generate the metafiles, then uses a series of HTML pages to display the information in a .PNG image file of the datafile on the user'"'"'s computer screen. This page would have the datafile image, as well as information about the datafile (as applicable), such as the list of available ions, and start/stop times. The user could select an ion, or a start/stop time, and the resulting picture for the datafile would be displayed on his screen. The user can enlarge chosen areas of chromatograms and fragmentograms by entering values in text boxes or by clicking on two opposite corners of the selected area. The user can use either remote (Internet) or local (intranet) means to access the datafiles.

Claims

1. A method for displaying image files of a chromatogram on a computer-implemented screen display, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) having a user select the chromatogram, the chromatogram having a datafile containing analytical data with optional text files including multiple display parameters;

(b) using the analytical data in the datafile in generating a metafile of the chromatogram on a server;

(c) converting the metafile to a first image file;

(d) sending the first image file to the screen display;

(e) having the user define an area of the chromatogram;

(f) using the analytical data in the datafile in generating a replacement metafile containing only the defined area of the chromatogram;

(g) converting the replacement metafile to a second image file;

(h) sending the second image file to the screen display and instantaneously replacing the first image file.

2. The method of claim 1 which further comprises:

(i) having the user select new display parameters from the multiple display parameters included in the optional text files;

(j) using the analytical data and display parameters in the datafile in generating a second replacement metafile including the new display parameters;

(k) converting the second replacement metafile to a third image file;

(l) sending the third image file to the screen display and instantaneously replacing the second image file.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the display parameters are selected from peak names, retention time labels, baselines, and amplitudes.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the means of performing step (e) is using a cursor to click on two opposite corners of a rectangular area.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the server is provided at one location and is in communication with the screen display provided at another location.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the server is accessible as a web site on an Internet, and the first image file and the second image file are compatible with a web browser, and the screen display is the web browser window.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the server is a computer running Microsoft Internet Information Server.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the means for performing steps (b), (c), (f), and (g) are performed by a program running on the server.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the means of performing step (e) is entering data into at least one text box on the screen display.

9. A method for displaying image files of a GC-MS fragmentogram on a computer implemented screen display, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) having a user select the fragmentogram, the fragmentogram having a datafile containing analytical data with optional text files including multiple display parameters;

(b) opening the datafile for the fragmentogram and displaying a list of ion numbers of the fragmentogram;

(c) having the user select an ion from the list of ion numbers;

(d) using the analytical data in the datafile in generating a metafile of the ion'"'"'s fragmentogram on a server;

(e) converting the metafile to a first image file;

(f) sending the first image tile to the screen display.

10. The method of claim 9 which further includes the steps of:

(g) having the user define an area of the ion'"'"'s fragmentogram;

(h) using the analytical data in the datafile in generating a replacement metafile containing only the defined area of the fragmentogram;

(i) converting the replacement metafile to a second image file;

(j) sending the second image file to the screen display and instantaneously replacing the first image file.

11. The method of claim 10 which further includes the steps of:

(k) having the user select new display parameters from the multiple display parameters included in the optional text files;

(l) using the analytical data and display parameters in the datafile in generating a second replacement metafile having the new display parameters;

(m) converting the second replacement metafile to a third image file;

(n) sending the third image file to the screen display and instantaneously replacing the second image file.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the display parameters are selected from peak names, retention time labels, baselines, and amplitudes.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the means of performing step (g) is using a cursor to click on two opposite corners of a rectangular area.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the server is provided at one location and is in communication with the screen display provided at another location.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the server is accessible as a web site on an Internet, and the first image file and the second image file are compatible with a web browser, and the screen display is the web browser window.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the server is a computer running Microsoft Internet Information Server.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the means for performing steps (b), (d), and (e) are performed by a program running on the server.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the means of performing step (g) is entering data into at least one text box on the screen display.