Internet-linked system for directory protocol based data storage, retrieval and analysis

• US 7,650,351 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2005
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Rhodes Parks, Leonard A. Herzenberg, Leonore A. Herzenberg, Vernon T. Oi, Wayne A. Moore
• Original Assignee: David Rhodes Parks, Leonard A. Herzenberg, Leonore A. Herzenberg, Vernon T. Oi, Wayne A. Moore
• Inventors: Herzenberg, Leonard A., Oi, Vernon T, Herzenberg, Leonore A., Parks, David Rhodes, Moore, Wayne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Khanh B
• Application Number:
  US11/194,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/00 ICT programming tools or database systems specially adapted for bioinformatics
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/30 Data warehousing; Computing architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/40 Encryption of genetic data
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

The present invention is related to databases and the exchange of scientific information. Specifically the invention disclosed a unified scientific database that allows researchers to easily share their data with other researches. The present invention also allows for the ease of data collection, annotation, storage, management, retrieval and analysis of scientific data through and into the database. In addition, it allows for archival storage and retrieval of data collected directly from laboratory instruments to ensure data consistency for patent and other purposes. It also allows for ease of sharing data between laboratories in remote locations. The present invention also supports the automated creation of experimental protocols.

Claims

1. A method for extending and managing a database for an assay by identifying and storing annotation information gathered during planning of an experiment with said database, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a directory structure for said database, said directory structure having a plurality of nodes with names;

(b) annotating experiment-data to form standardized experiment-data annotation information,

wherein the annotating step further comprises the steps of;

(i) collecting, by a computer, said standardized experiment-data annotation information, and

(ii) transmitting, by the computer, said standardized experiment-data annotation information into said database as part of development of an experiment plan before data collection, wherein said standardized experiment-data annotation information is made available for combination with assay data during data collection; and

(c) exporting, by the computer, the standardized experiment-data annotation information to a cooperating instrument for viewing during data collection and for combining with the assay data for subsequent use,

wherein the step of annotating experiment-data occurs during development of an experiment plan.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said creating step further comprises:

(a) developing extensions with XML; and

(b) mapping said extensions to said plurality of nodes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said developing step further comprises adding to said extensions, elements selected from the group consisting of cross-references, external pointers and links.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a centralized Internet-accessible archive for storing, analyzing, retrieving, and sharing said experiment-data.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a security means for user-controlled sharing of the experiment-data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a structured hierarchy for said experiment-data, said structured hierarchy comprising, in order:

(a) studies;

(b) experiments;

(c) data; and

(d) analysis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the experiment-data further includes measurement data.