Instrument access control system
First Claim
1. A method of authenticating a shared laboratory test instrument user prior to accessing the shared laboratory test instrument in order to perform one or more lab tests using the shared laboratory test instrument comprising the steps of:
- (A) providing a user authenticating lab instrument access control and management system comprising a plurality of network connected shared laboratory test instruments;
(B) receiving logon credentials from a user in an attempt to access a select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments;
(C) authenticating the user as an authorized user of the system based on the logon credentials associated with the user prior to accessing the shared laboratory test instrument;
(D) determining whether the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments by comparing the credentials to credential information stored in a data store accessible over a network to the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments by the following steps,(D)(1) identifying a role of the user;
(D)(2) identifying a set of default laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the role;
(D)(3) identifying a set of user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user;
(D)(4) applying the user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights to the default laboratory test instrument access rights to obtain a set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user;
(D)(5) determining whether the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; and
(D)(6) determining that the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments if it is determined that the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments;
(E) granting the user access to the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments only if it is determined that the user is an authorized user of the system and the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments;
(F) identifying a set of operations that the user has the right to perform using the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments for performing one or more laboratory tests on the integrity of a membrane-based separation device;
(G) allowing the user to perform on the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments only those operations in the identified set of operations for performing one or more laboratory tests on the integrity of a membrane-based separation device; and
(H) performing one or more tests using the select one of the plurality of the shared laboratory test instruments.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for centrally managing a set of network-connected laboratory instruments is disclosed. For example, the system includes a centralized database that includes information about the instruments in the system and about the authorized users of the system. In particular, the centralized database indicates which users are authorized to use each of the instruments in the system. The database may also include information about the operations that each user is authorized to perform using the instruments and information indicating whether tests performed by each instrument must be signed using one or more electronic signatures. The system may recognize a number of “roles,” each of which is associated with a particular set of rights, and may assign one or more roles to each user. Instruments and other elements of the system may access the centralized database over a network to enforce the user rights represented by the information in the database.
19 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of authenticating a shared laboratory test instrument user prior to accessing the shared laboratory test instrument in order to perform one or more lab tests using the shared laboratory test instrument comprising the steps of:
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(A) providing a user authenticating lab instrument access control and management system comprising a plurality of network connected shared laboratory test instruments; (B) receiving logon credentials from a user in an attempt to access a select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; (C) authenticating the user as an authorized user of the system based on the logon credentials associated with the user prior to accessing the shared laboratory test instrument; (D) determining whether the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments by comparing the credentials to credential information stored in a data store accessible over a network to the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments by the following steps, (D)(1) identifying a role of the user; (D)(2) identifying a set of default laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the role; (D)(3) identifying a set of user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user; (D)(4) applying the user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights to the default laboratory test instrument access rights to obtain a set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user; (D)(5) determining whether the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; and (D)(6) determining that the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments if it is determined that the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; (E) granting the user access to the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments only if it is determined that the user is an authorized user of the system and the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; (F) identifying a set of operations that the user has the right to perform using the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments for performing one or more laboratory tests on the integrity of a membrane-based separation device; (G) allowing the user to perform on the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments only those operations in the identified set of operations for performing one or more laboratory tests on the integrity of a membrane-based separation device; and (H) performing one or more tests using the select one of the plurality of the shared laboratory test instruments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of authenticating a shared laboratory test instrument user prior to accessing the shared laboratory test instrument in order to perform one or more lab tests using the shared laboratory test instrument comprising the steps of:
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(A) providing a user authenticating lab instrument access control and management system comprising a plurality of network connected shared laboratory test instruments, (B) receiving logon credentials from a user in an attempt to access a select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; (C) authenticating the user as an authorized user of the system based on the logon credentials associated with the user prior to accessing a shared laboratory test instrument; (D) determining whether the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments by comparing the credentials to credential information stored in a data store accessible over a network to the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments comprising the steps of comprises steps of; (D)(1) identifying a role of the user; (D)(2) identifying a set of default laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the role; (D)(3) identifying a set of user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user; (D)(4) applying the user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights to the default laboratory test instrument access rights to obtain a set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user; (D)(5) determining whether the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; and (D)(6) determining that the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments if it is determined that the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; (E) granting the user access to the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments only if it is determined that the user is an authenticated and authorized user of the system and the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; and (F) performing one or more tests using the shared laboratory test instrument. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A user authentication system for authenticating a user prior to accessing a plurality of network connected shared laboratory test instrument comprising:
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(a) a user authenticating lab instrument access control and management system comprising a plurality of network connected shared laboratory test instruments; (b) receiving means for receiving logon credentials from a user in an attempt to access a select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; (c) first determining means for determining whether the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments by comparing the credentials to credential information stored in a data store accessible over a network to the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments, wherein the first determining means comprises, (i) first identifying means for identifying a role of the user; (ii) second identifying means for identifying a set of default laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the role; (iii) third identifying means for identifying a set of user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user; (iv) application means for applying the user-specific laboratory test instrument access rights to the default laboratory test instrument access rights to obtain a set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user; (v) second determining means for determining whether the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; and (vi) third determining means for determining that the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments if it is determined that the set of final laboratory test instrument access rights associated with the user includes the right to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments; (d) authenticating means for determining whether the user is an authorized user of the system based on the logon credentials prior to accessing a network connected shared laboratory test instrument; (e) rights granting means for granting the user access to the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments only if it is determined that the user is an authorized user of the system and it is determined that the logon credentials authorize the user to access the select one of the plurality of shared laboratory test instruments, and (f) a shared laboratory test instrument management tool for instructing the plurality of shared laboratory instruments to perform one or more tests. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification