Sample analyzing system, sample analyzer and management apparatus

• US 8,868,370 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
• Inventors: Konishi, Aya, Fukuma, Daigo, Kuwano, Keisuke, Shindo, Naoki, Suga, Yusuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, John H
• Application Number:
  US13/240,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 702/68, 702/80, 702/119, 702/120, 702/122, 702/123, 702/183, 702/189, 702/21, 702/62, 707/602, 717/133, 717/157
• US Class Current: 702/119
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

The present invention is a sample analyzing system, including a sample analyzer and a management apparatus connected to the sample analyzer via a communication network. The management apparatus includes: a first memory that stores a computer program for the sample analyzer and manual data which corresponds to a version of the computer program; a first communication device; and a first controller configured to transmit, via the first communication device to the sample analyzer, the computer program and the manual data corresponding to the version of the computer program stored in the first memory. The sample analyzer includes: a second communication device; a second memory that stores the computer program and the manual data received by the second communication device; and a second controller configured to execute the computer program stored in the second memory.

Claims

1. A sample analyzing system, comprising:

a sample analyzer configured to analyze a sample; and

a management apparatus connected to the sample analyzer via a communication network,

wherein the management apparatus comprises;

a first memory that stores a computer program for the sample analyzer and manual data which corresponds to a version of the computer program and describes an operation procedure of the sample analyzer;

a first communication device configured to communicate with the sample analyzer; and

a first controller configured to transmit, via the first communication device to the sample analyzer, the computer program and the manual data corresponding to the version of the computer program which are stored in the first memory, and

the sample analyzer comprises;

a second communication device configured to communicate with the first communication device and to receive the computer program and the manual data transmitted from the first communication device;

a second memory configured to store several versions of the computer program and several versions of the manual data respectively corresponding to the several versions of the computer program received by the second communication device; and

a second controller configured to execute the computer program selected from the several versions of the computer program stored in the second memory.

2. The sample analyzing system according to claim 1,

wherein a first version of the computer program is stored in the second memory of the sample analyzer, and

when transmitting a second version of the computer program which is a newer version than the first version of the computer program to the sample analyzer via the first communication device, the first controller of the management apparatus transmits manual data corresponding to the second version of the computer program to the sample analyzer via the first communication device.

3. The sample analyzing system according to claim 2,

wherein the second controller of the sample analyzer transmits version information of the computer program which is stored in the second memory to the management apparatus via the second communication device, and

the first controller of the management apparatus determines whether or not the second version of the computer program which is a newer version than the first version of the computer program is stored in the first memory on the basis of the version information received via the first communication device from the sample analyzer, and when the second version of the computer program is stored in the first memory, the first controller transmits the second version of the computer program and manual data corresponding to the second version of the computer program to the sample analyzer via the first communication device.

4. The sample analyzing system according to claim 2,

wherein when setting the second version of the computer program to be executable, the second controller of the sample analyzer preserves the first version of the computer program and manual data corresponding to the first version of the computer program which are stored in the second memory.

5. The sample analyzing system according to claim 4,

wherein the second memory of the sample analyzer includes a first storage area in which the computer program which is transmitted from the management apparatus is stored, and a second storage area in which a computer program which is executed by the second controller is stored, and

the second controller sets the computer program to be executable by moving the computer program transmitted from the management apparatus to the second storage area from the first storage area of the second memory.

6. The sample analyzing system according to claim 1,

wherein the second controller of the sample analyzer stores the computer program transmitted from the management apparatus in the second memory, and automatically sets the computer program stored in the second memory to be executable.

7. The sample analyzing system according to claim 6,

wherein the second controller sets the computer program stored in the second memory to be executable when the sample analyzer is powered up.

8. The sample analyzing system according to claim 1,

wherein the second controller of the sample analyzer backs up information stored in the sample analyzer before the computer program transmitted from the management apparatus is set to be executable.

9. The sample analyzing system according to claim 1,

wherein the first controller of the management apparatus transmits the computer program and the manual data corresponding to the version of the computer program to the sample analyzer via the first communication device by a single transmission procedure.

10. The sample analyzing system according to claim 1, comprising

an automatic transmission setting section for setting whether or not the computer program and the manual data corresponding to the version of the computer program which are stored in the first memory of the management apparatus are automatically transmitted to the sample analyzer from the management apparatus.

11. The sample analyzing system according to claim 1,

wherein the first memory of the management apparatus stores first manual data written in a first language and second manual data written in a second language as manual data corresponding to a version of a computer program,

the sample analyzer has language setting information for specifying a language of a manual for the sample analyzer, and

the first controller of the management apparatus transmits the first manual data or the second manual data to the sample analyzer via the first communication device on the basis of the language setting information of the sample analyzer.

12. The sample analyzing system according to claim 11,

wherein the second controller of the sample analyzer transmits the language setting information to the management apparatus via the second communication device, and

the first controller of the management apparatus receives the language setting information which is transmitted from the sample analyzer via the first communication device.

13. The sample analyzing system according to claim 12,

wherein the second controller of the sample analyzer transmits the language setting information to the management apparatus via the second communication device in association with version information of the computer program which is stored in the second memory.

14. A sample analyzer which is connected to a management apparatus via a communication network, comprising:

a receiving device configured to receive, from the management apparatus, a computer program and manual data which corresponds to a version of the computer program and describes an operation procedure of the sample analyzer;

a memory configured to store several versions of the computer program and several versions of the manual data respectively corresponding to the several versions of the computer program received by the receiving device; and

a controller configured to execute the computer program selected from the several versions of the computer program stored in the memory.

15. The sample analyzer according to claim 14,

wherein the memory stores a first version of the computer program, and

when a second version of the computer program which is a newer version than the first version of the computer program stored in the memory is stored in the management apparatus, the controller receives the second version of the computer program and manual data corresponding to the second version of the computer program from the management apparatus via the receiving device.

16. The sample analyzer according to claim 15,

wherein when setting the second version of the computer program to be executable, the controller preserves the first version of the computer program and manual data corresponding to the first version of the computer program which are stored in the memory.

17. The sample analyzer according to claim 14,

wherein the controller stores the computer program transmitted from the management apparatus in the memory, and automatically sets the computer program stored in the memory to be executable.

18. The sample analyzer according to claim 17,

wherein the controller sets the computer program stored in the memory to be executable when the sample analyzer is powered up.