METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTE MULTIPLE PROCESS GRAPHICAL MONITORING

• US 20100271479A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Heydlauf, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00891 Displaying information to the operator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A network of controllers for controlling and monitoring associated assay testing systems coupled to a remote monitoring unit for monitoring and controlling the controllers and/or the assay testing systems is disclosed. Each controller transmits a display image representing the status of the respective assay-testing system. The remote monitoring unit automatically detects if the number of display images from the controllers is greater than a threshold number of displayable, static thumbnail images and, when the threshold is exceeded, displays thumbnail images dynamically in a scrolling or streaming motion. The thumbnail images, whether static or dynamic, are updated in real-time or pseudo-real-time to reflect updated status of the assay testing systems.

Claims

1. A method for remotely monitoring a plurality of controllers and associated assay testing systems, each controller being connected to a respective assay testing system and having a processor that is adapted to generate a display image representing a status of the controller and/or the respective assay testing system, the method comprising:

providing a monitor unit, connected to each of the plurality of controllers, the monitor unit having a processing unit, a display device, and a user interface;

transmitting a plurality of images from one or more of the plurality of controllers to the monitor unit in real-time or pseudo-real-time; and

displaying a plurality of display images corresponding to each of the plurality of images on the display device in real-time or pseudo-real-time,

wherein each image of the plurality of display images is displayed on the display device when the number of display images in said plurality of display images is not greater than a threshold number and sequentially displaying each of the plurality of display images via a scrolling or streaming motion when the number of display images in said plurality of display images is greater than the threshold number such that each image of said plurality of display images is periodically visible on said display device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user-entered “

grab-hold”

command and, in response, stopping the scrolling or streaming motion.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising manually advancing the plurality of display images using the “

grab-hold”

command.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a user-requested remote, over-ride session in connection with one of the controllers associated with a selected display image from the plurality of display images.

5. A system for remotely monitoring a status of a plurality of instruments disposed in at least one instrument zone of a laboratory, the system comprising:

a plurality of assay testing systems disposed in said at least one instrument zone of the laboratory;

a plurality of controllers, each controller of said plurality of controllers being connected to at least one assay testing system of said plurality of assay testing systems and including a processor that is adapted to generate and transmit real-time or pseudo-real-time display images representing the status of the respective controller and/or of the respective assay testing system continuously; and

a remote monitor unit, connected to each of the plurality of controllers, the remote monitor unit including a display device, a user interface, and a processing unit that is adapted to receive the real-time or pseudo-real-time display images from the plurality of instruments for display on the display device in real-time or pseudo-real-time,

wherein display images from respective controllers are displayed on the display device when the number of display images in said plurality of display images is not greater than a threshold number or sequentially displaying each of the plurality of display images via a scrolling or streaming motion if said number of display images in said plurality of display images is greater than the threshold number, such that each display image of said plurality of display images is periodically visible on said display device.