Method and apparatus for remote multiple-process graphical monitoring

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A computer implemented method for monitoring, at a remote monitoring unit having an associated processing unit and a display, a plurality of devices that each include a processing system that is adapted to generate a display image representing a status of the associated device, the method comprising:
receiving, by the remote monitoring unit, from one or more of the plurality of devices over a computer network, data corresponding to one or more images, each image being indicative of an operational status of the device from which the image was received; determining, via the processing unit, a number of images in the received one or more images and whether the number of images is greater than a predetermined threshold number of images; in the event the determining step indicates that the number of images is not greater than the predetermined threshold number of images, concurrently displaying in real-time or pseudo-real-time each one of the one or more images on the display associated with the remote monitoring unit; in the event the determining step indicates that the number of images is two or more images and greater than the threshold number of images, sequentially displaying subsets of the images on the display associated with the remote monitoring unit such that the images in each subset are displayed concurrently and in real-time or pseudo-real-time for a predetermined time interval and each image of the two or more images is at least periodically visible in at least one of the subsets; and displaying a priority status with an image displayed on the display associated with the remote monitoring unit, the priority status being related to an item that is identified for a priority of processing in the device from which data corresponding to the respective image was received.