FLEXIBLE SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR USER-INTERFACE AND MACHINE CONTROLIN LABORATORY AUTOMATION

We describe a modular layered software architecture for automated labo ratory instruments. The design consists of a sophisticated user interf ace, a machine controller and multiple individual hardware subsystems, each interacting through a client-server architecture built entirely on top of open Internet standards. In our implementation, the user-int erface components are built as Java(TM) applets that are downloaded fr om a sewer integrated into the machine controller The user-interface c lient can thereby provide laboratory personnel with a familiar environ ment for experiment design through a standard World Wide Web browser: Data management and security are seamlessly integrated at the machine- conttroller layer using QNX(R), a real-time oper ating system. This la yer also controls hard-wire subsystems through a second client-sewer i nterface. This architecture has pr-oven flexible and relatively easy t o implement and allows users to operate laboratory automation instrume nts remotely through an Internet connection. The software architecture was implemented and demonstrated on the Acapella, an automated fluid- sample-processing system that is under development at the University o f Washington.