Method for detecting and reporting operational errors in an in vitro diagnostic system, transport device for a laboratory sample distribution system, and laboratory sample distribution system

Abstract

To provide a method for detecting and reporting an operation error in an in-vitro diagnostic system, for improved processing of the operation error without interrupting operation.SOLUTION: In a method, a device, and a system, a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system includes an arrangement of transport modules (2), in which each transport module is provided with a drive device (9) for moving sample container carrier (5) on a transport surface (6) and a module network interface, which has a transport plane (4) and a controller device, which stores network addresses of each of transport modules (2) and neighboring transport modules (8), which applies replacement operation for receiving replacement information indicating replacement of a transport module (7) and transmitting a network address request from a replacement transport module to the neighboring transport module (8), and which receives the network address of the replacement transport module from the neighboring transport module (8) and stores it.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for detecting and reporting operational errors in an in vitro diagnostic system, a transport device for a laboratory sample distribution system, and a laboratory sample distribution system. [Background technology]

[0002] In vitro diagnostic systems are applied to determine samples of body fluids. The samples are received in sample vessels or containers that are processed in the in vitro diagnostic system. The sample vessels can be processed, for example, by a sample vessel processing or distribution system for placing the sample vessels in a sample vessel carrier and for removing the sample vessels from the sample vessel carrier. For example, a laboratory sample distribution system is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,649,999.

[0003] In an in vitro diagnostic system, sample containers are processed by a laboratory sample distribution system. The sample containers are moved along a processing line for processing, and the sample containers and / or sample container carriers are moved by a transport device having one or more actuators and an actuator drive or drive device for driving the actuator(s). For example, a sample container can be moved or relocated from a first working station to a second working station in the line where processing occurs in the in vitro diagnostic system. A working station may also be referred to as a working position.

[0004] Patent document 2 discloses a transport device unit for a transport device exemplified using a plurality of transport device units, the transport device unit comprising: a base module having a base for fixing the transport device unit to a support frame; an actuator module having a plurality of electromagnetic actuators and supported by the base module; and a drive surface module arranged above the actuator module covering the actuators and having drive surface elements configured to carry a sample container carrier.

[0005] Patent Document 3 discloses a laboratory sample distribution system including a plurality of sample container carriers, a central control unit having a network interface, and a plurality of transport modules. Each transport module includes a transport surface that cooperates with the transport surfaces of the other transport modules to form a transport plane, controllable drive means arranged below the transport surface and configured to move the sample container carriers on the transport surface, and a control unit for controlling the drive means. The control unit includes a network interface, and the control units of the central control unit and the transport modules are connected to each other by their corresponding network interfaces. Each control unit has a first addressing terminal and a second addressing terminal, and the addressing terminals of the control units are sequentially connected to each other in a daisy chain topology, with the first addressing terminal of the control unit that is the first control unit in the connection order being connected to a first reference potential (GND), and the second addressing terminal of the control unit that is the last control unit in the connection order being connected to a second reference potential (GND).

[0006] Patent Document 4 discloses a laboratory sample distribution system. The system includes a plurality of container carriers. Each container carrier includes at least one magnetically active element, such as at least one permanent magnet, and carries a sample container containing a sample. The system also includes a transport device. The transport device includes a transport plane for carrying the plurality of container carriers and a plurality of electromagnetic actuators stationarily disposed below the transport plane. The electromagnetic actuators apply magnetic forces to the container carriers to move the container carriers disposed on the upper surface of the transport plane. The transport device also includes a control device for controlling the movement of the container carriers on the upper surface of the transport plane by driving the electromagnetic actuators. The control device controls the movement of three or more container carriers so that they can move simultaneously and independently of each other.

[0007] Patent Document 5 discloses a laboratory product transport element for a laboratory transport system having an energy receiver and / or energy store for providing a driving force. At least one received signal is for receiving a control signal. A control unit generates a driving signal as a function of the at least one control signal obtained from the at least one signal receiver. A moving device is provided for independent movement of the laboratory product transport element on the transport path as a function of the driving signal of the control unit. The driving device is driven by the driving force. At least one holder is provided for holding the laboratory product during transport.

[0008] Patent Document 6 discloses a method for operating a laboratory sample distribution system. The system includes a container carrier, a gateway having a network interface, and a transport module. Each module includes a transport surface. The module includes a drive disposed below the transport surface for moving the container carrier on the transport surface, and left, right, upper, and lower interface networks. The left and right interface networks connect the modules in rows, and the upper and lower interface networks connect the modules in columns. The network interface of the gateway is connected to the network interface of a first module. The method includes the steps of sending a search command from the gateway to the first module, propagating an initialization command from the first module to the remaining modules, storing an address in the module, and processing the module using the address by the gateway.

[0009] Patent Document 7 discloses a module for a laboratory sample distribution system, in which a magnetic coupling enhancer is provided to enhance the magnetic coupling between adjacent modules. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 038014 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2017 / 144219 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2017 / 211734 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0360878 [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. 2012 / 158541 [Patent Document 6] US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 018027 [Patent Document 7] US Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 097786 Summary of the Invention

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting and reporting operational errors in an in vitro diagnostic system for improved handling of operational errors without interrupting operation. Additionally, a transport device for a laboratory sample distribution system, and a laboratory sample distribution system are provided.

[0012] To solve the problem, a method for detecting and reporting an operating error in an in vitro diagnostic system is provided according to independent claim 1. Furthermore, a transport device for a laboratory sample distribution system and a laboratory sample distribution system are provided according to claims 10 and 12, respectively. Further embodiments are referred to in the dependent claims.

[0013] According to one aspect, a method is provided for operating a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system, the transport device including an array of transport modules, each transport module being provided with a transport surface, a drive device configured to move a sample container carrier on the transport surface, a transport plane formed by the transport surfaces of the transport modules of the array of transport modules, a module controller configured to control operation of the drive device, and a module network interface connected to the module controller and configured for data communication in the control network, and a controller device connected to the control network through the controller network interface.

[0014] The disclosed method includes the steps of assigning a network address to each transport module in a control network, storing, for each transport module, in a module control device, the network address of each transport module itself and the network address of an adjacent transport module located adjacent to the transport module in the transport module array, and applying a replacement operation.

[0015] The step of applying the replacement operation includes the steps of: replacing the selected transport module with an alternative transport module; receiving, in the controller device, replacement information data indicating that the selected transport module has been replaced with the alternative transport module; and transmitting, via the control network, a broadcast message indicating a start command to the module controller of the transport module including the alternative transport module. In response to receiving the broadcast message, transmitting, from the module controller of the alternative transport module to the module controller of the at least one adjacent transport module, a network address request requesting at least one adjacent transport module among the adjacent transport modules to provide the network address of the alternative transport module; and ignoring the broadcast message by the module controller of the transport module in the array excluding the alternative transport module. Further, the steps of receiving, in the alternative transport module, the network address of the alternative transport module from the at least one adjacent transport module and storing the network address of the alternative transport module in the module controller; and receiving and storing, in the module controller, the network address of the adjacent transport module located adjacent to the alternative transport module are performed. The disclosed method further includes receiving, at the controller device, a recovery message indicating that the alternate transport module is addressable by the network address for operational control.

[0016] According to another aspect, there is provided a transport device for a laboratory sample distribution system comprising an array of transport modules, each transport module comprising a transport surface, a drive configured to move sample container carriers on the transport surface, the transport surfaces of the transport modules collectively forming a transport plane of the array of transport modules, a module controller configured to control operation of the drive, and a module network interface connected to the module controller and configured for data communication in a control network. The laboratory sample distribution system includes a controller device connected to the control network through the controller network interface.

[0017] The transport module array and the controller device are configured to assign a network address to each of the transport modules in the control network, store in the module controller for each transport module its own network address and the network address of an adjacent transport module located adjacent to the transport module in the transport module array, and apply a replacement operation. The replacement operation is configured to replace a selected transport module with an alternative transport module, receive in the controller device replacement information indicating that the selected transport module has been replaced with the alternative transport module, and transmit a broadcast message indicating an initiation command over the control network to module controllers of the plurality of transport modules including the alternative transport module. In response to receiving the broadcast message, a network address request is transmitted from the module controller of the alternative transport module to the module controller of the at least one adjacent transport module, requesting at least one of the adjacent transport modules to provide the network address of the alternative transport module, and the broadcast message is ignored by the module controllers of the transport modules in the array excluding the alternative transport module. At the alternate transport module, a network address of the alternate transport module is received from at least one adjacent transport module and stored in the module controller, and a network address of an adjacent transport module located adjacent to the alternate transport module is received and stored in the module controller. Further, the transport module arrangement and the controller device are configured to receive a recovery message at the controller device indicating that the alternate transport module is addressable by the network address for operational control.

[0018] Also provided is a laboratory sample dispensing system that includes a transport device.

[0019] The proposed technique provides reliable and safe replacement of transport modules in an arrangement of transport modules where the transport surfaces of multiple transport modules jointly form a transport plane for moving or transporting sample container carriers.

[0020] Messages, signals, and / or other electronic data related to the control of the operation of the transport device, such as swap operations, may be transmitted through a bus system or through devices that may be connected to the module control devices and controller devices. The bus system may comprise a control signal bus for transmitting control signals or data, and a data bus for transmitting other (non-control) signals or data.

[0021] The start command provided by the broadcast message may be a command to start or restart a software application, such as a firmware software application. The broadcast message may be free of network address commands, thereby providing the broadcast message to (also) module controllers of alternate transport modules whose network address information will still be collected.

[0022] In the method of the present disclosure, the step of receiving replacement information data includes the following steps: receiving, in a controller device, error information data indicating a failure of the selected transport module, the transport module in which the error occurred; and, in response to a clearing request provided in the controller device, clearing the transport planes of the transport module in which the error occurred and an adjacent transport module located adjacent to the transport module in which the error occurred from any sample container carriers. Other information data indicating the failure of the transport module in which the error occurred is received in the controller device. Such error information data notifies the controller device of the failure or malfunction of the transport module in which the error occurred. In response to such error information data, a clearing request is provided in the controller device for the transport module in which the error occurred to clear the transport plane from any sample container carriers. If there are sample container carriers located on the transport plane of the transport module in which the error occurred when the clearing request is provided, the sample container carrier(s) are moved away from the transport plane of the transport module in which the error occurred, for example, to a transport plane of a different transport module that is not an adjacent transport module to the transport module in which the error occurred. Therefore, the faulty transport module to be replaced as well as the adjacent transport module located adjacent to the faulty transport module are cleared from any sample container carriers. Cleared status information may then be provided in the controller device. The cleared status information may be output through an output device connected to the controller device for user information. The cleared status information indicates a cleared status for both the faulty transport module and the adjacent transport module.

[0023] The step of clearing the transport surface may further include a step of checking whether an object other than a sample container carrier is located on the transport surface of at least one of the transport modules of the transport module in which the error occurred and the adjacent transport module. For example, the object may be a tool or another object other than a sample container carrier located on the transport surface. If the presence of the object is detected, a clear request may be provided in the control device and output to a user through an output device. If the transport surfaces of the transport module in which the error occurred and the adjacent transport module are cleared of the object, clear status information may be output to a user. Furthermore, depending on such clearing of the object, the replacement operation may continue. Continuation of the replacement operation may be prevented until both the transport module in which the error occurred and the adjacent transport module are cleared.

[0024] The step of clearing the transport plane may further include receiving a user input through a user interface at the controller device indicating confirmation for a replacement procedure for the transport module in error. In response to receiving the error information data at the control device, user information indicating that an error has been detected may be output to a user. The replacement procedure including the replacement operation can be initiated after confirmation is received by the user input in response to output of the user information indicating that an error has been detected.

[0025] The disclosed method further includes, while applying the replacement operation, continuing operation of at least one remaining transport module in the array, excluding both the replacement transport module and an adjacent transport module located adjacent to the transport module, wherein the continuing operation includes moving one or more sample container carriers on a transport surface of the at least one remaining transport module and controlling the movement of the one or more sample container carriers with a control device. While the replacement operation is being performed, the at least one remaining transport module continues its controlled operation to move or transport the sample container carriers on the transport surface. Performing the replacement operation while the one or more remaining transport modules in the array continue their controlled operation may be referred to as hot swapping. The replacement and addition of transport modules are performed without stopping the operation of the at least one remaining transport module.

[0026] The step of applying the replacement operation may further include switching from an initial operation mode to an operational control mode in the module controller of the replacement transport module in response to receiving the broadcast message, the operational control mode enabling bidirectional data communication between the module controllers of the transport modules in the control network that is not provided in the initial operation mode. The initial operation mode may be applied to perform basic setup after the transport module is replaced. A switch may be made from a firmware application to a startup application (initial operation mode). Thus, a switch is made between a first software application and a second software application running on one or more processors of the transport device of the laboratory sample distribution system. In the first software application (initial operation mode), bidirectional data communication between the transport modules is not available. Rather, a broadcast message may be sent by the device controller. Such a broadcast message is not addressed to a specific transport module (it is not a (network) address command) and will be received by the controllers of the transport modules in the array. The second software application (e.g., operational control mode) enables data communication between the transport modules, thereby enabling data or signal exchange from transport module to transport module. Such two-way data communication may be applied based on network addresses assigned to the transport modules of the array.

[0027] In a control network, the disclosed method includes applying a first communication protocol for transmitting broadcast messages and a second communication protocol, different from the first data communication protocol, for transmitting control messages including control commands, the control messages being addressed to at least one of the network addresses assigned to the transport modules. The first communication protocol is configured to transmit broadcast messages to be received by all transport modules. The second data communication protocol, different from the first data communication protocol, may be applied to transmit control messages addressed based on the network addresses assigned to one or more transport modules in the array.

[0028] Receiving the restoration message at the controller device may include one of receiving the restoration message from an alternative transport module and receiving the restoration message from at least one adjacent transport module.

[0029] The step of receiving and storing the network address of the adjacent transport module may further include the following steps: receiving, at the controller device, neighbor information data indicating that an alternative transport module is connected to the adjacent transport module; transmitting a request to obtain the network address of the adjacent transport module from the controller device to the module controller of the alternative transport module; and transmitting the request for the network address from the module controller of the alternative transport module to the module controller of the adjacent transport module. After the alternative transport module is installed in the array of transport modules, the neighbor information data indicating such replacement will be received at the controller device. In response, the request to obtain the network address of the adjacent transport module may be provided in the controller device and transmitted from the controller device to the module controller of the alternative transport module. In response to receiving such request, a request for the network address is provided in the module controller of the alternative transport module and transmitted to the module controller of the adjacent transport module. The adjacent transport module then provides information about its network address to the alternative transport module receiving such network address. The information about the network address of the adjacent transport module may be stored locally in a storage device of the alternative transport module. Alternatively, or additionally, such information about the network addresses of adjacent transport modules located adjacent to the alternative transport module may be transmitted to the controller device and stored in storage allocated to the controller device. Thus, in such an embodiment, the controller device has access to electronic information about which transport modules in the array of transport modules are connected to which adjacent transport modules.

[0030] For transport devices, transport modules may be arranged in a daisy chain topology. A daisy chain is achieved by connecting each transport module in series to the next transport module. For transmission of a message or data signal, if the message is intended for a transport module along the line, each transport module may relay the message from one transport module to the next until the message reaches its destination (the addressed transport module). A daisy chain can take two basic forms: a linear topology or a ring topology. Alternatively, the transport modules in the array may be arranged in a multi-drop (electrical parallel) topology.

[0031] With respect to at least one of the transport device and the laboratory sample distribution system, the embodiments described for the method for operating a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system may be applied mutatis mutandis.

[0032] Further embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of transport modules provided by a transport device of a laboratory sample distribution system, which together form a transport plane for transporting sample container carriers. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the arrangement of transport modules of FIG. 1 in which one of the transport modules has been replaced with an alternative transport module. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the functional components of a transport device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for detecting and reporting operational errors in a transport device of a laboratory sample distribution system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] 1 and 2 each show, in top view, a schematic representation of an arrangement 1 of transport modules 2 providing a transport device 3 for a laboratory sample distribution system. The transport modules 2 together form a transport plane 4 for transporting sample container carriers 5.

[0035] The transport device 3 is comprised of multiple transport modules 2. The transport modules 2 may be fixed to a support frame (not shown). The transport modules 2 shown each have a square base shape, which allows for the construction of various transport device 3 designs by adding additional transport modules 2 on either side of existing transport modules 2 and / or by moving transport modules 2 from the transport device 3. In other embodiments, the transport modules 2 may have other base shapes, such as triangular or hexagonal base shapes. All transport modules 2 may have the same base shape. However, in other embodiments, the transport device 3 may be comprised of transport modules 2 having different base shapes.

[0036] Each transport module 2 is provided with a transport surface 6. The transport surfaces 6 of the transport modules 2 in the array 1 jointly form a transport plane 4 on which sample container carriers 5 can be transported or moved to various positions. One transport module 7 in the array 1 is surrounded by an adjacent transport module 8 located adjacent to the transport module 7.

[0037] Figure 3 shows schematically the functional components of the transport device 3. Each transport module 2 is provided with a drive 9 configured to move the sample container carriers 5 on the transport surface 6 and on the transport plane 4. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, for the illustrated example, the drive 9 is depicted for only one of the transport modules 2, but is provided for each of the transport modules 2 in the array 1. The drive 9 is located below the transport surface 6.

[0038] Each transport module 2 comprises a module controller 10 configured to control the operation of the drive device 9. The module controller 10 is connected to a module network interface 11 or is provided with a module interface network 11 configured for data communication over a control network 12 to which a controller device 13 is also connected via a controller network interface 14. The control network 12 may be provided with a data bus system for data communication between the module controller 10 and the controller device 13, for example.

[0039] Each transport module 2 is assigned a network address. Such network addresses can be used to address electronic data to one or more transport modules 2 in the control network 12. For example, a controller device may send control signals to one or more transport modules 2 using the network addresses to control the movement of sample container carriers 5 on the transport plane.

[0040] In operation, the movement or transport of the sample vessel carriers 5 on the transport plane 4 is controlled by a controller device 13 which provides drive signals to the drive devices 9 of the transport modules 2. Various implementations for such transport modules 2 are known in the prior art; see, for example, US Pat. No. 6,223,999.

[0041] If an error or failure is detected for a transport module 7 in the array 1, a replacement procedure is applied to replace the transport module 7 with an alternative transport module 15 (see FIG. 2). FIG. 4 shows schematically the procedural steps that may be applied in an embodiment of replacing a transport module 7 due to a detected error. The steps performed are depicted for the controller device 13, the alternative transport module 15, and its adjacent transport module 8.

[0042] For example, after a transport module 7 is replaced with an alternative transport module 15 due to a detected failure of the transport module 7, the alternative transport module 15 must be included in the array 1 of transport modules 2. Such a procedure may be referred to as registering the alternative transport module 15 in the array 1 of transport modules 2. As a result, the alternative transport module 15 becomes available for controlled operation as one of the transport modules 2 that together form the array 1 with the transport plane 4.

[0043] After replacing the control module 7 with the alternative transport module 15, a first broadcast message is sent by the controller device 13 in step 30. The first broadcast message indicates a command to start or restart a firmware software application without a network address that allows data communication between the transport modules 2, which is unavailable in a startup operating mode previously applied for basic setup of the alternative transport module 15 after replacement. The first broadcast message is received by the adjacent transport modules 8 but ignored (step 31). In step 32, the first broadcast message is provided to (also) the alternative transport module 15, thereby causing the alternative transport module 15, and in particular its module control device 10, to switch from the startup operating mode previously applied for basic setup, for example, to the firmware software application without a network address in step 33.

[0044] Then, in step 34, a network address request is sent from the alternative transport module 15 to the (at least one) adjacent transport module 8. In response, the adjacent transport module 8 provides the alternative transport module 15 with the network address assigned to the transport module 7 that is currently being replaced by the alternative transport module 15 (step 35). The network address is thus provided to the alternative transport module 15 by data communication between the modules. Address information indicating the network address (previously) assigned to the transport module 7 and received at the alternative transport module 15 may be stored locally in a memory assigned to the alternative transport module 15 and connected at least to the module controller 10 of the alternative transport module 15.

[0045] Furthermore, all neighboring transport modules 8 provide recovery information (recovery messages) to the controller device 13 (step 36). The recovery information may indicate that the transport module 7 has been replaced with an alternative transport module 15. Alternatively, or additionally, information about the network address currently assigned to the alternative transport module 15 may be provided to the controller device 13. The information received in the controller device 13 may be stored in memory assigned to the controller device 13. The alternative transport module 15 is then addressable by the controller device 13.

[0046] Optionally, further steps may be applied in the replacement procedure. In step 37, a request for the field status of the alternative transport module 15 is sent from the controller device 13 to the alternative transport module 15. In response, the alternative transport module 15 informs about said field status in step 38. For example, the field status may indicate at least one of the following: (i) whether there are sample container carriers 5 on the alternative transport module 15, (ii) if so, how many sample container carriers 5 are present and (optionally) at what locations on the alternative transport module 15 the sample container carriers 5 are located, and (iii) whether there are metal tools on the surface of the alternative transport module 15.

[0047] Referring to step 39, the alternate transport module 15 is requested to locally store the network address of the neighboring transport module 8.

[0048] In steps 40 and 41, the controller device 13 requests information about the current versions of firmware and / or software applications applied to and running on the alternate transport module 15. In response, such information is received by the controller device 13. Similarly, in steps 42 and 43, the controller device 13 requests information about the current versions of software applications running on adjacent transport modules 8. The versions of the software applications are then checked in step 44.

[0049] Finally, in step 45, the replacement transport module 15 is set to the state "in operation" providing the replacement transport module 15 for controlled operation with the other transport modules 2. Such a replacement may also be called hot swapping or hot-plugging.

[0050] The described replacement procedure may be carried out while the remaining transport modules in array 1, i.e., transport modules other than transport module 7, alternative transport module 15, and adjacent transport module 8, continue to operate in a controlled manner by moving or transporting sample container carriers 5.

Claims

1. 1. A method for operating a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system, the method comprising: Providing a transport device in a laboratory sample distribution system, said transport device comprising: an array of transport modules (2), each transport module (2) being provided with a transport surface (6), a drive (9) configured to move a sample container carrier (5) on said transport surface (6), a module controller (10) configured to control the operation of said drive (9), and a module network interface (11) connected to said module controller (10) and configured for data communication in a control network (12); a transport plane (4) formed by the transport surfaces (6) of the transport modules (2) of the array of transport modules (2); a controller device (13) connected to the control network (12) through a controller network interface (14); and assigning a network address to each of said transport modules (2) in said control network (12); for each transport module (2), storing in the module control device (10) the network address of the transport module (2) itself and the network address of the adjacent transport module (8) located adjacent to the transport module in the array of the transport modules (2); applying a replacement action; and wherein applying the replacement action comprises: replacing the selected transport module (7) with an alternative transport module (15); receiving, at the controller device (13), replacement information data indicating that the selected transport module (7) has been replaced with the alternative transport module (15); sending a broadcast message indicating a start command over the control network to the module controllers of the transport modules, including the alternate transport module; a step performed in response to receiving the broadcast message, sending a network address request from the module controller (10) of the alternate transport module (15) to the module controller (10) of the at least one adjacent transport module (8) requesting at least one adjacent transport module (8) of the alternate transport module (15) to provide a network address of the alternate transport module (15); ignoring the broadcast message by the module controllers (10) of the transport modules (2) in the array excluding the alternate transport module (15); and Steps performed in the alternative transport module (15): receiving the network address of the alternative transport module (15) from the at least one adjacent transport module (8) and storing the network address of the alternative transport module (15) in the module controller (10); receiving and storing, in the module control device (10), the network address of the adjacent transport module (8) located adjacent to the alternative transport module (15); and receiving, at the controller device (13), a recovery message indicating that the alternative transport module (15) is addressable by the network address for operational control; Including, The method further includes, in the module controller (10) of the replacement transport module (15), switching from an activation operation mode to an operational control mode in response to receiving the broadcast message, the operational control mode enabling two-way data communication between the module controllers (10) of the transport modules (2) in the control network (12) that is not provided in the activation operation mode.

2. The step of receiving replacement information data includes: receiving, in the controller device (13), error information data indicating a failure of the selected transport module (7), in which an error has occurred; clearing the transport plane (4) of the transport module in which the error occurred and the adjacent transport module (8) located adjacent to the transport module in which the error occurred from any sample container carriers (5) in response to a clear request provided by the controller device (13); further comprising: The method of claim 1.

3. the step of clearing the transport surface (4) further comprises a step of checking whether an object different from a sample container carrier (5) is located on the transport surface (6) of at least one of the transport module in which the error occurred and the adjacent transport module (8). The method of claim 2.

4. and clearing the transport plane (4) further comprises receiving a user input through a user interface in the controller device (13) indicating confirmation for a replacement procedure of the faulty transport module.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The method further comprises, while applying the replacement operation, continuing operation of at least one remaining transport module of the array, excluding both the alternative transport module (15) and the adjacent transport module (8) located adjacent to the alternative transport module, the continuing operation comprising: - moving one or more sample vessel carriers (5) on the transport surface (6) of the at least one remaining transport module; controlling the movement of said one or more sample vessel carriers (5) by said controller device; Including, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The method comprises, in the control network (12), applying a first communication protocol for transmitting the broadcast message; applying a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol for transmitting control messages containing control commands, the control messages being addressed to at least one of the network addresses assigned to the transport module (2); Including, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The step of receiving the recovery message includes, in the controller device (13), receiving the recovery message from the alternate transport module (15); and receiving said recovery message from said at least one adjacent transport module (8); including one of the following: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The step of receiving and storing the network address of the neighboring transport module (8) comprises: receiving, at the controller device (13), neighbor information data indicating that the alternate transport module (15) is connected to the neighboring transport module (8); sending a request from the controller device (13) to the module control device (10) of the alternative transport module (15) to obtain the network address of the adjacent transport module (8); sending a request for the network address from the module controller (10) of the alternate transport module (15) to the module controller (10) of the adjacent transport module (8); further comprising: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. 1. A transport device for a laboratory sample distribution system, comprising: The transport device comprises: An array of transport modules (2), each transport module (2) comprising: a transportation surface (6); a drive (9) configured to move sample vessel carriers (5) on the transport surfaces (6), the transport surfaces (6) of the transport modules (2) jointly forming a transport plane (4) of the array of transport modules (2); a module control device (10) configured to control the operation of the drive device (9); a module network interface (11) connected to the module controller (10) and configured for data communication in a control network (12); an arrangement of transport modules (2) provided with a controller device (13) connected to the control network (12) through a controller network interface (14); Equipped with The arrangement of the transport modules (2) and the controller device (13) assigning a network address to each of the transport modules (2) in the control network (12); For each transport module (2), storing in the module control device the network address of the transport module (2) itself and the network address of an adjacent transport module (8) located adjacent to the transport module in the array of the transport modules (2); Applying the replacement action, It is configured as follows: applying the replacement operation replacing the selected transport module (7) with an alternative transport module (15); receiving, at the controller device (13), replacement information data indicating that the selected transport module (7) has been replaced with the alternative transport module (15); sending a broadcast message indicating a start command over the control network to the module controllers of the transport modules, including the alternate transport module; In response to receiving the broadcast message, sending a network address request from the module controller (10) of the alternate transport module (15) to the module controller (10) of the at least one adjacent transport module (8) requesting at least one adjacent transport module (8) of the alternate transport module (15) to provide the network address of the at least one adjacent transport module (8); ignoring the broadcast message by the module controllers (10) of the transport modules (2) in the array except for the alternate transport module (15); In the alternative transport module (15), receiving the network address of the alternative transport module (15) from the at least one adjacent transport module (8) and storing the network address of the alternative transport module (15) in the module controller (10); receiving and storing, in the module control device (10), the network address of the adjacent transport module (8) located adjacent to the alternative transport module (15); receiving, at the controller device (13), a recovery message indicating that the alternative transport module (15) is addressable by the network address for operational control; Including, Applying the replacement operation further includes switching, in the module controller (10) of the replacement transport module (15), in response to receiving the broadcast message, from an activation mode of operation to a motion control mode, the motion control mode enabling two-way data communication between the module controllers (10) of the transport modules (2) over the control network (12) that is not provided in the activation mode of operation. transport equipment.

10. 10. The transport device according to claim 9, wherein the transport modules (2) are arranged in a daisy chain topology.

11. A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a transport device according to claim 9 or 10.

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