Modular Laboratory Scheduling for Multi-User Experiment Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laboratory systems are static and limited to specific applications, making it difficult to conduct various experiments reflecting the diverse needs of multiple users, and there is a lack of automation in scheduling and resource management for efficient experiment execution.
Innovation Solution
A laboratory operation system that modularizes unit processes into modules, allowing users to select desired experiments automatically, with a master node scheduling job objects based on resource availability and task dependencies to optimize experiment sequencing and resource distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a static platform with a fixed sequence of experiment processes is used, then the system is simple to operate for a specific application, but it cannot accommodate various experiments reflecting diverse applications of multiple users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the experiment execution system into independent modular units: a master node that manages scheduling and a plurality of slave nodes that execute specific experiment processes. Each slave node can independently handle different experiment modules, allowing the system to accommodate diverse experiments while maintaining manageable complexity through clear separation of functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple unit processes are sequentially arranged for a specific application, then the system works well for one user, but it is difficult to conduct various experiments for several users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic scheduling capability in the master node that can adaptively assign and reassign experiment tasks to different slave nodes based on real-time system state, resource availability, and task priorities. This dynamic allocation allows multiple users' experiments to be efficiently coordinated without fixed sequential constraints, improving both multi-user support and overall execution efficiency.
3Productivity
If a modular system with multiple nodes is implemented, then various experiments can be conducted efficiently, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes feedback mechanisms where slave nodes report execution status and resource usage back to the master node, which then adjusts scheduling decisions accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the system to coordinate multiple nodes efficiently despite increased complexity, as the master node can dynamically optimize task distribution based on real-time feedback from the distributed execution environment.
Data Source
AI summary
A laboratory operation system performs experiment processes of multiple modules for each the multiple job objects based on process conditions of the experiment processes of the multiple modules presented by the multiple job objects according to an execution sequence of the multiple job objects generated from multiple job scripts that record name of each of multiple modules selected by a user among multiple modules into each of which multiple unit processes performed in a laboratory, is modularized as each experiment process by grouping the multiple unit processes, and thus, the user may automatically perform a desired experiment without the user's involvement by simply selecting some of the multiple modules.