Plugin interface and framework for integrating a remote server with sample data analysis software

A computer program product for providing a plug-in interface framework configured to permit data analysis software executed on the first computer to communicate with a second computer and invoke the second computer to perform an operational function, the computer program product comprising:

• a plurality of processor-executable instructions that are resident on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and define the plug-in interface framework, wherein the instructions are configured, upon execution by a processor of the first computer, to cause the first computer to:
• open a workspace of a data analysis software, wherein the workspace relates to an analysis of sample data during a session of execution of the data analysis software;
• read a workspace description, wherein the workspace description includes metadata about the sample data;
• read a data description of the plug-in interface framework description, wherein the plug-in interface framework data description includes metadata that identifies an address for the second computer;
• establish a connection to the second computer based on the address for the second computer;
• communicate with the second computer through the connection to invoke the second computer to perform the operational function with respect to the sample data based on the metadata about the sample data, wherein the metadata about the sample data is provided by the first computer to the second computer through the connection;
• receive processed data from the second computer through the connection;
• modify the workspace based on the received processed data;
• and
• modify the metadata about the sample data in the workspace description based on the received processed data and the operational function performed by the second computer, wherein the workspace description is modified in accordance with a schema defined by the data analysis software.