Techniques for controlling automated analyzers using a shadow workflow engine

A computer system comprising a main workflow engine and at least one shadow workflow engine configured to carry out steps of:

• receiving data related to a plurality of orders for processing biological samples at the main workflow engine, wherein each order is a request that one or more assays are to be performed on one or more biological samples and wherein the main workflow engine is configured to receive and process data for each of the multiple automated analyzers having multiple modules;
• providing a data snapshot to the at least one shadow workflow engine associated with a subset of one or more modules of the multiple modules, wherein the data snapshot includes only a portion of the data related to the plurality of orders that is necessary to determine actions of the module of the multiple modules;
• and
• determining, by the at least one shadow workflow engine, a plurality of actions for the subset of modules to process the plurality of orders based on the data snapshot, wherein the shadow workflow engine is configured to assume the role of the main workflow engine for a limited amount of time, and/or wherein the main workflow engine is configured to determine the plurality of actions for the subset of modules to process the plurality of orders at the subset of modules in response to a failure at the shadow workflow engine, and
• wherein the shadow workflow engine is not configured to edit rules for each of the multiple automated analyzers having multiple modules.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a computer system prompt the computer system to execute steps of:

• receiving data related to a plurality of orders for processing biological samples at the main workflow engine, wherein each order is a request that one or more assays are to be performed on one or more biological samples and wherein the main workflow engine is configured to receive and process data for each of the multiple automated analyzers having multiple modules;
• providing a data snapshot to the at least one shadow workflow engine associated with a subset of one or more modules of the multiple modules, wherein the data snapshot includes only a portion of the data related to the plurality of orders that is necessary to determine actions of the module of the multiple modules;
• and
• determining, by the at least one shadow workflow engine, a plurality of actions for the subset of modules to process the plurality of orders based on the data snapshot, wherein the shadow workflow engine is configured to assume the role of the main workflow engine for a limited amount of time, and/or wherein the main workflow engine is configured to determine the plurality of actions for the subset of modules to process the plurality of orders at the subset of modules in response to a failure at the shadow workflow engine, and
• wherein the shadow workflow engine is not configured to edit rules for each of the multiple automated analyzers having multiple modules.