Method and system for viewing chromatographic peaks over a network

#The present invention relates to a method and system of publishing datafile and metafile images, as well as information relevant to those images, over a network, particularly one using Internet or intranet technology.

#Chemists and other scientists frequently use analytical laboratory data in the form of chromatograms and fragmentograms generated by gas chromatography (GC) or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) instruments. Such scientists have a need to view GC and GC-MS data via the Internet from their personal computers. It is known in the art that a GC or GC-MS trace can be converted to web-compatible graphic files such as JPEG or GIF formats. However, in doing so, the trace becomes a static image and loses resolution when zooming or stretching operations are performed. To overcome these drawbacks, programmers have used Java Applets in order to provide interactivity. However, issues related to Internet security have led to the installation of firewalls, most of which prohibit the downloading and execution of Java applications.

#The present invention uses server application technology and JavaScript to allow a user to view GC or GC-MS traces interactively, without downloading or running any application other than the web browser. The method publishes datafile and metafile images and relevant information over a network, using Internet or intranet technology.

#FIG. 1 depicts a simplified block diagram of the components suitable for practicing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart diagram illustrating the process steps of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a representation of a page displaying a list of samples a geochemist may use for selecting data.

#In the embodiment described herein, the user can be coupled over a network's setting or can access the server remotely via an Internet connection. In both cases, the connection operates using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

#As shown in FIG. 1, a scientist can “use” the peak viewing program of the present invention by operating a client computer 10 to open a website with the browser 11; he clicks on a link to send information over the network connection 12 to the server 13 using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The information, which is processed using Visual Basic and Active Server Pages, relates to GC and GC-MS data in the datafile storage 14. The server 13 uses Chromview.exe 15 to generate a metafile of the selected datafile, then MetaConverts converts the metafile to a .PNG file, then a Chromview and MetaConverter generate a larger image of the file over the browser 11, along with other information. Since Chromview and MetaConverter (hereinafter simply referred to as Chromview) operate on the server 13, the user does not need to download or operate any software.

#As the flowchart of FIG. 2 shows, at 21, the browser opens a website showing chromatographic information of interest to the user. Links on the page are associated with the peaks of different chromatograms in the datafile. The user clicks on a list, and, at 22, information is sent to the server and processed suing Visual Basic and Active Server Pages. Chromview is activated and, at 23, chromatographic peaks and related information are sent to the website and displayed to the user. At 24, the user may select new start/end times and/or amplitudes for the peaks. That information, again at 22, is sent to the server and processed, Chromview is activated, and, at 23, new chromatographic peaks and related information are displayed to the user. At 25, when GC-MS data is sought, one or more ions may be selected for viewing, or peak/baseline labels may be added for either GC or GC-MS data, and, at 22, the information is sent to the server 13 and processed, Chromview is activated, and, at 23, new chromatographic peaks and related information are displayed to the user.