Methods and systems for cloud- and mobile device-based biological inventory tracking

A computer program product, said computer program product comprising a non-transitory code that when executed by a processor of a mobile device, performs a method, the method comprising:

• determining information including identifying information and physical attribute information with the mobile device about a specimen sample within a specimen container by capturing an image of the specimen sample container using the mobile device, wherein the captured image includes an identifying indicia on a container,
• wherein the mobile device is configured to determine the identifying information by interacting with the identifying indicia;
• uploading and causing to store the information in an encrypted format accessible to authorized and verified users;
• wherein the physical attribute information of the specimen sample is compared with an expected physical attribute that is associated with the identifying indicia,
• wherein the actual determined attribute is determined by the mobile device or an external server based on an analysis of the captured image of the specimen sample;
• wherein an acceptability of the captured image is determined by the mobile device or the external server based on the comparison,
• wherein tracking and status updates are provided in real-time or near real-time for the specimen sample;
• and
• wherein first notifications or reminders regarding the specimen sample are received by the mobile device at a time after determining information about the specimen sample.

A server having a processor and a memory, the server configured for:

• receiving information from a mobile device about a specimen sample within a specimen container, wherein the information includes identifying information and physical attribute information about a sample from a captured image of the specimen sample container,
• wherein the captured image includes an identifying indicia on the container,
• wherein the identifying information is determined by interaction of the mobile device with the identifying indicia,
• wherein the physical attribute information of the specimen sample is compared by the mobile device or the server with an expected physical attribute that is associated with the identifying indicia,
• wherein the actual determined attribute is determined by the mobile device or the server based on an analysis of the captured image of the specimen sample;
• wherein a validity of the captured image is determined based on the comparison;
• receiving uploaded and stored information in an encrypted format accessible to authorized and verified users;
• determining at least one physical attribute of the specimen sample based on the information;
• providing tracking and status information in real-time or near real-time for the specimen sample;
• and
• providing notifications or reminders regarding the specimen sample to the mobile device.

A method comprising:

• capturing, with an imager of a mobile device, an image containing identifying indicia on a container containing a specimen sample;
• determining, with the mobile device, an identification of a specimen sample based on the identifying indicia in the captured image;
• determining, with the mobile device, a characteristic of the specimen sample in the container that is in addition to the identification determined from the identifying indicia;
• comparing, with the mobile device, the characteristic of the specimen sample with an expected characteristic that is based on the determined identification of the specimen sample;
• determining, with the mobile device, a validity of the captured image based on the comparison;
• uploading and causing to store, with the mobile device, the information in an encrypted format accessible to authorized and verified users;
• wherein tracking and status updates are provided in real-time or near real-time for the specimen sample;
• and
• wherein first notifications or reminders regarding the specimen sample are received by the mobile device at a time after determining information about the specimen sample.