User-Populated Online Repository of Science Protocols

Abstract

Systems, apparatus and methods are provided to maintain a user-populated online repository of science protocols. A user may create a science protocol by inputting information relating to one or more steps of an experiment. The created science protocol may be stored in the protocol database. A user may search the protocol database using a navigable menu for accessing a plurality of application functionalities associated with the protocol database. Based on the search, a user may be able to retrieve and download the created science protocol. The user may be able to modify and/or annotate the created science protocol. The modified and/or annotated science protocol may be stored in the protocol database as a modified and/or annotated version of the created science protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing a web-based repository of science protocols, the system comprising:
 a repository apparatus configured to execute a protocol management application that includes a plurality of application functionalities, the application functionalities including
 a user registration function to register a user, 
 a protocol submission function to register a specific protocol in a protocol database, and 
 a protocol search function to search the protocol database based on specified keywords and search options, 
   the repository apparatus including a web interface part configured to provide a user with a navigable menu for accessing the plurality of application functionalities; and   an application user interface apparatus configured to communicate with the protocol management application, the application user interface apparatus including a processor and a non-transitory storage medium embodying instructions executable by the processor to configure the application user interface apparatus to include:
 a creation part configured to provide a protocol creation user interface, receive a series of user inputs entered by the user through the protocol creation user interface, create a new protocol based on the series of user inputs, and add the new protocol to a local protocol database; 
 a modification part configured to provide a protocol modification user interface, receive a user selection of a specific protocol of the plurality of protocols and a series of user inputs entered by the user through the protocol modification user interface, and modifying the specific protocol based on the series of user inputs; 
 an output part configured to provide a protocol output user interface, receive a user selection of a specific protocol of the plurality of protocols and a destination specified by the user, and outputting the specific protocol to the specified destination; and 
 a download part configured to allow the user to (i) download a protocol from the protocol database by communicating with the repository apparatus or (ii) import a protocol from a text file or e-mail. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the search options selectable by the user include at least one of reagents, a type of protocol and a scientific domain. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the application functionalities further include:
 a vote function to either increase a score of a specified protocol in a case that the user votes up the specified protocol or decrease the score of the specified protocol in a case that the user votes down the specified protocol;   a share function to output the specified protocol to an output destination specified by the user;   a spam-flag function to increase a spam score of the specified protocol in a case that the user marks the specified protocol as spam, and to hide the specified protocol in a case that the spam score exceeds a predetermined value; and   a notification function to output a notification to each user who has downloaded the specified protocol, when the specified protocol is modified by an author or another user of the specified protocol.   
     
     
         4 . A protocol management apparatus including a processor and a non-transitory storage medium embodying instructions executable by the processor to configure the protocol management apparatus to include:
 a creation part configured to provide a protocol creation user interface, receive a series of user inputs entered by the user through the protocol creation user interface, create a new protocol based on the series of user inputs, and add the new protocol to a local protocol database;   a modification part configured to provide a protocol modification user interface, receive a user selection of a specific protocol of the plurality of protocols and a series of user inputs entered by the user through the protocol modification user interface, and modifying the specific protocol based on the series of user inputs;   an output part configured to provide a protocol output user interface, receive a user selection of a specific protocol of the plurality of protocols and a destination specified by the user, and outputting the specific protocol to the specified destination; and   a display part configured to display to the user a list of the plurality of protocols stored in the local protocol database.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the protocol creation user interface allows the user to create a new protocol by inputting one step at a time, each step including at least one of a sequential step number, a step name, a duration, a reagent, an amount, a description, a warning or reminder. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the text file is a comma-separated values (CSV) file. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the display part displays a navigable menu including a plurality of menu items, each menu item including either a list of one or more protocols stored in the local protocol database or another navigable menu. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the protocol modification user interface provides the user with a text field for receiving an annotation for a specified step of the specified protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein when the display part receives a user selection of a specific protocol, the display part displays the protocol to the user, including each step of the protocol and annotations corresponding to said each step. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a lab device interface part configured to communicate step-specific settings to a lab device to automatically configure the lab device based on the step-specific settings. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a lab device interface part configured to communicate with a lab device to ensure operations of the lab device complies with a particular step in a protocol,
 wherein, in a case that the operations of the lab device deviates from said particular step, the lab device interface part causes a warning message to be displayed on the protocol management apparatus, indicating that he operations of the lab device has deviated from said particular step.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a lab device interface part configured to communicate with a lab device to monitor a status of the lab device,
 wherein, when the status of the lab device is changed, the lab device interface part causes a message to be displayed on the protocol management apparatus, indicating that the status of the lab device has been changed.