Methods, mediums, and systems for accessing analytical chemistry systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12483885-B2
Application number	US-202218052311-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2022
Priority date	Nov 4, 2021
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provides computer-implemented methods, mediums, and apparatuses configured to perform a secure log in and log out of an analytical chemistry system. In one embodiment, a kiosk associated with the analytical chemistry system may receive a request for access on behalf of a user. The analytical chemistry system may be associated with an audit record storing information about an analytical workflow for processing a sample. The user may obtain a security token by logging into a credentialing application. Upon successfully logging in the user's device may be provided with the security token, which may then be exchanged between the kiosk and a mobile device associated with the user. The security token may be validated, and the user may be permitted access to the analytical chemistry system. The audit record may be updated to include a login action that includes an identity of the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, at a kiosk associated with an analytical chemistry system, a request to access the analytical chemistry system on behalf of a user, the analytical chemistry system comprising an instrument configured to perform one or more of liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry, wherein the analytical chemistry system is associated with an audit record storing information about an analytical workflow for processing a sample by the analytical chemistry system; prompting for the user to transmit a security token to the kiosk; exchanging the security token between the kiosk and a mobile device associated with the user via a short-range communication; verifying a validity of the security token; permitting access to the analytical chemistry system based on the authenticating; and updating the audit record to include a login action that includes an identity of the user.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the audit record is a record in an audit trail that complies with a regulatory or scientific standard.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the security token is provided to the mobile device in response to the user successfully logging into a credentialing application on the mobile device.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein logging into the credentialing application comprises:
receiving a user name and password from the user; authenticating the user name and password; and providing the security token in response to authenticating the user name and password.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the security token is a data structure and the short range communication comprises receiving a contactless transmission of the data structure from the mobile device.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the security token is a visible code and the short-range communication comprises scanning the visible code from a display of the mobile device using an image sensor.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request to log out of the analytical chemistry system; prompting for the user's security token; exchanging a the security token between the kiosk and the mobile device; logging the user out of the analytical chemistry system; and updating the audit record to include a logout action that includes the identity of the user.

8 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
receive, at a kiosk associated with an analytical chemistry system, a request to access the analytical chemistry system on behalf of a user, the analytical chemistry system comprising an instrument configured to perform one or more of liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry, wherein the analytical chemistry system is associated with an audit record storing information about an analytical workflow for processing a sample by the analytical chemistry system; prompt for the user to transmit a security token to the kiosk; exchange the security token between the kiosk and a mobile device associated with the user via a short-range communication; verify a validity of the security token; permit access to the analytical chemistry system based on the authenticating; and update the audit record to include a login action that includes an identity of the user.

9 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the audit record is a record in an audit trail that complies with a regulatory or scientific standard.

10 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the security token is provided to the mobile device in response to the user successfully log into a credentialing application on the mobile device.

11 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein logging into the credentialing application comprises:
receive a user name and password from the user; authenticate the user name and password; and provide the security token in response to authenticating the user name and password.

12 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the security token is a data structure and the short range communication comprises receive a contactless transmission of the data structure from the mobile device.

13 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the security token is a visible code and the short-range communication comprises scan the visible code from a display of the mobile device using an image sensor.

14 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further configure the computer to:
receive a request to log out of the analytical chemistry system; prompt for the user's security token; exchange a the security token between the kiosk and the mobile device; log the user out of the analytical chemistry system; and update the audit record to include a logout action that includes the identity of the user.

15 . A computing apparatus comprising:
a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to:
receive, at a kiosk associated with an analytical chemistry system, a request to access the analytical chemistry system on behalf of a user, the analytical chemistry system comprising an instrument configured to perform one or more of liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry, wherein the analytical chemistry system is associated with an audit record storing information about an analytical workflow for processing a sample by the analytical chemistry system;
prompt for the user to transmit a security token to the kiosk;
exchange the security token between the kiosk and a mobile device associated with the user via a short-range communication;
verify a validity of the security token;
permit access to the analytical chemistry system based on the authenticating; and
update the audit record to include a login action that includes an identity of the user.

16 . The computing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the audit record is a record in an audit trail that complies with a regulatory or scientific standard.

17 . The computing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the security token is provided to the mobile device in response to the user successfully log into a credentialing application on the mobile device.

18 . The computing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the security token is a data structure and the short range communication comprises receive a contactless transmission of the data structure from the mobile device.

19 . The computing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the security token is a visible code and the short-range communication comprises scan the visible code from a display of the mobile device using an image sensor.

20 . The computing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further configure the apparatus to:
receive a request to log out of the analytical chemistry system; prompt for the user's security token; exchange a the security token between the kiosk and the mobile device; log the user out of the analytical chemistry system; and update the audit record to include a logout action that includes the identity of the user.

Assignees

• Waters Technologies Ireland Ltd

Inventors

• Shawish Fadi
• Threlfall Richard S
• Payne Stephen

Classifications

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• G06F21/1078

  Logging; Metering · CPC title

• H04L63/0492

  by using a location-limited connection, e.g. near-field communication or limited proximity of entities · CPC title

• H04L63/101

  Access control lists [ACL] · CPC title

• H04L63/083

  using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226) · CPC title