Interoperating remote laboratory management systems (RLMSs) for more efficient sharing of laboratory resources

• Published in: Computer standards and interfaces 2016-01, Vol.43, p.21-29
• Main Authors: Lowe, David, Yeung, Herbert, Tawfik, Mohamed, Sancristobal, Elio, Castro, Manuel, Orduña, Pablo, Richter, Thomas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Distance learning; Interfaces; Services architectures; Standards and interoperability
• ISSN: 0920-5489; 1872-7018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.csi.2015.07.004

In this paper we propose a novel Application Programming Interface (API) design pattern for inter-communication between Remote Laboratory Management Systems (RLMSs) accommodating different levels of functional support and thereby allowing more efficient sharing of laboratory resources regardless of their hosting RLMS. Afterwards, we present initial results and demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this pattern by developing an API for two common RLMSs, Sahara and the iLab shared Architecture (ISA). As a result, users logging into a Sahara server managed to access and manipulate a radio-activity experiment hosted on an ISA server. •We address the benefits of remote laboratories and Remote Laboratory Management Systems (RLMSs).•We shed light on a major obstacle in RLMSs development.•We address this issue and propose a novel Application Programming Interface (API) design pattern.•We explain the capabilities of the proposed pattern using an illustrative case study scenario.•We adopt the proposed standard to create an API for inter-communicating the two common RLMSs SAHARA and ISA.