LISA System Architecture

LISA is based on a multi-tier database management system. Information stored in the database is made available to network clients through the tiers built into and around the relational database management system (RDBMS). Every operation - like reading of and modifications to data - in the RDBMS is carried out through uniquely identified user accounts. All data modification operations are automatically logged.

There are two major additional stores in the central base besides the RDBMS. One contains the user definable Excel ’calculation engines’, the other is the central repository of test reports (both under construc-tion and finalized versions), the so-called ”Archives”.

Client program modules are Win-32 based applications that can be copied and installed on each client machi-ne or can be stored and used from a central file share. Each module resides in a separate file and can be launched independently or from the LISA desktop launcher. Together with LISA’s user rights subsystem this allows for customized work environment for the users.

Background calculations on calibration and raw data, test results are carried out by user definable Microsoft Excel calculation engines. Test reports are generated in Rich Text Format (RTF) that can be further edited, modified using any RTF compatible word processor, like Microsoft Word.

The customer information service module is an HTML (dynamic Web Server) based query system. Information is available about on-going and completed projects or individual samples. Customers may reach LISA’s customer services through direct dial-in connections (modem, modem pool) or through a permanent Internet link, if the Laboratory has one.