Abstract: A lab system configures robots to performs protocols in labs. A lab system generates an interface including a representation of lab systems within a lab associated with a schedule of tasks. Each task associated with a pre-scheduled assay. A lab system receives, from a user via the interface, a workflow path through the lab for an assay. The workflow path is associated with an ordered subset of the lab systems used in the performance of the assay. A lab system converts the received workflow into a set of lab system tasks required to perform the assay. Each of the subset of lab systems is associated with a subset of lab system tasks. A lab system modifies the schedule of tasks to include the set of lab system tasks by optimizing a combination of the set of lab system tasks and the tasks associated with pre-scheduled assays.

Abstract: A method for configuring a communication link between a first node in a first of at least two networks and a second node in a second of at least two networks, wherein at least one of the first and second nodes is an automatable industrial device or an automatable industrial system, or a controller thereof. The at least two networks each individually form a homogeneous address space, but do not together form a homogeneous address space. A call is transmitted to configure the communication link between the first and second nodes, the call having routing path information specifying the routing path from the first node to the second node. The routing path information includes at least one identifier of each network or nodes to be traversed along the routing path, but not necessarily an identifier of the first network. The communication link is configured between the first and second nodes based on the routing path information.

Abstract: A method for configuring a communication link between a first node in a first of at least two networks and a second node in a second of at least two networks, wherein at least one of the first and second nodes is an automatable industrial device or an automatable industrial system, or a controller thereof. The at least two networks each individually form a homogeneous address space, but do not together form a homogeneous address space. A call is transmitted to configure the communication link between the first and second nodes, the call having routing path information specifying the routing path from the first node to the second node. The routing path information includes at least one identifier of each network or nodes to be traversed along the routing path, but not necessarily an identifier of the first network. The communication link is configured between the first and second nodes based on the routing path information.