System and method for remote navigation of a specimen

1. A method of providing remote navigation of a specimen, comprising:

receiving a command to remotely control a microscope and a camera coupled with the microscope to view a portion of a specimen disposed on the microscope;

capturing a digital image of the portion of the specimen with the camera in response to the command;

using a processor to represent the digital image as a plurality of digital image components, each of the digital image components providing a different level of detail of the image; and

transmitting the components in sequential order of increasing level of detail from least detailed to most detailed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microscope comprises a stage, and wherein the specimen is disposed on the stage.

3. A system providing remote navigation of a specimen, comprising a processor that executes instructions and thereby causes the processor to:

receive a command to remotely control a microscope and a camera coupled with the microscope to view a portion of a specimen disposed on the microscope;

capture a digital image of the portion of the specimen with the camera in response to the command;

represent the image as a plurality of digital image components, each of the digital image components providing a different level of detail of the image; and

transmit the components in sequential order of increasing level of detail from least detailed to most detailed.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the microscope comprises a stage, and wherein the specimen is disposed on the stage.