Supporting remote analysis

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a server from a handheld measurement device, infrared absorption information for a sample;

processing the infrared absorption information for the sample to determine an identity of the sample;

generating a reference signature for the identified sample; and

distributing the reference signature for the identified sample to a plurality of additional handheld measurement devices via cellular connections between the server and the plurality of additional handheld measurement devices.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, via a cellular network an identification of a substance from a portable measurement device;

accessing information stored on the computing device to identify one or more end devices associated with the measurement device or the identified substance; and

distributing the identification of the substance to the one or more identified end devices.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein accessing the information stored on the computing device comprises accessing one or more telephone numbers.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein distributing the identification of the substance comprises sending a text message from the computing device to a cellular telephone.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein distributing the identification of the substance comprises sending an electronic mail message from the computing device to another computing device, the electronic mail message including the identification of the substance.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting the identification of the substance from the portable measurement device to the computing device via a cellular network.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more end devices are selected based on the identity of the substance.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the signature comprises distributing the signature to a set of handheld devices included in a distribution list.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein distributing the signature comprises automatically distributing the signature.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating signature libraries on the plurality of additional handheld measurement devices to include the signature received from the server.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the infrared absorption information for the sample comprises receiving the infrared absorption information for the sample via a cellular connection between the handheld measurement device and the server.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining one or more signatures stored in a central signature library that are not included in a device signature library on a handheld measurement assembly configured to generate optical spectrum information about a sample;

selecting at least one signature from the determined one or more signatures to deliver to the handheld measurement assembly; and

sending, via a cellular connection, the selected at least one signature to the handheld measurement assembly from the central signature library.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising updating the device signature library to include the selected one or more signatures.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising providing, via a user interface, a list of signatures stored in a central signature library that are not included in the device signature library.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein selecting one or more signatures from the determined one or more signatures to deliver to the handheld measurement assembly comprises receiving from a use a selection of the one or more signatures from the list of signatures.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving an update request from the handheld measurement assembly.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining signatures in a device signature library that are not included in the central signature library; and

updating the central signature library to include the determined signatures.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising receiving, from the handheld measurement assembly, one or more signatures; and

updating the central signature library to include the one or more signatures.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein providing the list of signatures comprises providing a list of signatures based at least in part on a user group associated with the handheld measurement assembly.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, from one or more handheld measurement assemblies configured to generate optical spectrum information about a sample, identification information for a plurality of samples and location information, the location information indicating where measurements associated with the plurality of samples were performed;

generating, using a computer system, a map including the identification information where the identification information is displayed as a function of location based on the location information; and

displaying the map on a user interface.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising receiving time stamp information indicating when the measurement was performed.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the map displays the identification information as a function of both time and location.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising determining the location information using a GPS unit included in the handheld measurement assembly.