Timeline system for monitoring a culture media protocol

1. A system for providing a timeline representing a culture media protocol for a culture media, the system comprising:

a computer system comprising:

a user interface configured to display the timeline and a field for optional display of a culture media image; and

a processor configured to:

receive the culture media protocol for the culture media;

generate the timeline on the user interface based on the culture media protocol;

monitor time on the timeline;

receive one or more culture media images related to the culture media protocol;

associate each of the one or more culture media images with a position on the timeline that correlates to a time at which the culture media image was captured; and

generate and display a selectable marker for each culture media image associated with the timeline, the selectable marker being aligned with the position on the timeline that correlates to the time at which the culture media image was captured.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a selection of one of the selectable markers; and

display the culture media image associated with the selected marker.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an incubation system comprising:

an incubator housing at least one culture media having a plurality of microorganisms; and

an imaging device configured to capture an image of the at least one culture media.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the culture media protocol comprises one or more intended times for capturing a culture media image, wherein the computer system is configured to transmit instructions to the imaging device to capture a culture media image at each of the intended times for capturing a culture media image.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a plurality of culture media images related to the culture media protocol;

receive instructions to initiate an animation mode; and

generate a video of the plurality of culture media images, wherein the plurality of culture media images are presented in chronological order based on the times at which the plurality of culture media images were captured.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a plurality of culture media images related to the culture media protocol;

detect one or more reference points on the culture media based on the plurality of culture media images; and

orient each culture media image such that the one or more reference points are in the same position in each culture media image.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the timeline provides a relative timescale for the culture media protocol in which an expected duration of time for the culture media protocol is correlated to a length of the timeline.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to modify the timeline in response to an unexpected culture media protocol event.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the culture media protocol comprises one or more expected times for a culture media image to be captured, wherein the processor is configured to generate a marker on the timeline for each expected time for a culture media image to be captured.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to update the timeline in response to the occurrence of a culture media protocol event in real time or near real time.

11. A method for providing a timeline representing a culture media protocol for a culture media, the method comprising:

receiving the culture media protocol for the culture media;

generating the timeline on a user interface based on the culture media protocol;

monitoring time on the timeline;

receiving one or more culture media images related to the culture media protocol;

associating each of the one or more culture media images with a position on the timeline that correlates to a time at which the culture media image was captured; and

generating a selectable marker for each culture media image associated with the timeline, the selectable marker being aligned with the position on the timeline that correlates to the time at which the culture media image was captured.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of the selectable markers; and

displaying the culture media image associated with the selected marker.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising an incubation system comprising capturing an image of the culture media using an imaging device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the culture media protocol comprises one or more intended times for capturing a culture media image, wherein the method further comprises transmitting instructions to the imaging device to capture a culture media image at each of the intended times for capturing a culture media image.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a plurality of culture media images related to the culture media protocol;

receiving instructions to initiate an animation mode; and

generating a video of the plurality of culture media images, wherein the plurality of culture media images are presented in chronological order based on the times at which the plurality of culture media images were captured.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a plurality of culture media images related to the culture media protocol;

detecting one or more reference points on the culture media based on the plurality of culture media images; and

orienting each culture media image such that the one or more reference points are in the same position in each culture media image.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the timeline provides a relative timescale for the culture media protocol in which an expected duration of time for the culture media protocol is correlated to a length of the timeline.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising modifying the timeline in response to an unexpected culture media protocol event.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the culture media protocol comprises one or more expected times for a culture media image to be captured, wherein the method further comprises generating a marker on the timeline for each expected time for a culture media image to be captured.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising updating the timeline in response to the occurrence of a culture media protocol event in real time or near real time.