An apparatus and method for simultaneous channel and optical signal-to-noise ratio monitoring is adapted to function in multi-channel wavelength-division-multiplexed optical communication systems. This invention provides automated devices and automated methods of sequentially treating a biological sample with processing fluids in more than one washing basin. Preferably, a timer mechanism is provided to adjust the amount of water discharged into the body of water. The method also includes transporting the payload string within the input message to the service application, decoding the payload string to yield the serialized payload data, and deserializing the serialized payload data to restore the COS representing the parameters of the API call. In another example, a fallback access scheme allows the UE to designate the first base station as inaccessible and communicate with other base stations.