Distributed analysis x-ray inspection methods and systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for inspecting cargo, wherein the cargo is associated with descriptive information about the cargo, comprising:
- scanning the cargo, at a first location, wherein the first location comprises;
at least one X-ray inspection system for performing an X-ray scan, wherein the at least one X-ray inspection system is configured to generate data representative of one or more X-ray scan images from the X-ray scan;
a server configured to receive the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images;
transmitting, using the server at the first location, at least a portion of the data representative of the X-ray scan images to a second location remote from the first location, wherein the second location comprises at least one computing device that is in communication with said first location via a network;
receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images;
receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, data representative of the descriptive information about the cargo;
determining two or more cargo codes using the descriptive information about the cargo;
analyzing, using the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images to determine whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo; and
generating, using the at least one computing device at the second location, a status based on whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo.
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Abstract
The present specification discloses systems and methods for integrating manifest data for cargo and light vehicles with their X-ray images generated during scanning. Manifest data is automatically imported into the system for each shipment, and helps the security personnel to quickly determine the contents of cargo. In case of a mismatch between cargo contents shown by manifest data and the X-ray images, the cargo may be withheld for further inspection. In one embodiment, the process of analyzing the X-ray image of the cargo in conjunction with the manifest data is automated.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting cargo, wherein the cargo is associated with descriptive information about the cargo, comprising:
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scanning the cargo, at a first location, wherein the first location comprises; at least one X-ray inspection system for performing an X-ray scan, wherein the at least one X-ray inspection system is configured to generate data representative of one or more X-ray scan images from the X-ray scan; a server configured to receive the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; transmitting, using the server at the first location, at least a portion of the data representative of the X-ray scan images to a second location remote from the first location, wherein the second location comprises at least one computing device that is in communication with said first location via a network; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, data representative of the descriptive information about the cargo; determining two or more cargo codes using the descriptive information about the cargo; analyzing, using the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images to determine whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo; and generating, using the at least one computing device at the second location, a status based on whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for inspecting cargo, wherein the cargo is associated with descriptive information about the cargo, comprising:
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scanning the cargo, at a first location, wherein the first location comprises; at least one X-ray inspection system for performing an X-ray scan, wherein the at least one X-ray inspection system is configured to generate data representative of one or more X-ray scan images from the X-ray scan; a server configured to receive the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; transmitting, using the server at the first location, at least a portion of the data representative of the X-ray scan images to a second location remote from the first location, wherein the second location comprises at least one computing device that is in communication with said first location via a network; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, data representative of the descriptive information about the cargo; using the at least one computing device at the second location, applying a threat detection process, wherein the threat detection process is adapted to generate a first map configured to mask background attenuation in at least a portion of the one or more X-ray scan images; analyzing, using the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images to determine whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo; and generating, using the at least one computing device at the second location, a status based on whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for inspecting cargo, wherein the cargo is associated with descriptive information about the cargo, comprising:
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scanning the cargo, at a first location, wherein the first location comprises; at least one X-ray inspection system for performing an X-ray scan, wherein the at least one X-ray inspection system is configured to generate data representative of one or more X-ray scan images from the X-ray scan; a server configured to receive the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; transmitting, using the server at the first location, at least a portion of the data representative of the X-ray scan images to a second location remote from the first location, wherein the second location comprises at least one computing device that is in communication with said first location via a network; routing, using the server, the at least the portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images to the at least one computing device at the second location based on an inspection queue length and a contention time; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, data representative of the descriptive information about the cargo; analyzing, using the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images to determine whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo; and generating, using the at least one computing device at the second location, a status based on whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo.
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22. A method for inspecting cargo, wherein the cargo is associated with descriptive information about the cargo, comprising:
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scanning the cargo, at a first location, wherein the first location comprises; at least one X-ray inspection system for performing an X-ray scan, wherein the at least one X-ray inspection system is configured to generate data representative of one or more X-ray scan images from the X-ray scan; a server configured to receive the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; transmitting, using the server at the first location, at least a portion of the data representative of the X-ray scan images to a second location remote from the first location, wherein the second location comprises at least one computing device that is in communication with said first location via a network; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images; receiving, at the at least one computing device at the second location, data representative of the descriptive information about the cargo; using the at least one computing device at the second location, generating a first map configured to mask background attenuation in at least a portion of the one or more X-ray scan images and a second map configured to highlight regions in the one or more X-ray scan images that represent potential threats; analyzing, using the at least one computing device at the second location, the at least a portion of the data representative of the one or more X-ray scan images to determine whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo; and generating, using the at least one computing device at the second location, a status based on whether the cargo sufficiently corresponds to the descriptive information about the cargo. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification