Security screening system and method

• US 20060098842A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael C. Levine
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Levine
• Inventors: Levine, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,233,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

A method and system of security screening of packages before packages are shipped by a commercial shipper. The method and system compares the configuration of the contents of the package when it is packed to the configuration of the contents of the package just prior to placement of the package on a commercial carrier. A first image of the configuration of the contents of the package is created when the package is packed. A second image of the configuration of the contents of the package is created by scanning the package at the shipping station. The images are compared to determine whether the images are the same within preset parameters. The package is segregated if the image differs beyond a preset amount.

Claims

1. A method for security screening a package, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a package having initial contents;

(b) providing a first image of the package showing the initial contents;

(c) sending the package to a shipping station to be shipped;

(d) scanning the package;

(e) creating a second image of the package showing the shipping contents;

(f) comparing the second image with the first image; and

(g) segregating the package if the second image differs at least a predetermined amount from the first image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (a), an optimal packing configuration of the initial contents is determined using an optimal packing method and system and wherein the initial contents are packed in the package using the optimal packing configuration.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein in step (b), the optimal packing method and system creates the first image based on the optimal packing configuration.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image is a three-dimensional image.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image contains multiple views.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (b), the first image is stored as a three-dimensional bar code which is affixed to the package.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the three-dimensional bar code contains other information such as package destination, package size and package weight.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (f), the first image and the second image are compared using a computer program having pattern recognition features.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein in step (f), the first image and the second image are visually compared.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (f), if the second image differs from the first image less than the predetermined amount, the package is shipped.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (b), the first image is stored in a database spaced apart from the package and the package is provided with a tracking number and wherein in step (f), the tracking number is used to retrieve the first image from the database.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image is created when the initial contents are packed into the package.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first image shows a configuration of the initial contents of the package and the second image shows a configuration of the shipping contents of the package and wherein in step (f), the configuration of the initial contents of the package is compared with the configuration of the shipping contents of the package.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein a CT scanner is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the CT scanner.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein an X-ray machine is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the X-ray machine.

16. A method for security screening a package, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a package having initial contents;

(b) providing a first image of the initial contents of the package;

(c) storing the first image in a storage media;

(d) sending the package to a place to be shipped;

(e) scanning the package;

(f) creating a second image of the shipping contents of the package;

(g) retrieving the first image from the storage media;

(h) comparing the second image and the first image; and

(i) segregating the package if the second image differs a predetermined amount from the first image.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (a), an optimal packing configuration of the initial contents is determined using an optimal packing method and system and wherein the initial contents are packed in the package using the optimal packing configuration.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein in step (b), the first image is created based on the optimal packing configuration.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image and the second image are three-dimensional images.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image and the second image contain multiple views.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (b), the storage media is a three-dimensional bar code which is affixed to the package.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the three-dimensional bar code contains other information such as package destination, package size and package weight.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (g), the first image and the second image are compared using a computer program having pattern recognition features.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein in step (g), the first image and the second image are visually compared.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein after step (g), if the second image differs from the first image less than the predetermined amount, then the package is shipped.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein after step (b), the storage media is a database spaced apart from the package and the package is provided with a tracking number and wherein in step (f), the tracking number is used to retrieve the first image from the database.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image is created when the initial contents are packed in the package.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the first image shows a configuration of the initial contents of the package and the second image shows a configuration of the shipping contents of the package and wherein in step (g), the configuration of the initial contents of the package is compared with the configuration of the shipping contents of the package.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein a CT scanner is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the CT scanner.

30. The method of claim 16 wherein an X-ray machine is provided at the shipping station and wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the X-ray machine.

31. A method for security screening a package, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing a first image of a configuration of initial contents of the package;

(b) storing the first image in a storage media;

(c) sending the package to a shipping station;

(d) scanning the package prior to departure of the package from the shipping station;

(e) creating a second image of a configuration of the shipping contents of the package;

(f) retrieving the first image from the storage media;

(g) comparing the second image to the first image; and

(h) segregating the package if the second image differs at least a predetermined amount from the first image.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein in step (a), the first image is created when the initial contents of the package are packed in the package using an optimal packing method and system.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein a scanner connected to a computer system having pattern recognition software is provided, wherein in step (d), the package is scanned using the scanner and the second image is stored in the computer system, wherein, in step (f), the first image is retrieved and stored in the computer system and wherein in step (g), the second image and the first image are compared using the pattern recognition software of the computer system.

34. A system for security screening a package, which comprises:

(a) a first computer system having a first computer program for;

(i) creating and storing a first image of a configuration of the initial contents of the package;

(b) a scanner for scanning the package to determine a configuration of the shipping contents of the package and for creating a second image of the configuration of the shipping contents of the package prior to loading of the package onto a commercial vehicle; and

(c) a means for comparing the first image to the second image to determine whether the configuration of the initial contents of the package is essentially similar to the configuration of the shipping contents of the package.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the means for comparing the first image to the second image is a second computer system having pattern recognition software.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the means for comparing the first image to the second image is visual comparison.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein the scanner is a three-dimensional scanner.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein the first image is stored in a three-dimensional bar code affixed to the package.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein a bar code reader is provided to retrieve information stored in the bar code.

40. The system of claim 34 wherein the first computer program encrypts the first image before storing the first image.

41. The system of claim 34 wherein the first computer program stores other information such as package size, package weight, package contents and package destination with the first image.

42. The system of claim 34 wherein the first computer system includes an optimal packing computer program which determines an optimal packing configuration for the initial contents of the package and wherein the first computer system creates the first image using data generated by the optimal packing computer program.