Security enhanced blasting apparatus, and method of blasting
First Claim
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1. A blasting apparatus for use by a blast operator to control at least one detonator at a blast site, the blasting apparatus comprising:
- at least one blasting machine for transmitting at least one command signal to said at least one detonator;
at least one biometric analyzer for recording information regarding at least one biometric feature of a candidate blast operator;
a blast authorizing means, for receiving and processing said information to generate a test biometric signature, and comparing said test biometric signature with known biometric signatures to determine whether said test biometric signature is derived from an authorized blast operator or an unauthorized blast operator;
said blasting apparatus maintaining or adopting an active state suitable for actuation of said at least one detonator if said test biometric signature and at least one known biometric signature from an authorized blast operator correspond;
said blasting apparatus maintaining or adopting an inactive state unsuitable for actuation of said at least one detonator if said test biometric signature and at least one known biometric signature derived from an unauthorized blast operator correspond;
or said blasting apparatus maintaining or adopting an inactive state unsuitable for actuation of said at least one detonator if said test biometric signature and none of said known biometric signatures correspond.
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Abstract
Blasting apparatuses are disclosed that include enhanced security features, including biometric analysis of specific biological features of a candidate blast operator, thereby to generate a biometric signature. Other corresponding methods relate to cross-referencing of biometric signatures between components of the blasting system. Additional security features of the blasting apparatuses, and corresponding methods of blasting employing the blasting apparatuses, are also disclosed.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A blasting apparatus for use by a blast operator to control at least one detonator at a blast site, the blasting apparatus comprising:
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at least one blasting machine for transmitting at least one command signal to said at least one detonator;
at least one biometric analyzer for recording information regarding at least one biometric feature of a candidate blast operator;
a blast authorizing means, for receiving and processing said information to generate a test biometric signature, and comparing said test biometric signature with known biometric signatures to determine whether said test biometric signature is derived from an authorized blast operator or an unauthorized blast operator;
said blasting apparatus maintaining or adopting an active state suitable for actuation of said at least one detonator if said test biometric signature and at least one known biometric signature from an authorized blast operator correspond;
said blasting apparatus maintaining or adopting an inactive state unsuitable for actuation of said at least one detonator if said test biometric signature and at least one known biometric signature derived from an unauthorized blast operator correspond;
orsaid blasting apparatus maintaining or adopting an inactive state unsuitable for actuation of said at least one detonator if said test biometric signature and none of said known biometric signatures correspond. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59)
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44. A blasting apparatus for use by a blast operator to control at least one detonator at a blast site, the blasting apparatus comprising:
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at least one blasting machine for generating or receiving said at least one command signal, optionally processing, and transmitting said at least one command signal to said at least one detonator;
optionally a central command station for generating and transmitting at least one command signal;
a biometric analyzer associated with each central command station (if present) and each of said at least one blasting machine each for recording information regarding at least one biometric feature of a candidate blast operator;
a blast authorizing means associated with each biometric analyzer to receive and process said information to generate a biometric signature in each of said central command station (if present) and said at least one blasting machine; and
comparison means to compare biometric signatures generated by at least two of said blast authorizing means, and to active said blasting apparatus upon identification of at least two biometric signatures derived from the same blast operator. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 56)
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57. A method for modulating a functionality of a blasting apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a database of sample biometric signatures, each corresponding to an authorized blast operator or an unauthorized blast operator;
scanning a biometric feature of a candidate blast operator;
processing information derived from scanning to generate a test biometric signature;
comparing the test biometric signature to the sample biometric signatures in the database to determine whether the test biometric signature is derived from an authorized blast operator or an unauthorized blast operator; and
if said test biometric signature is derived from an authorized blast operator, causing said blasting apparatus to adopt or maintain an active state suitable for actuation of said at least one detonator, or if said test biometric signature is derived from an unauthorized blast operator, causing said blasting apparatus to adopt or maintain an inactive state unsuitable for actuation of said at least one detonator.
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58. A method for generating a database for use in identifying a presence of an authorized blast operator, the method comprising the steps of:
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scanning at least one biometric feature of at least one person including at least one authorized blast operator;
processing information for each biometric feature to generate corresponding biometric signatures each corresponding to an authorized blast operator or an unauthorized blast operator, and each forming an entry in the database.
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Specification