METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH THE INSPECTION OF LIQUID MERCHANDISE
First Claim
1. A method for facilitating the inspection of liquid merchandise comprising;
- a. generating a machine readable tag conveying identification information related to the liquid merchandise, the machine readable tag being generated in connection with a purchase of the liquid merchandise at a point of sale;
b. associating the machine readable tag with the liquid merchandise;
c. at a security checkpoint, extracting the identification information from the machine readable tag;
d. processing the identification information conveyed by the machine readable tag to obtain an expected response to penetrating radiation associated with the liquid merchandise, the response including at least one feature conveying a characteristic of a liquid substance expected to be contained in the liquid merchandise; and
e. processing the expected response in conjunction with an X-ray image of the liquid merchandise to determine if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for facilitating the inspection of liquid merchandise is provided. A machine readable tag is generated and is associated with liquid merchandise purchased at a duty free point of sale or other secure sales or distribution location, the machine readable tag conveying identification information related to the liquid merchandise. At a security check-point, the identification information is extracted from the machine readable tag and is used in conjunction with an X-ray image of the liquid merchandise to determine if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information. A system and an apparatus for implementing the method presented are also provided.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A method for facilitating the inspection of liquid merchandise comprising;
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a. generating a machine readable tag conveying identification information related to the liquid merchandise, the machine readable tag being generated in connection with a purchase of the liquid merchandise at a point of sale; b. associating the machine readable tag with the liquid merchandise; c. at a security checkpoint, extracting the identification information from the machine readable tag; d. processing the identification information conveyed by the machine readable tag to obtain an expected response to penetrating radiation associated with the liquid merchandise, the response including at least one feature conveying a characteristic of a liquid substance expected to be contained in the liquid merchandise; and e. processing the expected response in conjunction with an X-ray image of the liquid merchandise to determine if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for inspecting liquid merchandise at a security checkpoint, the liquid merchandise being associated with a machine readable tag, the machine readable tag being generated in connection with a purchase of the liquid merchandise at a point of sale, said apparatus comprising;
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a first input for receiving identification information related to the liquid merchandise from the machine readable tag; a second input for receiving an X-ray image of the liquid merchandise derived by subjecting the liquid merchandise to penetrating radiation; a processing unit in communication with the first input and the second input, said processing unit being programmed for; processing the identification information to obtain an expected response to penetrating radiation associated with the liquid merchandise, the response including at least one feature conveying a characteristic of a liquid substance expected to be contained in the liquid merchandise; processing the expected response in conjunction with the X-ray image of the liquid merchandise to determine if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information; an output in communication with the processing unit for releasing information conveying results obtained by the processing unit when determining if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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34. A method for facilitating the inspection of liquid merchandise comprising:
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a. generating at a first location a machine readable tag conveying identification information related to the liquid merchandise; b. associating the machine readable tag with the liquid merchandise; c. at a security checkpoint located in a second location distinct from the first location, extracting the identification information from the machine readable tag; d. processing the X-ray image of the liquid merchandise to derive an observed response to penetrating radiation associated with the liquid merchandise, the observed response including at least one feature conveying a characteristic of a liquid substance contained in the liquid merchandise; and e. using the identification information in conjunction with the derived observed response to determine if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for inspecting liquid merchandise at a security checkpoint, the liquid merchandise being associated with a machine readable tag, the machine readable tag being generated in a location remote from the security checkpoint, said apparatus comprising;
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a first input for receiving identification information related to the liquid merchandise from the machine readable tag; a second input for receiving an X-ray image of the liquid merchandise derived by subjecting the liquid merchandise to penetrating radiation; a processing unit in communication with the first input and the second input, said processing unit being programmed for; a. processing the X-ray image of the liquid merchandise to derive an observed response to penetrating radiation associated with the liquid merchandise, the observed response including at least one feature conveying a characteristic of a liquid substance contained in the liquid merchandise; and b. processing the identification information in conjunction with the derived observed response to determine if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information; an output in communication with the processing unit for releasing information conveying results obtained by the processing unit when determining if the liquid merchandise is consistent with the identification information. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 57)
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Specification