System and method detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials
First Claim
1. A method for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of a material, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a detection and monitoring network whereby multiple ports-of-entry are each equipped with a detection system that is in communication with a central computer;
(b) using the detection systems to detect levels of the material in vehicles passing through each of the ports-of-entry;
(c) associating the levels of material detected for each vehicle with the respective vehicle;
(d) saving the vehicle material levels on a computer; and
(e) uploading the vehicle material levels detected at each port-of-entry to the central computer for monitoring and review, wherein the central computer allows the respective vehicles to be monitored by comparing the levels of material detected in the vehicle at each port-of-entry to determine approximately when or where the vehicle acquired a non-compliant load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials is disclosed. The method and system include providing a detection and monitoring network whereby multiple ports-of-entry are each equipped with a detection system that is in communication with a central computer. The detection systems are then used to detect levels of a material in vehicles passing through the ports-of-entry. The method and system further include associating the levels of material detected for each vehicle with the respective vehicle, and saving the vehicle material levels on a computer. The material levels detected at each port-of-entry are then uploaded to the central computer for monitoring and review.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of a material, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a detection and monitoring network whereby multiple ports-of-entry are each equipped with a detection system that is in communication with a central computer;
(b) using the detection systems to detect levels of the material in vehicles passing through each of the ports-of-entry;
(c) associating the levels of material detected for each vehicle with the respective vehicle;
(d) saving the vehicle material levels on a computer; and
(e) uploading the vehicle material levels detected at each port-of-entry to the central computer for monitoring and review, wherein the central computer allows the respective vehicles to be monitored by comparing the levels of material detected in the vehicle at each port-of-entry to determine approximately when or where the vehicle acquired a non-compliant load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
(i) providing the computer with a software application for extracting the stream of detector data from the controller, (ii) associating the detector data with respective vehicles, and (iii) saving the data in a file.
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8. The method of claim 1 further including step of allowing a government agency to control the central computer.
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9. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further includes step of:
- locating the multiple ports-of-entry in multiple states to create a regional network, wherein the multiple ports-of-entry report to a regional agency.
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10. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) further includes step of:
- locating the multiple ports-of-entry at state and federal borders to create a federal network, wherein the multiple ports-of-entry report to a federal agency.
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11. An interstate transportation detection and monitoring network, comprising:
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a central computer; and
a plurality of detection and reporting systems in communication with the central computer, wherein each detection and reporting system is located at a vehicle port-of-entry and includes, a detector system for measuring levels of a material in vehicles, a computer coupled to the detector system, the computer for processing data detected by the detectors for each vehicle, and transferring the data to the central computer for monitoring, wherein the central computer allows the respective vehicles to be monitored by comparing the levels of material detected in the vehicle at each port-of-entry to determine approximately when or where the vehicle acquired a non-compliant load. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A server-based detection and monitoring network, comprising:
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a central server for maintaining a national database for vehicles, wherein each vehicle is identified by an identification number;
an identification mark located on vehicles in a standard position, the identification mark including the vehicle'"'"'s identification number;
a plurality of port-of-entry systems, each port-of-entry including an Internet appliance coupled to the central server via a network, and detector systems for detecting levels of a material inside vehicles, wherein the detector systems further include a scanner for reading the identification mark, such that as each vehicle passes the detection assemblies, the identification mark on the vehicle is scanned for the identification number, the internet appliance associates the vehicle'"'"'s identification number with a file and saves the detector readings for the vehicle in the file, and a uploads file to the central server for storage in the national database. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of radioactive materials, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing detection systems at a plurality of interstate ports-of-entry, wherein each detection system includes detector assemblies for detecting radiation located on each side of a vehicle pass-through, a controller coupled to the detector assemblies, a computer coupled to controller, and a digital camera coupled to the computer;
(b) transmitting radiation data from a detector to the controller;
(c) periodically requesting by the computer radiation data from the controller;
(d) converting the radiation data into radiation levels and displaying the radiation levels;
(e) when a vehicle is detected between the detector assemblies, storing the radiation levels in file and capturing digital images of the vehicle with the digital camera;
(f) determining if the radiation levels exceed a predetermined threshold;
(g) if the radiation levels exceed the predetermined threshold, signaling an alarm to alert an operator; and
(h) uploading the file to a central computer. wherein the central computer allows the respective vehicles to be monitored by comparing the levels of material detected in the vehicle at each port-of-entry to determine approximately when or where the vehicle acquired a non-compliant load. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
allowing the operator to create a subfolder and storing the images in the subfolder.
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33. The method of claim 32 wherein step (g) further includes the step of:
storing scanned shipping documents for the vehicle with the file.
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34. The method of claim 33 wherein step (h) further includes the step of:
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(i) requiring that the computer for dial the central computer and hanging up after communication is made; and
(ii) in response, the remote computer calls back the computer, and appears as a disk drive on the computer, thereby allowing the operator of the computer to drag-and-drop selected files and folders to the central computer.
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Specification