Apparatus and method for detecting radiation or radiation shielding in containers

• US 7,026,944 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Veritainer Asset Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: VeriTainer Corporation
• Inventors: Alioto, John I., Alioto, Matthew T., Greer, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/600,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20060007006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 340/600, 340/603, 340/854.1, 340/854.6, 340/856.3, 378/57, 378/62, 378/88, 250/363.01, 250/363.02, 250/362, 250/390.04, 250/394, 250/395
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 19/002 Container cranes B66C19/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/281 detecting special nuclear material [SNM], e.g. Uranium-235, Uranium-233 or Plutonium-239
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

A computer program, database and method for the detection of fissile or radioactive material or radiation shielding material in a container works with detection devices brought into proximity to containers so that the presence of fissile or radioactive material, or shielding materials to conceal the presence of such fissile or radioactive materials, may be detected. A comparison may then be made of the output of the detector to a threshold to determine subsequent action regarding the shipping container. The threshold may be based on the output of known, dangerous radioactive materials, known legitimate contents or empty containers.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium containing executable code comprising:

code that develops a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

code that compares said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint corresponding to a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match; and

code that indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains said known radioactive or fissile material.

2. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said code that develops includes:

code that reads raw data obtained from said gamma rays; and

code that subtracts predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

3. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 2 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

4. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 3 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

5. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 3 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

6. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said code that compares further compares said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

7. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said code that compares further includes code that consults a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

8. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said code that compares further includes code that compares, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

9. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 8 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint further compares said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates that, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

10. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 8 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint further includes code that consults a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

11. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said code that compares further compares, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

12. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 11 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said background fingerprint further includes code that consults a database containing said background fingerprint.

13. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said code that compares further compares, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

14. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 13 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

15. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 13 wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

16. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 13 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints further includes code that consults a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

17. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

18. A computer readable medium containing executable code comprising:

code that develops a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

code that compares said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match; and

code that indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

19. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 wherein said code that develops includes:

code that reads raw data obtained from said gamma rays; and

code that subtracts predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

20. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 19 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

21. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 20 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

22. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 20 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

23. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 wherein said code that compares further compares said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates that, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

24. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 wherein said code that compares further includes code that consults a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

25. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 wherein said code that compares further compares, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

26. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 25 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said background fingerprint further includes code that consults a database containing said background fingerprint.

27. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 wherein said code that compares further includes code that compares, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

28. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 27 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

29. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 27 wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

30. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 27 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints further includes code that consults a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

31. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 18 wherein said code that compares further compares, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint of a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains a known radioactive or fissile material.

32. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 31 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint further compares said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

33. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 31 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint further includes code that consults a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

34. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 31 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

35. A computer readable medium containing executable code comprising:

code that develops a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

code that compares said container fingerprint to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint; and

code that indicates, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

36. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 35 wherein said code that develops includes:

code that reads raw data obtained from said gamma rays; and

code that subtracts predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

37. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 36 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

38. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 37 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

39. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 37 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

40. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 35 wherein said code that compares further includes code that consults a database containing said background fingerprint.

41. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 35 wherein said code that compares further compares, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

42. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 41 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

43. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 41 wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

44. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 41 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints further includes code that consults a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

45. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 35 wherein said code that compares further compares, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint of a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains said known radioactive or fissile material.

46. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 45 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint further compares said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

47. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 45 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint further includes code that consults a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

48. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 36 wherein said code that compares further includes code that compares, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

49. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 48 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint further compares said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said code that indicates further indicates that, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

50. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 48 wherein said code that compares said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint further includes code that consults a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

51. A computer readable medium as set forth in claim 35 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

52. A method comprising the steps of:

developing a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

comparing said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint corresponding to a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match; and

indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains said known radioactive or fissile material.

53. A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said developing step includes the steps of:

reading raw data obtained from said gamma rays; and

subtracting predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

54. A method as set forth in claim 53 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

55. A method as set forth in claim 54 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

56. A method as set forth in claim 54 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

57. A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

58. A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of consulting a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

59. A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

60. A method as set forth in claim 59 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint step further includes the step of comparing said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

61. A method as set forth in claim 59 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint step further includes the step of consulting a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

62. A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

63. A method as set forth in claim 62 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said background fingerprint step further includes the step of consulting a database containing said background fingerprint.

64. A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

65. A method as set forth in claim 64 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

66. A method as set forth in claim 64 wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

67. A method as set forth in claim 64 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints step further includes the step of consulting a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

68. A method as set forth in claim 52 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

70. A method as set forth in claim 66 wherein said developing step includes the steps of:

reading raw data obtained from said gamma rays; and

subtracting predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

71. A method as set forth in claim 70 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

72. A method as set forth in claim 71 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

69. A method comprising the steps of:

developing a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

comparing said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match; and

indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

73. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

74. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating that, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

75. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of consulting a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

76. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

77. A method as set forth in claim 76 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said background fingerprint step further includes the step of consulting a database containing said background fingerprint.

78. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

79. A method as set forth in claim 78 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

80. A method as set forth in claim 78 wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

81. A method as set forth in claim 78 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints step further includes the step of consulting a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

82. A method as set forth in claim 69 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint of a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains a known radioactive or fissile material.

83. A method as set forth in claim 82 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint step further includes the step of comparing said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

84. A method as set forth in claim 82 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint step further includes the step of consulting a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

85. A method as set forth in claim 82 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

86. A method comprising the steps of:

developing a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

comparing said container fingerprint to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint; and

indicating, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

87. A method as set forth in claim 86 wherein said developing step includes the steps of:

reading raw data obtained from said gamma rays; and

subtracting predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

88. A method as set forth in claim 87 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

89. A method as set forth in claim 88 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

90. A method as set forth in claim 88 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

91. A method as set forth in claim 86 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of consulting a database containing said background fingerprint.

92. A method as set forth in claim 86 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

93. A method as set forth in claim 92 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

94. A method as set forth in claim 92 wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

95. A method as set forth in claim 92 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints step further includes the step of consulting a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

96. A method as set forth in claim 86 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint of a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains said known radioactive or fissile material.

97. A method as set forth in claim 96 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint step further includes the step of comparing said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

98. A method as set forth in claim 96 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint step further includes the step of consulting a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

99. A method as set forth in claim 86 wherein said comparing step further includes the step of comparing, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

100. A method as set forth in claim 99 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint step further includes the step of comparing said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said indicating step further includes the step of indicating, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

101. A method as set forth in claim 99 wherein said comparing said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint further includes the step of consulting a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

102. A method as set forth in claim 86 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

103. An apparatus comprising:

a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container; and

a computer operative to compare said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint corresponding to a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match; and

further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains said known radioactive or fissile material.

104. An apparatus as set forth in claim 103 wherein said computer is further operative to read raw data obtained from detecting said gamma rays, and further operative to subtract predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

105. An apparatus as set forth in claim 104 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

106. An apparatus as set forth in claim 105 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

107. An apparatus as set forth in claim 105 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

108. An apparatus as set forth in claim 103 wherein said computer is further operative to compare said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

109. An apparatus as set forth in claim 103 further comprising a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint being further operative to consult said database, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

110. An apparatus as set forth in claim 103 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

111. An apparatus as set forth in claim 110 wherein said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint is further operative to compare said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate that, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

112. An apparatus as set forth in claim 110 further comprising a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint is further operative to consult said database, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

113. An apparatus as set forth in claim 103 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

114. An apparatus as set forth in claim 113 further comprising a database containing said background fingerprint, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said background fingerprint being further operative to consult said database.

115. An apparatus as set forth in claim 113 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

116. An apparatus as set forth in claim 115 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

117. An apparatus as set forth in claim 115 wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

118. An apparatus as set forth in claim 115 further comprising a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, wherein said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being further operative to consult said database.

119. An apparatus as set forth in claim 103 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

120. An apparatus comprising:

a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

a computer operative to compare said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, and further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

121. An apparatus as set forth in claim 120 wherein said computer is further operative to read raw data obtained from said gamma rays and further operative to subtract predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

122. An apparatus as set forth in claim 121 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

123. An apparatus as set forth in claim 122 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

124. An apparatus as set forth in claim 122 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

125. An apparatus as set forth in claim 120 wherein said computer is further operative to compare said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

126. An apparatus as set forth in claim 120 further comprising a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint is further operative to consult said database, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

127. An apparatus as set forth in claim 120 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

128. An apparatus as set forth in claim 127 further comprising a database containing said background fingerprint, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said background fingerprint being further operative to consult said database.

129. An apparatus as set forth in claim 120 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

130. An apparatus as set forth in claim 129 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

131. An apparatus as set forth in claim 129 wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

132. An apparatus as set forth in claim 129 further comprising a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, wherein said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being further operative to consult said database.

133. An apparatus as set forth in claim 120 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint fail to match heuristically, said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint of a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains a known radioactive or fissile material.

134. An apparatus as set forth in claim 133 wherein said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint is further operative to compare said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

135. An apparatus as set forth in claim 133 further comprising a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint being further operative to consult said database, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

136. An apparatus as set forth in claim 133 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.

137. An apparatus comprising:

a container fingerprint derived from gamma rays detected about a container;

a computer operative to compare said container fingerprint to a background fingerprint to determine whether said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, and further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint is substantially lower than said background fingerprint, that said container contains radiation shielding material.

138. An apparatus as set forth in claim 137 wherein said computer is operative to read raw data obtained from said gamma rays, and further operative to subtract predetermined background data from said raw data to develop said container fingerprint.

139. An apparatus as set forth in claim 138 wherein said raw data and said predetermined background data are raw digitized data and predetermined digitized background data, respectively.

140. An apparatus as set forth in claim 139 wherein said predetermined digitized background data is a background fingerprint and said raw digitized data is an unnormalized container fingerprint.

141. An apparatus as set forth in claim 139 wherein said raw digital data and said predetermined digital background data are each a selected one of intensity data and energy spectrum data.

142. An apparatus as set forth in claim 137 further comprising a database containing said background fingerprint, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said background fingerprint being further operative to consult said database.

143. An apparatus as set forth in claim 137 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of purported fingerprints to determine whether said container fingerprint and at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, each of said purported fingerprints being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said at least one of said purported fingerprints heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s associated with said at least one of said purported fingerprints.

144. An apparatus as set forth in claim 143 wherein said respective one of said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s that identifies contents of said container is in variance to any such standardized commodity ID listed on a manifest associated with said container.

145. An apparatus as set forth in claim 143 wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and each of said purported fingerprints fail to match, that contents of said container is unknown.

146. An apparatus as set forth in claim 143 further comprising a database containing said plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being stored in association with said respective one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, wherein said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to each of said plurality of purported fingerprints being further operative to consult said database.

147. An apparatus as set forth in claim 137 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to a predetermined fingerprint of a known sample of radioactive or fissile material to determine whether said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said predetermined fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains said known radioactive or fissile material.

148. An apparatus as set forth in claim 147 wherein said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint is further operative to compare said container fingerprint to each of a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, each of said predetermined fingerprints corresponding to a respective one of known samples of radioactive or fissile material, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

149. An apparatus as set forth in claim 147 further comprising a database containing a plurality of predetermined fingerprints, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said predetermined fingerprint being further operative to consult said database, said predetermined fingerprint being one of said plurality of predetermined fingerprints.

150. An apparatus as set forth in claim 137 wherein said computer is further operative to compare, in the event said container fingerprint is not substantially lower than said background fingerprint, said container fingerprint to a purported fingerprint identified from being associated with a standardized commodity ID known from a manifest associated with said container to determine whether said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said purported fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID.

151. An apparatus as set forth in claim 150 wherein said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint is further operative to compare said container fingerprint to a composite purported fingerprint derived from a plurality of selected purported fingerprints identified from being associated with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s known from said manifest to determine whether said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, and wherein said computer is further operative to indicate, in the event said container fingerprint and said composite fingerprint heuristically match, that said container contains contents identified by said standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

152. An apparatus as set forth in claim 150 further comprising a database containing a plurality of purported fingerprints, each of said purported fingerprints being stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s, said computer when operative to compare said container fingerprint to said purported fingerprint is further operative to consult said database, said purported fingerprint being one of said plurality of purported fingerprints and said standardized commodity ID being one of said plurality of standardized commodity ID'"'"'s.

153. An apparatus as set forth in claim 137 wherein said gamma rays normally exist about said container in the absence of absorption of thermal neutrons.