Networked security system

• US 8,031,903 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Security & Detection Systems, Inc. (Leidos Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Whitson, Andrea L., Paresi, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Vu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdi; Amara
• Application Number:
  US11/544,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20070280502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 340/572.4, 340/572.1, 378/57, 705/4, 705/13
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/271 using a network, e.g. a remote expert, accessing remote data or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

The application discloses a system and methods for remote access and analysis of data collected about items under inspection. The system includes one or more data collection stations, each of which may include an X-ray scanner that scans the items under inspection to obtain data about the items. The data is transmitted to one or more remote stations, where the data is remotely analyzed to determine whether the item contains a potential threat, such as, for example, explosives or other contraband. Data may be aggregated so that correlations between data collected for different items may be used to more accurately detect threats.

Claims

1. A networked security system comprising:

a) a plurality of security check-points, each security check-point comprising;

i) a data collection station adapted to collect data on each of a plurality of items of luggage; and

ii) an input device adapted to read identifying information relating to each of the plurality of items of luggage;

b) a server;

c) a network interconnecting the plurality of security check-points and the sever, the network being adapted to communicate the data from the data collection station and the input device of each of the plurality of security check-points to the server; and

d) a computer-readable medium associated with the server, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon;

i) data on each of the plurality of items of luggage;

ii) identifying information relating to each of the plurality of items of luggage; and

iii) computer-executable instructions for;

A) identifying a group of items of luggage based on the identifying information; and

B) analyzing the data on each of the items of luggage in the group to detect a threat object in any of the items of luggage in the group based in part on data from another of the items of luggage in the group.

2. The networked security system of claim 1, wherein the server is remote from the plurality of security check-points.

3. The networked security system of claim 1, wherein each of the security check-points is located in an airport and the items under inspection comprise carry-on baggage.

4. The networked security system of claim 3, wherein:

a) each input device is adapted to read identifying information about a passenger carrying an item of luggage; and

b) identifying a group comprises identifying items of luggage carried by the same passenger.

5. The networked security system of claim 3, wherein:

a) each input device is adapted to read identifying information about a flight for which an item of luggage is destined; and

b) identifying a group comprises identifying items of luggage destined for the same flight.

6. The networked security system of claim 3, wherein:

a) each input device is adapted to read identifying information about a time at which the item passed through the security check-point; and

b) identifying a group comprises identifying items of luggage passing through a security check-point during a time interval.

7. A method performed in connection with a networked security system, the networked security system comprising a) a plurality of security check-points, each security check-point comprising a1) a data collection station adapted to collect data on each of a plurality of items of luggage and a2) an input device adapted to read identifying information relating to each of the plurality of items of luggage, b) a server, c) a network interconnecting the plurality of security check-points and the sever, the network being adapted to communicate the data from the data collection station and the input device of each of the plurality of security check-points to the server, and d) a computer-readable medium associated with the server, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon d1) data on each of the plurality of items of luggage and d2) identifying information relating to each of the plurality of items of luggage, the method comprising acts of:

A) using at least one computer associated with the computer-readable medium, identifying a group of items of luggage based on the identifying information; and

B) using the at least one computer associated with the computer-readable medium, analyzing the data on each of the items of luggage in the group to detect a threat object in any of the items of luggage in the group based in part on data from another of the items of luggage in the group.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the act A) comprises:

identifying items of luggage carried by the same passenger.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the act A) comprises:

identifying items of luggage destined for the same flight.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the act A) comprises:

identifying items of luggage passing through a security check-point during a time interval.

11. A computer-readable storage device storing one or more programs associated with a server of a networked security system, the networked security system comprising a) a plurality of security check-points, each security check-point comprising a1) a data collection station adapted to collect data on each of a plurality of items of luggage and a2) an input device adapted to read identifying information relating to each of the plurality of items of luggage, b) the server, and c) a network interconnecting the plurality of security check-points and the sever, the network being adapted to communicate the data from the data collection station and the input device of each of the plurality of security check-points to the server, the computer-readable storage device having stored thereon:

i) data on each of the plurality of items of luggage;

ii) identifying information relating to each of the plurality of items of luggage; and

iii) the one or more programs to;

A) identify a group of items of luggage based on the identifying information; and

B) analyze the data on each of the items of luggage in the group to detect a threat object in any of the items of luggage in the group based in part on data from another of the items of luggage in the group.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions for identifying items of luggage carried by the same passenger.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions for identifying items of luggage destined for the same flight.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the one or more programs comprise instructions for identifying items of luggage passing through a security check-point during a time interval.