IP Library › Patent Application 11448178
Patent Application
App. No. 11/448,178

Remote data access

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/448,178
Abstract

The application discloses a system and methods for remote access and analysis of data collected about items under inspection. The system includes a data collection station, that 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 expert stations, where a remote expert analyzes the data to determine whether the item contains a potential threat, such as, for example, explosives or other contraband.

Claims (27)

1 . A baggage processing system comprising:

a plurality of CT scanners for scanning a bag, each of the CT scanners including a computer for processing data from the CT scanner and for reconstructing an image of least a portion of the bag;

at least one operator review station for displaying a reconstructed image; and

a network for transferring a reconstructed image from at least one CT scanner to the at least one operator review station for display.

2 . The baggage processing system of claim 1 ,

wherein the computer in each of the CT scanners includes means for detecting a potential threat in a bag based upon reconstructed image, and

wherein a reconstructed image is transferred to the at least one operator review station upon detection of a potential threat.

3 . The baggage processing system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of CT scanners is located at an airline check-in desk.

4 . The baggage processing system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of CT scanners is located at an airport security check-point.

5 . The baggage processing system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of CT scanners is located at an airport curb-side check-in area.

6 . The baggage processing system of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of CT scanners is located at a location other than an airport to which bags are to be transported.

7 . A method for processing checked bags at an airport comprising the steps of:

at a plurality of locations in the airport performing the step of:

scanning bags and reconstructing at least one image of a portion of each bag;

detecting a potential threat based upon reconstructed images;

distributing bags to airplanes if a potential threat is not detected; and

transferring the at least one image to a review location if a potential threat is detected; and

at the review location, performing the steps of:

displaying the transferred at least one image for review by an operator.

8 . The method for processing checked bags of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:

at the review location performing the steps of:

receiving an indication from the operator of a threat or not a threat based upon the displayed image; and

transmitting the indication to the location which provided the image; and

at the plurality of locations performing the steps of:

receiving the indication from the review location;

distributing a bag to an airplane based upon an indication of not a threat; and

preventing distribution of the bag to an airplane upon indication of a threat.