PASSENGER SCREENING SYSTEM AND METHOD
A method of operating a passenger screening kiosk system includes operating the passenger screening kiosk system to perform a screening process that includes at least one of verify a passenger's identity, detect the presence of an explosive material, and detect the presence of a metallic material, generating a screening result, and associating the screening result with the passenger.
1 . A method of operating a passenger screening kiosk system; said method comprising:
conducting a screening process that includes at least one of verify a passenger's identity, detect the presence of an explosive material, and detect the presence of a metallic material;
generating a screening result from the conducted screening process; and
associating the screening result with the passenger.
2 . A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said generating a screening result comprises:
generating a threat level indication based on the screening result; and
associating the threat level indication with the passenger's identity.
3 . A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein generating a threat level indication comprises generating at least one of a clearance indication, an identity alert indication, a threat alert indication, and an alarm indication.
4 . A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein generating a screening result comprises:
generating a threat level indication based on the screening result; and
storing the threat level indication in the computer database.
5 . A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein associating the screening result comprises communicating the screening result to a security station.
6 . A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein communicating the screening result comprises electronically transmitting the screening result to a security station.
7 . A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein the passenger screening kiosk system includes a printer, said communicating the screening result of the screening process comprises:
printing the screening result onto a paper medium such that the passenger being screened is enabled to convey the screening result to a security station.
8 . A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein printing the screening result further comprises printing the screening result in an encoded format onto the paper medium.
9 . A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising:
time stamping the screening result; and
printing the time stamped screening result onto the paper medium.
10 . A passenger screening kiosk system comprising:
an identity verification system;
a metal detection system;
an explosives detection system; and
a computer coupled to said identity verification system, said metal detection system, and said explosives detection system, said computer configured to
conduct at least one of verify a passenger's identity, detect the presence of an explosive material, and detect the presence of a metallic material;
generate a screening result of the screening process; and
associate the screening result with the passenger.
11 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said computer is further configured to:
generate a threat level indication based on the screening result; and
associate the threat level indication with the passenger's identity.
12 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 11 wherein to generate a threat level indication, said computer is further configured to generate at least one of a clearance indication, an identity alert indication, a threat alert indication, and an alarm indication.
13 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said computer is further configured to:
generate a threat level indication based on the screening result; and
store the threat level indication in the computer database.
14 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a means to associate the screening result with the passenger, said computer further configured to activate said means to communicate the screening result to a security station.
15 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means comprise a wireless device configured to communicate the screening result to a security station.
16 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said means comprise a printer configured to print the screening result onto a paper medium.
17 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said means comprise a printer configured to print the screening result onto a paper medium in an encoded format.
18 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said means comprise a printer configured to print a time and date stamp onto the paper medium.
19 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said explosives detection system comprises a trace explosive fingertip scanner, said computer is further configured to prompt a passenger to position a finger on the trace explosive fingertip scanner and determine that the finger is positioned on the trace explosive fingertip scanner.
20 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said explosives detection system comprises a quadrupole resonance detection system.
21 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said identity verification system comprises a fingerprint scan device.
22 . A passenger screening kiosk system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said identity verification system comprises an iris scan device.