Distributed analysis X-ray inspection methods and systems
The present specification discloses systems and methods for integrating manifest data for cargo and light vehicles with their X-ray images generated during scanning. Manifest data is automatically imported into the system for each shipment, and helps the security personnel to quickly determine the contents of cargo. In case of a mismatch between cargo contents shown by manifest data and the X-ray images, the cargo may be withheld for further inspection. In one embodiment, the process of analyzing the X-ray image of the cargo in conjunction with the manifest data is automated.
1. A system for scanning objects, comprising:
an X-ray scanner configured to emit X-rays, generate an image of an object, and generate a file comprising metadata and said image;
an application comprising a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in a non-transient computer readable medium, wherein the application is configured to be accessed by an operator workstation, wherein the operator workstation is in data communication with the scanner, wherein the application is configured to receive said file and modify said file to incorporate into the metadata additional data, and wherein the additional data are indicative of an operator ID and whether a rescan is required.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a database in data communication with the scanner and application.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the file comprises data in a scant transaction file format.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the additional data further comprises data indicative of a time of a scan that generated said image.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application is configured as a web-based application.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a data center having a database.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the application is configured to be accessed from programmatic instructions stored in the scanner, programmatic instructions stored in the operator workstation, and programmatic instructions stored in the data center.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application is configured to receive data indicative of a description of contents of the object.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the application is configured to automatically compare the image to the description of the contents of the object.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the application is configured to display a rolling status of scans performed at the scanner on the operator workstation.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a predictive application configured to process the metadata and determine a distribution of images to a plurality of operators.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to provide at least one training image, in addition to the image, to the operator workstation.
13. A method for scanning objects, comprising:
generating by an X-ray scanner configured to emit X-rays, an image of an object;
generating by the X-ray scanner, a file comprising metadata and the image;
receiving the file by an application comprising a plurality of programmatic instructions stored in a non-transient computer readable medium, wherein the application is configured to be accessed by an operator workstation that is in communication with the X-ray scanner; and
incorporating by the application, by modifying said file, into the metadata additional data indicative of an operator ID and whether a rescan is required.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the file comprises data in a scant transaction file format.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the additional data further comprises data indicative of a time of generating said image.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the application is configured as a web-based application.
17. The method of claim 13 comprising accessing the application from programmatic instructions stored in the X-ray scanner, programmatic instructions stored in the operator workstation, and programmatic instructions stored in, a data center having a database.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein the receiving comprises receiving data indicative of a description of contents of the object.
19. The method of claim 18 comprising automatically comparing the image to the description of the contents of the object.
20. The method of claim 13 comprising displaying by the application, a rolling status of scans performed at the scanning device.
21. The method of claim 13 further comprising processing by a predictive application configured to process the metadata and determine a distribution of images to a plurality of operators.
22. The method of claim 13 comprising providing at least one training image, in addition to the image, to the operator workstation.