System for detecting counterfeit goods and method of operating the same
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Publication Number
US-10215879-B2
Publication Date
2019-02-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
A computer-implemented method of handling a container includes performing a first scan of the container. The container includes objects therein. The scan includes irradiating the container with polychromatic x-rays with a first x-ray scanning system at a first geographic location and generating a first scan record using a processing device. The method also includes moving the container from the first geographic location to a second geographic location. The method further includes performing a second scan of the container including irradiating the container with polychromatic x-rays with a second x-ray scanning system at the second geographic location and generating a second scan record using a processing device. The method also includes comparing the first scan record and the second scan record. The method further includes determining the second scan record is substantially indistinguishable or distinguishable from the first scan record.
Core Innovation
A computer-implemented method and a container handling system handle a container by performing first and second x-ray scans of the container at a first geographic location and a second geographic location. Each scan irradiates the container with polychromatic x-rays using a first x-ray scanning system and a second x-ray scanning system, respectively, and generates corresponding first and second scan records. The method reconstructs first and second multidimensional voxelized representations of the container from the first and second scan records and compares the scan records to determine whether the second scan record is substantially indistinguishable from or substantially distinguishable from the first scan record.
The multidimensional voxelized representations each include one of a four-dimensional (4-D) voxelized representation and a five-dimensional (5-D) voxelized representation. In the 4-D reconstruction, the method uses computed tomography (CT) imaging to form a three-dimensional spatial voxel representation and a fourth dimension corresponding to an energy spectrum of the polychromatic x-rays. In the 5-D reconstruction, the method uses x-ray diffraction imaging (XDI) to form a three-dimensional spatial voxel representation and further dimensions corresponding to a momentum transfer spectrum and angles of incidence for each voxel.
The document further emphasizes using a scan record protocol and a predefined scan and data record protocol (SDRP) concept for reconstructing and comparing the container scans in a consistent manner. The comparison is supported by applying a data record protocol that includes predefined voxel aggregation, data correction, and feature extraction. The system includes configurations supporting reconstruction and comparison of the first and second scan records to support classifying the container scanned at the second geographic location as substantially indistinguishable from or distinguishable from the container scanned at the first geographic location.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims cover a computer-implemented container handling workflow and a corresponding container handling system. The independent claims jointly implement an x-ray scanning and voxelized reconstruction pipeline across two geographic locations, followed by comparing scan records and making an indistinguishable vs distinguishable determination, using 4-D or 5-D voxelized representations.
Two-location polychromatic x-ray scanning with scan record comparison
Perform a first scan at a first geographic location with polychromatic x-rays using a first x-ray scanning system, generate a first scan record, reconstruct a first multidimensional voxelized representation (4-D or 5-D), move the container to a second geographic location, perform a second scan with polychromatic x-rays using a second x-ray scanning system, generate a second scan record, reconstruct a second multidimensional voxelized representation (4-D or 5-D), compare the first scan record and the second scan record, and determine whether the second scan record is substantially indistinguishable from the first scan record or substantially distinguishable from the first scan record.
Container handling system with first and second scanning systems and reconstruction-based classification
Provide a container handling system with at least one processing device and a first x-ray scanning system at a first geographic location configured to perform a first x-ray scan and generate a first scan record, and a second x-ray scanning system at a second geographic location configured to perform a second x-ray scan and generate a second scan record, with a communication channel between the first and second x-ray scanning systems and the at least one processing device; reconstruct first and second multidimensional voxelized representations (4-D or 5-D) using the first and second scan records; compare the first scan record and the second scan record; and determine whether the container scanned at the second geographic location is substantially indistinguishable from the container scanned at the first geographic location or distinguishable from the container scanned at the first geographic location.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive coverage is the combination of scanning the same container with polychromatic x-rays at two geographic locations using two x-ray scanning systems, reconstructing each scan as a 4-D or 5-D multidimensional voxelized representation, comparing the resulting scan records, and determining whether the second record indicates substantial indistinguishability or substantial distinguishability.
Stated Advantages
Supports determining whether the second scan record is substantially indistinguishable from or substantially distinguishable from the first scan record.
Enables reconstruction of multidimensional voxelized representations including one of 4-D (CT-derived energy spectrum) and 5-D (XDI-derived momentum transfer spectrum and incidence angle dimensions).
Documented Applications
Handling a container by scanning it at a first geographic location and a second geographic location and using comparison of reconstructed scan records to support determining whether the container scanned at the second location is substantially indistinguishable from or distinguishable from the container scanned at the first location.
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