Distributed analysis X-ray inspection methods and systems
Inventors
Parikh, Shehul Sailesh • Sankaranarayanan, Balamurugan • Abel, Jeffrey Bryan • Kumar, Siva • Bendahan, Joseph
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12174334-B2
Publication Date
2024-12-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
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.
Core Innovation
A distributed non-intrusive X-ray cargo or vehicle inspection system integrates automatically imported manifest data with X-ray scan images. A service post imports manifest data, performs a non-intrusive X-ray scan of cargo, associates each image with a globally unique identifier (GUID), and transmits a packaged image and metadata transaction file to regional centers and a data center.
The system uses an application that is accessed by an operator workstation and receives the transmitted file. The application modifies the file by incorporating additional metadata, including an operator ID and whether a rescan is required, and provides rolling status information to support cargo release or hold decisions through a manifest import application (CertScan).
The platform further includes predictive or routing software that allocates image analysis across multiple regional centers/operators and centralized logging/metrics and dashboard user interfaces. In addition, it performs automated cargo-manifest verification by computing image-derived cargo features, building a features database per cargo code, and comparing computed features to historically stored features to output a match probability against configurable thresholds, including for multi-cargo shipments and irregularity flagging.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims: a system claim and a method claim, each centered on generating an X-ray image with a metadata file and incorporating additional operator and rescan metadata at an operator-workstation-accessed application. The inventive features emphasize: (1) packaging an X-ray image with metadata, and (2) operator/workflow metadata modification using an application accessible from an operator workstation.
X-ray image and metadata file generation
An X-ray scanner emits X-rays, generates an image of an object, and generates a file comprising metadata and the image.
Operator workstation application that modifies metadata
An application comprising a plurality of programmatic instructions is accessed by an operator workstation in data communication with the scanner, receives the file, and modifies the file to incorporate additional metadata indicative of an operator ID and whether a rescan is required.
Receiving the X-ray image and metadata file and incorporating operator metadata
A method that includes receiving the file by an application configured to be accessed by an operator workstation in communication with the X-ray scanner and incorporating, by modifying the file, additional metadata indicative of an operator ID and whether a rescan is required.
Across the independent system and method claims, the core claim coverage is directed to an X-ray scanning workflow where an image is packaged with metadata into a file and an operator-workstation-accessible application modifies the metadata to add an operator ID and a rescan-required indication.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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