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Publication Number
US-12386097-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present application is directed toward cargo scanning systems having scanners, each arranged to scan a respective object and generate a set of scan data, processors arranged to process each set of scan data to determine whether it meets a predetermined threat condition, workstations, and data management system arranged to direct data that meets the threat condition to one of the workstations for analysis.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a cargo scanning system that receives scan data representative of contents positioned within one or more containers. The system performs an automated detection process on the scan data, assesses the scan data based on the automated detection process, and receives descriptive information of the contents of the one or more containers for subsequent operator handling.
For a first portion of the assessed scan data, the system acquires a threat object image from a library of images representative of known threats and combines the threat object image with the first portion of the assessed scan data to generate hybrid scan data. The system sends the hybrid scan data and a second portion of the assessed scan data to an operator workstation, where the second portion does not have a threat object image from the library of images representative of known threats and is greater than the hybrid scan data.
The invention addresses automated assessment and operator display and decision support by providing hybrid scan data generated using a threat object image library for only a portion of assessed scan data. It also supports categorization and workflow management, including routing threat-flagged cargo for manual review, allocating work to operator workstations, and operating adaptively based on threat-category sensitivity and traffic/operator availability, using optional ancillary data such as OCR data, video, manifests, weighbridge, chemical sniffer, and gamma/neutron sensors for improving threat categorization.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, both covering a processor-executed workflow for cargo scanning and automated threat assessment, with hybrid scan data generation using a library of known threats and differential sending of data portions to operator workstations. The main inventive features are expressed through the first portions combined with threat object images and the larger second portions transmitted without such threat object images.
Automated detection and assessment of container scan data with descriptive information
Receive scan data representative of contents positioned within one or more containers, perform an automated detection process on the scan data, receive descriptive information of the contents of the one or more containers, and assess the scan data based on the automated detection process.
Hybrid scan data generation from first portion using a threat object image library
For a first portion of the assessed scan data, acquire a threat object image from a library of images representative of known threats and combine the threat object image with the first portion of the assessed scan data to generate hybrid scan data.
Differential operator workstation sending of hybrid and non-hybrid scan data portions
Send the hybrid scan data and a second portion of the assessed scan data to an operator workstation, wherein the second portion does not have a threat object image from the library of images representative of known threats and wherein an amount of the second portion is greater than an amount of the hybrid scan data.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the same: receive scan data for contents in one or more containers, run an automated detection process and assess the scan data using descriptive information, generate hybrid scan data by combining a library threat object image with only a first portion, and send both hybrid and a larger second portion without the library threat image to an operator workstation.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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