Remote baggage screening system, software and method

Abstract

A method of advance baggage screening includes steps of transmitting a threat file corresponding to an item under inspection to a processing center, analyzing the threat file according to a detection algorithm at the processing center to determine a screening result for the item under inspection, and transmitting the screening result to a remotely located operator interface for access by an operator.

1 . An explosive detection system comprising: 
 a scanning device that scans an object and generates information about the object from the scan; and    an external apparatus, located remotely from the device, that receives the information and enables a threat determination to be made about the object from the information.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device includes a CT scanner.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device includes a dual energy X-ray scanner.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the device includes a combination dual energy X-ray and CT scanner.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the external apparatus is a computer that implements an algorithm to make the threat determination.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the external apparatus includes a display device enabling a human operator to make a threat determination.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the information includes that from which a density and a mass of the object can be determined by the computer.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the information includes that from which a density and a mass of the object can be determined by the computer.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the information includes that from which a density and a mass of the object can be determined by the computer.  
   
   
       10 . A method for making a threat determination about an object comprising: 
 scanning the object with an explosive detection device;    generating information about the object from the scan;    transmitting the information to an external apparatus, located remotely from the device; and    making a threat determination about the object.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of scanning includes the step of performing a computed tomography scan with a CT scanner.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of scanning includes the step of performing a high energy and a low energy scan using a dual energy X-ray scanner.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of scanning includes performing a high and low energy X-ray scan and a computed tomography scan using a combination dual energy X-ray and CT scanner.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the information includes that from which a density and a mass of the object can be determined by the computer.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the apparatus includes a computer and the step of making includes the computer implementing an algorithm to make an automatic threat determination.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of making includes a human expert making a threat determination based on the information.