Method and system for screening luggage items, cargo containers or persons

Abstract

A system for screening luggage items, which includes an image generation device suitable for generating an image signal associated with a luggage item where the image signal conveys information related to the contents of the luggage item. The system also includes an apparatus having an input for receiving the image signal and a processing unit. The processing unit processes the image signal in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item. The processing unit generates a detection signal in response to detection of the presence of at least one target object in the luggage item. An output module conveys information derived at least in part on the basis of the detection signal to a user of the system. In alternative embodiments, the system may also be used to screen cargo containers and persons.

1 . An apparatus suitable for screening a luggage item, said apparatus comprising:
 a) an input for receiving an image signal associated with the luggage item, the image signal derived on the basis of penetrating radiation and conveying information related to the contents of the luggage item;   b) a processing unit in communication with said input, said processing unit being operative for:
 i. processing the image signal associated with the luggage item in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item; 
 ii. generating a detection signal in response to detection of the presence of at least one target object in the luggage item; 
   c) an output for releasing the detection signal.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
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       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detection signal enables identification of at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the detection signal conveys position information related to at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the detection signal conveys information describing at least one characteristic of at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said detection signal is operative for causing a display unit to convey information related to at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said processing unit is responsive to detection of the presence of at least one target object to:
 a) generate log information elements conveying a presence of the at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected;   b) store said log information data elements on a computer readable storage medium.   
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said log information elements include a time stamp data element. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said processing unit being operative for processing the image signal associated with the luggage item in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item comprises said processing unit being operative to effect a correlation operation between data derived from the image signal and the plurality of target images. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as defined by  claim 13 , wherein said processing unit comprises a digital correlator for effecting the correlation operation. 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
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       19 . (canceled) 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A method for screening a luggage item, said method comprising:
 a) receiving an image signal associated with the luggage item, the image signal derived on the basis of penetrating radiation and conveying information related to the contents of the luggage item;   b) processing the image signal associated with the luggage item in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item;   c) generating a detection signal in response to detection of the presence of at least one target object in the luggage item.   
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
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       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the detection signal enables identification of at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the detection signal conveys position information related to at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       30 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the detection signal conveys information describing at least one characteristic of at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       31 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said detection signal is operative for causing a display unit to convey information related to at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       32 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein, in response to detection of the presence of at least one target object, said method comprises:
 a) generating log information elements conveying a presence of the at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected;   b) storing said log information data elements on a computer readable storage medium.   
   
   
       33 . A method as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said log information elements include a time stamp data element. 
   
   
       34 . A method as defined in  claim 22 , wherein processing the image signal associated with the luggage item in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item comprises effecting a correlation operation between data derived from the image signal and the plurality of target images. 
   
   
       35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . A method as defined by  claim 34 , wherein said correlation operation is effected at least in part by a digital correlator. 
   
   
       37 . (canceled) 
   
   
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       39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . (canceled) 
   
   
       43 . A system for screening luggage items, said system comprising:
 a) an image generation device suitable for generating an image signal associated with a luggage item using penetrating radiation, the image signal conveying information related to the contents of the luggage item;   b) an apparatus in communication with said image generation device, said apparatus comprising:
 i. an input for receiving the image signal associated with the luggage item; 
 ii. a processing unit in communication with said input, said processing unit being operative for:
 (a) processing the image signal associated with the luggage item in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item; 
 (b) generating a detection signal in response to detection of the presence of at least one target object in the luggage item; 
 
   c) an output module for conveying information derived at least in part on the basis of said detection signal to a user of the system.   
   
   
       44 - 63 . (canceled) 
   
   
       64 . A system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said output module is adapted for generating image data conveying the location of at least one target object whose presence in the luggage item was detected. 
   
   
       65 . A system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said output module includes a display adapted for generating an output display image conveying information derived at least in part on the basis of said detection signal in visual format. 
   
   
       66 . A system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said output module includes a display adapted for generating an output display image conveying information derived at least in part on the basis of said detection signal in visual format in combination with the image associated with the luggage item. 
   
   
       67 . A system as defined in  claim 43 , wherein said output module is adapted for conveying information derived at least in part on the basis of said detection signal in audio format. 
   
   
       68 . A computer readable medium including a program element suitable for execution by a computing apparatus for screening a luggage item, said computing apparatus comprising a memory unit and a processor operatively connected to said memory unit, said program element when executing on said processor being operative for:
 a) receiving an image signal associated with the luggage item, the image signal conveying information related to the contents of the luggage item;   b) processing the image signal associated with the luggage item in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item;   c) generating a detection signal in response to detection of the presence of at least one target object in the luggage item;   d) releasing the detection signal.   
   
   
       69 - 86 . (canceled) 
   
   
       87 . An apparatus suitable for screening a luggage item, said apparatus comprising:
 a) means for receiving an image signal associated with the luggage item, the image signal conveying information related to the contents of the luggage item;   b) means for processing the image signal associated with the luggage item in combination with a plurality of target images associated with target objects to detect a presence of at least one target object in the luggage item;   c) means for generating a detection signal in response to detection of the presence of at least one target object in the luggage item;   d) means for releasing the detection signal.   
   
   
       88 - 96 . (canceled)