US6839403B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Generation and distribution of annotation overlays of digital X-ray images for security systems
Assignee: Rapiscan Systems Inc
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Filing: 2001-07-11
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Granted: 2005-01-04
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Expires: 2021-07-11
Abstract
Abstract An image display storage and retrieval system provides a mechanism to transmit x-ray images of parcels to one or more remote workstations. The images may be annotated at these workstations to specifically identify articles to be targeted for more thorough investigation. The image display storage and retrieval system comprises an x-ray image source to illuminate a parcel with x-rays, scan the received x-ray pattern produced from the x-rays passing through the parcel, and digitize the x-ray image of the parcel, an initial screening station where images are initially received and may be annotated, an inspection station where the images (with or without annotation) and parcels to be inspected are received, an optional parcel path switch to direct parcels to either a clearance station or an inspection station, a data storage and retrieval device to record and retrieve images, a data processor to receive the images and a data network connecting the initial screening station, the inspection station, the optional path switch, the data storage and retrieval device and the data processor so as to enable the exchange of data.
Inventors
- 👤 Andreas F. Kotowski
- 👤 Khai Minh Le
- 👤 Douglas Roy Gillard-Hickman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/20; G01V5/271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An image display storage and retrieval system comprising: an x-ray imager providing a digital x-ray image of at least one parcel; at least one screening station receiving said digital x-ray image and generating a screen annotation overlay wherein a combination of said digital x-ray image and, said screen annotation overlay produces a screen annotated image; at least one inspection station receiving said screen annotated image; a data storage and retrieval device recording said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; a data processor processing said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; and a data network coupling said x-ray image source, said at least one screening station, said at least one inspection station, said data storage and retrieval device and said data processor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An image display storage and retrieval system comprising: an x-ray imager providing a digital x-ray image of at least one parcel; at least one screening station receiving said digital x-ray image and generating a screen annotation overlay wherein a combination of said digital x-ray image and, said screen annotation overlay produces a screen annotated image; at least one inspection station receiving said screen annotated image; a data storage and retrieval device recording said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; a data processor processing said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; and a data network coupling said x-ray image source, said at least one screening station, said at least one inspection station, said data storage and retrieval device and said data processor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein at least one screening station further comprises an alarm signal generator to produce an alarm signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image display and storage retrieval system according to claim 2 wherein at least one inspection station further comprises an alarm receiver to receive said alarm signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image display and storage retrieval system according to claim 3 wherein said alarm signal is retarded from an operator at said at least one inspection station until said at least one parcel arrives at said inspection station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
An image display and storage retrieval system according to claim 2 further comprising a parcel path switch directing said at least one parcel to one of either a clearance station or said at least one inspection station and wherein said parcel path switch directs said at least one parcel to a destination based on said alarm signal further comprising: a positive alarm signal setting said destination to said at least one inspection station; and a negative alarm signal setting said destination to said clearance station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one screening station further comprises: a view monitor displaying said digital x-ray image; an annotation instrument selected from the group consisting of a trackpad, touch screen, mouse, joystick and keyboard; and a control to remove said digital x-ray image from said view monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said screen annotation image is stored as separate files, a first said file comprising said digital x-ray image and a second said file comprising said screen annotation overlay.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one inspection station further comprises: a view monitor displaying said screen annotated image; and a control to remove said screen annotated image from said view monitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image display and retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said network further comprises: a network server; and a plurality of network connections connected to said network server.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said data storage and retrieval device further includes: a storage medium selected from the group consisting of a hard-disk drive, magnetic tape, DVD, CD-ROM and flash memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one screening station further comprises: a view monitor displaying said digital x-ray image; an annotation instrument selected from the group consisting of a trackpad, touch screen, mouse, joystick and keyboard; and an alarm signal generator to produce an alarm signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 11 wherein said at least one inspection station further comprises: a view monitor displaying said digital x-ray image; a control to remove said annotated image from said view monitor; and an alarm receiver to receive said alarm signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
207 words
An image display storage and retrieval system comprising: an x-ray image source providing a digital x-ray image of at least one parcel; at least one screening station receiving said digital x-ray image and generating a screen annotation overlay wherein a combination of said digital x-ray image and said screen annotation overlay produce a screen annotated image; at least one inspection station receiving one of either said digital x-ray image or said screen annotated image and generating a search annotation overlay wherein a combination of said digital x-ray image and said screen annotation overlay and said search annotation overlay produce a search annotated image; a parcel path switch directing said at least one parcel to one of either a clearance station or said at least one inspection station; a data storage and retrieval device recording said digital x-ray image, said screen annotated image and said search annotated image; a data processor processing said digital x-ray image, said screen annotated image and said search annotated image; and a data network connecting to said digital x-ray image source, said at least one screening station, said at least one inspection station, said parcel path switch, sand data storage and retrieval device and said data processor, said network enabling exchange of data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
207 words
An image display storage and retrieval system comprising: an x-ray image source providing a digital x-ray image of at least one parcel; at least one screening station receiving said digital x-ray image and generating a screen annotation overlay wherein a combination of said digital x-ray image and said screen annotation overlay produce a screen annotated image; at least one inspection station receiving one of either said digital x-ray image or said screen annotated image and generating a search annotation overlay wherein a combination of said digital x-ray image and said screen annotation overlay and said search annotation overlay produce a search annotated image; a parcel path switch directing said at least one parcel to one of either a clearance station or said at least one inspection station; a data storage and retrieval device recording said digital x-ray image, said screen annotated image and said search annotated image; a data processor processing said digital x-ray image, said screen annotated image and said search annotated image; and a data network connecting to said digital x-ray image source, said at least one screening station, said at least one inspection station, said parcel path switch, sand data storage and retrieval device and said data processor, said network enabling exchange of data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 13 wherein at least one screening station further comprises an alarm signal generator to produce an alarm signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image display and storage retrieval system according to claim 14 wherein at least one inspection station further comprises an alarm receiver to receive said alarm signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An image display and storage retrieval system according to claim 15 wherein said alarm signal is retarded from an operator at said at least one inspection station until said at least one parcel arrives at said inspection station.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image display and storage retrieval system according to claim 13 wherein said parcel path switch directs said at least one parcel to a destination based on said alarm signal further comprising: a positive alarm signal setting said destination to said at least one inspection station; and a negative alarm signal setting said destination to said clearance station to said at least one inspection station.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 13 wherein said screen annotation image is stored as separate files comprising said digital x-ray image and said screen annotation overlay.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image display and retrieval system according to claim 13 wherein said network further comprises: a network server; and a plurality of network connections connected to said network server.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 13 wherein said data storage and retrieval device further includes: a storage medium selected from the group consisting of a hard-disk drive, magnetic tape, DVD, CD-ROM and flash memory.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 13 wherein said at least one inspection station further comprises: a view monitor displaying said search annotated image; a control to remove said annotated image from said view monitor; and an annotation instrument selected from the group consisting of a trackpad, touch screen, mouse, joystick and keyboard.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
An image display storage and retrieval system according to claim 14 wherein said at least one inspection station further comprises: a view monitor displaying said x-ray image; a control to remove said search annotated image from said view monitor; an annotation instrument selected from the group consisting of a trackpad, touch screen, mouse, joystick and keyboard; and an alarm receiver to receive said alarm signal.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
190 words
A method to store and retrieve at least one x-ray image comprising: providing a digital x-ray image of at least one parcel; receiving said digital x-ray image at an at least one screening station; generating a screen annotation overlay producing a screen annotated image from said digital x-ray image combined with said screen annotation overlay at said at least one screening station; receiving said screen annotated image at an at least one inspection station; directing said at least one parcel at a parcel path switch to one of either a clearance station or said at least one inspection station; recording on a data storage and retrieval device said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; retrieving on a data storage and retrieval device said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; processing on a data processor said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; and coupling on a data network said x-ray image source, said at least one screening station, said at least one inspection station, said parcel path switch, said data storage device and retrieval device and said data processor, said network enabling exchange of data.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
190 words
A method to store and retrieve at least one x-ray image comprising: providing a digital x-ray image of at least one parcel; receiving said digital x-ray image at an at least one screening station; generating a screen annotation overlay producing a screen annotated image from said digital x-ray image combined with said screen annotation overlay at said at least one screening station; receiving said screen annotated image at an at least one inspection station; directing said at least one parcel at a parcel path switch to one of either a clearance station or said at least one inspection station; recording on a data storage and retrieval device said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; retrieving on a data storage and retrieval device said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; processing on a data processor said digital x-ray image and said screen annotated image; and coupling on a data network said x-ray image source, said at least one screening station, said at least one inspection station, said parcel path switch, said data storage device and retrieval device and said data processor, said network enabling exchange of data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method to store and retrieve at least one digital x-ray image according to claim 23 further comprising: producing an alarm signal at said at least one screening station; and receiving said alarm signal at said at least one inspection station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method to store and retrieve at least one digital x-ray image according to claim 24 further comprising retarding said alarm signal from an operator to said at least one inspection station until said at least one parcel arrives at said inspection station.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method to store and retrieve at least one digital x-ray image according to claim 24 wherein said directing said at least one parcel at a parcel path switch to one of either a clearance station or said at least one inspection station further comprises: setting said destination to said at least one inspection station when said alarm signal is positive; and setting said destination to said clearance station when said alarm signal is negative.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method to store and retrieve at least one x-ray image according to claim 23 further comprising: generating a search annotated image from said screen annotated image at said at least one inspection station; recording on said data storage and retrieval device said search annotated image; retrieving on said data retrieval and retrieval device said search annotated image; and digitizing on said data processor said search annotated image.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-01-04 | 2008-07-05 | 2009-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-01-04 | 2012-07-05 | 2013-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-01-04 | 2016-07-05 | 2017-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |