US7734066B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security system with distributed computing
Assignee: Leidos Security Detection and Automation Inc
•
Filing: 2004-11-19
•
Granted: 2010-06-08
•
Expires: 2024-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A security system with a processor that receives information from multiple sources. The system is illustrated by a network of inspection machines at multiple locations in an airport, such as at check-in desks. These machines provide data to the processor for threat detection processing. The processor provides a central control and data integration point. Centralized control may be used to readily adapt threat detection programs and data integration may allow more accurate or more thorough threat determinations to be made. Moreover, centralized processing of computation intensive operations, such as image reconstruction, may provide for more efficient processor utilization throughout the system, providing a lower total processing cost. Additionally, centralized processing allows for human decision makers to be readily integrated into the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul DeLia
- 👤 John J. Reilly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 06:53
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/36; B64F1/368; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A security system comprising: a) a plurality of inspection machines, each at a location and having a data acquisition system adapted to obtain inspection data relating to items under inspection; b) a processor and a redundant processor; c) a network connecting the processor and the plurality of inspection machines, the network adapted to convey inspection data from each of the plurality of inspection machines to the processor; and d) a program for the processor, the program adapted to process inspection data from the plurality of inspection machines by, for each item under inspection, i) creating a representation of at least a portion of the item; ii) using the representation in the generation of a screening result; and iii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the inspection data for the item under inspection was obtained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A security system comprising: a) a plurality of inspection machines, each at a location and having a data acquisition system adapted to obtain inspection data relating to items under inspection; b) a processor and a redundant processor; c) a network connecting the processor and the plurality of inspection machines, the network adapted to convey inspection data from each of the plurality of inspection machines to the processor; and d) a program for the processor, the program adapted to process inspection data from the plurality of inspection machines by, for each item under inspection, i) creating a representation of at least a portion of the item; ii) using the representation in the generation of a screening result; and iii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the inspection data for the item under inspection was obtained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of inspection machines comprises a plurality of CT systems.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of inspection machines is located at a check-in counter at an airport.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The security system of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of inspection machines additionally comprises an operator console.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein: a) each of the plurality of inspection machines has associated therewith at least a plurality of indicators, and b) the program is adapted to transmit a screening result by transmitting a command to activate one of the plurality of indicators.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The security system of claim 5 wherein each of the plurality of indicators comprises a colored light.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of inspection machines additionally comprises: a) a computer; and b) a control program, the control program adapted to cause the computer to control components of the inspection machine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein the processor comprises a server located in a first facility and the redundant processor comprises a mirror server located in a second facility distinct from the first facility.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The security system of claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of work stations coupled to the processor, each work station having a user interface, and wherein the program is adapted to use the representation by displaying the representation on the user interface of a selected work station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The security system of claim 9 wherein the program comprises a classifier and the program is adapted to generate a representation of a threat object and display the representation of the threat object on the user interface of the selected work station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The security system of claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of processors, and wherein the processor and the plurality of additional processors form a multi-processor computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The security system of claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of processors coupled to the processor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The security system of claim 12 additionally comprising a server coupled to the processor and the plurality of processors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The security system of claim 13 additionally comprising a task distribution program on the server adapted to select a processor on which to perform the acts of creating a representation using the representation in the generation of a screening result transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the inspection data for the item under inspection was obtained.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein the network comprises an optical fiber network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein the network comprises an encrypted wireless network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The security system of claim 1 wherein the program comprises a classifier and the program is adapted to use the representation by using the classifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The security system of claim 1 additionally comprising a connection to a source of data separate from the plurality of inspection machines and wherein the program is adapted to use the representation in conjunction with data from the source of data to generate a screening result.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The security system of claim 18 wherein the connection to a source of data comprises a link to an intelligence database.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The security system of claim 18 wherein the connection to a source of data comprises a link to a wireless handheld device.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring the acquired data over a network to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection, using the at least one computer, performing the acts of: i) creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection, the creating the representation comprising forming a representation of a volume of an item under inspection; ii) generating a screening result with the representation; and iii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring the acquired data over a network to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection, using the at least one computer, performing the acts of: i) creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection, the creating the representation comprising forming a representation of a volume of an item under inspection; ii) generating a screening result with the representation; and iii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein acquiring data comprises acquiring data with a CT machine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of operating a security system of claim 22 wherein acquiring data on a plurality of items comprises performing a helical scan on each of the plurality of items.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein creating a representation comprises forming a representation of a slice of an item under inspection using computed tomographic reconstruction.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 24 wherein creating a representation comprises forming a representation of a plurality of slices of an item under inspection using computed tomographic reconstruction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of operating a security system of claim 21 wherein the act of transferring the acquired data over a network comprises transferring at least 20 Mbits of acquired data per item.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 21 additionally comprising, for each of the plurality of items under inspection, prior to creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection, selecting one of a plurality of processors at the processing location to create a representation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21 wherein generating a screening result comprises: a) routing the representation to a work station with a display; b) displaying the representation on the display for a human operator.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring the acquired data over a network to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection, using the at least one computer, performing the acts of: i) creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection; ii) generating a screening result with the representation; and iii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired; and d) selectively rejecting items under inspection at each location in response to a screening result transmitted over the network.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
147 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring the acquired data over a network to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection, using the at least one computer, performing the acts of: i) creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection; ii) generating a screening result with the representation; and iii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired; and d) selectively rejecting items under inspection at each location in response to a screening result transmitted over the network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 29 additionally comprising modifying the situations under which items are rejected at each of the plurality of locations by modifying the programming of the at least one computer at the processing location.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 29 additionally comprising receiving additional data from a source of data separate from the plurality of inspection machines and wherein the act of generating a screening result comprises generating a screening result with the representation and the additional data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the act of receiving additional data comprises receiving additional data from a secure database.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the act of receiving additional data comprises receiving additional data from a wireless handheld device.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the act of receiving additional data comprises receiving threat level data.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the acts of generating the screening result and transmitting the screening result occur in real time.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring over a network the acquired data to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection, performing at the processing location the acts of: i) using at least one processor to perform a threat assessment to create a screening result; and ii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired; and d) in response to a fault condition, entering a second mode of operation and performing the acts of: i) acquiring data on a second plurality of items under inspection using the plurality of inspection machines; and ii) for each of the second plurality of items under inspection using a computer associated with one of the plurality of inspection machines to perform a threat assessment, wherein the act of transferring over a network the acquired data comprises transferring at least 20 Mbits per item.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
200 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring over a network the acquired data to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection, performing at the processing location the acts of: i) using at least one processor to perform a threat assessment to create a screening result; and ii) transmitting the screening result over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired; and d) in response to a fault condition, entering a second mode of operation and performing the acts of: i) acquiring data on a second plurality of items under inspection using the plurality of inspection machines; and ii) for each of the second plurality of items under inspection using a computer associated with one of the plurality of inspection machines to perform a threat assessment, wherein the act of transferring over a network the acquired data comprises transferring at least 20 Mbits per item.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 36 wherein acquiring data comprises acquiring data with a CT machine.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring the acquired data over a network to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection: i) at the processing location, creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection; ii) transmitting the representation over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired; and iii) automatically generating a screening result with the representation at the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired, wherein acquiring data on a plurality of items comprises performing a helical scan on each of the plurality of items.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of operating a security system comprising: a) acquiring data on a plurality of items under inspection using a plurality of inspection machines each at a location; b) transferring the acquired data over a network to at least one computer at a processing location different from the locations of the plurality of inspection machines; c) for each of the plurality of items under inspection: i) at the processing location, creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection; ii) transmitting the representation over the network to the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired; and iii) automatically generating a screening result with the representation at the location of the inspection machine at which the data on the item under inspection was acquired, wherein acquiring data on a plurality of items comprises performing a helical scan on each of the plurality of items.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 38 wherein acquiring data comprises acquiring data with a CT machine.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of operating a security system of claim 38 wherein the act of transferring over a network the acquired data comprises transferring at least 20 Mbits of acquired data per item.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 38 additionally comprising, for each of the plurality of items under inspection, prior to creating from the data a representation of at least a portion of the item under inspection, selecting one of a plurality of processors at the processing location to create a representation.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 39 wherein creating a representation comprises forming a representation of a slice of an item under inspection using computed tomographic reconstruction.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 42 wherein creating a representation comprises forming a representation of a plurality of slices of an item under inspection using computed tomographic reconstruction.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38 wherein creating a representation comprises forming a representation of a volume of an item under inspection.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 38 wherein generating a screening result comprises displaying the representation on the display for a human operator.
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