Enhanced multi-layer cargo screening system, computer program product, and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10366364-B2
Application number	US-201615099869-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2016
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities for enhanced cargo screening capabilities are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises: automatically and electronically executing a first screening procedure for capturing and storing first screening data comprising (a) an x-ray image and (b) first screening decontrol data; automatically and electronically determining whether at least a second screening procedure is required, the determination involving identifying at least one discrepancy between at least a portion of the first screening data and at least one predefined parameter; responsive to determining that the second screening is required, generating and transmitting one or more notifications configured to initiate the second screening procedure within a predetermined period of time; and responsive to determining that the at least second screening is not required, generating and transmitting a decontrol message configured to release the packages from further automated screening procedures.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for screening a plurality of packages containing therein one or more items for transit via a common carrier, the method comprising:
for at least one of the plurality of packages, automatically and electronically executing a first screening procedure for capturing and storing, in at least one memory storage device, a first screening data associated with the at least one of the plurality of packages, the first screening data comprising (a) an x-ray image and (b) first screening decontrol data;
automatically and electronically determining, via at least one computer processor, whether a second screening procedure of the at least one of the plurality of packages is required, the determining being based upon identification of a first discrepancy between at least a first portion of the first screening data and at least one predefined parameter;
responsive to determining that the second screening procedure is required, generating and transmitting, via the at least one computer processor, one or more first notifications configured to initiate the second screening procedure within a predetermined period of time and executing the second screening procedure;
automatically and electronically determining, via the at least one computer processor, whether a third screening procedure of the at least one of the plurality of packages is required;
responsive to determining that the third screening procedure is required, generating and transmitting, via the at least one computer processor, one or more second notifications configured to initiate the third screening procedure at a remote location and executing the third screening procedure;
automatically and electronically determining, via the at least one computer processor, whether a fourth screening procedure of the at least one of the plurality of packages is required; and
responsive to determining that the fourth screening procedure is required, generating and transmitting, via the at least one computer processor, one or more third notifications configured to initiate the fourth screening procedure and executing the fourth screening procedure, wherein executing the fourth screening procedure comprises execution of a material handling procedure that comprises a plurality of checks configured to determine whether at least one package in the plurality of packages may be characterized as a suspicious package, wherein the plurality of checks comprise at least:
determining that the at least one package comprises an order and determining whether an order quantity of the order is greater than a first upper control limit value, the first upper control limit value being derived from historical orders for a first subset of historical orders comprising the historical orders with a historical customer identifier that matches a particular customer identifier associated with the order, and in response to the order quantity being greater than the first upper control limit value, marking the order as suspicious.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein,
executing the second screening procedure comprises capturing and storing, in the at least one memory storage device, a second screening data associated with the at least one of the plurality of packages, the second screening data comprising (a) one or more manually entered indicators and (b) second screening decontrol data;
wherein responsive to determining that the at least second screening is not required, generating and transmitting, via the at least one computer processor, a first decontrol message containing at least the first screening decontrol data, said first decontrol message being configured to release the at least one of the plurality of packages from further screening procedures; and
wherein, responsive to determining that the third screening is not required, generating and transmitting, via the at least one computer processor, a second screening decontrol message containing at least the second screening decontrol data, said second screening decontrol message being configured to release the at least one of the plurality of packages from further screening procedures.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second screening procedure is performed under a time constraint in a range of 12 to 20 seconds.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein execution of the second screening procedure comprises:
provision of the at least first portion of the first screening data to at least one second screening operator;
manual assessment of the received the at least first portion of the first screening data by the at least one second screening operator; and
creation, by the at least one second screening operator, of the one or more manually entered indicators.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least first portion of the first screening data is provided to the at least one second screening operator within one minute of capture of the x-ray image.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein execution of the second screening procedure further comprises storing the x-ray image, the one or more manually entered indicators, and at least the second screening data for at least thirty days following the one minute of capture thereof.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said second screening decontrol message contains both the first screening decontrol data and the second screening decontrol data, such that the second screening decontrol message operates as a consolidated final decontrol message for a package.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein,
executing the third screening procedure comprises capturing and storing, in the at least one memory storage device, a third screening data associated with the at least one of the plurality of packages, the third screening data comprising (a) one or more manually entered assessments and (b) third screening decontrol data; and
wherein, responsive to determining that the fourth screening is not required, generating and transmitting, via the at least one computer processor, a third screening decontrol message containing at least the third screening decontrol data, said third screening decontrol message being configured to release the at least one of the plurality of packages from further screening procedures.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more second notifications configured to initiate the third screening procedure include identification of at least a primary remote assessor who will conduct the third screening procedure;
execution of the third screening procedure comprises:
provision of at least a second portion of the second screening data to at least a primary remote assessor, the at least second portion comprising at least the x-ray image flagged for remote assessment via a manually entered indicator;
manual evaluation by the primary remote assessor of the received the at least second portion of the second screening data; and
creation of, by the primary remote assessor, one or more manually entered third screening indicators.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more second notifications configured to initiate the third screening procedure further include identification of at least one secondary remote assessor who will also conduct the third screening procedure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more manually entered third screening indicators are further created by the at least one secondary remote assessors and generation of the third screening decontrol message requires receipt of clearance from all of the primary remote assessor and the at least one secondary remote assessors.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the primary remote assessor is a government-associated assessor.

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Baldassari Tony
• Stone Howard

Classifications

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title

• G06Q10/0832 Primary

  Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods · CPC title