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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11710093-B2
Application number	US-201916510500-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2019
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

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 carrier, the method comprising via one or more computer processors:
based at least in part on an x-ray emitter that emits electromagnetic waves through a package and onto an x-ray penetration grid as the package traverses a conveying mechanism, obtaining previous screening data, the previous screening data including a first x-ray image of the package and first screening decontrol data;
responsive to the obtaining of the previous screening data, automatically determining whether a subsequent screening procedure of the package is required based on a discrepancy between at least a first portion of the previous screening data and at least one predefined parameter;
responsive to determining that the subsequent screening procedure of the package is required, automatically generating and transmitting via the one or more computing processors, one or more notifications configured to cause the subsequent screening procedure to be completed within a predetermined time duration; and
in response to the transmitting and based on the determining that the subsequent screening procedure of the package is required, automatically executing the subsequent screening procedure of the package within the predetermined time duration, wherein the subsequent screening procedure comprises a plurality of checks for the package comprising at least:
determining that the 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 computerized method of claim 1 , wherein execution of the subsequent screening procedure further comprises a recapture of a new x-ray image of the package.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a previous screening procedure comprises: capturing and storing a screening data associated with the package, the screening data including one or more manually entered indicators and a screening decontrol data.

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

5. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , wherein responsive to determining that the subsequent screening procedure is not required, generating and transmitting a screening decontrol message containing at least the screening decontrol data, and wherein the screening decontrol message is configured to release the package from further screening procedures.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 , wherein the screening decontrol message further contains: a package tracking identifier, a record number, a system source type code, a record creation time and date stamp, a record type, a country code, a facility number, an event time and date stamp, a scanning user identifier, a sort date, a sort code, a clear scan type, a method of screening identifier, a screening user number, and a record end indicator.

7. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the previous screening data comprises one or more manually entered assessments.

8. The computerized method of claim 1 further comprising:
automatically and electronically determining whether a successive screening procedure of the package is required, wherein the determining the successive screening procedure is of the package is required is based on an identification of a discrepancy between at least a portion of the subsequent screening data and at least one predefined parameter;
responsive to determining that the successive screening is required, executing the successive screening procedure.

9. The computerized method of claim 8 , wherein responsive to determining that the successive screening procedure is not required, generating and transmitting a screening decontrol message containing at least the subsequent screening decontrol data, and wherein the screening decontrol message is configured to release the package from further screening procedures.

10. The computerized method of claim 8 , wherein the successive screening procedure comprises containment of the package so as to prevent release and/or further transport thereof.

11. The computerized method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of checks further comprise at least one of:
calculating a period of time between an order date for the order and a ship date for a previous consecutive historical order from the historical orders with the historical customer identifier that matches the particular customer identifier associated with the order, determining whether the order quantity is greater than a second upper control limit value, the second upper control limit value being derived from the period of time and historical quantities for a second subset of the historical orders, the second subset of the historical orders comprising the historical orders with the historical customer identifiers that match the particular customer identifier associated with the order, and in response to the order quantity being greater than the second upper control limit value, marking the order as suspicious;
determining whether the order quantity is greater than a first threshold value, the first threshold value being derived from the historical quantities for a third subset of the historical orders, the third subset of the historical orders comprising the historical orders with the historical customer identifiers that match the particular customer identifier associated with the order, and in response to the order quantity being greater than the first threshold value, marking the order as suspicious; or
determining whether the order quantity is greater than a second threshold value, the second threshold value being derived from the historical quantities of the historical orders, and in response to the order quantity being greater than the second threshold value, marking the order as suspicious.

12. One or more non-transitory computer storage devices having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
a first executable portion configured for automatically obtaining previous screening data based at least in part on an x-ray emitter that emits electromagnetic waves through a package and onto an x-ray penetration grid, the previous screening data including a first x-ray image of the package and first screening decontrol data;
a second executable portion configured for automatically determining whether a subsequent screening procedure is required for the package based on a discrepancy between the previous screening data and at least one predefined parameter;
a third executable portion configured for responsive to determining that the subsequent screening procedure is required, generating and transmitting one or more notifications configured to cause the subsequent screening procedure to be completed within a predetermined time duration; and
a fourth executable portion configured for automatically executing the subsequent screening procedure for the package within the predetermined time duration in response to the transmitting and based on the determining that the subsequent screening procedure for the package is required, wherein the subsequent screening procedure for

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Baldassari Tony
• Stone Howard

Classifications

• G06Q10/0832 Primary

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

• G06Q10/08

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