Remote baggage screening system, software and method

A system for baggage screening that is remotely monitored and controlled, the system comprising:

• a plurality of baggage inspection machines that obtain information about an item under inspection, each baggage inspection machine being coupled to a local network link;
• a storage medium, coupled to the local network link, that stores the information obtained by the plurality of baggage inspection machines;
• a controller, coupled to the local network link, the controller being configured to retrieve the information about the item under inspection from the storage medium via the local network link and to process the information to provide processed information;
• and
• an operator interface configured to receive the processed information from the controller and to provide the processed information for inspection by an operator;
• wherein the operator interface is located remote from the plurality of baggage inspection machines and is coupled to the controller via a second network link;
• wherein the item under inspection includes a unique item ID, the unique item ID being associated with the information to link the information to the item under inspection;
• and
• wherein the controller is further configured to provide status information about the plurality of baggage inspection machines to the operator interface, via the second network link, so as to enable the operator, through the operator interface and the controller, to view the status information and to control a status and configuration of the plurality of baggage inspection machines.

A baggage screening system for remote screening of items under inspection, the baggage screening system comprising:

• at least one baggage inspection machine that examines an item under inspection to provide information about the item under inspection;
• a plurality of item files corresponding to a plurality of items under inspection, each item file including the information obtained about the item under inspection and a unique identifier that uniquely links the item file to one of the plurality of items under inspection;
• a database that stores the plurality of item files;
• an item file inspection device that receives at least one item file of the plurality of item files, analyzes the at least one item file and records screening information based on an analysis of the at least one item file, the screening information being linked with the at least one item file using the unique identifier;
• a server, coupled to the database and to the item inspection device, the server being adapted to control transfer of the plurality of item files between the database and the item file inspection device and to retrieve the item files and the screening information linked with the item files responsive to an input;
• and
• an operator interface, coupled to the server and located remote from the at least one baggage inspection machine, that provides the input to the server and receives the plurality of item files and associated information from the server;
• wherein the server is further adapted to provide information about the at least one baggage inspection to the operator interface to enable an operator, through the operator interface, to control a configuration of the at least one baggage inspection machine.

A system for remote inspection of items, the system comprising:

• at least one inspection machine constructed to examine an item under inspection to obtain information about the item under inspection;
• a database coupled to the at least one inspection machine, the database being adapted to receive the information about the item under inspection from the at least one inspection machine and to store the information in an item file, the item file including a unique item identifier that uniquely links the item file to the item under inspection;
• an item file inspection device that receives the item file, analyzes data contained in the item file and records screening information based on an analysis of the item file;
• a server, coupled to the database and to the item file inspection device by a secure network link and located remote from the at least one inspection machine, the server being adapted to control transfer of the item file from the database to the item file inspection device and transfer of the screening information from the item file inspection device to the database;
• and
• an operator interface coupled to the server, the operator interface being adapted to receive the screening information and to display the screening information;
• wherein the screening information is linked with the item file using the unique item identifier, and wherein the database is further adapted to store the screening information;
• wherein the server is further adapted to control transfer of the screening information between the database and the operator interface to enable the operator, through the operator interface, to access and manipulate the information about the item under inspection and to provide the operator interface with status information about the at least one baggage inspection machine so as to enable the operator to view and control a configuration of the at least one baggage inspection system;
• and
• wherein the item file inspection device is located remote from the at least one inspection machine.