Common Workstation for Airport Security Scanner Networking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security imaging systems at airport checkpoints operate as stand-alone systems, lacking standard networking protocols and vendor-proprietary image formats, which prevents remote inspection and utilization of third-party algorithms, leading to inconsistent image displays and increased TSO training costs.
Innovation Solution
A vendor and scanner-independent common workstation (CW) that connects all DICOS-compliant scanners, allowing remote inspection and monitoring, utilizing third-party algorithms as plug-ins, and providing a consistent image display through a universal image format and extensible software architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If scanners operate as stand-alone systems with vendor-proprietary formats, then each scanner can function independently, but remote inspection is prevented and TSO training costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Common Workstation (CW) as an intermediary system that receives images from multiple vendor-specific scanners, converts them to a standardized format, and enables remote inspection. The CW acts as a mediator between the proprietary scanner systems and the remote inspection infrastructure, allowing scanners to maintain their independence while gaining remote accessibility through the standardized interface provided by the CW.
2Productivity
If vendor-proprietary image formats are used, then each vendor can optimize their scanner performance, but inconsistent image displays occur and third-party algorithms cannot be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging system into two distinct parts: the vendor-specific scanner hardware that maintains its proprietary formats and optimization, and the Common Workstation that performs standardized conversion and processing. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently at its optimal level while the CW provides the interface for third-party algorithm integration through standardized image formats.
3Ease of operation
If multiple vendor-specific systems are deployed, then scanner functionality is maintained, but TSO training costs increase due to inconsistent displays
Solution Approach 1:
The Common Workstation provides a universal interface that handles multiple vendor-specific scanner types through a single standardized system. By converting all vendor-specific images to a common format, the CW creates a multi-functional platform that maintains the functionality of various scanner types while presenting a consistent user interface, thereby reducing training requirements for TSOs.
Data Source
AI summary
Integrating a plurality of security imaging units for an airport security checkpoint into networked common workstations, including: scanning items with a first security imaging unit at a primary inspection area, wherein the first security imaging unit is coupled to a first networked common workstation; displaying the scanned items as a displayed image on a display of the first networked common workstation located at the primary inspection area; re-scanning the items with a second security imaging unit coupled to the first networked common workstation when a possible concealment is observed, wherein the first networked common workstation includes a conversion unit which converts outputs of the first and second security imaging units into a common format for the displayed image; routing the displayed image to a second networked common workstation located at a secondary inspection area when the possible concealment is observed, wherein the secondary inspection area is remote from the primary inspection area.