GB2178576A

GB2178576A - Random selection systems

Info

Publication number: GB2178576A
Application number: GB08519574A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lawrence David Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-03
Filing date: 1985-08-03
Publication date: 1987-02-11
Also published as: GB8519574D0; GB2178576B

Abstract

A random selection system for the "nothing to declare" channel of a customs post has a console 2 bearing two directional arrows 4 and 6. As each passenger approaches the console 2 he presses a button 8 and one or other of the arrows 4 and 6 is randomly illuminated to direct him for customs inspection or straight through the customs hall. A variable unit 12 is provided to vary the number of passengers selected for inspection, and a manual override 16 is provided to override the system and direct a particular passenger for customs inspection. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Random selection systems The present invention relates to a random selection system for example for selecting persons passing through a checkpoint at random for investigation.

At customs and excise posts in the UK there is currently operating the system of providing two areas, a first area is provided for passengers with something to declare and a second area provided for passengers with nothing to declare.

Passengers passing through the first area all make their declarations and pay duty on the goods that they declare. Persons passing through the second area are randomly selected at the whim of the custom's officers for search for contraband goods.

The choice of passengers for search is dictated by a number of factors one of which is the number of passengers passing through the customs post at any particular time. Thus a clever passenger can reduce the risk of search significantly by holding back until a large number of passengers are passing through the customs post and then proceeding through the second area when all the available custom's officials are fully occupied with passengers for search.

According to the present invention there is provided a random selection system comprising at least two indicators for directing arriving personnel along one or other of at least two routes, a control unit for controlling the two indicators, the control unit including random means responsive to a trigger signal from triggering means to randomly select one or other of the two indicators, override means to override the selection by the random means with an imposed selection, and variable means for varying the frequency with which one or other of said indicators is selected.

A random selection system embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the system; and Figure 2 is a block diagram of the control unit of Fig. 1.

The system to be described is intended to be installed in the "nothing to declare zone" of a UK customs post.

The system includes a console 2 arranged to be installed at a location where each and every passenger must confront the console at the entry to the zone. The console 2 includes a push button 8 and two arrows 4 and 6 which can be selectively illuminated to direct the passenger in one or other of two directions.

The console 2 is linked to a control unit 10 which will act to illuminate one or other of the two arrows 4 and 6 when the button 8 is pressed. The control unit 10 is coupled to a manual override unit 16 having a manual override button 18 and to a variable unit 12 having a variable dial 14.

The control unit 10 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. As shown the unit includes a random number generator 20 for randomly generating a number between 1 and n each time it is triggered by operation of the button 8 (via terminal 34). The value of n is set by the variable unit 12 which is coupled to the generator 20. A reference generator 24 is set to generate a selected number, for example, the number 1. A comparator 22 compares the outputs of the random number generator 20 and the reference generator 24. When equality is detected, the arrow 6 is illuminated (via terminal 30) and when non-equality is detected the arrow 4 is illuminated (via terminal 32).

A change-over switch 26 is provided to couple the output from the random number generator 20 to the comparator 22 in place of the output from the reference generator 24 and vice versa. The change-over switch 26 is controlled by operation of the maual override button 18 of the override unit 16.

In operation as each passenger approaches the console 2 he is instructed to press the button 8. This action triggers the random number generator 20 to generate a number between 1 and n. If the number generated is 1 the comparator 22 will detect equality between the output of the generators 24 and produce a signal on terminal 30 to cause the arrow 6 to be illuminated. The passenger is thus directed to the right where he will have to wait in a line or queue to be searched by a custom's official.

If the number generated is other than "1" the comparator 22 will provide a signal at terminal 22 which in turn will cause the arrow 4 to be illuminated. The passenger is thus directed to the left where he can pass through the cutoms hall without further hindrance.

Should a custom's officer decide he wishes one particular passenger to be searched he presses the override button 18. This operates a change-over switch 26 to connect both inputs of the comparator 22 to the random number generator 20 so that whatever number is generated by the generator 20 when the button 8 is pressed there will be a signal on line 30 to illuminate the arrow 6.

In order to change the ratio between the passengers selected and not selected the dial 14 is operated to change the value of the highest number "n" which can be generated by the generator 20. Thus the number of passengers selected for search can be readily altered to suit prevailing conditions.

It will be appreciated that instead of arrows 4 and 6 any other form of signalling device can be used. For example electrically operated gates may be provided to direct passengers in one or other of two directions.

Also it will be appreciated that the control circuitry described is purely exemplary and any other form of circuit can be used which provides both a means of varying the selection odds and a means for enabling a manual override.

Also instead of the button 8, a trip switch under a mat or an interruptable photocell beam may be used to register the presence of a passenger at the console 2.

It will be apparent that the system described can be suitably adapted for installation at ports to select cars and trucks for customs inspection.

It will also be appreciated that if passengers are aware that there is a purely random system of selection for customs inspection they can no longer rely on their wits to evade selection for search and inspection as they may have done previously. Passengers will thus be persuaded to be more honest with their declarations, thus increasing the customs revenue, and criminals involved in large scale smuggling will be deterred from entry into the country through routes where such systems exist.

Claims

1. A random selection system comprising at least two indicators for directing arriving personnel along one or other of at least two routes, a control unit for controlling the two indicators, the control means including random means responsive to a trigger signal from triggering means to randomly select one or other of the two indicators, override means to override the selection by the random means with an imposed selection, and variable means for varying the frequency with which one or other of said indicators is selected.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein said random means comprises a random member generator for randomly generating a number within a selected range of numbers, and wherein said control unit further includes a reference number generator for generating a selected number in said range and a comparator for comparing the outputs of the two generators and operating one indicator when equality is detected and operating the other indicator when non-equality is detected.

3. A system according to Claim 2 wherein said override means comprises a change-over switch which couples both inputs of the comparator to the reference number generator.

4. A system according to Claim 2 or to Claim 3 wherein the variable means is operable to increase or decrease the said range.

5. A random selection system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.