GB2493255A - System and methods for screening people and their baggage for threats at the same time - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for allowing passage from a public area to a secure area comprises an automated human security portal, operable to detect a threat on a human subject using a threat sensor and retain the human subject if a threat is detected, and an automated baggage portal, operable to detect a threat in the baggage and retain the baggage if a threat is detected. The person and their baggage are screened concurrently. Passage through the system is not permitted unless both the person and their baggage pass the threat detection processes carried out by the human portal and the baggage portal. If either the person or their baggage fails the tests, then both the person and their baggage are detained and prevented from entering the secure area. Access to at least the human portal may be restricted through a keypad system. The person and baggage portals may be synchronised using optical sensors and a coordination mechanism. Baggage portal mechanisms may include dual conveyers, sliding drawers and variable size baggage chambers. The invention allows a person and their bags to be screened at the same time with both being detained if a threat is sensed on either.

Description

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i Synchronized Robotic Baggage Portal for Secure Access 3 Inventor 4 Robert Osann, Jr.

6 COPYRIGHT NOTICE 7 A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is 8 subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile 9 reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appeal-s in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all 11 copyright rights whatsoever.

13 CLAIM OF PRIORITY 14 This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application 8cr. No. 61/505,510, filed on July?, 2011, and entitled "Robotic Baggage Portal for 16 Secure Access" by inventor Robert Osann, Jr., and U.S. Non-Provisional Application 17 5cr. No. 13/54t,732, filed on July 4,2012, and entitled "Synchronized Robotic Baggage 18 Portal for Secure Access" by inventor Robert Osann, Jr., commonly assigned with the 19 present application and incorporated herein by reference.

21 FIELD OF THE INVENTION

22 This invention relates to access control devices that control the passage of baggage or 23 personal items in such a way as to provide a more secure access path to a building, 24 premises, or secured area. Heretofore such devices include those known as baggage scanners and security checkpoints. The invention also relates to human portals that detect 26 and/or prevent persons from passing into a secure area when they are determined to be a 27 threat, and to human portals used in conjunction with baggage portals.

29 BACKGROUND

A wide variety of security access control devices exist today which attempt to control 31 access to secure areas, Security checkpoints at airports include metal detection and I various forms of x-ray and scanning capability. However, if a person carrying a weapon 2 was determined to pass through such a security checkpoint while knowing they would be 3 instantly detected, they could do so, and until they were apprehended they could use their 4 weapon within the airport. Metal detectors at the entrance to banks will warn if someone carries a gun into a bank, however it will not stop them from doing so.

7 Many security systems combine identification mechanisms such as cards, fingerprints, 8 RF1D, or optical scan of retina or facial features in order to identify an individual and 9 allow them access. Unfortunately, the perpetrator of the crime is sometimes one normally allowed access to a facility or area, and use of an identification card will not 11 hinder them. in the case of gathering places such as lecture halls at universities, schools 12 in general, sporting events, airports. secure office buildings, and large business facilities, 13 if a person with suicidal and/or murderous tendencies is determined to wreak havoc and 14 destruction upon a large number of people, today's security access devices will not prevent them from entering if they are carrying a weapon and intend to use it.

17 Therefore1 new security access control devices are needed that will not only detect a 18 person carrying a weapon and attempting to pass through a security access point or 19 portal, but will absolutely prevent that person and their baggage from passing if a decision is made to prevent them -that decision preferably being made automatically.

21 When it is impractical to scan a person's baggage as they carry it with them through a 22 human security portal, that baggage may be scanned separately. if an access control 23 point utilizes robotic human portals that may operate unattended, it is therefore useful to 24 have robotic baggage portals that operate unattended. To maximize security, when an automatic human portal detects that a person is a threat, that person's baggage should also 26 be prevented from passing. Likewise, when a robotic or automatic baggage portal detects 27 that an article of baggage represents a threat and prevents that article from passing, the 28 person who placed that baggage into the baggage portal should also be prevented from 29 passing.

1 SUMMARY

2 The invention described herein is a system including an electro-mechanical and 3 electronically controlled baggage security portal or screening device for controlling the 4 passage of an article or articles of baggage into a building, premises, or area in a secure manner such that an item that is deemed ineligible for access will be stopped and barred 6 entry and may be optionally retained. The direction of flow through a device according 7 to this invention is electronically controlled and may be changed at any point in time. At 8 any instant in time, the flow through the device is unidirectional. Baggage that is denied 9 passage may be automatically transported in a reverse direction or alternately retained for fbrther inspection. Similarly, a companion robotic/automatic human portal may stop a 11 human subject from passing if a threat is detected, and in addition may optionally retain 12 the subject for further screening. An example of such a robotic/automatic human portal 13 which may be synchronized with an automatic/robotic baggage portal according to the 14 present invention is shown in co-pending US patent application S/N 12/502997 and co-pending British patent application S/N 0B2474205A.

17 In close proximity to an automatic/robotic human portal, theitniay be a conveyor 18 mechaxthm or baggage portal to move and scan luggage/baggage of any type that the 19 sutject passing through the human portal is transporting, and for which it is not desirable for the baggage to pass through the human portal along with the human subject. For 21 instance, it may be more reliable or effective to scan the baggage separately. To 22 accommodate the baggage and enable thc subject to move the baggage into the secure 23 area in the most effective manner and with a maximum probability of detection, the 24 baggage must be cleared and allowed to pass only lithe subject is cleared and allowed to pass, and the subject is cleared and allowed to pass only if the baggage is cleared and 26 allowed to pass. Thus the baggage portal is synchronized with the human portal, and the 27 need for intervention by additional security personnel is minimized, allowing such 28 synchronized portals to operate relatively unattended and to also handle a relatively high 29 traffic throughput rate. If either of the companion human and baggage portals detects a suspected Threat, The subject and/or their baggage may be eiTher seized or gracefblly 31 backed-out of the companion portals together.

2 One object of this invention is that an automatic baggage portal according to this 3 invention may be optionally synchronized with a companion human security portal, and 4 may include some combination of the Ibliowing fluictionalities: fl both baggage and human portals are capable of unattended operation; 6 2) item(s) ofbaggage are linked to a subject entering the companion human portal 7 (to which the baggage portal is synchronized) by a linking or synchronization 8 control mechanism -for example an imaging system with image processing 9 software wherein the imaging system is used by a portal control system fbi the baggage and human portals to track movements of a subject and their baggage; 11 3) if an item of baggage is deemed ineligible for passage, the companion subject 12 (the person responsible for or related to the baggage) is also denied passage 13 through the companion human portal; 14 4) if a human subject is deemed ineligible fbr passage through the companion human portal, their companion item(s) of baggage are also denied passage 16 through the companion baggage portal; and 17 5) baggage items are not released into the secure area unless the subject has 18 physically passed through the human portal into the secure area.

An alternative and exemplary synchronization mechanism includes the user entering a 21 brief key code on a keypad when they place their baggage in the portal and then they 22 enter the saute code when entering the human portal to signi' they are the owner of the 23 specific baggage. Then, both baggage and the subject/owner must pass the security 24 screening in both portals for either to pass through successfully, and the baggage is subsequently retrieved at the portal exit when the user again enters the same code.

27 Personal identification mechanisms other than a key code may alternately be utilized to 28 connect a responsible person with their baggage. For example, fingerprint identification 29 may be used or any other form of personal ID known in the art such as retina scan or facial characteristics.

I It is also an object of the invention to prevent a subject from sending an item of baggage 2 containing a weapon through the baggage portal, clearing themselves through the 3 companion human portal, and then not completing their passage through the human 4 portal. This scenario could result in a weapon being left in the secured area, while the subject escapes through the non-secure area outside the portal. Therefore, an optional 6 requirement of the invention is to require that a subject completely pass through the 7 human portal before their baggage is passed through.

9 Should an operational exception happen during operation of the companion human and baggage portals according to the invention, an alarm should optionally summon the 11 appropriate authorities.

13 Another object of this invention is that multiple access control devices such as those 14 described herein may be stacked side-by side to allow for greater throughput. When this is done, some human portals may have baggage portals adjacent to them and some may 16 not be associated with a baggage portal since not all persons traveling through a human 17 portal will be carrying baggage. A baggage portal may be located between two human 18 portals and essentially be shared between the two. Alternately, a baggage portal may be 19 strictly associated with a single human portal. A dual baggage portal may be provided to service two human portals, or alternately to service a single human portal if additional 21 throughput is desired.

23 The baggage portal may be a conveyor mechanism or a form of sliding drawer, but 24 should have some form of dividing bather ahead of and behind the baggage corresponding to a specific subject such that there is never a clear path through the 26 baggage portal from input to output at anytime. This prevents unauthorized weapon 27 passing and the same restriction should be applied to any human portal that is used as a 28 companion portal with a baggage portal described herein. It maybe additionally desirable 29 for these dividing barriers to form relatively air-tight seals around the baggage as the baggage is moved through the baggage portal such that an explosive, chemical, or bio 31 sniffing sensor has a maximum ability to detect trace vapors being out-gassed from the I baggage being tested, since the smaller air space would intensify the vapor 2 concentration. To better facilitate a reduction in the size of the space being occupied by 3 the baggage during this vapor sensing operation, some of the walls (any combination of 4 the 6 walls surrounding the baggage) may be moved under computer control to form a chamber of minimum size to enclose the baggage once the baggage has been released by 6 the subject to begin its travel through the baggage portal. Seiisors (proximity and/or 7 tactile) are used to prevent and protect the baggage from damage. To accelerate 8 vaporization of trace explosives, a light and/or heat emitting mechanism may flash once 9 the baggage is sealed within the baggage portal, or alternately the surface of the baggage may be lit with a laser for this purpose. Heat may also be applied along with a controlled 11 airflow.

13 A variety of threat sensors may be included in a baggage portal according to the subject 14 invention, implemented with technologies that may include but are not limited to metal detectors; chemical, explosive, biological, and radiological sensors; scanning 16 technologies including x-ray imaging, backseatter x-ray imaging, penetrating (1JWB) 17 radar imaging, and millimeter wave imaging; and laser based scanning technologies that 18 scan the surface of the baggage. Such sensors and associated sensor-related components 19 are well known in the art and may be incorporated into any components of the structure comprising the baggage portal mechanism including the side walls, floor, ceiling, and any 21 surfaces of any moving dividers or panels.

23 It is also useflul for thc baggage portal to include a mechanism to help cach subject 24 control their baggage and prevent another person from adding an object in with their baggage, taking their baggage, or otherwise tampering with or having access to their 26 baggagc. Thus, aflcr a subject inserts their baggage into the input bin of the baggagc 27 portal, they may cause a cover to seal the portal so as they walk over to a companion 28 human portal (and take their eyes off the baggage portal), the baggage portal is sealed so 29 they don't have to worry about others having access to their baggage.

1 When a companion human portal is utilized along with a robotic baggage portal, the 2 human portal may be any type. However, a preferred human portal for this application 3 should be automatic and capable of fully detaining or preventing a person from passing 4 when a threat is detected either on the person or in their baggage when that baggage is scanned by a companion baggage portal. Thus, a preferred human portal should have 6 separate entry and exit doors and as such falls into the category commonly known as a 7 "man trap" portal, or alternately be an automatic LRD portal or Linear Revolving Door as 8 described in co-pending US patent application S/N 12/502997 and co-pending British 9 patent application S/N 002474205k

II BRIEF DESCRiPTION OF ThE DRAWINGS

12 Figure 1 shows an exemplary and non-limiting robotic baggage portal according to the 13 invention used in conjunction with and synchronized with a companion robotic human 14 portal.

16 Figure 2 shows an exemplary robotic baggage portal and companion robotic human 17 portal where the two arc synchronized using an optical tracking and coordination control 18 mechanism.

Figure 3 shows one exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the invention where a 21 baggage portal with dual conveyance paths is used in conjunction with a companion 22 humanportal.

24 Figure 4 shows a side, cross-sectional view of the portal combination of figure 3 and describes the sequence of use.

27 FigureS shows a baggage portal such as that of figure 4, where some baggage access 28 openings are open while other openings are covered.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section view of two sets of companion human/baggage portals 31 according to figures 3,4, and 5 where each baggage portal is a dual baggage portal.

2 Figure 7 shows a dual baggage portal positioned between two human portals.

4 Figure 8 shows a side view of the configuration of figure 7.

6 Figure 9 shows one exemplary implementation for a baggage conveyor mechanism where 7 a baggage portal utilizes a conveyor as opposed to a sliding tray or compartment.

9 Figure 10 shows one embodiment of a conveyance system for a robotic baggage portal wherein powered rollers are utilized along with a variable size baggage chamber.

12 Figure 11 shows an alternative embodiment for a variable size baggage chamber.

14 Figure 12 shows an alternate embodiment for a baggage portal which operates in a synchronized manner with a companion human portal, in this example tracking a 16 connection between baggage items and baggage owner by way of a personal 17 identification mechanism.

39 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 shows an exemplary and non-limiting robotic baggage portal 101 according to 21 the invention used in conjunction with a companion robotic human portal 102 shown 22 adjacent each other in the top view of figure la. Figure lb shows cross section A-A 23 indicating a conveyor-type platform 103 may be used to move baggage belonging to or 24 related to a subject 104 through baggage portal 101.

26 Figure 2 shows an exemplary baggage portal 101 and companion human portal 102 27 where the two are synchronized such that a subject 203 and their baggage 202 will both 28 be stopped or detained if either is detected to represent a threat. To coordinate/correlate 29 articles of baggage with a particular subject, an imaging mechanism is used in the example of figure 2 to observe the movements of the subject (and any other persons in 31 the vicinity) as the subject: 2 I) places their baggage into baggage portal 101 as shown n figure 2a; 3 2) walks 203 into the human portal as shown in figure 2b; and 4 3) exits 204 the human portal and retrieves their baggage as shown in figure 2e.

6 When baggage is placed in the baggage portal as shown in figure 2a, an imaging system 7 with imaging sensor 205, located at the entrance side in an unsecure area, notices the 8 connectionlproxiniity between the subject person and their baggage, making the 9 conclusion or inference that the particular baggage hems are related to the subject due to their close proximity to the subject. Imaging sensor 205 then monitors the subject's 11 movements as they enter the human portal in figure 2b. As the subject exits the portal as 12 shown in figure 2c, imaging sensor 206 on the exit side of the portal notices the subject 13 and tracks their movement as they move towards the exit of the baggage portal. The 14 imaging system then takes note of the person's movements as they are reunited with their baggage and allows the subject to extract their baggage from the baggage portal. Note 16 that while only one imaging sensor is shown at each of the input and output of the portals 17 in figure 2, multiple imaging sensors may be used at both input and output. One purpose 18 of the imaging system is to ensure that the baggage a person placed in the portal is 19 reunited successfluly with that person. Another purpose of the imaging system is to ensure that other persons do not take possession of or tamper with the baggage in an tin- 21 authorized manner, whereby an alarm and/or notification of the authorities would result.

22 If for instance a guard or other authorized person was to assist a baggage owner in 23 placing or retrieving their baggage, an override mechanism would be available to enable 24 this without setting off an alatm. Such a situation may arise when an elderly or disabled person needs to pass through the portal, or alternately a child accompanied by an adult.

26 Optionally, all imaging activity can be recorded and played-back at a later time.

28 Figure 3 shows one exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the invention where a 29 baggage portal with dual conveyance paths is used in conjunction with a companion human portal. Tn figure 3a, a top view shows a baggage portal 103 and human portal 102 31 adjacent to each other. Figure 3b shows cross-section A-A where two baggage portal 1 paths arc shown, in this example implemented as conveyors. These include an upper 2 portal 30! and a lower portal 302. The purpose of the dual conveyance paths in this 3 example is to increase the rate of throughput of the baggage portal in order to support a 4 faster rate of passage through the companion human portal. This will be explained further with regard to figures 4,5, and 6. Thexemplaiy and non-limiting embodiments, 6 dual baggage portals may be implemented as dual conveyers or as dual sliding 7 compartments or drawers, to name a few possible implementations.

9 Figure 4 shows a side and cross-sectional view of the portal combination of figureS and explains the sequence of use. According to figure 4, a first subject having already passed 11 through the hwnan portal is removing their baggage 401 from the lower portal while a 12 second subject is simultaneously inserting their baggage 402 into the upper portal of the 13 dual baggage portal. If a sliding tray or compartment is used to move the baggage 14 through the baggage portal instead of a conveyc; the dual conveyance path configuration also allows one tray to be returning while another is moving in the direction of Iravel, 16 thus increasing the overall throughput rate for a baggage/human portal pair.

18 FigureS shows a baggage portal such as that of figure 4, except as shown in figureS 19 some openings 501 and 502 to the baggage access areas are open while other openings 503 and 504 which are not accessible at the moment are shown covered, as they would be 21 at times during operation according to figures 3 and 4. Per figures, an access opening on 22 a baggage portal would only be open for access when the baggage owner (or some other 23 authorized or related person) is attempting to insert or retrieve items of baggage.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section view of two sets of companion human1baggage portals 26 accordingtoflgurcs3,4,and5whcreeachbaggageportalisadualbaggageportalin 27 order to offer fast throughput for each subject, and the portals are stacked side-by-side to 28 offer yet more throughput. Baggage portals 601 and 602 service human subjects passing 29 through portal 603 and Baggage portals 604 and 605 service human subjects passing through portal 606. -Il-

I Figure 7 shows a dual baggage portal 70! positioned between two human portals, 702 2 and 703. A configuration such as this maybe used to allow one dual baggage portal to be 3 shared between the two human portals. To accomplish this, access doors on each side of 4 the baggage portal may be controlled individually to allow access from either the left or right side depending on which human portal the baggage portal is servicing at the time.

6 As such, upper conveyor 704 may service a subject passing through human portal 703, 7 while simultaneously, lower conveyor 705 may service a subject passing through human 8 portal 702. Alternately, through programming of the control system for these robotic 9 portals, duai baggage portal 701 may service only one of humanportals 102 and 703 in order to provide faster throughput by alternating which of 702 and 703 services each of 11 successive subjects, while the other of 702 and 703 services only subjects with no 12 baggage or alternately services subjects passing in the opposite direction to exit the 13 secure area.

Figure 8 show's a side view of the configuration of figure 7, in this instance the lower 16 conveyor 705 of the dual baggage portal is servicing human portal 703 of figure 7.

18 Figure 9 show's one exemplary implementation for a baggage conveyor mechanism where 19 a. baggage portal utilizes a conveyor as opposed to a sliding tray or compartment. In this case each of rollers 901 of the conveyor mechanism is operated independently with its 21 own drive mechanism and also has the ability to sense weight 902 placed on it by a 22 baggage item 903 such that the mass and size of a piece of baggage and position of the 23 baggage is determined by a controller mechanism that controls the baggage portal. When 24 adjacent rollers detect weight, it can be assumed that they are both supporting a baggage item or items. Where one roller detects weight and an adjacent roller does not, it can be 26 assumed that the edge of a baggage item lies between them. Such infon'nation is 27 especially useful if a variable size baggage chamber is utilized per figures 10 and 11.

29 Figure 10 show's one embodiment of a conveyance system for a robotic baggage portal wherein powered rollers are utilized along with a variable size baggage chamber. Figures 31 1 Oa and I Oc show rollers 100! used to move a subject's baggage 1002 through the portal.

1 In reality, the conveyance system of figure 10 may utilize toilers, a movable tray or 2 compartment, a combination thereof; or any other suitable conveyance system whereby 3 there can exist movable wall(s) 1003 adjacent the subject's baggage. In figure lOB 4 movable walls of the baggage compartment are shown as they are moved closer 1004 to the baggage thereby decreasing the amount of airspace sunounding the baggage and 6 concentrating any threatening vapors present on or neat the baggage. In order to sense 7 the height of the baggage, a laser, infrared, sonic, or other appropriate sensing system 8 may be used in any movable panels adjacent to the subject's baggage. In figure 1OC the 9 subjects baggage has been transported through tbe robotic baggage portal and the walls of the baggage compartment have expanded 1005 to their original positions in order to 11 facilitate retrieval of the baggage by the subject.

13 Figure 11 shows an alternative embodiment for a variable size baggage chamber with 14 movable wall panel mechanisms whereby as shown in figure 1 lathe panel above the subject's baggage is segmented and individual segments. For example segments 1101, 16 1102, 1103, and 1104, are moved separately in order to minimize empty space around the 17 subject's baggage 1105 whereby the volume of the baggage compartment is automatically 18 minimized in order to concentrate threat vapors emitted from the baggage. As shown in 19 figure 1 ib, individual moving panels may be implemented for example as telescoping panel segments such as for example segments 1106 and 1107.

22 Figure 12 shows an alternate embodiment for a baggage portal which operates in a 23 synchronized manner with a companion human portal. Here, the coordination between 24 the subject and their baggage is accomplished by way of keypad entry of a brief code (like a 4-digit PIN) or some alternative form of quick personal identification verification 26 like a fingerprint, followed by a tracking and coordination operation perlbrmcd by a 27 controller within, or in communication with, the robotic human and baggage portals. In 28 the exemplary and non-limiting process described in figure 12a, subject 201 places their 29 baggage 202 into baggage portal 101 and identifies them self to the baggage portal by, for example, entering a short code into Keypad! 1201. Baggage portal 101 then closes over 31 their baggage thus securing the baggage, and subsequently per figure 1 2b subject 201 1 walks 1202 to the entry of human portal 102 and enters the same code into Keypad_2 2 1203. They then pass 1204 through human portal 102 per figure 121, (assuming no threat 3 is detected) and simultaneously their baggage 202 is scanned for threats in the baggage 4 portal. If neither baggage nor human subject are found to represent threats, both pass through the companion portals and in figure 12c subject 201 walks 204 to the exit 6 opening of baggage portal 101 to retrieve baggage 202. Subject 201 then identities them 7 self to baggage portal 101 by fbr example entering the same code into Keypad_3 1205 at 8 the baggage portal exit. Subsequently, the baggage portal opens revealing baggage 202, 9 and subject 201 then retrieves 1206 their baggage. Note that the imaging system for portal synchronization shown in figure 2 may be combined with, or substituted in whole 11 or in part, by any combination of a keypad, fingerprint, or any other personal 12 identification mechanism per figure 12, to implement synchronization and eontml of 13 companion baggage and human robotic security portals. Itt.

17 Thus, the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention has 18 been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be 19 exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts. For example, 21 unless otherwise specified, steps prefomied in the embodiments of the invention 22 disclosed can be pcrformcd in alternate orders, certain steps can be omitted, and 23 additional steps can be added. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to 24 best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with 26 various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that 27 the scope of the invention be defined by the claims and their equivalents.