Patent ID: 7312702
Filing Date: 2007-12-25
Classification: G06Q,G08B

Abstract:
1. A method of expediting a release procedure of at least one cargo container at at least one border crossing or at at least one customs entry point by detecting each statistically significant threat (SST) signal associated with at least one said cargo container while in transit, and by tracking and reporting to an appropriate party the position coordinates and a security status of each said cargo container that generated at least one said SST signal, wherein said appropriate party is selected from the group consisting of: {Homeland Security agency; and a cargo security agency}; wherein said cargo security agency is further selected from the group consisting of: {a consignee; a steamship line; a customs broker; a freight forwarder; and a terminal operator}; said method comprising the steps of: (A) detecting at least one said SST signal associated with at least one said cargo container while in transit; wherein each said SST signal generates a threat signal having a threat probability higher than a predetermined threshold; (B) if at least one said SST signal associated with at least one said cargo container while in transit was detected, identifying each said cargo container that generated at least one said SST signal and classifying the security status of each said cargo container as a Potential Threat (PT) cargo container; wherein each said cargo container that was not classified as said PT cargo container is classified as having a security status of an Expedited Release Procedure (ERP) cargo container; (C) tracking and reporting position coordinates and said security status of each said PT cargo container to each said appropriate party; (D) tracking and reporting position coordinates and said security status of each said ERP cargo container to each said appropriate party; (E1, 1) compiling a set of security data indicating a security status for each said container while in transit; (E1, 2) analyzing said set of security data compiled in said step (E1, 1); (E1, 3) if said set of security data includes an ERP status for each said container in said cargo shipment, making a determination of whether said cargo shipment including said plurality N of said ERP cargo containers should be immediately released into commerce; and (E1, 4) if said set of security data indicates a change from an ERP security status to a PT security status for an integer K number of said ERP containers, making a determination of whether said cargo shipment including a plurality (N-K) of said ERP cargo containers and a plurality K of containers with indefinite security status (ISS) should be inspected before said cargo shipment is released into commerce.