Abstract:
An information barrier for determining whether a person is concealing a dangerous weapon without exposing any sensitive or private information about the subject is disclosed. Within an enclosure, detector means obtain images of individuals, including images of concealed dangerous items, and output the images. Computing means receive the images for separating the concealed dangerous items from the personal image, and output a signal if an image of the concealed dangerous items is located, and display means output a non-sensitive indication of whether the concealed dangerous items have been detected.

Description:
[0001] The present invention generally relates to security technology, and more specifically to an information barrier that protects the personal information related to a subject during a security check. This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. W-7405-ENG-36 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Government has certain rights in the invention. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    After the horrific event of fall 2001, and the continued threat of terrorism throughout the world, security measures, particularly related to transportation security, have become much more stringent. The X-ray machines used for examining suitcases, briefcases and bags can be effective in detecting metallic objects, such as metal guns and knives. However, traditional X-ray technology is not as effective in detecting non-metallic objects, such as plastic explosives. Furthermore, traditional X-ray technology is not generally acceptable for screening people. Recently, technological advances have presented systems that are capable of screening people and packages for both metallic and non-metallic items.  
           [0003]    This technology, however effective as it is in imaging both metallic and non-metallic items, is necessarily quite intrusive. One such system manufactured by AS&amp;E uses back-scatter X-ray to produce quite detailed images. Because of this, many details of a screened person&#39;s anatomy are displayed along with any weapons or drugs hidden under his clothing. Clearly, this presents a serious violation of a person&#39;s right to privacy. Use of such a system only is currently warranted in specific legally justified applications. This, and other, sophisticated imaging technologies have similarly have not found wide application to human subjects in spite of their obvious benefits in combating terrorism and drug trafficking.  
           [0004]    A solution that would allow these technologies to be utilized more effectively is an information barrier. As used herein, an information barrier is a combination of technology and procedures designed to protect sensitive or personal information from display or storage, while at the same time allowing the transmission and display of certain permitted and non-sensitive information. However, along with the protection of sensitive information, an information barrier must also enable an inspector to authenticate the accuracy of the information. It is necessary that any information barrier allow the inspector to be confident that the simple output of the system is accurately representative of the complex and sensitive information obtained from the imaging system. The public needs to be assured that their sensitive personal information and images are neither displayed nor archived. The goals of protecting sensitive information and detecting illicit material are often competing.  
           [0005]    The present invention addresses this problem by providing an information barrier that allows inspectors to reach conclusions about images that contain personal information without revealing any of the personal information. The information barrier taught herein filters the information garnered by an appropriate sensor and provides a simple “pass/fail” to the inspector.  
           [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an information barrier that protects a subject&#39;s personal information from being displayed or archived.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an information barrier that allows an inspector access only to a pass or fail indication.  
           [0008]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    To achieve the foregoing and other objects, and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an information barrier for preventing access to personal sensitive information in personnel screening applications comprises  
           [0010]    an enclosure, and detector means located in the enclosure for obtaining images of individuals, including images of concealed dangerous items, and for outputting the images. Computing means receive the images for identifying any concealed dangerous items in the personal image, and output a signal if an image of the concealed dangerous items is located, and display means output a non-sensitive indication of whether the concealed dangerous items have been detected.  
           [0011]    In a further aspect of the present invention and in accordance with its principles and purposes, a method of determining whether or not a subject is concealing dangerous items comprises the steps of obtaining an image of a subject; analyzing the image for the dangerous items; and outputting a non-sensitive indication of whether the dangerous items have been detected. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated in and forms a part of the specification, illustrates an embodiment of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawing:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, which illustrates its primary components.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a schematical diagram of the power interrupt circuit employed in the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0015]    The present invention provides accurate screening for dangerous items without compromising the privacy of the interrogated individuals. Understanding of the present invention will be aided through reference to the drawings.  
         [0016]    Turning first to FIG. 1, there can be seen a block diagram of the primary components of the present invention. As seen, enclosure  11  provides secure protection for any sensitive personal information that might be gleaned from an individual. This information, obtained by detector system  12 , is separated from the obtained image in computer  13 , where image-detecting software in computer  13  makes a threshold comparison in checking the obtained image for the image of concealed weapons. If an image of a weapon is discovered, only this information is output, so that any private aspects of the entire image are not disclosed. Computer  13  is loaded with and runs image comparison software that can determine within an image of a person if a dangerous weapon is concealed. One such software program is the “Genie” program developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  
         [0017]    Detector system  12  can be any effective personal imaging device that can output a digital image to computer  13 . One such device is manufactured by American Science &amp; Engineering of Billerica, Mass. and Santa Clara, Calif., and is marketed under the name: Bodysearch.  
         [0018]    Enclosure  11  includes access door  11   a,  which allows access into enclosure  11  so that maintenance or other function can be performed on imaging systems  12  and computer  13 . During normal operation, the invention operates with access door  11   a  closed. However, door interlock  14  causes power to be interrupted so that all memory in computer  13  is erased upon the opening of access door  11   a.  This is to insure that no viewing of private images can be accomplished by those entering enclosure  11 . In this regard, computer  13  has no hard drive, and only contains volatile memory. However, with the permission of any subjects, power can be restored after a period of time with access door  11   a  open, as will be explained more fully below. This restoration of power allows system testing and evaluation to occur using informed and consenting test subjects.  
         [0019]    Raw images of individuals generated by imaging systems  12  are passed directly to computer  13  where the raw image is processed and compared with characteristics of weapons. This raw data at all times remains within enclosure  11 , securely away from observation by unauthorized persons. After computer  13  completes analyzing the raw images, it outputs a yes/no signal through optical isolator  15  to a display  16  that has lights or other indicia of the yes/no output of computer  13 . This yes/no output would inform inspectors whether there is an indication the subject of the imaging might be concealing a weapon and requires further inspection. All of this is accomplished without the display of any images that might violate an individual&#39;s privacy. Since display  16  is made up of lights or other “yes/no” indicators, display  16  is completely incapable of displaying any of the personal images. This lack of capability provides the final, graphic, “proof” to the individual being screened that no personal images can be displayed. Additionally, optical isolator  15  prevents any intrusion into computer  13  from outside enclosure  11 .  
         [0020]    Electrical power supply to the present invention is provided through power shutoff  17 , a control circuit that disconnects power supply  18  when door interlock  14  operates upon the opening of access door  11   a.  As previously described, this is to prevent both unauthorized viewing of the current image as well as clandestine archiving of previous images. Although only a single image is stored in the computer at any time, this interlock provides extra, and more visible assurance that all images have been deleted as access door  11   a  is opened.  
         [0021]    Power shutoff  17  is shown in schematic form in FIG. 2. Here, alternating current (AC) supply  21  is connected to power supply  18 , which serves to rectify the AC and produce a direct current (DC) output. Power supply  18  supplies power to the coils of relays  23 ,  24 . When door interlock  14  is closed, indicating that access door  11   a  (FIG. 1) is closed, relay  23  is energized, closing contacts  23   a,    23   b,  and supplying AC power to detector system  12  and computer  13  (FIG. 1). However, should access door  11   a  open, door interlock  14  would open and disconnect power from detector system  12  and computer  13 . Upon this occurrence, normally closed contact  23   c  again closes and supplies DC power to time delay relay  24 . After a predetermined period of time, time delay relay  24  would close, restoring AC power, but only after all information in the volatile memory of computer  13  has been destroyed.  
         [0022]    When power is being supplied through contacts  23   a ,  23   b , interlock  14  is closed and the entire system is secure. Output signal  25  indicates a secure access door  11   a,  being derived directly from the coil of relay  23 . Similarly, if the invention is operating with access door  11   a  open, power will be supplied through contacts  24   a ,  24   b , and output signal  26  will indicate the door open indication using power from the coil of relay  24 .  
         [0023]    Capacitor  27  serves to insure that AC power is maintained as door  11   a  and interlock  14  are being closed. Without the operation of capacitor  27 , relay  23  would be energized and relay  24  de-energized at the same time. Should relay  24  operate more quickly than relay  23 , power to computer  13  could be lost for a brief period of time, destroying any images obtained while door  11   a  was open. Resistors  28 ,  29  serve to limit the current through relay contacts  23   c  during the transition between open door and closed door. Diodes  30 ,  31  shunt to ground any reverse EMF generated in the coils of relays  23 ,  24  when they are being de-energized.  
         [0024]    The fact that all image memory is erased from computer  13  whenever access door  11   a  is opened should serve to allay the fears of the public that any private information could be accessed. It should be emphasized that all functions of the present invention can be accomplished with a single computer as computer  13 . This also should serve to generate confidence in subjects that their right to privacy is not being invaded by being imaged by the present invention.  
         [0025]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.