Patent ID: 7151447

Claim:
A method for identifying at least one threat to homeland security; each said threat either being hidden inside at least one cargo container before transit, or being placed inside at least one cargo container while in transit; each said threat while interacting with its surroundings generates a unique threat signature; said method comprising the steps of: (A) detecting at least one threat signature; (B1, 1) measuring a background threat signature distribution in a threat-free environment; (B1, 2) comparing each said detected threat signature with said background threat signature distribution; (B1, 3) if deviation of said detected threat signature from said background threat signature distribution is statistically significant, selecting said detected threat signature to be a part of an array of statistically significant detected threat signatures; and (B2) substantially continuously processing said array of selected statistically significant detected threat signatures in order to determine a likelihood of each said threat.