DEVICE FOR THE RECORDING OFIMAGES OF CLOSED BAGGAGE WITHAN OPERATOR 'S IDENTIFICATION CODE

DESCRIPTION This patent concerns control and inspection devices of closed baggage and, in particular, it concerns a new control and inspection device with image recording of baggage content and the identification data of the inspection operator. In airports and in other places with controlled accesses, baggage undergoes a control and an inspection of its content, without opening it, by using proper X-ray devices. The image of the baggage content is displayed on one or more screens controlled by an operator responsible for its inspection. To ensure the reliability of the control and inspection, the operator is substituted after a short period of time, which is after an average time considered suitable for a person to maintain concentration and attention. In a few situations, such as in airports, the volume of baggage to be controlled is so high that the operator responsible for the control and inspection must be substituted very often.

Actually, the displayed images on the screens are not recorded and there is no way to know if a specific case or group of cases has been inspected and controlled by a particular operator.

Therefore, it isn't possible to trace back to an operator that has not signalled, intentionally or due to a lack of attention or distraction, suspected objects or dangerous goods. Moreover, it is not possible to test the average time of attention of a single operator, so he might be substituted more frequently to maintain a high control level.

To eliminate all the above-mentioned inconveniences, we have studied and created a new device to record images and/or films associated to an operator's

identification code, particularly for those who work at control posts of closed baggage.

The new device aims at recording all images and/or films that are displayed on the monitor/s of the control and inspection. The device also aims at recording the identification code of the inspection and control operator, together with the images or films that he controls and that are memorized.

The new device also aims at transferring the group of images and/or films, as well as the identification codes of the various inspection and control operators that are memorized in separated central files.

These aims and other direct or complementary aims are achieved with a new device for the recording of images and/or films associated with an operator's identification code, particularly for control posts of closed baggage, including a case equipped with at least a video input connector, a video output connector and at least a connector for the personnel's identification devices, at least a connection connector to the separated central files, at least a memory unit and a control circuit .

The input video connector of the new device is connected to the X-ray equipment in the tunnel of control and inspection of closed baggage.

The video output connector of the new device can be connected to the operator's observation monitors.

The connector for the personnel identification devices of the new device is connected to a reader of magnetic cards and/or smart card and/or bar codes or other device to identify a person. v

The connecting connector with separated central files is connected to a recording and filing central unit.

The memory unit is better if it is a rigid magnetic disk, but it can also be static memory or another memory unit suitable for memorizing images, video and other

information.

The control circuit is connected to various connectors and to the memory unit and it supervises the various functions and operations of the new device and it memorizes the images and the video taken from the input connector on the memory unit together with information detected from the personnel's identification device.

The new device is connected, or is permanently connected, to the X-ray equipment that controls and inspects closed baggage and to the operator's observation monitors.

Each operator who starts his control and inspection session will identify himself with the identification device.

Everything that is sounded off by the X-ray equipment, which is what the operator observes on his monitor, is automatically memorized in the memory unit. At the end of the control session, the operator signals, through an identification device, the end of his control session. The memory unit is suitable to contain several images and/or video sequences, as well as information relevant to the operators that have seen them. It is possible to foresee that the operator's identification information is recorded in the memory unit at the beginning or at the end of the control session of each operator, or they can be recorded in time* intervals or constantly for the entire control and inspection session of the operator.

At the end of each control and inspection session, at regular intervals of time or when the memory unit is full, all memorized data are copied on separated central files and then cancelled from the memory unit of the new device to leave space for new recordings. The operation of copying information from the memory of the new device to the central separated files is automatic and performed by a control program included in the new device and/or in the central separated files, or the operation can be manual

and performed by the control and inspection operator, or can be performed through a remote control by a supervisor of all the nfew devices.

The separated central files are accessible only through the recognition of an authorized operator with specific privileges so that the casual or intentional cancellation of a part, or of all, the memorized data in the central files can be prevented.

The new device memorizes all images and/or films that appear on the control and inspection operator's monitor/s.

The new device, together with the separated central files, allow to trace back to the operator who has observed these images or video taken during his control and inspection session.

The separated central files conserve video recording and information relevant to the control operators for a suitable period of time for follow-up checks or inspections.

The characteristics of the new device for recording images and/or films associated with an operator's identification code, particularly for control posts of closed baggage, will be described later in the following description with reference to the attached drawing, which is an example.

In the following picture drawn: X-ray equipment for the control and inspection of closed baggage, (X), a monitor post (V) for the control and inspection and the new device (D).

The new device (D) includes a container (Dl) equipped with, at least, one video input connector (D2), at least one video output connector (D3), at least one connector (D4) for the device to identify the personnel, at least one connector (D7) for the connection to separate files or servers, at least one memory unit (D6) and one control circuit (D5).

The X-ray equipment (X) of the inspection tunnel of the closed baggage is connected to the video input (D2) of the new device (D), while the post monitors

(V) for the operators can be connected with the video output (D3) of the new device

(D) or in the same video output of the X-ray equipment (X) of the tunnel of inspection of closed baggage.

A device to identify the personnel (R) is connected to the relevant connector (D4) of the new device (D). It is possible to foresee a device to identify the personnel (R) made of a magnetic cards reader (T), as shown in this example, or made by a transponder reader, or by a bar code reader or by a smart card reader.

A memory unit (D 6) is placed inside the new device (D).

The control circuit (D5) is placed inside the case (Dl) of the new device (D), is connected to different connectors (D2, D3, D4, D7) and to the memory unit (D6), controls the different functions and operations of the new device (D) and records all images and video sequences received by the video input (D2) on the memory unit

(D6). Each operator who starts his control and inspection session activates the new device (D) and identifies himself with the identification device (R) ₃ in this case, passing his magnetic personnel identification card (T) in the proper reader (R).

Each image or video sequence, taken with the X-ray device (X) passes by a new device (D) and, in this example, is sent to the monitors (V) of the control operator's post.

All images or video shots are memorized with the new device (D) on the memory unit (D6).

At the end of the control session, the operator signals the end of his control session with the identification device (R).

Information relevant to the operator who performed the control are detected by the personnel identification device (R) and are memorized in the same memory unit, together with the images and/or the video sequences observed and memorized during the operator's session.

It is possible to foresee that the identification information of this operator are

memorized at the beginning of the control session recording and at the end of the control session or it can be memorized together with each image or video sequence memorized in this control session.

The recording of images, film and data relevant to the inspection and control operators are kept in the memory of the memory unit (D6) up to when they are transferred to the separated central files.

The transfer can occur after each operator's session, or when the memory unit is going to be filled (D6), or at intervals of time.

Moreover, the transfer of the memorized data is automatic by means of a control program present in the new device (D), and/or in the separated central files, or it can occur by a local control given by the inspection and control operator, or it can be performed by a central supervisor of the operators.

The central separated files are accessible only by the acknowledgment of an authorized operator with specific privileges so that the casual or intentional cancellation of a part or all data from the central files can be prevented.

The new device, together with the separated central files, memorizes all images and/or records that which appear on the control and inspection operator's monitor/s.

The new device, together with the separated central files, traces back to the operator who observed the images or video shot during his control and inspection session. The new device, together with the separated central files, allows the memorization of images, films and data of the operators in different control and inspection X-ray posts (X) of closed baggage. These images, films and data can be kept, seen, compared, analysed or cancelled, according to one's needs.

Therefore, with reference to the previous description and the attached drawing, we express the following claims.