Personnel security screening system with enhanced privacy

Abstract

The present invention is directed towards processing security images of people subjected to X-ray radiation. The present invention processes a generated image by dividing the generated image into at least two regions or mask images, separately processing the at least two regions of the image, and viewing the resultant processed region images either alone or as a combined image.

1 . A method for generating and processing an image comprising the steps of:
 subjecting a person to an X-ray source;   detecting X-ray radiation;   generating an original image from said detected X-ray radiation;   identifying at least two regions in the original image, wherein at least one of said images comprises a region of detected radiation scattered from a portion of said person;   creating at least a first region image and a second region image from the at least two regions of information; and   individually processing the at least first image and a second image to create a first processed region image and a second processed region image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of combining the at least first processed region image and second processed region image to create a combined image. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the original image generated is that of said person combined with a background. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first region image is representative of the person without said background. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least two regions are identified and the at least first region image and second region image are created by applying a calculated threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least two regions are identified and the at least first region image and second region image are created by applying an empirical determination derived from a library of knowledge. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least two regions are identified and the at least first region image and second region image are created by employing object recognition techniques. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first region image is processed to create a first processed region image that maintains object of interest information and reduced anatomical detail of the person. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first processed region image is a representation of at least a region of the original image that is processed using intensity-based image contrasting. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first processed region image is a representation of at least a region of the original image that is processed using edge detection algorithms. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second region image is representative of all off-body areas of the original image. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the image processing method is employed to detect concealed contraband, dangerous objects, or any other object of interest. 
     
     
         13 . A method for processing images in an X-ray backscatter imaging system for inspecting a human body comprising:
 subjecting said body to backscatter radiation;   detecting said radiation;   producing data derived from the detection of said radiation;   generating an original image from said data;   identifying at least two regions of information in said original image;   creating a first region image and a second region image from the at least two regions of information;   individually processing the first image and second image to create a first processed region image and a second processed region image; and   combining the first processed region image and second processed region image to create a final image.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the original image generated is that of said body with a background. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first region image is representative of said body without said background. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the at least two regions are identified and the at least first region image and second region image are created by applying a calculated threshold. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the at least two regions are identified and the at least first region image and second region image are created by applying an empirical determination derived from a library of knowledge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the at least two regions are identified and the at least first region image and second region image are created by employing object recognition techniques. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first region image is processed to create a first processed region image that maintains object of interest information and reduced anatomical detail of the person. 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  21  wherein the first processed region image is a representation of at least a region of the original image that is processed using intensity-based image contrasting.