Joan M Marsh

US Patent:

20050278142, Dec 15, 2005

Filed:

Jun 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/865063

Inventors:

John Beckert - Winter Springs FL, US
William Craig - Endwell NY, US
Joan Marsh - Endwell NY, US

International Classification:

G06F015/00

US Classification:

702181000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for reliably detecting bio-warfare agents in the mail stream that may be released from posted items. The agents are detected as the mail pieces are being processed using typical postal automation machines equipped with image scanning capabilities. The detection problem is solved combining two technologies. The first technology is an aerosol trigger that can be based on a variety of different existing approaches. One such approach detects particulates of a specific size range and examines the spectral characteristics of the particles when illuminated with an ultra violet (UV) or other light source. Other approaches may include: mass spectrometry, ion mobility, IR spectrometry and the like. The second technology involves scanning and analyzing images of suspect mail pieces and correlating aerosol trigger events with mail piece image risk factors. The second technology provides for obtaining images which provide information indicative of mail which is more likely to be from suspicious sources and provide increased risk factors such as the following: a. Excessive postage; b. Badly typed or hand written address; c. Hand written characters are printed rather than script; d. Typed address has uneven background of different color/shade (cut from other paper); e. Misspelled words in address; f. Addressed without any indicated name; g. Excessive tape or discoloration evident in mail piece image; h. No return address present; i. Return address does not match postmark; j. Return address is from a suspect area or interest; and k. Various restrictive legends, such as: “Personal”, “To be Opened Only by Addressee”, “Special Delivery”, “Open Immediately” and the like.