meaning of would: Of course, her creds would be checked instantly, and...

[KLPNO]

Hi everyone,
I'd like to ask about the meaning of 'would' in the following passage.

According to the literature she'd read the previous day, the scans were automated and supervised by nearby military personnel. Of course, her creds would be checked instantly, and if there were any problem, she was sure she'd know about it by now. By the same token, if there were a problem, she likely would not have been allowed to board the train in the first place.

What does 'would' mean in the sentence 'Of course, her creds would be checked instantly, and if there were any problem, she was sure she'd know about it by now?'

Is it 'will' in the past? If so, I don't understand the second part of the sentence that says 'and if there were any problem, she was sure she'd know about it by now', which implies (for me, at least) that her creds were already checked.

The only guess I have is that 'would' means the following: her creds were probably checked instantly... but I'm not sure.

[Conchita]

'Would' here is a form of future in the past. 'Would be checked' means 'were going to be checked.

[KLPNO]

Thank you very much, Conchita.

And I'd like to ask one more thing. I'm confused by author's using 'she was sure she'd know about it by now'. If 'her creds would be checked instantly' is a past form of 'her creds are going to be checked instantly', what is 'by now' here? I perceive 'by now' as 'already' and thas the reason for my confusion.

[Conchita]

Her creds were going to be checked at some point in the past, i.e. before now. That's why she would have heard about any problem by now (before now).

[KLPNO]

Oh, now I got the point. Thank you very much again, Conchita.