System and method for insertion and retrieval of microthreads in transmitted data

• US 20030021414A1
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 440 Pammel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 440 Pammel, Inc.
• Inventors: Nash-Putnam, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,124,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

A system for the insertion of microthreads in transmitted data is provided. The system includes a digital content system providing carrier data, such as sampled audio data. A microthread insertion system coupled to the digital content system generates a composite data sequence that includes the carrier data and microthread data, such as broadcast verification data. The microthread data is camouflaged using the carrier data, such as by including in the audio signal in a manner that allows it to be detected but which does not noticeably affect the audio signal for listeners.

Claims

1. A system for the insertion of microthreads in transmitted data comprising:

a digital content system providing carrier data;

a microthread insertion system coupled to the digital content system, the microthread insertion system generating a composite data sequence that includes the carrier data and microthread data; and

wherein the microthread data is camouflaged using the carrier data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the microthread insertion system further comprises a key encryption system encrypting the microthread data prior to forming the composite data sequence.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the microthread insertion system further comprises a camouflage system receiving the microthread data and the carrier data and performing a mathematical operation using the microthread data and the carrier data to generate camouflaged microthread data.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the microthread insertion system further comprises a carrier length system determining whether the carrier data is long enough to carry the microthread data and duplicating the carrier data if the carrier data is not long enough.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the microthread insertion system further comprises camouflaged microthread insertion system receiving the microthread data and inserting the microthread data into the carrier data at one or more locations.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the camouflage system further comprises a difference system generating camouflaged microthread data by generating two successive sections of carrier data having a difference equal to an integer times the microthread data.

7. A method for inserting microthreads in transmitted data comprising:

receiving microthread data and carrier data;

encrypting the microthread;

camouflaging the encrypted microthread data using the carrier data; and

forming a composite data sequence that includes the carrier data and the camouflaged microthread data.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving the carrier data further comprises:

determining a length of the carrier data; and

duplicating the carrier data until the length of the duplicated carrier data is long enough to carry the microthread data.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein camouflaging the microthread data using the carrier data comprises performing a mathematical operation using the encrypted microthread data and the carrier data.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein camouflaging the microthread data using the carrier data comprises generating two successive sections of carrier data having a difference equal to an integer times the microthread data.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein camouflaging the microthread data using the carrier data comprises storing the microthread data in one or more predetermined data frame locations.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein forming the composite data sequence that includes the carrier data and the camouflaged microthread data comprises storing the camouflaged microthread data at one or more predetermined locations based on a predetermined data sequence of the carrier data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the predetermined data sequence of the carrier data is a predetermined magnitude of change in two successive data values.

12. The method of cl aim 7 wherein forming t he composite data sequence that includes the carrier data and the camouflaged microthread data comprises:

storing the microthread data and locator data in a first data frame location;

using the locator data to determine a second data frame location; and

storing the microthread in the second data frame location.

15. A method for retrieving microthreads from transmitted data comprising:

receiving a composite data sequence that includes carrier data and camouflaged microthread data;

locating the camouflaged microthread data using a flag;

extracting the camouflaged microthread data; and

extracting the microthread data from the camouflage.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising performing one or more predetermined actions using the microthread data.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein locating the camouflaged microthread data using the flag comprises locating a predetermined characteristic of the carrier data.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined characteristic is a change in two successive values of data that exceeds a predetermined amount.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined characteristic is a data frame location.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein extracting the microthread data from the camouflage comprises performing a mathematical operation on the camouflaged microthread data.