Integrated audio recording and GPS system

• US 6,091,816 A
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Woo, Arthur N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAYADIAN, HRAYR
• Application Number:
  US08/872,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357, 342/357.13, 342/357.007, 380/4, 380/23, 380/25
• US Class Current: 380/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3297 involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps

Abstract

A method and apparatus for indicating the time and location at which audio signals are received by a user-carried audio-only recording device. In one embodiment, audio signals are received at a receiver of a user-carried audio-only recording device. A position determining system generates position information indicative of the location of the portable user-carried audio-only recording device when the receiver of the portable user-carried audio-only recording device receives the audio signals. The audio signals and the position information are stored onto recording media. The present embodiment integrates the position information with the audio signals such that alteration of the position information stored on the recording media results in alteration of corresponding audio input signals stored on the recording media.

Claims

1. An integrated position determining and handheld portable audio-only recording apparatus comprising:

a handheld portable audio-only recording device, said handheld portable audio-only recording device without video recording capability, said handheld portable audio-only recording device further including;

receiver receiving audio input signals;

a position determining system generating position information indicative of the location of said handheld portable audio-only recording device;

recording media storing said audio input signals received by said receiver; and

a selection mechanism coupled to said position determining system for receiving user input such that, upon the operation of said selection mechanism, position information is determined, said position information stored on said recording media so as to indicate the location at which said receiver receives said audio input signals, said position information integrated with said audio input signals to which said position information corresponds such that alteration of said position information stored on said recording media results in alteration of corresponding audio input signals stored on said recording media, said integrated position information and audio input signals encryrted using an encryption key based upon content of said position information such that said integrated position information and audio input signals are stored in an encrypted manner on said recording media.

2. The integrated position determining and handheld portable audio-only recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein said position determining system is selected from the class of satellite-based radio navigation systems consisting of the Global Positioning System and the Global Orbiting Navigation System.

3. The integrated position determining and handheld portable audio-only recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein said position determining system is selected from the class of ground-based radio navigation systems consisting of LORAN, Shoran, Decca, and TACAN.

4. The integrated position determining and handheld portable audio-only recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein said recording media is further comprised of solid state recording media.

5. The integrated position determining and handheld portable audio-only recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein said position information generated by said position determining system further includes the time at which said handheld portable audio-only recording device is at a given location.

6. A method for position and time-stamping a handheld audio-only recording comprising the steps of:

providing a handheld portable audio-only recording device not having video recording capability that includes a receiver adapted to receiving audio input signals and recording media adapted to store audio input and a position determining system adapted to generate position information and a selection mechanism coupled to said position determining system for receiving user input;

receiving audio input signals at said handheld portable audio-only recording device;

storing said audio input signals onto recording media disposed in said handheld portable audio-only recording device;

generating position information upon the operation of said selection mechanism using said position determining system wherein said position information is indicative of the location of said handheld portable audio-only recording device when said handheld portable audio-only recording device receives said audio input signals; and

storing said position information on said recording media such that said audio input signals have position information stored therewith indicating the location at which said audio signals were received by said handheld portable audio-only recording device, said position information integrated with said audio input signals to which said position information corresponds such that alteration of said position information stored on said recording media results in alteration of corresponding audio input signals stored on said recording media, said integrated position information and audio input signals encrypted usin an encryption key based upon content of said position information such that said integrated position information and audio input signals are stored in an encrypted manner on said recording media.

7. The method for position and time-stamping an audio-only recording as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of storing onto recording media said audio input signals and said position information further comprises the step of storing said audio input signals and said position information onto solid state recording media of said handheld portable audio-only recording device.

8. The method for position and time-stamping an audio-only recording as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of generating position information further comprises the step of generating position information of said handheld portable audio-only recording device using a position determining system selected from the class of satellite-based radio navigation systems consisting of the Global Positioning System and the Global Orbiting Navigation System.

9. The method for position and time-stamping an audio-only recording as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of generating position information further comprises the step of generating position information of said handheld portable audio-only recording device using a position determining system selected from the class of ground-based radio navigation systems consisting of LORAN, Shoran, Decca, and TACAN.

10. The method for position and time-stamping an audio-only recording as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of generating position information further comprises the step of generating time information using said position determining system, said time information indicating the time at which said handheld portable audio-only recording device is at a given location.

11. A method for authenticating the location at which an audio recording was made comprising the steps of:

providing a handheld portable audio-only recording device not having video recording capability that includes a receiver adapted to receiving audio input signals and recording media adapted to store audio input and a position determining system adapted to generate position information and a selection mechanism coupled to said position determining system for receiving user input;

receiving audio input signals at said handheld portable audio-only recording device;

generating position information using said position determining system, wherein said position information is indicative of the location at which said handheld portable audio-only recording device received said audio input signals;

storing onto recording media said audio input signals and said position information corresponding to the location at which said handheld portable audio-only recording device received said audio input signals such that said stored audio input signals have corresponding position information stored therewith, said position information integrated with said audio input signals to which said position information corresponds such that alteration of said position information stored on said recording media results in alteration of corresponding audio input signals stored on said recording media, said integrated position information and audio input signals encrypted using an encryption key based upon content of said position information such that said integrated position information and audio input signals are stored in an encrypted manner on said recording media.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of generating position information includes the step of:

generating said position information using a position determining system which is integral with said handheld portable audio-only recording device.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step performed by said handheld portable audio-only recording device of generating position information includes the step of generating position information using a position determining system selected from the class of satellite-based radio navigation systems consisting of the Global Positioning System and the Global Orbiting Navigation System.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step performed by said handheld portable audio-only recording device of generating position information includes the step of generating position information using a position determining system selected from the class of ground-based radio navigation systems consisting of LORAN, Shoran, Decca, and TACAN.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of generating position information includes the step of:

indicating the time at which said handheld portable audio-only recording device receives said audio input signals.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of storing onto recording media said audio input signals and said position information includes the step of:

storing said audio input signals and said position information onto recording media integral with said handheld portable audio-only recording device.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of storing onto recording media said audio input signals and said position information includes the step of:

storing onto solid state recording media said audio input signals and said position information corresponding to the location at which said handheld portable audio-only recording device received said audio input signals.