Encoding multiple messages in audio data and detecting same

• US 6,845,360 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Arbitron Inc. (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Neuhauser, Alan R., Jensen, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US10/302,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 704/500, 704/201, 341/3, 341/52
• US Class Current: 704/500
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 19/018 Audio watermarking, i.e. embedding inaudible data in the audio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/31 using in-band signals, e.g. subsonic or cue signal

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for encoding and decoding multiple messages in audio data. The messages each comprise a sequence of message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components. At least some of the message symbols in one of the messages coexist with at least some of the symbols of another one of the messages along a time base of the audio data.

Claims

1. A method of encoding audio data with a message, the audio data having a preexisting message encoded therein comprising a sequence of preexisting message symbols, the preexisting message symbols each comprising a distinguishable combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, comprising:

providing data defining a plurality of further message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from the predefined set of substantially single-frequency values distinguishable from the combinations of all others of the further message symbols;

at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the further message symbols having the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the preexisting message symbols; and

encoding the audio data with a further message comprising a sequence of the further message symbols such that at least some of the further message symbols of the further message coexist with at least some of the preexisting message symbols of the preexisting message along a time base of the audio data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein, at least one of the further message symbols includes two or more substantially single-frequency components also included in a corresponding one of the preexisting message symbols.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the further message symbols includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any one of the preexisting message symbols.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein all of the preexisting message symbols and the further message symbols have the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein each of the preexisting message symbols includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any of the further message symbols.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the preexisting message symbols and the further message symbols has the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the further message symbols has a different number of substantially single-frequency components than at least one of the preexisting message symbols.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the further message symbols has the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of the further message symbols have differing numbers of substantially single-frequency components.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein none of the substantially single-frequency components included in any one of the further message symbols is included in any other one of the further message symbols.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein none of the substantially single-frequency components included in any one of the preexisting message symbols is included in any other one of the preexisting message symbols.

12. A method of encoding audio data with a message, the audio data having a preexisting message therein comprising a sequence of preexisting message symbols, the preexisting message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values and a predefined symbol interval within a time base of the audio data, comprising:

providing data defining a plurality of further message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values; and

encoding the audio data with a further message comprising a sequence of the further message symbols such that at least some of the further message symbols of the further message coexist with at least some of the preexisting message symbols of the preexisting message along the time base of the audio data;

the further message as encoded being arranged within the time base of the audio data so that;

(a) the further message symbols have symbol intervals differing from the symbol intervals of the preexisting message symbols;

(b) the further message has a time offset with respect to the preexisting message; and

/or

(c) the further message has a duration differing from a duration of the preexisting message.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein encoding the audio data with a further message comprises including a marker symbol in the sequence of further message symbols.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the marker symbol is a predefined message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from the predefined set thereof.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the further message as encoded is arranged within the time base of the audio data so that the further message symbols have symbol intervals differing from the symbol intervals of the preexisting message symbols.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the symbol intervals of the further message symbols overlap within the time base of the audio data.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the symbol intervals of the further message symbols are spaced apart within the time base of the audio data.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the lengths of the symbol intervals of the preexisting message symbols and the further message symbols are not integer multiples of each other within the time base of the audio data.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the further message as encoded is arranged within the time base of the audio data so that the further message has a time offset with respect to the preexisting message.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the durations of the preexisting message and of the further message are substantially the same.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the further message as encoded is arranged within the time base of the audio data so that the further message has a duration differing from a duration of the preexisting message.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the symbol intervals of the preexisting message and the further message symbols are substantially the same.

23. The method of claim 12 wherein at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the further message symbols have the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the preexisting message symbols.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein the audio data to be encoded with a message comprises compressed audio data.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the compressed audio data comprises data in a frequency domain and encoding the audio data comprises modifying portions of the frequency domain data corresponding to the substantially single-frequency components.

26. The method of claim 12 wherein the audio data to be encoded comprises uncompressed, frequency domain data.

27. The method of claim 26, comprising receiving uncompressed, time-domain audio data and transforming the time-domain audio data to provide uncompressed, frequency domain data.

28. The method of claim 12, wherein the audio data to be encoded comprises time-domain audio data.

29. The method of claim 12 further comprising detecting at least one of the preexisting message and the further message.

30. A method of encoding audio data with first and second messages each comprising a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having a frequency selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, comprising:

providing data defining the first and second message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from the predefined set of substantially single-frequency values distinguishable from the combinations of all others of the first and second message symbols;

at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the first message symbols having the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the second message symbols; and

encoding the audio data with the first and second messages each comprising a sequence of the first and second message symbols such that at least some of the first message symbols of the first message coexist with at least some of the second message symbols of the second message along a time base of the audio data.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the first message symbols includes two or more substantially single-frequency components also included in a corresponding one of the second message symbols.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein each of the first message symbols includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any one of the second message symbols.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein each of the first and second message symbols has the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein each of the second message symbols includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any of the first message symbols.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein all of the first message symbols and the second message symbols have the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein at least one of the first message symbols has a different number of substantially single-frequency components than at least one of the second message symbols.

37. The method of claim 30 wherein each of the first and second message symbols has the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

38. The method of claim 30 wherein at least two of the first and second message symbols have differing numbers of substantially single-frequency components.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein none of the substantially single-frequency components included in any one of the first message symbols is included in any other one of the first message symbols.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein none of the substantially single-frequency components included in any one of the second message symbols is included in any other one of the second message symbols.

41. A method of encoding audio data with a message, the audio data having a preexisting message encoded therein comprising a sequence of preexisting message symbols in a first predetermined format, the preexisting message symbols each comprising a distinguishable combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, comprising:

detecting the first predetermined format of the preexisting message symbols;

selecting a second predetermined format for encoding a further message in the audio data comprising a sequence of further message symbols so that the second predetermined format of the further message symbols differs from the first predetermined format of the preexisting message symbols, each of the further message symbols comprising a distinguishable combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from the predefined set; and

encoding the audio data with the further message symbols in the second predetermined format so that at least some of the further message symbols of the further message coexist with at least some of the preexisting message symbols of the preexisting message along a time base of the audio data.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the preexisting message symbols have first symbol intervals along the time base of the audio data, and the preexisting message has a predetermined duration and a predetermined time reference on the time base of the audio data;

and selecting a predetermined format comprises at least one of (a) selecting second symbol intervals for the further message symbols differing from the first symbol intervals, (b) selecting a second message duration for the further message differing from the predetermined duration of the preexisting message, (c) selecting a further message time reference for the further message on the time base of the audio data differing from the predetermined time reference of the preexisting message, and (d) selecting the distinguishable combinations of the substantially single-frequency components of the further message symbols so that they differ from the distinguishable combinations of the preexisting message symbols.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein selecting a predetermined format comprises selecting second symbol intervals for the further message symbols differing from the first symbol intervals.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein selecting a predetermined format comprises selecting a second message duration for the second message differing from the predetermined duration of the preexisting message.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein selecting a predetermined format comprises selecting a further message time reference for the further message on the time base of the audio data differing from a predetermined time reference of the pre-existing message.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein selecting a predetermined format comprises selecting the distinguishable combinations of the substantially single-frequency components of the further message symbols so that they differ from the distinguishable combinations of the preexisting message symbols.

47. A method of detecting a first message and a second message encoded in audio data as a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, at least some of the first message symbols coexisting with at least some of the second message symbols along a time base of the audio data, each of the first and second message symbols comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, the first message being distinguished from the second message by at least one of (a) differing message symbol intervals along the time base of the audio signal, (b) differing message lengths along the time base of the audio signal, and (c) an offset of the first message from the second message along the time base of the audio signal, comprising:

detecting the first message symbols based on the at least one of differing message symbol intervals of the first and second messages, differing message lengths of the first and second messages and an offset of the first message from the second message; and

detecting the second message symbols based on the at least one of differing message symbol intervals of the first and second messages, differing message lengths of the first and second messages and an offset of the first message from the second message.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein detecting the first and second messages comprises producing frequency data representing substantially single-frequency values of the audio data over its time base and examining the frequency data to detect the first and second message symbols therein.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the first and second messages are repeated periodically in the audio data over its time base and the first and second messages have different respective message lengths,

wherein detecting the first message comprises storing the frequency data in a first memory space such that frequency data separated along the time base of the audio data by an integer multiple of the message length of the first message are combined in the first memory space and examining the combined frequency data in the first memory space to detect the first message symbols therein, and

wherein detecting the second message comprises storing the frequency data in a second memory space such that frequency data separated along the time base of the audio data by an integer multiple of the message length of the second message are combined in the second memory space and examining the combined frequency data in the second memory space to detect the second message symbols therein.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the frequency data are combined in the first and second memory spaces by adding values thereof separated along the time base of the audio data by an integer multiple of the first and second message lengths.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein the first and second messages have respectively different message symbol intervals and detecting the first and second message symbols comprises detecting the first and second message symbols based on their respectively different symbol intervals.

52. The method of claim 47 wherein the first and second messages have respectively different message lengths and detecting the first and second message symbols comprises detecting the first and second message symbols based on the respectively different message lengths of the first and second messages.

53. The method of claim 47 wherein the first and second messages are offset along the time base of the audio data and detecting the first and second message symbols comprises detecting the first and second message symbols based on the offset of the first and second messages.

54. A method of encoding audio data with first and second messages each comprising a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, comprising:

providing data defining the first and a second message symbols to comprise a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values; and

encoding the audio data with the sequences of first and second message symbols of the first and second messages such that at least some of the first and second message symbols coexist along a time base of the audio data;

the sequences of first and second message symbols as encoded being arranged within the time base of the audio data so that;

(a) the first message symbols have symbol intervals differing from symbol intervals of the second message symbols;

(b) the first message has a time offset with respect to the second message; and

/or

(c) the first message has a duration differing from the duration of the second message.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein encoding the audio data comprises including a marker symbol in the sequence of the first message symbols.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the marker symbol is a predefined message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from the predefined set thereof.

57. The method of claim 54 wherein the first message as encoded is arranged within the time base of the audio data so that the first message symbols have symbol intervals differing from the symbol intervals of the second message symbols.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the symbol intervals of the first message symbols overlap within the time base of the audio data.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein the symbol intervals of the first message symbols are spaced apart within the time base of the audio data.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein the symbol intervals of the first message symbols are not integer multiples of the symbol intervals of the second message symbols within the time base of the audio data.

61. The method of claim 54 wherein the first message as encoded is arranged within the time base of the audio data so that the first message has a time offset with respect to the second message.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the durations of the first and second messages are substantially the same.

63. The method of claim 54 wherein the first message as encoded is arranged within the time base of the audio data so that the first message has a duration differing from a duration of the second message.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the symbol intervals of the first and second message symbols are substantially the same.

65. The method of claim 54 wherein at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the first message symbols have the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the second message symbols.

66. The method of claim 54 wherein the audio data to be encoded comprises compressed audio data.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the compressed audio data comprises data in a frequency domain and encoding the audio data comprises modifying portions of the frequency domain data corresponding to the substantially single-frequency components.

68. The method of claim 54 wherein the audio data to be encoded comprises uncompressed, frequency domain data.

69. The method of claim 68 comprising receiving uncompressed, time-domain audio data and transforming the time-domain audio data to provide uncompressed, frequency domain data.

70. The method of claim 54 wherein the audio data to be encoded comprises time-domain audio data.

71. The method of claim 54 further comprising detecting at least one of the first and second messages.

72. A method of detecting a first message and a second message encoded in audio data as a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, at least some of the first message symbols coexisting with at least some of the second message symbols along a time base of the audio data, each of the first and second message symbols comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the first message symbols having the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the second message symbols, comprising:

detecting the substantially single-frequency components of the first message symbols, including the substantially single-frequency components thereof having the same frequency as components included in the second message symbols;

detecting the first message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components thereof;

detecting the substantially single-frequency components of the second message symbols, including the substantially single-frequency components thereof having the same frequency as components included in the first message symbols; and

detecting the second message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components thereof.

73. A system for encoding audio data with a message, the audio data having a preexisting message encoded therein comprising a sequence of preexisting message symbols, the preexisting message symbols each comprising a distinguishable combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, comprising:

means for providing data defining a plurality of further message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from the predefined set of substantially single-frequency values distinguishable from the combinations of all others of the further message symbols;

at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the further message symbols having the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the preexisting message symbols; and

means for encoding the audio data with a further message comprising a sequence of the further message symbols such that at least some of the further message symbols of the further message coexist with at least some of the preexisting message symbols of the preexisting message along a time base of the audio data.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for encoding is operative to encode at least one of the further message symbols so that it includes two or more substantially single-frequency components included in a corresponding one of the preexisting message symbols.

75. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for encoding is operative to encode each of the further message symbols so that it includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any one of the preexisting message symbols.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the means for encoding is operative to encode the further message symbols so that each of the preexisting message symbols and the further message symbols has the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein the means for encoding encodes the further message symbols so that each of the preexisting message symbols includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any of the further message symbols.

78. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for encoding encodes the further message symbols so that all thereof have the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

79. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for encoding encodes the further message symbols so that at least one thereof has a different number of substantially single-frequency components than at least one of the preexisting message symbols.

80. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for encoding encodes each of the further message symbols so that it has the same number of substantially single-frequency components as all others of the further message symbols.

81. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for encoding encodes the further message symbols so that at least two of the further message symbols have differing numbers of substantially single-frequency components.

82. The system of claim 73 wherein the means for encoding encodes the further message symbols so that none of the substantially single-frequency components included in any one of the further message symbols is included in any other one of the further message symbols.

83. A system for encoding audio data with a message, the audio data having a preexisting message therein comprising a sequence of preexisting message symbols, the preexisting message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values and a predefined symbol interval within a time base of the audio data, comprising:

means for providing data defining a plurality of further message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values; and

means for encoding the audio data with a further message comprising a sequence of the further message symbols such that at least some of the further message symbols of the further message coexist with at least some of the preexisting message symbols of the preexisting message along the time base of the audio data;

the further message as encoded being arranged within the time base of the audio data so that;

(a) the further message symbols have symbol intervals differing from the symbol intervals of the preexisting message symbols;

(b) the further message has a time offset with respect to the preexisting message; and

/or

(c) the further message has a duration differing from a duration of the preexisting message.

84. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to include a marker symbol in the sequence of further message symbols.

85. The system of claim 84 wherein the marker symbol is a predefined message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from the predefined set thereof.

86. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to arrange the further message within the time base of the audio data so that the further message symbols have symbol intervals differing from the symbol intervals of the preexisting message symbols.

87. The system of claim 86 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that the symbol intervals thereof overlap within the time base of the audio data.

88. The system of claim 86 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that the symbol intervals thereof are spaced apart within the time base of the audio data.

89. The system of claim 86 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that the lengths of the symbol intervals of the preexisting message symbols and the further message symbols are not integer multiples of each other within the time base of the audio data.

90. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that the further message as encoded has a time offset with respect to the preexisting message.

91. The system of claim 90 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that the durations of the preexisting message and of the further message are substantially the same.

92. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that the further message as encoded has a duration within the time base of the audio data differing from a duration of the preexisting message therein.

93. The system of claim 92 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that the symbol intervals of the preexisting message and the further message symbols are substantially the same.

94. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols so that at least some of the substantially single-frequency components thereof have the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the preexisting message symbols.

95. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols in compressed audio data.

96. The system of claim 95 wherein the compressed audio data comprises data in a frequency domain and the means for encoding the audio data is operative to modify portions of the frequency domain data corresponding to the substantially single-frequency components.

97. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols in uncompressed, frequency domain audio data.

98. The system of claim 97 further comprising means for receiving uncompressed, time-domain audio data and transforming the time-domain audio data to provide the uncompressed, frequency domain audio data.

99. The system of claim 83 wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the further message symbols in time-domain audio data.

100. The system of claim 83 further comprising means for detecting at least one of the preexisting message and the further message.

101. A system for encoding audio data with first and second messages each comprising a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having a frequency selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, comprising:

means for providing data defining the first and second message symbols each comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from the predefined set of substantially single-frequency values distinguishable from the combinations of all others of the first and second message symbols;

at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the first message symbols having the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the second message symbols; and

means for encoding the audio data with the first and second messages each comprising a sequence of the first and second message symbols, respectively, such that at least some of the first message symbols of the first message coexist with at least some of the second message symbols of the second message along a time base of the audio data.

102. The system of claim 101, wherein the means for encoding is operative to encode at least one of the first message symbols so that it includes two or more substantially single-frequency components also included in a corresponding one of the second message symbols.

103. The system of claim 101, wherein the means for encoding is operative to encode the first message symbols so that each thereof includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any one of the second message symbols.

104. The system of claim 103, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first and second message symbols so that each has the same number of substantially single-frequency components as all others thereof.

105. The system of claim 104, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode each of the second message symbols so that each thereof includes no more than one substantially single-frequency component also included in any of the first message symbols.

106. The system of claim 101, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first and second message symbols so that all thereof have the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

107. The system of claim 101, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode at least one of the first message symbols so that it has a different number of substantially single-frequency components than at least one of the second message symbols.

108. The system of claim 101, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first and second message symbols so that each thereof has the same number of substantially single-frequency components.

109. The system of claim 101, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first and second message symbols so that at least two thereof have differing numbers of substantially single-frequency components.

110. The system of claim 101, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first message symbols so that none of the substantially single-frequency components included in any one thereof is included in any other one of the first message symbols.

111. The system of claim 110, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the second message symbols so that none of the substantially single-frequency components included in any one thereof is included in any other one of the second message symbols.

112. A system for encoding audio data with a message, the audio data having a preexisting message encoded therein comprising a sequence of preexisting message symbols in a first predetermined format, the preexisting message symbols each comprising a distinguishable combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, comprising:

means for detecting the first predetermined format of the preexisting message symbols;

means for selecting a second predetermined format for encoding a further message in the audio data comprising a sequence of further message symbols so that the second predetermined format of the further message symbols differs from the first predetermined format of the preexisting message symbols, each of the further message symbols comprising a distinguishable combination of substantially single-frequency components selected from the predefined set; and

means for encoding the audio data with the further message symbols in the second predetermined format so that at least some of the further message symbols of the further message coexist with at least some of the preexisting message symbols of the pre-existing message along a time base of the audio data.

113. The system of claim 112, wherein the preexisting message symbols have first symbol intervals along the time base of the audio data, and the preexisting message has a predetermined duration and a predetermined time reference on the time base of the audio data;

and the means for selecting a predetermined format is operative to select at least one of (a) second symbol intervals for the further message symbols differing from the first symbol intervals, (b) a second message duration for the further message differing from the predetermined duration of the preexisting message, (c) a further message time reference for the further message on the time base of the audio data differing from the predetermined time reference of the preexisting message, and (d) the distinguishable combinations of the substantially single-frequency components of the further message symbols so that they differ from the distinguishable combinations of the preexisting message symbols.

114. The system of claim 113, wherein the means for selecting a predetermined format is operative to select the second symbol intervals for the further message symbols so that they differ from the first symbol intervals.

115. The system of claim 113, wherein the means for selecting a predetermined format is operative to select the second message duration for the further message differing from the predetermined duration of the preexisting message.

116. The system of claim 113, wherein the means for selecting a predetermined format is operative to select the further message time reference for the further message on the time base of the audio data so that it differs from the predetermined time reference of the preexisting message.

117. The system of claim 113, wherein the means for selecting a predetermined format is operative to select the distinguishable combinations of the substantially single-frequency components of the further message symbols so that they differ from the distinguishable combinations of the preexisting message symbols.

118. A system for detecting a first message and a second message encoded in audio data as a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, at least some of the first message symbols coexisting with at least some of the second message symbols along a time base of the audio data, each of the first and second message symbols comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, the first message being distinguished from the second message by at least one of (a) differing message symbol intervals along the time base of the audio signal, (b) differing message lengths along the time base of the audio signal, and (c) an offset of the first message from the second message along the time base of the audio signal, comprising:

means for detecting the first message symbols based on the at least one of differing message symbol intervals of the first and second messages, differing message lengths of the first and second messages and an offset of the first message from the second message; and

means for detecting the second message symbols based on the at least one of differing message symbol intervals of the first and second messages, differing message lengths of the first and second messages and an offset of the first message from the second message.

119. The system of claim 118 further comprising means for producing frequency data representing substantially single-frequency values of the audio data over its time base and the means for detecting the first message symbols and the means for detecting the second message symbols are operative to examine the frequency data to detect the first and second message symbols therein.

120. The method of claim 119 wherein the first and second messages are repeated periodically in the audio data over its time base and the first and second messages have different respective message lengths,

wherein the means for detecting the first message symbols comprises means for storing the frequency data in a first memory space such that frequency data separated along the time base of the audio data by an integer multiple of the message length of the first message are combined in the first memory space and means for examining the combined frequency data in the first memory space to detect the first message symbols therein, and

wherein the means for detecting the second message symbols comprises means for storing the frequency data in a second memory space such that frequency data separated along the time base of the audio data by an integer multiple of the message length of the second message are combined in the second memory space and means for examining the combined frequency data in the second memory space to detect the second message symbols therein.

121. The system of claim 120, wherein the means for storing the frequency data in the first and second memory spaces are operative to combine the frequency data in the first and second memory spaces by adding values thereof separated along the time base of the audio data by integer multiples of the first and second message lengths, respectively.

122. The system of claim 118, wherein the first and second messages have respectively different message symbol intervals and the means for detecting the first and second message symbols comprise means for detecting the first and second message symbols based on their respectively different symbol intervals.

123. The system of claim 118, wherein the first and second messages have respectively different message lengths and the means for detecting the first and second message symbols comprise means for detecting the first and second message symbols based on the respectively different message lengths of the first and second messages.

124. The system of claim 118, wherein the first and second messages are offset along the time base of the audio data and the means for detecting the first and second message symbols comprise means for detecting the first and second message symbols based on the offset of the first and second messages.

125. The system of claim 118, wherein the means for detecting the first and second message symbols comprise a processor.

126. A system for encoding audio data with first and second messages each comprising a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, comprising:

means for providing data defining the first and second message symbols to comprise a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values; and

means for encoding the audio data with the sequences of first and second message symbols of the first and second messages such that at least some of the first and second message symbols coexist along a time base of the audio data;

the sequences of first and second message symbols as encoded being arranged within the time base of the audio data so that;

(a) the first message symbols have symbol intervals differing from symbol intervals of the second message symbols;

(b) the first message has a time offset with respect to the second message; and

/or

(c) the first message has a duration differing from the duration of the second message.

127. The system of claim 126, wherein the means for encoding the audio data is operative to include a marker symbol in the sequence of the first message symbols.

128. The system of claim 127, wherein the marker symbol is a predefined message symbol comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency values selected from the predefined set thereof.

129. The system of claim 126, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first message symbols having symbol intervals within the time base of the audio data differing from the symbol intervals of the second message symbols.

130. The system of claim 129, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first message symbols so that the symbol intervals thereof overlap within the time base of the audio data.

131. The system of claim 129, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first message symbols so that the symbol intervals thereof are spaced apart within the time base of the audio data.

132. The system of claim 129, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first and second message symbols so that the symbol intervals of the first message symbols are not integer multiples of the symbol intervals of the second message symbols within the time base of the audio data.

133. The system of claim 126, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first and second message symbols so that the first message has a time offset with respect to the second message within the time base of the audio data.

134. The system of claim 133 wherein the durations of the first and second messages are substantially the same.

135. The system of claim 126, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first message symbols so that the first message has a duration differing from a duration of the second message within the time base of the audio data.

136. The system of claim 135, wherein the symbol intervals of the first and second message symbols are substantially the same.

137. The system of claim 126, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode the first and second message symbols so that at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the first message symbols have the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the second message symbols.

138. The system of claim 126, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode compressed audio data.

139. The system of claim 138, wherein the compressed audio data comprises data in a frequency domain and the means for encoding is operative to modify portions of the frequency domain data corresponding to the substantially single-frequency components.

140. The system of claim 126, wherein the encoding means is operative to encode uncompressed, frequency domain audio data.

141. The system of claim 140, comprising means for receiving uncompressed, time-domain audio data and means for transforming the time-domain audio data to provide the uncompressed, frequency domain audio data.

142. The system of claim 126, wherein the means for encoding is operative to encode time-domain audio data.

143. The system of claim 126, further comprising means for detecting at least one of the first and second messages.

144. A system for detecting a first message and a second message encoded in audio data as a sequence of first and second message symbols, respectively, at least some of the first message symbols coexisting with at least some of the second message symbols along a time base of the audio data, each of the first and second message symbols comprising a combination of substantially single-frequency components having frequencies selected from a predefined set of substantially single-frequency values, at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the first message symbols having the same frequency as at least some of the substantially single-frequency components included in the second message symbols, comprising:

means for detecting the substantially single-frequency components of the first message symbols, including the substantially single-frequency components thereof having the same frequency as components included in the second message symbols;

means for detecting the first message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components thereof;

means for detecting the substantially single-frequency components of the second message symbols, including the substantially single-frequency components thereof having the same frequency as components included in the first message symbols; and

means for detecting the second message symbols based on the detected substantially single-frequency components thereof.