Method and apparatus for the secure storage of audio signals

• US 6,988,205 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Sparico, Thomas M., Jorasch, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US10/359,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 713/189, 713/193, 725 25- 31, 380/283, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/158, 379/159, 379/201, 379/202
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 1/00 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0819 Key transport or distribution, i.e. key establishment techniques where one party creates or otherwise obtains a secret value, and securely transfers it to the other(s) network architectures or network communication protocols for key distribution in a packet data network H04L63/062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/258 Service state indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/609 Secret communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0078 Security; Fraud detection; Fraud prevention

Abstract

A method and apparatus for recording audio so that the recording can be authenticated as to both content and time of recording is provided. The system may be implemented as a central server that is accessed via one or more telephone lines, or as a stand-alone unit. The system operates by encrypting audio information, storing the encrypted information, and providing users with a cryptographic key that can be used to decrypt the stored information. Preferably, time stamps are embedded in the stored information. Digital signatures may be used to provide additional security.

Claims

1. A secure audio signal storage apparatus comprising:

a signal receiving interface for receiving audio signals from at least one speaking party;

an encryption processor for encrypting the received audio signals;

a storage device for storing the encrypted audio signals;

a crypto-key generator for generating a crypto-key and transmitting the crypto-key to the at least one speaking party, wherein the crypto-key can be used to decrypt the encrypted audio signals;

a message ID generator for generating a message ID associated with the stored encrypted audio signals and transmitting the message ID to the at least one speaking party; and

a database for storing the message ID and associating the message ID with the stored encrypted audio signals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a crypto-key receiving interface for receiving the crypto-key;

a decryption processor for decrypting the stored encrypted audio signals using the crypto-key; and

a signal transmitting interface for transmitting the decrypted audio signals to a signal destination.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storage device comprises a file server for storing a plurality of messages, each of said messages comprising encrypted audio signals.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal receiving interface comprises a microphone.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal receiving interface comprises a telephone line interface.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal receiving interface comprises a computer network connection.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to embed a time stamp in the encrypted audio signals.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to embed a plurality of chained hash time stamps in the encrypted audio signals.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a controller adapted to store a digital signature associated with the stored audio signals.

10. A method comprising:

establishing an audio connection between at least two parties and a remote recording device;

transmitting an audio communication between the at least two parties for recording by the remote recording device; and

receiving from the recording device a message ID and a cryptographic key, wherein the message ID and the cryptographic key are required for playback of the audio communication recorded by the remote recording device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein establishing an audio connection includes establishing a telephone connection.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing a telephone connection includes:

establishing a telephone connection between the at least two parties; and

establishing a telephone connection between the at least two parties and the remote recording device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein establishing a telephone connection includes:

establishing a telephone connection between a first party and the remote recording device; and

establishing a telephone connection between a second party and the remote recording device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein establishing an audio connection includes:

establishing a computer network connection; and

transmitting audio data over the computer network connection.

15. The method of claim 10, further including:

establishing a telephone connection with the remote recording device;

transmitting the message ID and the cryptographic key to the remote recording device; and

receiving a playback of the audio communication recorded by the remote recording device.

16. The method of claim 10, further including:

transmitting digital signatures from the at least two parties to the remote recording device.

17. The method of claim 10, further including:

transmitting a digital signature from one of the at least two parties to the remote recording device.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a remote recording device;

a telephone system for establishing an audio connection between at least two parties and the remote recording device;

a transmitter operable to transmit an audio communication between the at least two parties for recording by the remote recording device; and

a receiver operable to receive from the recording device a first message ID and a first cryptographic key, wherein the first message ID and the first cryptographic key are required for playback of the audio communication recorded by the remote recording device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the recording device is operable to separately record communication from at least one of the at least two parties.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the separate recording of communication from the at least one party is associated with a second message ID and a second cryptographic key, wherein the second message ID and the second cryptographic key are required for playback of the separate recording of communication from the at least one party.