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

• US 7,124,442 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 440 Pammel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 440 Pammel, Inc.
• Inventors: Nash-Putnam, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Moazzami, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baum, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US09/915,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20030021414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 380/52, 713/161
• US Class Current: 726/26
• 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 microthread data in transmitted data comprising:

a digital content system providing carrier data; and

a microthread insertion system coupled to the digital content system, the microthread insertion system generating a composite data sequence in real time for transmission that includes the carrier data and the microthread data;

wherein the microthread data is camouflaged in real time in the composite data sequence using the carrier data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the microthread data 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 data 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 data 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 data insertion system further comprises:

a 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 microthread data in transmitted data comprising:

receiving microthread data and carrier data;

encrypting the microthread as encrypted microthread data;

camouflaging the encrypted microthread data in real time using the carrier data to generate camouflaged microthread data; and

forming a composite data sequence in real time for transmission 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.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein forming the 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.

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.

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

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

locating the camouflaged microthread data in real time using a flag;

extracting the camouflaged microthread data in real time; and

extracting the microthread data from the camouflaged microthread data in real time.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising performing one or more predetermined actions in real time 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 camouflaged microthread data comprises performing a mathematical operation on the camouflaged microthread data.