Method and apparatus for the secure storage of audio signals

• US 8,037,321 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US12/421,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/194
• 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

In one embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for recording audio is provided so that the recording can be authenticated. The system may be implemented as a central server that is accessed via one or more lines for audio communication, or as a stand-alone unit. The system operates by encrypting communicated data (e.g., audio signals), storing the encrypted information, and providing at least one user with a key that can be used to decrypt the stored information.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable memory storing instructions configured to direct a central server to perform a method, the method comprising:

establishing communication between at least two parties;

determining audio content communicated between the at least two parties;

encoding, via a cryptographic processor, the communicated audio content;

storing the encoded communicated audio content;

generating, via the cryptographic processor, a key for decoding the encoded communicated audio content;

transmitting the key to each of the at least two parties;

generating a first access code that can be used to obtain access to the stored encoded communicated audio content; and

transmitting the first access code to a first party of the at least two parties.

2. The computer readable memory of claim 1, the instructions being further configured to direct the central server to:

generate, via the cryptographic processor, a second access code that can be used to obtain access to the encoded communicated data; and

transmit the second access code to a second party of the at least two parties,

in which the second access code is different than the first access code, and

in which the second party is different than the first party.

3. The computer readable memory of claim 1, the instructions being further configured to direct the central server to:

associate the first access code with the encoded communicated audio content.

4. The computer readable memory of claim 1, in which establishing communication comprises:

establishing a telephone connection between a calling party and a called party.

5. The computer readable memory of claim 1, in which establishing communication comprises:

establishing an internet connection between a calling party and a called party.

6. The computer readable memory of claim 1, in which encoding the communicated audio content comprises:

encrypting, via the cryptographic processor, the communicated audio content.

7. The computer readable memory of claim 1, the instructions being further configured to direct the central server to:

receive the access code from the first party;

receive the key from the first party;

decode, via the cryptographic processor, the encoded communicated audio content using the received key; and

transmit the decoded communicated audio content to the first party.

8. The computer readable memory of claim 7, the instructions being further configured to direct the central server to:

store an indication that the decoded communicated audio content has been transmitted to the first party.

9. The computer readable memory of claim 7, the instructions being further configured to direct the central server to:

verify the received access code; and

verify the received key.

10. The computer readable memory of claim 1, in which the first access code comprises a timestamp associated with the communicated audio content.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a cryptographic processor in communication with the processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method, the method comprising;

establishing communication between at least two parties;

determining audio content communicated between the at least two parties;

encoding, via the cryptographic processor, the communicated audio content;

storing the encoded communicated audio content;

generating, via the cryptographic processor, a key for decoding the encoded communicated audio content;

transmitting the key to each of the at least two parties;

generating a first access code that can be used to obtain access to the stored encoded communicated audio content; and

transmitting the first access code to a first party of the at least two parties.

12. The system of claim 11, the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to:

generate, via the cryptographic processor, a second access code that can be used to obtain access to the encoded communicated data; and

transmit the second access code to a second party of the at least two parties,

in which the second access code is different than the first access code, and

in which the second party is different than the first party.

13. The system of claim 11, the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to:

associate the first access code with the encoded communicated audio content.

14. The system of claim 11, in which establishing communication comprises:

establishing a telephone connection between a calling party and a called party.

15. The system of claim 11, in which establishing communication comprises:

establishing an internet connection between a calling party and a called party.

16. The system of claim 11, in which encoding the communicated audio content comprises:

encrypting, via the cryptographic processor, the communicated audio content.

17. The system of claim 11, the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to:

receive the access code from the first party;

receive the key from the first party;

decode, via the cryptographic processor, the encoded communicated audio content using the received key; and

transmit the decoded communicated audio content to the first party.

18. The system of claim 17, the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to:

store an indication that the decoded communicated audio content has been transmitted to the first party.

19. The system of claim 17, the instructions being further configured to direct the processor to:

verify the received access code; and

verify the received key.

20. The system of claim 11, in which the first access code comprises a timestamp associated with the communicated audio content.