US6330335B1 — Audio steganography

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

A method of processing input audio data to steganographically encode a multi-bit code therein, thereby producing output audio data, characterized by: defining a global scaling parameter; algorithmically determining, from the input audio data, a first parameter for each of a first plurality of portions of the audio data, said first parameter relating to the relative capability of said portion to conceal encoding thereof; encoding at least a portion of the code through each of a second plurality of portions of the audio data to produce the output audio data, said second plurality being a subset of the first plurality, the code in each of said second plurality of portions being encoded in accordance with both the first parameter corresponding to said each portion, and said global scaling parameter; wherein the relative strength of the code through different portions of the output audio changes both in accordance with characteristics of the input audio, and globally in accordance with a global scale factor.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 161 words

A method of processing input audio data to steganographically encode a multi-bit code therein, thereby producing output audio data, characterized by: defining a global scaling parameter; algorithmically determining, from the input audio data, a first parameter for each of a first plurality of portions of the audio data, said first parameter relating to the relative capability of said portion to conceal encoding thereof; encoding at least a portion of the code through each of a second plurality of portions of the audio data to produce the output audio data, said second plurality being a subset of the first plurality, the code in each of said second plurality of portions being encoded in accordance with both the first parameter corresponding to said each portion, and said global scaling parameter; wherein the relative strength of the code through different portions of the output audio changes both in accordance with characteristics of the input audio, and globally in accordance with a global scale factor.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 1 which includes computing a second parameter for each of said first plurality of portions, and computing the first parameter from the second parameter by a non-linear function.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 in which each first parameter is related to a corresponding second parameter by a square root relationship.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 72 words

The method of claim 1 in which the defining includes displaying a graphical user interface, said interface including a feature permitting a user to assign a value to the global scaling parameter, wherein the relative strength of the code through different portions of the output audio changes in accordance with characteristics of the input audio, and globally in accordance with a global scale factor set by the user through the user interface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 which includes processing audio data in real time to steganographically encode the code therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 in which the encoding includes processing in accordance with pseudo-random noise data.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 in which the encoding includes encoding the input audio in a sampled time domain, without a transformation to a frequency domain.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 1 in which the second plurality of portions includes all of the first plurality of portions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 1 in which the second plurality of portions does not include all of the first plurality of portions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 9 wherein there are certain portions of the output audio that have no part of the code encoded therein.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 in which the encoding includes processing in accordance with a non-pseudo random first signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 1 in which each of said portions comprises a single audio sample value.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1 in which each of said portions comprises a plurality of audio sample values.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

A machine readable storage medium having output audio produced in accordance with the process of claim 1 stored therein.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 288 words

A method of steganographically embedding multi-bit auxiliary data into an input audio signal that is thereafter compressed to yield a compressed signal, said embedding being both locally adapted based on audio contents and globally adjustable, and thereafter discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data from a non-identical counterpart to said audio signal obtained by decompressing the compressed signal, the method comprising encoding and decoding processes characterized in that: (A) the encoding process includes: (1) providing an input audio signal comprising a plurality of sample values; (2) providing a control by which a user can set the relative value of a global scaling parameter, said parameter determining a relative strength at which the multi-bit auxiliary data will be embedded into the audio signal; (3) for each of a plurality of portions of the audio data, algorithmically determining a first parameter corresponding thereto, said first parameter relating to the relative capability of said portion to conceal encoding thereof by the auxiliary data; (4) for each of a plurality of samples in said audio, transforming the value thereof in accordance with: (a) a first parameter corresponding thereto, (b) the global scaling parameter, and (c) at least some of said multi-bit auxiliary data, wherein first encoded audio data is produced having the auxiliary data embedded therein, said embedding being both globally scaled, and locally adapted based on audio contents; and (6) compressing the first encoded audio data; and (B) the decoding process includes; (1) decompressing the compressed first encoded audio data to produce second encoded audio data, said second encoded audio data being non-identical to the first encoded audio data due to said compression/decompression process; (2) discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data from the second encoded audio data without reference to the input audio signal.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 288 words

A method of steganographically embedding multi-bit auxiliary data into an input audio signal that is thereafter compressed to yield a compressed signal, said embedding being both locally adapted based on audio contents and globally adjustable, and thereafter discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data from a non-identical counterpart to said audio signal obtained by decompressing the compressed signal, the method comprising encoding and decoding processes characterized in that: (A) the encoding process includes: (1) providing an input audio signal comprising a plurality of sample values; (2) providing a control by which a user can set the relative value of a global scaling parameter, said parameter determining a relative strength at which the multi-bit auxiliary data will be embedded into the audio signal; (3) for each of a plurality of portions of the audio data, algorithmically determining a first parameter corresponding thereto, said first parameter relating to the relative capability of said portion to conceal encoding thereof by the auxiliary data; (4) for each of a plurality of samples in said audio, transforming the value thereof in accordance with: (a) a first parameter corresponding thereto, (b) the global scaling parameter, and (c) at least some of said multi-bit auxiliary data, wherein first encoded audio data is produced having the auxiliary data embedded therein, said embedding being both globally scaled, and locally adapted based on audio contents; and (6) compressing the first encoded audio data; and (B) the decoding process includes; (1) decompressing the compressed first encoded audio data to produce second encoded audio data, said second encoded audio data being non-identical to the first encoded audio data due to said compression/decompression process; (2) discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data from the second encoded audio data without reference to the input audio signal.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 15 in which the discerning includes processing a plurality of portions of said second encoded audio signal to determine the auxiliary multi-bit data encoded therein, wherein greater or lesser confidence in the auxiliary multi-bit data discerned from said second encoded audio signal can be obtained by processing more or less portions, respectively.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 16 which includes performing said processing by a hardware decoding circuit.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 17 which includes disabling recording capability of an apparatus based on said discerned auxiliary multi-bit data.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 17 which includes incrementing a program specific billing meter based on said discerned auxiliary multi-bit data.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 15 which includes: after (A)(6), storing said compressed, first encoded audio data on an optically encoded storage disk; and prior to (B)(1), reading said compressed, first encoded audio data from said optically encoded storage disk.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 15 which includes converting the second encoded audio data to analog form, and thereafter discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data therefrom.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 21 which includes digitizing the analog form of the second encoded audio data to produce a digitized signal, and discerning the multi-bit auxiliary data from said digitized signal.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 15 in which all of said acts occur in the sampled time domain, rather than some occurring in a transformed, frequency domain.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 15 in which said providing a control includes displaying a graphical user interface, said interface including a feature permitting the user to assign a value to the global scaling parameter, wherein the relative strength of the multi-bit auxiliary data through different portions of the second encoded audio data changes locally in accordance with characteristics of the audio data, and globally in accordance with the global scale factor set by the user through the user interface.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 15 in which (A)(4) additionally includes processing the value of said plurality of samples in accordance with samples of a pseudo-random noise signal.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 15 in which each of said portions comprises a single audio sample.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 15 in which each of said portions comprises a plurality of audio samples.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 15 in which the encoding process includes encoding a single bit of said multi-bit code in each portion of said audio data.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 277 words

A method useful for restricting use of audio signals comprising: providing an input audio signal; providing a multi-bit data signal with which the input audio signal is to be steganographically encoded, said multi-bit data signal including a usage control signal; establishing a global scaling parameter for use with said input audio signal, said global parameter determining a relative strength at which the multi-bit data signal will be steganographically encoded therein; processing the input audio signal in accordance with said multi-bit data signal and said global scaling parameter, wherein an encoded audio signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein, said encoding being manifested as slight changes to sample values in said audio signal when said signal is represented in the sampled time domain; compressing the encoded audio signal with a lossy compression process; storing the compressed encoded audio signal on a storage medium; reading the compressed encoded audio signal from said storage medium using an audio device that includes an audio playback feature; decompressing said read compressed encoded audio signal, yielding a corrupted audio signal, said corruption being due to lossiness of the compression/decompression process; applying said corrupted audio signal to hardware decoder circuitry within said audio device; said hardware decoder circuitry recovering said multi-bit data signal from the corrupted audio signal over the course of a portions thereof, said plurality of portions enhancing a signal-to-noise ratio of said encoded multi-bit data signal, allowing reliable recovery thereof despite steganographic encoding of said multi-bit data signal, and corruption of said audio signal by said compression/decompression lossiness; and limiting use of said audio device in accordance with the usage control signal included in said multi-bit data signal.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 277 words

A method useful for restricting use of audio signals comprising: providing an input audio signal; providing a multi-bit data signal with which the input audio signal is to be steganographically encoded, said multi-bit data signal including a usage control signal; establishing a global scaling parameter for use with said input audio signal, said global parameter determining a relative strength at which the multi-bit data signal will be steganographically encoded therein; processing the input audio signal in accordance with said multi-bit data signal and said global scaling parameter, wherein an encoded audio signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein, said encoding being manifested as slight changes to sample values in said audio signal when said signal is represented in the sampled time domain; compressing the encoded audio signal with a lossy compression process; storing the compressed encoded audio signal on a storage medium; reading the compressed encoded audio signal from said storage medium using an audio device that includes an audio playback feature; decompressing said read compressed encoded audio signal, yielding a corrupted audio signal, said corruption being due to lossiness of the compression/decompression process; applying said corrupted audio signal to hardware decoder circuitry within said audio device; said hardware decoder circuitry recovering said multi-bit data signal from the corrupted audio signal over the course of a portions thereof, said plurality of portions enhancing a signal-to-noise ratio of said encoded multi-bit data signal, allowing reliable recovery thereof despite steganographic encoding of said multi-bit data signal, and corruption of said audio signal by said compression/decompression lossiness; and limiting use of said audio device in accordance with the usage control signal included in said multi-bit data signal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 90 words

The method of claim 29 which includes: algorithmically determining a plurality of scaling parameters based on characteristics of said input audio signal, each scaling parameter corresponding to a portion of said input audio signal when represented in a particular domain, wherein said scaling parameters are adaptively related to audio contents; and processing the input audio signal in accordance with (1) said multi-bit data signal, (2) said global scaling parameter, and (3) said plurality of scaling parameters, wherein an encoded audio signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method of claim 29 in which, for each of a plurality of samples of said encoded audio signal when said signal is represented in a sampled time domain, the value of each sample is a function of both first and second bits of said multi-bit data signal, wherein there is a many bit-to-one sample mapping between bits of said multi-bit data signal and samples of said audio.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 29 in which said processing includes performing a binary addition operation between a representation of said input audio signal, and an auxiliary signal embodying the multi-bit data signal.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 236 words

A method useful for restricting use of audio signals comprising: providing an input audio signal; providing a multi-bit data signal with which the input audio signal is to be steganographically encoded, said multi-bit data signal including a usage control signal; establishing a global scaling parameter for use with said input audio signal, said global scaling parameter determining a relative strength at which the multi-bit data signal will be steganographically encoded therein; processing the input audio signal in accordance with said multi-bit data signal and said global scaling parameter, wherein an encoded audio signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein, said encoding being manifested as slight changes to sample values in said audio signal when said signal is represented in the sampled time domain; compressing the encoded audio signal with a lossy compression process; storing the compressed encoded audio signal on a storage medium; reading the compressed encoded audio signal from said storage medium using an audio device; decompressing said read compressed encoded audio signal, yielding a corrupted audio signal, said corruption being due to lossiness of the compression/decompression process; applying said corrupted audio signal to a processor within said audio device; said processor recovering said multi-bit data signal from the corrupted audio signal notwithstanding corruption of said audio signal by said compression/decompression lossiness; and limiting use of said audio device in accordance with the usage control signal included in said multi-bit data signal.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 236 words

A method useful for restricting use of audio signals comprising: providing an input audio signal; providing a multi-bit data signal with which the input audio signal is to be steganographically encoded, said multi-bit data signal including a usage control signal; establishing a global scaling parameter for use with said input audio signal, said global scaling parameter determining a relative strength at which the multi-bit data signal will be steganographically encoded therein; processing the input audio signal in accordance with said multi-bit data signal and said global scaling parameter, wherein an encoded audio signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein, said encoding being manifested as slight changes to sample values in said audio signal when said signal is represented in the sampled time domain; compressing the encoded audio signal with a lossy compression process; storing the compressed encoded audio signal on a storage medium; reading the compressed encoded audio signal from said storage medium using an audio device; decompressing said read compressed encoded audio signal, yielding a corrupted audio signal, said corruption being due to lossiness of the compression/decompression process; applying said corrupted audio signal to a processor within said audio device; said processor recovering said multi-bit data signal from the corrupted audio signal notwithstanding corruption of said audio signal by said compression/decompression lossiness; and limiting use of said audio device in accordance with the usage control signal included in said multi-bit data signal.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 90 words

The method of claim 33 which includes: algorithmically determining a plurality of scaling parameters based on characteristics of said input audio signal, each scaling parameter corresponding to a portion of said input audio signal when represented in a particular domain, wherein said scaling parameters are adaptively related to audio contents; and processing the input audio signal in accordance with (1) said multi-bit data signal, (2) said global scaling parameter, and (3) said plurality of scaling parameters, wherein an encoded audio signal is produced having the multi-bit data signal encoded therein.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 33 in which, for each of a plurality of samples in said encoded audio signal when said signal is represented in a sampled time domain, the value of each sample is a function of both first and second bits of said multi-bit data signal, wherein there is a many bit-to-one sample between bits of said multi-bit data signal and samples of said audio.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 33 in which said processing includes performing a binary addition operation between a representation of said input audio signal, and an auxiliary signal embodying the multi-bit data signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-12-10	2005-06-11	2005-12-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-12-10	2009-06-11	2009-12-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-12-10	2013-06-11	2013-12-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Audio steganography

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