Protected data container for storing data relating to recorded calls in a manner that enables the data to be authenticated
View Patent ↗Data related to a call is stored to a container in a manner that enables the data to be authenticated. “Container” refers to any type of data structure for storing data, such as a file, database, etc. Thus, a protected container is provided to which captured information relating to a call (e.g., recorded audio of the call, captured application data, captured external data, etc.) is stored. The protected container enables detection of any tampering of the protected data, as well as authentication of such data. A multi-channel recording technique is used to record audio for each outbound channel of a call. Each channel of the audio may be watermarked, and a signature may be generated for use in authenticating the audio data. Information relating to the call (e.g., captured audio, application data, external data, etc.) is captured and streamed into the protected container during the call (i.e., in real time).
1. A method, comprising:
performing, by a computing system,
receiving a first audio signal via a first audio channel corresponding to an outbound path of a first communication device operated by a first party to a telephone call;
receiving a second audio signal via a second audio channel corresponding to an outbound path of a second communication device operated by a second party to the telephone call;
generating a control signal that includes mixing information configured to correlate the first and second audio signals;
generating an audit signal that includes an indication of audit event data detected with respect to at least one of the first or second audio signals; independently watermarking each of the first and second audio signals; and storing the first watermarked audio signal, the second watermarked audio signal, the control signal, and the audit signal in a container, wherein the audit event data includes an indication of a transfer of the container to another medium.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
compressing the first audio signal after independently watermarking the first audio signal and prior to storing the first watermarked audio signal in the container; and
encrypting the first audio signal after independently compressing the first audio signal and prior to storing the first watermarked audio signal in the container.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
encrypting the control signal prior to storing the control signal in the container.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second audio signals each includes a continuous stream of binary packets, and wherein the control signal includes a discontinuous stream of binary packets.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control signal indicates a point in time where a third party is added to the telephone call.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the control signal indicates another point in time where at least one of the first, second, or third parties leaves the telephone call.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
generating an application data signal that includes call detail record information with respect to the telephone call; and
storing the application data signal in the container.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application data signal indicates a three-way calling event occurring during the progress of the telephone call.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the application data signal includes audit information regarding an access to the telephone call, the access occurring during the progress of the telephone call.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein independently watermarking each of the first and second audio signals comprises watermarking at least one of the first or second audio signals based, at least in part, upon the application data signal.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
generating an external data signal that includes location information with respect to at least one of the first or second party to the telephone call; and
storing the external data signal in the container.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the external data signal includes a video image obtained during the progress of the telephone call.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
generating a word spotting signal that includes an indication of a keyword detected in at least one of the first or second audio signals; and
storing the word spotting signal in the container.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
generating a voice identification signal that includes an identification of a voice detected in at least one of the first or second audio signals; and
storing the voice identification signal in the container.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
generating a key signature signal that includes a key used to sign or encrypt the container; and
storing the key signature signal in the container.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
performing, by the computing system,
retrieving the first watermarked audio signal from the container; and
enabling review of a background sound present in the first watermarked audio signal without interference from the second watermarked audio signal, thereby enabling identification of the first communication device as the source of the background sound.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first party to the telephone call is a resident of a controlled-environment facility, and wherein the second party to the telephone call is a non-resident of the controlled-environment facility.
18. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store program instructions, and wherein the program instructions are executable by the processor to cause the system to:
receive a first audio signal via a first audio channel corresponding to an outbound path of a first communication device operated by a first party to a telephone call, wherein the first audio signal includes a first continuous stream of data packets, and wherein the first party is a resident of a controlled environment facility;
receive a second audio signal via a second audio channel corresponding to an outbound path of a second communication device operated by a second party to the telephone call, wherein the second audio signal includes a second continuous stream of data packets, and wherein the second party is a non-resident of the controlled environment facility;
generate a control signal that includes mixing information configured to correlate the first and second audio signals, the control signal including a discontinuous stream of binary packets;
generate an audit signal that includes an indication of audit event data detected with respect to at least one of the first or second audio signals; watermark each of the first and second audio signals independently; and store the first watermarked audio signal, the second watermarked audio signal, the control signal, and the audit signal in a container, wherein the audit event data includes an indication of a transfer of the container to another medium.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the system to:
compress the first audio signal after independently watermarking the first audio signal and prior to storing the first watermarked audio signal in the container; and
encrypt the first audio signal after independently compressing the first audio signal and prior to storing the first watermarked audio signal in the container.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the control signal indicates a first point in time where a third party is added to the telephone call and a second point in time where at least one of the first, second, or third parties leaves the telephone call.
21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the system to:
generate an application data signal that includes call detail record information with respect to the telephone call; and
store the application data signal in the container.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the application data signal indicates a three-way calling event occurring during the progress of the telephone call.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein to watermark each of the first and second audio signals, the program instructions are further executable by the processor to calculate a watermark for at least one of the first or second audio signals based, at least in part, upon the application data signal.
24. The system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the system to:
generate an external data signal that includes location information with respect to at least one of the first or second party to the telephone call; and
store the external data signal in the container.
25. The system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the system to:
generate a word spotting signal that includes an indication of a keyword detected in at least one of the first or second audio signals; and
store the word spotting signal in the container.
26. The system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the system to:
generate a voice identification signal that includes an identification of a voice detected in at least one of the first or second audio signals; and
store the voice identification signal in the container.
27. The system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the system to:
generate a key signature signal that includes a key used to sign or encrypt the container; and
store the key signature signal in the container.
28. The system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the system to:
retrieve the first watermarked audio signal from the container; and
enable review of a background sound present in the first watermarked audio signal without interference from the second watermarked audio signal, thereby enabling identification of the first communication device as the source of the background sound.
29. A tangible computer-readable storage medium having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a computing system, cause the computing system to:
receive a first audio signal via a first audio channel corresponding to an outbound path of a first communication device operated by a first party to a telephone call, the first audio signal including a first continuous stream of data packets, wherein the first audio signal includes a second continuous stream of data packets, and wherein the first party is a resident of the controlled environment facility;
receive a second audio signal via a second audio channel corresponding to an outbound path of a second communication device operated by a second party to the telephone call, the second audio signal including a second continuous stream of data packets, wherein the second audio signal includes a second continuous stream of data packets, and wherein the second party is a non-resident of the controlled environment facility;
generate a control signal that includes mixing information configured to correlate the first and second audio signals, the control signal including a discontinuous stream of binary packets;
generate an application data signal that includes call detail record information with respect to the telephone call;
generate an external data signal that includes location information with respect to at least one of the first or second party to the telephone call;
generate an audit signal that includes an indication of audit event data detected with respect to at least one of the first or second audio signals; watermark each of the first and second audio signals independently; and store the first watermarked audio signal, the second watermarked audio signal, the control signal, the application data signal, the external data signal, and the audit signal in a container, wherein the audit event data includes an indication of a transfer of the container to another medium.
30. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein the control signal indicates a first point in time where a third party is added to the telephone call and a second point in time where at least one of the first, second, or third parties leaves the telephone call.
31. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein the application data signal indicates a three-way calling event occurring during the progress of the telephone call.
32. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the computing system, further cause the computing system to:
generate an external data signal that includes location information with respect to at least one of the first or second party to the telephone call; and
store the external data signal in the container.
33. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 32 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the computing system, further cause the computing system to:
generate a word spotting signal that includes an indication of a keyword detected in at least one of the first or second audio signals; and
store the word spotting signal in the container.
34. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 33 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the computing system, further cause the computing system to:
generate a voice identification signal that includes an identification of a voice detected in at least one of the first or second audio signals; and
store the voice identification signal in the container.
35. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 34 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the computing system, further cause the computing system to:
generate a key signature signal that includes a key used to sign or encrypt the container; and
store the key signature signal in the container.
36. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 29 , wherein the program instructions, upon execution by the computing system, further cause the computing system to:
retrieve the first watermarked audio signal from the container; and
enable review of a background sound present in the first watermarked audio signal without interference from the second watermarked audio signal, thereby enabling identification of the first communication device as the source of the background sound.