Audio Origin Authentication Using Reference Microphone Channel Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing speech and speaker recognition systems struggle to authenticate the authenticity of recorded audio without prior knowledge of the microphone's channel response, particularly when external microphones with unknown channel properties are used.
Innovation Solution
A method and circuitry for authenticating the origin of audio signals by comparing characteristics and channel properties of audio signals from a reference microphone to an unknown microphone, using speech and channel metrics, and generating similarity scores to verify the authenticity of the audio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If audio authentication is performed without prior knowledge of microphone channel response, then adaptability to unknown microphones is improved, but measurement precision of channel properties deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference audio signal as an intermediary element. Instead of directly measuring the unknown microphone's channel properties, the system uses a reference signal captured by a known microphone to establish expected channel characteristics, which are then compared against the unknown microphone's output. This intermediary approach enables authentication without requiring direct measurement of the unknown microphone's channel response.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the expected channel response by capturing a reference audio signal from a known microphone with predetermined characteristics. This reference copy serves as a template for comparison, allowing the system to authenticate unknown microphones by checking whether their channel properties match the expected pattern without requiring direct calibration of each unknown device.
2Reliability
If channel properties are extracted and compared to expected values, then authentication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the authentication process into distinct functional steps: extracting characteristics from audio signals, extracting channel properties, comparing characteristics, comparing channel properties to expected values, and generating authentication results. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture by dividing complex authentication tasks into manageable modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing expected channel properties in a database before actual authentication occurs. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for real-time complex calculations during authentication, as the system only needs to compare extracted properties against pre-computed expected values, thereby reducing computational complexity during the critical authentication phase.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of authenticating an origin of a primary audio signal, the method comprising: receiving the primary audio signal; receiving a reference audio signal from a reference microphone; extracting one or more characteristics from the reference audio signal and the primary audio signal; extracting channel properties of the reference audio signal; comparing the one or more characteristics of the reference audio signal to the one or more characteristics of the primary audio signal; comparing the channel properties of the reference audio signal to expected channel properties of the reference audio signal; and authenticating the origin of the primary audio signal based on the comparison between the one or more characteristics and the comparison of the channel properties of the reference audio signal to the expected channel properties.


