Coupling Data Sequences via Secret Number and Digest

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surveillance systems struggle to ensure that data sequences captured from different parts of the system at the same time are indeed temporally related and authentic, as tampering or network issues can compromise the integrity of audio and video data sequences, making it difficult to validate their temporal relationship and authenticity.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a first secret number into a first data sequence and a first digest into a second data sequence, generated by synchronized processing devices, to couple and authenticate these sequences, allowing validation of their temporal relationship and authenticity even if one sequence is missing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If data sequences are captured by different parts of the surveillance system, then the quantity of captured data increases, but the reliability of temporal relationship between sequences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of data sequencesVSAvoidtemporal relationship reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A timestamp value acts as an intermediary element that is incorporated into each data sequence. This timestamp serves as a common reference that enables validation of temporal relationships between sequences from different sources. The validating device uses this intermediary timestamp to verify whether sequences are temporally related without requiring direct coordination between capturing devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If digital signatures are applied to data sequences, then the authenticity of individual sequences is verified, but the ability to validate temporal relationship between sequences deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthenticity verificationVSAvoidtemporal relationship information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The solution merges two functions into a single mechanism: digital signature for authenticity and timestamp for temporal relationship validation. The timestamp is incorporated into the signed data, so that one digital signature operation simultaneously verifies both the authenticity of the sequence and provides the temporal reference needed to validate relationships with other sequences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If complete validation of temporal relationship is performed, then the reliability of evidence increases, but the complexity of validation process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevidence reliabilityVSAvoidvalidation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The timestamp is incorporated into each data sequence at the time of capture, before any validation occurs. This preliminary inclusion of temporal information eliminates the need for complex post-capture synchronization and validation procedures. The validating device simply compares timestamps that are already present in the sequences, greatly simplifying the validation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4589881B1Method and system for coupling a first data sequence and a second data sequence to each other, and method and device for validating the first and second data sequences as being coupled
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 AXIS
  • EP4589881B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4589881B1 patent drawingFigure 3A
  • EP4589881B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

A system and method for coupling temporally related data sequences to each other to enable validation of them as being coupled. A first device (510), processing a first sequence captured during a first time, generates a first digital signature based on first data of the first sequence and on a first secret number; incorporates the first secret number and the first digital signature in the first sequence; and transmits the first sequence. A second device (520), processing a second sequence captured during a second time at least partly overlapping with the first time, generates a second digital signature based on second data of the second sequence and on a first digest generated on the first secret number; incorporates the generated second digital signature and the first digest in the second sequence, whereby the first and second sequences are coupled by the first secret number and the first digest; and transmits the second sequence.