Media Stream Content Tagging for Encrypted Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for verifying program and ad content in media streams, such as deep packet inspection (DPI) devices, are expensive and inefficient due to encryption, especially when dealing with encrypted media streams.
Innovation Solution
Content tagging involves inserting tags or markers into media streams, particularly in the IP header or Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) packets, to identify and verify the content as it travels through the network, allowing devices to inspect and report on the content, even in encrypted streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deep packet inspection (DPI) devices are deployed to verify media stream content, then content verification capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media stream verification function by inserting separate tag identifiers into the stream that can be independently inspected. Instead of using complex DPI devices to analyze the entire encrypted stream, the system divides the verification task into: (1) inserting tags at the source, (2) transporting tags through the network, and (3) verifying tags at intermediate points. This segmentation allows simpler, less expensive devices to perform verification without needing full DPI capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tags as intermediary elements that mediate between the encrypted media content and verification devices. These tags carry identification information about the media content without requiring decryption of the actual stream. Verification devices can inspect these intermediary tags to confirm content identity, eliminating the need for expensive DPI devices that would otherwise be required to analyze encrypted payloads directly.
2Measurement precision
If deep packet inspection (DPI) devices are used to decode and verify encrypted media streams, then content identification accuracy is improved, but processing efficiency and speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential verification information (content identification) from the encrypted media stream and places it into separate tags. Instead of using DPI devices to decode and analyze the entire encrypted stream to identify content, the system extracts only the necessary identification data into tags that can be quickly inspected. This extraction maintains content identification accuracy while dramatically improving processing efficiency, as verifying a tag is much faster than decrypting and analyzing the full stream.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If encryption is applied to media streams for security, then content protection is improved, but the ability to verify and inspect content deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses tags as intermediary carriers that bridge the gap between encrypted content and verification needs. The tags contain content identification information that is visible and inspectable without requiring decryption of the encrypted media stream. This allows the system to maintain strong encryption for content protection while simultaneously enabling easy verification and inspection through the intermediary tags, resolving the contradiction between security and inspectability.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a network device comprises a tag processor configured to process a media stream received at the network device. The media stream is sent through a network to a desired destination. The tag processor comprises at least one of a tag inserter module and a tag module. The tag inserter module inserts a tag into the media stream, the tag indicating content of the media stream and the network device providing the tag. The tag module identifies and reports a value of a tag received within the media stream, and forwards the media stream to a user and/or compares the identified value to an expected tag value, and forwards the media stream to a user in the event that the comparison indicates a match. The present invention embodiments further include a method and logic for content tagging of the media stream.