Application of a non-secure warning tone to a packetised voice signal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9497233-B2
Application number	US-201214000277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2012
Priority date	Feb 18, 2011
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A method is disclosed of applying a non-secure warning tone to a packetized voice signal which includes receiving a voice signal containing a sequence of voice samples; providing a non-secure warning tone signal containing a plurality of tone samples; and modifying the voice signal by selectively including tone samples in the sequence of voice samples.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of applying a non-secure warning tone to a packetized voice signal, the method comprising:
receiving a voice signal comprising a sequence of voice samples;
providing a non-secure warning tone signal comprising a plurality of tone samples; and
modifying the voice signal by selecting a plurality of the voice samples and combining each selected voice sample with a respective tone sample to form a combined sample, each combined sample comprising a weighted average of the respective voice sample and tone sample.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the voice signal is modified by:
selecting a plurality of the voice samples; and
replacing each selected voice sample with a respective tone sample.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the selecting comprises:
selecting alternate voice samples.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the selecting comprises:
selecting one in up to every four voice samples.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sequence of voice samples is provided as a sequence of voice packets and the method comprises:
comparing a structural feature of a voice packet of the voice signal with a reference structural feature;
determining whether said structural feature is the same as said reference structural feature; and
if said structural feature is determined to be the same as said reference structural feature validating the voice packet as comprising an acceptable voice packet.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said structural feature comprises:
at least one of packet length, packet header and voice header.

7. A non-secure warning tone application apparatus, comprising:
a port configured to receive a voice signal having a sequence of voice samples;
a non-secure warning tone signal source configured to generate a non-secure warning tone signal having a plurality of tone samples; and
signal modification apparatus configured to select a plurality of the voice samples and to combine each selected voice sample with a respective tone sample to form a combined sample, each combined sample will comprising a weighted average of the respective voice sample and tone sample.

8. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the signal modification apparatus is configured to select a plurality of the voice samples and replace each selected voice sample with a respective tone sample.

9. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the signal modification apparatus is configured to select alternate voice samples.

10. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the signal modification apparatus is configured to select one in up to every four voice samples.

11. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein for a sequence of voice samples provided as a sequence of voice packets, the apparatus comprises:
a voice signal validation apparatus configured to compare a structural feature of a voice packet of the voice signal with a reference structural feature, to determine whether said structural feature is the same as said reference structural feature, and if said structural feature is determined to be the same as said reference structural feature to validate the voice packet as comprising an acceptable voice packet.

12. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein for a sequence of voice samples provided as a sequence of voice packets, the apparatus comprises:
a voice signal validation apparatus configured to compare a structural feature of a voice packet of the voice signal with a reference structural feature, to determine whether said structural feature is the same as said reference structural feature, and if said structural feature is determined to be the same as said reference structural feature to validate the voice packet as comprising an acceptable voice packet.

13. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said structural feature comprises:
at least one of packet length, packet header and voice header.

14. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the signal modification apparatus is configured to select alternate voice samples.

15. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the signal modification apparatus is configured to select one in up to every four voice samples.

16. The non-secure warning tone application apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein for a sequence of voice samples provided as a sequence of voice packets, the apparatus comprises:
a voice signal validation apparatus configured to compare a structural feature of a voice packet of the voice signal with a reference structural feature, to determine whether said structural feature is the same as said reference structural feature, and if said structural feature is determined to be the same as said reference structural feature to validate the voice packet as comprising an acceptable voice packet.

Assignees

• Salter Robert John
• Jenner Stephen Matthew Allan
• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Salter Robert John
• Jenner Stephen Matthew Allan

Classifications

• H04M7/0078

  Security; Fraud detection; Fraud prevention · CPC title

• H04L65/1083 Primary

  In-session procedures · CPC title

• H04M3/205 Primary

  Eavesdropping prevention - indication of insecurity of line or network · CPC title