Bennett, Charles Henry, David Peter DiVincenzo, and Ralph Linsker. "Digital recording system with time-bracketed authentication by on-line challenges and method of authenticating recordings." U.S. Patent No. 5,764,769. 9 Jun. 1998.
Abstract
An apparatus and method produce a videotape or other recording that cannot be pre- or post-dated, nor altered, nor easily fabricated by electronically combining pre-recorded material. In order to prevent such falsification, the camera or other recording apparatus periodically receives certifiably unpredictable signals ("challenges") from a trusted source, causes these signals to influence the scene being recorded, then periodically forwards a digest of the ongoing digital recording to a trusted repository. The unpredictable challenges prevent pre-dating of the recording before the time of the challenge, while the storage of a digest prevents post-dating of the recording after the time the digest was received by the repository. Meanwhile, the interaction of the challenge with the evidence being recorded presents a formidable obstacle to real-time falsification of the scene or system, forcing the would-be falsifier to simulate or render the effects of this interaction in the brief time interval between arrival of the challenge and archiving of the digest at the repository.
Abstract
An apparatus and method produce a videotape or other recording that cannot be pre- or post-dated, nor altered, nor easily fabricated by electronically combining pre-recorded material. In order to prevent such falsification, the camera or other recording apparatus periodically receives certifiably unpredictable signals ("challenges") from a trusted source, causes these signals to influence the scene being recorded, then periodically forwards a digest of the ongoing digital recording to a trusted repository. The unpredictable challenges prevent pre-dating of the recording before the time of the challenge, while the storage of a digest prevents post-dating of the recording after the time the digest was received by the repository. Meanwhile, the interaction of the challenge with the evidence being recorded presents a formidable obstacle to real-time falsification of the scene or system, forcing the would-be falsifier to simulate or render the effects of this interaction in the brief time interval between arrival of the challenge and archiving of the digest at the repository.