Device and method for preventing intelligible voice recordings

A method, device, system and kit for preventing the intelligible voice recording Is provided. The voice of a subject or Interlocutor Is recorded for a given time Interval thereby providing a voice recording. The voice recording Is cut Into shorter time interval segments thereby providing a set of voice recording segments. The set of voice recording segments is mixed in a randomly rearranged order, The mixed set of voice recording segments is spliced into a single randomly mixed voice recording. Emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during speaking of the subject or interlocutor prevents the Intelligible recording of the voice of the subject or interlocutor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to counter-surveillance. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to jamming voice recording or bugging devices. More specifically and still not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to devices, methods, systems and kits for preventing intelligible voice recordings.

BACKGROUND

Voice recording jammers or audio jammers otherwise known as audio blockers are devices that protect sensitive or confidential conversations in a room from being recorded by an analog or digital recording device such as covert listening devices, bugs, wires and the like. The generally accepted standard range of audible frequencies for humans is 20 Hz to 20 KHz, although the range of frequencies individuals hear is greatly influenced by environmental factors. Ultrasonic sound or ultrasound refers to anything above the frequencies of audible sound, and nominally includes anything over 20 KHz. Infrasound is sound that is lower in frequency than 20 Hz, beneath the limit of human hearing. Various audio jammers can generate frequencies that fall into the normal range, the ultrasonic range and/or the infrasound range.

Audio jammers can generate white noise to distort the voice recording or suppresses the operation of the recorders by radiating noise interference. Most conventional devices suppress audio recording by generating a noise or a speech-similar audible as the interlocutors speak which interferes with the recording of the interlocutors' voice.

Ultrasonic jammers create an inaudible powerful barrier to the microphones in voice recorders including smartphones preventing them from properly recording as the interference from the ultrasonic frequency turns the conversation into unintelligible noise.

OBJECTS

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a method for preventing an intelligible voice recording.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a device for preventing an intelligible voice recording.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system for preventing an intelligible voice recording.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a kit for preventing an intelligible voice recording.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for preventing the intelligible recording of a voice, the method comprising: recording the voice of a subject for a given time interval thereby providing a voice recording; segmenting the voice recording into shorter time interval segments thereby providing a set of voice recording segments; mixing the order of the voice recording segments of the set in a randomly rearranged order; splicing the mixed set of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and emitting the randomly mixed voice recording when the subject speaks thereby preventing the intelligible recording of the subject's voice.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for preventing the intelligible recording of a conversation between at least two interlocutors, the method comprising: recording the voice of one of the at least two interlocutors for a given time interval thereby providing a first voice recording; recording the voice of the other of the at least two interlocutors for a given time interval thereby providing a second voice recording; segmenting each of the first and second voice recordings into respective shorter time interval segments thereby providing respective first and second sets of voice recording segments; mixing the first and second sets of voice recording segments together in a randomly rearranged order; splicing the mixed sets of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the conversation of the at least two interlocutors thereby preventing the intelligible recording of the conversation.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for preventing the intelligible recording the intelligible recording of a voice, the device comprising: a microphone; a processor in operational communication with the microphone being configured for implementing the steps of: recording the voice of a subject via the microphone for a given time interval thereby providing a voice recording; segmenting the voice recording into shorter time interval segments thereby providing a set of voice recording segments; mixing the order of the voice recording segments of the set in a randomly rearranged order; and splicing the mixed set of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker in operational communication with the processor for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording, wherein emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the subject's speaking prevents the intelligible recording of the subject's voice.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for preventing the intelligible recording of a conversation between at least two interlocutors, the device comprising: a microphone; a processor in operational communication with the microphone being configured for implementing the steps of: separately recording each of the voices of the at least two interlocutors via the microphone for a respective given time interval thereby providing a first voice recording for one of the at least two interlocutors and a second voice recording for the other of the at least two interlocutors; segmenting each of the first and second voice recordings into respective shorter time interval segments thereby providing respective first and second sets of voice recording segments;

mixing the first and second sets of voice recording segments together in a randomly rearranged order; and splicing the mixed sets of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker in operational communication with the processor for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording, wherein emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the conversation of the at least two interlocutors prevents the intelligible recording of the conversation.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for preventing the intelligible recording of a voice, the device comprising: a microphone; a recorder in operational communication with the microphone for recording the voice of a subject via the microphone for a given time interval thereby providing a voice recording; a processor in operational communication with the recording device and being configured for segmenting the voice recordings into shorter time interval segments thereby providing a set of voice recording segments, mixing the order of the voice recording segments of the set in a randomly rearranged order, and splicing the mixed set of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker in operational communication with the processor for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording, wherein emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the subject's speaking prevents the intelligible recording of the subject's voice.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for preventing the intelligible recording of a conversation between at least two interlocutors, the device comprising: a microphone; a recorder in operational communication with the microphone for separately recording each of the voices of the at least two interlocutors via the microphone for a respective given time interval thereby providing a first voice recording for one of the at least two interlocutors and a second voice recording for the other of the at least two interlocutors; a processor in operational communication with the recording device and being configured for segmenting each of the first and second voice recordings into respective shorter time interval segments thereby providing respective first and second sets of voice recording segments, mixing the first and second sets of voice recording segments together in a randomly rearranged order, and splicing the mixed sets of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker in operational communication with the processor for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording at an audible level, wherein emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the conversation of the at least two interlocutors prevents the intelligible recording of the conversation.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for preventing the intelligible recording of a of a voice, the system comprising: a microphone device; a recording device in operational communication with the microphone device for recording the voice of a subject via the microphone device for a given time interval thereby providing a t voice recording; a processing device in operational communication with the recording device and being configured for segmenting the voice recording into shorter time interval segments thereby providing a set of voice recording segments, mixing the order of the voice recording segments of the set in a randomly rearranged order, and splicing the mixed set of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker device in operational communication with the processing device for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording, wherein emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the subject's speaking prevents the intelligible recording of the subject's voice.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for preventing the intelligible recording of a conversation between at least two interlocutors, the system comprising: a microphone device; a recording device in operational communication with the microphone device for separately recording each of the voices of the at least two interlocutors via the microphone device for a respective given time interval thereby providing a first voice recording for one of the at least two interlocutors and a second voice recording for the other of the at least two interlocutors; a processing device in operational communication with the recording device and being configured for segmenting each of the first and second voice recordings into respective shorter time interval segments thereby providing respective first and second sets of voice recording segments, mixing the first and second sets of voice recording segments together in a randomly rearranged order, and splicing the mixed sets of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker device in operational communication with the processing device for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording, wherein emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the conversation of the at least two interlocutors prevents the intelligible recording of the conversation.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a kit for preventing the intelligible recording of a voice, the kit comprising: a microphone device; a recording device for operatively communicating with the microphone device for recording the voice of a subject via the microphone device for a respective given time interval thereby providing a voice recording; an interface for prompting the subject to record their voice; a processing device for operatively communicating with the recording device and with the interface and being configured for segmenting the voice recording into shorter time interval segments thereby providing a set of voice recording segments, mixing the first and second sets of voice recording segments together in a randomly rearranged order, and splicing the mixed sets of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker device for operatively communicating with the processing device for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording, wherein emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the subject's speaking prevents the intelligible recording of the subject's voice.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a kit for preventing the intelligible recording of a conversation between at least two interlocutors, the kit comprising: a microphone device; a recording device for operatively communicating with the microphone device for separately recording each of the voices of the at least two interlocutors via the microphone device for a respective given time interval thereby providing a first voice recording for one of the at least two interlocutors and a second voice recording for the other of the at least two interlocutors; an interface for prompting each of the at least two interlocutors of recording their voices; a processing device for operatively communicating with the recording device and with the interface and being configured for segmenting each of the first and second voice recordings into respective shorter time interval segments thereby providing respective first and second sets of voice recording segments, mixing the first and second sets of voice recording segments together in a randomly rearranged order, and splicing the mixed sets of voice recording segments into a single randomly mixed voice recording; and a speaker device for operatively communicating with the processing device for emitting the randomly mixed voice recording at an audible level, wherein playing the randomly mixed voice recording level during the conversation of the at least two interlocutors prevents the intelligible recording of the conversation.

In an embodiment, the randomly mixed voice recording is emitted at an audible level. In an embodiment, the randomly mixed voice recording is emitted at an inaudible level. In an embodiment, the randomly mixed voice recording is emitted at both an audible level and an inaudible level. In an embodiment, the inaudible level is selected from the group consisting of an infrasound and an ultrasound.

In an embodiment, preventing the intelligible recording of the subject's voice comprises emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the real-time audio recording of the subject's causing the real-time audio recording of the randomly mixed voice recording thereby masking the audio recording of the subject's voice.

In an embodiment, preventing the intelligible recording of the conversation comprises emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during the real-time audio recording of the conversation causing the real-time audio recording of the randomly mixed voice recording thereby masking the conversation.

In an embodiment, the steps provided herein are computer implementable and the processor comprises a memory of the computer implementable steps.

In an embodiment, the speaker comprises a tweeter. In an embodiment, the devices and kits herein further comprise a plurality of the microphones. In an embodiment, the devices and kits herein further comprise a plurality of the speakers.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Generally stated and in accordance with an embodiment, there are provided methods, devices, systems and kits for preventing the intelligible voice recording is provided. The voice of a subject or interlocutor is recorded for a given time interval thereby providing a voice recording. The voice recording is cut into shorter time interval segments thereby providing a set of voice recording segments. The set of voice recording segments is mixed in a randomly rearranged order. The mixed set of voice recording segments is spliced into a single randomly mixed voice recording. Emitting the randomly mixed voice recording during speaking of the subject or interlocutor prevents the intelligible recording of the voice of the subject or interlocutor

With reference, to the appended Figures, non-restrictive illustrative embodiments will be herein described so as to further exemplify the disclosure only and by no means limit the scope thereof.

FIG. 1shows an arrangement for preventing intelligible voice recordings also known as a voice recording jammer10. The jammer10is shown here in the form of a device. Of course, the arrangement ofFIG. 1can also be a kit or a system. Device10prevents the intelligible recording of a voice. In an embodiment, device10prevents the intelligible recording of a conversation between at least two interlocutors.

The device10includes at least one microphone12which is in operational communication with a processor14and at least one speaker16also in operational communication with the processor16. It is understood herein, that operational communication includes without limitation wire or wireless connection, or integrated connection as is known in the art. As such the device10may be a single unit with integrated microphone12, processor14and speaker16or include separate microphone12, processor14and/or speaker16. The skilled artisan will appreciate that various configurations can be contemplated for providing operational communication between one or more microphones12, a processor16and one or more speakers16.

The processor14includes a recorder18for recording the voices of the interlocutors via the microphone12as will be discussed herein. The recorder18is an integral element of the processor14. Of course, the recorder18may also be a separate element in operational communication with the processor14. The processor14includes a memory20of computer implementable steps for modifying the voice recordings as will be discussed herein. The memory20is an integral element of the processor14. Of course, the memory20can also be a separate element which is in operational communication with the processor14(e.g. chip, USB etc.).

The speaker16provides for emitting the modified recording during speaking such as when one person is speaking or during the conversation between the interlocutors as will be discussed herein.

The speaker16can be provided in a variety of configurations as is known in the art. In one example, the speaker16is a tweeter.

In an embodiment, the sound emitted by the speaker16is audible. In an embodiment, the sound emitted by the speaker16is inaudible such as infrasound or ultrasound. In an embodiment, the speaker16emits both audible and inaudible sound. In an embodiment, the device10includes at least two speakers16or a plurality of speakers16which selectively and/or respectively emit one of or both audible and inaudible sound.

The skilled artisan will easily appreciate that the type of speaker, the number of speakers, the position of the speaker or speakers and the type of sound emission (i.e. audible or inaudible) is a function of the distance of voice recording suppression, the horizontal and vertical beam widths of this suppression and the type of audio surveillance recording device that is being used. It is understood that audio surveillance recording devices include any type covert listening device known in the art utilizing a variety of microphones. These devices include without limitation bugs, wires, smartphones and the like as can be contemplated by the skilled artisan.

The device10may also include an interface22in operational communication with the processor14for providing the users to operate the device10. For example, the interface22may be in the form of a control panel, a touch screen, a voice operated input/output and the like as is known in the art. The interface22may communicate a set of instructions to the user or may variously prompt one speaker to record their voice or the at least two interlocutors to record their individual voices as discussed herein by providing them with a set of questions or a text. These instructions are contained within the memory20of the processor14. The interface22may be a separate component or integrated to the device10or to one of more of the other components thereof as will be contemplated by the skilled artisan.

In another example,FIG. 1represents a kit, with several of the components12,14,16,18,20or22being separate devices to be placed in operational communication with another device as discussed herein.

In one non-limiting example, the device10is remotely operated.

With reference to the non-limiting illustrative embodiments ofFIGS. 2 to 6, the operation of the device10and of the method, kit and system preventing the intelligible recording of a conversation between at least two interlocutors will now be discussed.

Each interlocutor records their voice separately. In on example, the interface22may prompt each interlocutor to read a statement or answer questions into one or more microphones12which transmit the sound wave to the processor14for recording. In this way, two recordings are provided: the first voice recording24(seeFIG. 2) of one of the interlocutors and the second voice recording26(seeFIG. 3) of the other of the two interlocutors. Of course, a greater number of interlocutors may participate in the conversation. As such, each participating interlocutor will record their voice separately to provide a respective voice recording. The first and second the voice recordings24and26, respectively, have a given time interval, frame or length. It should be understood that the terms “first” and “second” are used herein for convenience in order to descriptively differentiate between the two voice-recordings and by no means impose an order or a hierarchy. Of course, all voice recordings can be generated at the same. The foregoing is more convenient with multiple microphones12.

FIGS. 4 and 5show that each of the first24and second26voice recordings have been segmented by processor14. Specifically, the first voice recording24is segmented into a first set of separate voice recording segments28, each segment28having a shorter time interval than the first voice recording24. Similarly, the second voice recording26has been segmented into a second set of separate voice recording segments30, each segment30having a shorter time interval than the second voice recording26. The first set of voice recording segments28includes five segments A, B, C, D and E; similarly, the second set of voice recording segments30includes five segments i, ii, iii, iv and v. Segments A, B, C, D and E may be of equal, similar or different time intervals. Similarly, segments i, ii, iii, iv and v may be of equal, similar or different time intervals. Moreover, the first set of segments28and the second set of segments30may be of equal, similar or different time intervals relative to each other. Each voice recording24and26does not need to be segmented in the same number of segments. The example here shows five segments28for voice recording24and five segments30for voice recording26for the purposes of convenience only. A greater or lesser number of segments can be contemplated by the skilled artisan, segmentation will be based on convenient time intervals. A given recording24may be segmented into more or less segments28than a given recording26. The number of segments, the time interval of each segment and the variations thereof are predetermined by the computer implementable steps of the memory20.

Turning now toFIG. 6, the segments28and30are mixed together in a random rearranged order. Once again, the predetermined parameters in the memory20provides for various random mixes. In the non-limiting illustrative example, shown here, a given segment28(A, B, C, D or E) is preceded by a given segment30(i, ii, iii, iv, and v). Of course, other options are possible when two segments of one set are preceded by one segment of another set followed by three segments the latter set and so on and so forth. Various configurations of this mixture of rearranged random order can be provided. However, it is shown in this example that the order of the voice recording is rearranged so as to be turned into gibberish. Segmentation can be done at a variety of equal or unequal time intervals as discussed above. Furthermore, the segments28or30can be backmasked so as to be inverted i.e. the natural beginning of the segment becomes the end and the natural end, the beginning, in essence the segment is configured to be emitted backwards. Furthermore, the example ofFIG. 6shows that the segments are interwoven to provide five similar time intervals (D/ii), (A/iv), (C/i), (E/iii) and (B/v) with an equal mix of segment28and segment30. As such, providing an equal interwoven mix of the respective rearranged gibberish of each of the voices of the interlocutors. The skilled artisan can contemplate other convenient mixtures and balances between the two or more interlocutors and these parameters can be provided within the memory22.

Once the predetermined mixture of the randomly rearranged order of segments has been accomplished, the segments are spliced together to form a single randomly mixed voice recording32shown inFIG. 6.

The devices, methods, systems and kits herein can continue to follow the above steps so as to provide still other single randomly mixed voice recordings that are differently configured than the spliced recording32. These single randomly mixed recordings can then be spliced together in order to provide a longer single randomly mixed voice recording. Indeed, the single randomly mixed recordings can be further be segmented, mixed together and then spliced. Furthermore, a variety of single randomly mixed voice recording types as provided herein can be layered one on top of the other. This layering process may include offsetting the segments in such a way as for a given segment28to be layered with a given segment30rather than another given segment28.

Once the predetermined spliced single mixed voice recording is provided in accordance with the predetermined parameters of the memory20, the processor14can then transmit this resulting spliced recording to the speaker16so that it is emitted

The interlocutors can then proceed with their conversation as the speaker emits the resulting spliced recording at an audible level, an inaudible level or a mixture thereby preventing the intelligible recording of the conversation by an audio surveillance recorder as is known in the art.

In an example there are two interlocutors having a conversation, X and Y. If someone has placed an audio surveillance recorder to pick up the conversation of the interlocutors X and Y, the above discussed resulting spliced recording gibberish will be mixed with voices of X and Y during their conversation. The resulting spliced recording described herein contains the voices of both X and Y in mixed gibberish. As the mixed gibberish is emitted at an audible and/or unaudible level during the conversation of X and Y the audio surveillance recorder will record the sound in the room of the conversation including the gibberish masking the voices of X and Y. Since, the resulting spliced recording is a mixture of randomly rearranged recorded segments of the voice of X and Y, a gibberish segment of X will mix with and mask a real-time conversation segment of X and a gibberish segment of Y will mix with mask with a real time conversation segment of Y. The foregoing prevents the intelligible recording of the conversation. Moreover, if this unintelligible surveillance recording is analyzed in order to peel the gibberish masking from the conversation, it will be difficult to distinguish between a layer of a gibberish segment of X's voice on a layer of a voice portion of X's actual real conversation and the same applies for Y, mutatis mutandis. As such, the audio surveillance recording is jammed.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides for preventing the intelligible recording of the voice of a subject. As such, and with reference to the non-limiting illustrative embodiments ofFIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 8, the operation of the device10and of the method, kit and system preventing the intelligible recording of a voice will now be discussed.

The subject records their voice via one or more microphones12which transmit the sound wave to the processor14for recording thereby providing a voice recording24having a given time length.

Turning now toFIG. 4, the voice recording24is segmented into a set of separate voice recording segments28, namely A, B, C, D, E as previously explained.

As shown inFIG. 7, the set of voice segments28is randomly mixed and spliced together to provide a single randomly mixed voice recording34as shown inFIG. 8. Mixing and splicing is provided herein as previously described including and without limitation to further segmentation, mixing and splicing of the recording24to provide still other single randomly mixed voice recordings or further segmentation, mixing and splicing of the recording34to provide still other single randomly mixed voice recordings, or layering of various modified recordings such as recording34as previously discussed, including selectively backmasking certain segments28in order to provide still other single randomly mixed voice recordings within the context of the present disclosure.

Once the predetermined spliced single mixed voice recording is provided in accordance with the predetermined parameters of the memory20, the processor14can then transmit this resulting spliced recording to the speaker16so that it is emitted

The subject can then proceed to speak as the speaker emits the resulting spliced recording at an audible level, an inaudible level or a mixture thereby preventing the intelligible recording of the subject's voice by a covert audio recorder as is known in the art.

The resulting spliced mixed recoding34contains the voice of the subject in mixed gibberish. As the mixed gibberish is emitted during the subject's speaking the audio surveillance recorder will record both the sound of the subject's voice in tandem with the gibberish thereby masking the subject's voice. The foregoing prevents the intelligible recording of the subject's voice. Moreover, if this unintelligible surveillance recording is analyzed in order to peel the gibberish masking from the voice recording of the subject, it will be difficult to distinguish between a layer of a gibberish segment and a layer of an intelligible voice portion of the subject's actual speech.

Turning now toFIG. 9, there is shown the steps of the method100of preventing intelligible voice recordings in accordance with a non-limiting illustrative embodiment of the present invention. The initial step102is to record a voice102, the next step104is to segment the voice recording, followed by the step106of mixing the segments of the voice recording, in the subsequent step108, the mixed voice segments are spliced providing a modified recording that is a single and continuous recording of spliced mixed voice segments. The last step110is to emit the modified recording during speech so as to prevent the intelligible recording of the speech giver's voice by an audio recorder as previously explained.

The skilled artisan will appreciate the present device, method, kit and system can be used in combination with one or more other audio jamming techniques, devices, kits, systems and methods.

The various features described herein can be combined in a variety of ways within the context of the present disclosure so as to provide still other embodiments. As such, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive. Moreover, the embodiments discussed herein need not include all of the features and elements illustrated and/or described and thus partial combinations of features can also be contemplated. Furthermore, embodiments with less features than those described can also be contemplated. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the present disclosure has been provided hereinabove by way of non-restrictive illustrative embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the scope, spirit and nature thereof and of the appended claims.