Data carriage in encoded and pre-encoded audio bitstreams

A method for a machine or group of machines to extract watermark data from a modified encoded audio data frame of an audio signal, the method comprising:

• receiving the modified encoded audio data frame;
• transforming the modified encoded audio data frame into an encoded audio data frame by
• extracting from the modified encoded audio data frame at least one data block including modified watermark data, as modified based on a masking threshold analysis of the audio signal, such that at least two data blocks that were not immediately adjacent in the modified encoded audio data frame become immediately adjacent;
• unmodifying data in a synchronization information block and an error check block of the modified encoded audio data frame to account for the extracting of the at least one data block, wherein unmodifying data in the synchronization information block includes updating a frame size code to account for a decrease in frame size due to the extracting of the at least one data block;
• and
• outputting the modified watermark data and the encoded audio data frame.

A machine or group of machines for carrying watermark data in an encoded audio data frame of an audio signal, comprising:

• a multiplexer configured to receive modified watermark data as modified based on a masking threshold analysis of the audio signal and to receive the encoded audio data frame having encoded therein a portion of the audio signal, wherein the encoded audio data frame includes a plurality of data blocks, wherein the plurality of data blocks includes:
• a synchronization information block,
• at least one encoded data block, and
• an error check block;
• the multiplexer configured to transform the encoded audio data frame into a modified encoded audio data frame by:
• inserting at least one additional data block between immediately adjacent data blocks of the encoded audio data frame, wherein the at least one additional data block includes the modified watermark data as modified based on the masking threshold analysis of the audio signal, and
• modifying data in the synchronization information block and the error check block to account for the inserting of the at least one additional data block, wherein the modifying includes updating a frame size code included in the synchronization information block to account for an increase in the frame size due to the insertion of the at least one additional block.

A machine or group of machines for extracting watermark data from a modified encoded audio data frame of an audio signal, comprising:

• a demultiplexer configured to receive the modified encoded audio data frame;
• the demultiplexer configured to:
• extract from the modified encoded audio data frame at least one data block including modified watermark data, as modified based on a masking threshold analysis of the audio signal, such that at least two data blocks that were not immediately adjacent in the modified encoded audio data frame become immediately adjacent;
• unmodify data in a synchronization information block and an error check block of the modified encoded audio data frame to account for the extracting of the at least one data block, wherein unmodifying data in the synchronization information block includes updating a frame size code to account for a decrease in frame size due to the extracting of the at least one data block to obtain an encoded audio data frame having encoded therein a portion of the audio signal;
• and
• output the modified watermark data and the encoded audio data frame.