Providing auxiliary information with frame-based encoded audio information

A medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions for execution by said machine to perform a method for encoding audio information and auxiliary information, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving an audio signal conveying audio information,
• receiving a reference signal,
• receiving an auxiliary signal conveying auxiliary information,
• constructing auxiliary segments each comprising a block of auxiliary information and an error detection code, and
• generating an output signal conveying the audio information arranged in frames separated by gaps such that each gap is aligned with the reference signal and conveys a respective auxiliary segment, wherein the audio information in the frames of audio information and the auxiliary information in the segments of auxiliary information are constrained to avoid data patterns in a set of one or more forbidden data patterns.

A medium readable by a machine embodying a program of instructions for execution by said machine to perform a method for processing audio information and auxiliary information, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving an input signal conveying audio information arranged in frames separated by gaps and conveying auxiliary segments arranged in the gaps,
• processing the input signal to locate the auxiliary segments,
• for each respective auxiliary segment, extracting a block of auxiliary information and an error detection code, and evaluating the error detection code to validate contents of the block of auxiliary information, and
• generating an output signal conveying information obtained from an error recovery process in response to blocks of auxiliary information with contents that are invalid.

An apparatus for encoding audio information and auxiliary information comprising:

• (a) one or more terminals that receive an audio signal conveying audio information, a reference signal and an auxiliary signal conveying auxiliary information;
• (b) a program-controlled processor or other processing circuitry that:
• (i) constructs auxiliary segments each comprising a block of auxiliary information and an error detection code, and
• (ii) generates an output signal conveying the audio information arranged in frames separated by gaps such that each gap is aligned with the reference signal and conveys a respective auxiliary segment, wherein the audio information in the frames of audio information and the auxiliary information in the segments of auxiliary information are constrained to avoid data patterns in a set of one or more forbidden data patterns;
• and
• (c) a terminal for sending the output signal.

An apparatus for processing audio information and auxiliary information comprising:

• (a) a terminal that receives an input signal conveying audio information arranged in frames separated by gaps and conveying auxiliary segments arranged in the gaps;
• (b) a program-controlled processor or other processing circuitry that:
• (i) processes the input signal to locate the auxiliary segments,
• (ii) for each respective auxiliary segment, extracts a block of auxiliary information and an error detection code, and evaluates the error detection code to validate contents of the block of auxiliary information;
• and
• (c) a terminal for sending auxiliary information.