Inference of timestamp, location, and signature information using statistical signal processing of powerline data

Abstract

Systems and methods for applying Electric Network Frequency (ENF) forensic techniques to determine characteristics associated with an audio and/or video recording such as when and where the recording was made. In one embodiment, a system that determines at least one of a time and a location associated with a recording includes an ENF forensic database, an ENF extraction processing module and a comparison processing module. The ENF forensic database stores powerline data collected from at least one electrical power grid. The ENF extraction processing module extracts ENF content coupled into the recording. The comparison processing module compares the extracted ENF content with powerline data retrieved from the ENF forensic database and outputs information including one or more of a time during which the recording was made and a location where the recording was made based on the comparison with the powerline data.