System for creating and rendering synchronized audio and visual programming defined by a markup language text file
First Claim
1. A system for reproducing audible and visible program segments to a user comprising, in combination:
- a program storage unit for storing an electronically readable markup file of text characters expressed in a standard markup language, said markup file including a plurality of markup tags each of which includes a predetermined distinctive string of characters identifying the meaning of said tag, an audio player responsive to the content of said markup file for reproducing an audible program segment having audio content specified by said markup file, and a display device for displaying the content of an image file specified by said markup file concurrently with the reproduction of said audio content.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with preferences associated with each subscriber. Program segments are associated with descriptive subject matter segments, and the subject matter segments may be used to generate both text and audio cataloging presentations to enable the user to more easily identify and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. A usage log is compiled to record the subscriber'"'"'s use of the provided program materials, to return data to the host for billing, to adaptively modify the subscriber'"'"'s preferences based on actual usage, and to send subscriber-generated comments and requests to the host for processing. Voice input and control mechanisms included in the player allow the user to perform hands-free navigation of the program materials and to dictate comments and messages which are returned to the host for retransmission to other subscribers. The program segments sent to each subscriber may include advertising materials which the user can selectively play to obtain credits against the subscriber fee. Parallel audio and text transcript files for at least selected programming enable subject matter searching and synchronization of the audio and text files. Speech synthesis may be used to convert transcript files into audio format. Image files may also be transmitted from the server for synchronized playback with the audio programming.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for reproducing audible and visible program segments to a user comprising, in combination:
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a program storage unit for storing an electronically readable markup file of text characters expressed in a standard markup language, said markup file including a plurality of markup tags each of which includes a predetermined distinctive string of characters identifying the meaning of said tag, an audio player responsive to the content of said markup file for reproducing an audible program segment having audio content specified by said markup file, and a display device for displaying the content of an image file specified by said markup file concurrently with the reproduction of said audio content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A media player for reproducing an audiovisual program defined by a markup file, said media player comprising, in combination:
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one or more storage devices for storing at least one digitally recorded audio program file, at least one image file, and a text markup file including one or more imbedded markup tags establishing the relative times at which said audio program file is scheduled to be reproduced and said image file is scheduled to be displayed, and processing means responsive to said text markup file for reproducing said digitally recorded audio program file in a form audible to said user at an audio playback time and for displaying said image file in a form visible to said user at a time relative to said playback time specified by said text markup file. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. The system for storing and rendering a synchronized audio and visual presentation comprising, in combination:
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means for storing a markup language text file expressed in a standard markup language, said text file including a plurality of imbedded tag elements each of which comprises a predetermined string of characters having a predefined meaning in said markup language and including;
(a) a specification of an audio program segment, (b) an identification of an image file containing visual content, and (c) a specification of the relative times at which said audio program segment and said visual content are to be presented to a user, and a playback system responsive to said text file of characters for presenting said audio program segment and said visual content to a user at said relative times specified by said text file. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification