Method and system for synchronizing user access to information presented in two or more media formats

• US 8,966,062 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Giese, Jodi, Upthegrove, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hua
• Application Number:
  US13/362,827
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/433 using audio data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/685 using automatically derived transcript of audio data, e.g. lyrics speech recognition G10L15/00

Abstract

Information is generated in two or more media versions and provided to a user through a multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface. The user'"'"'s activity in either media version of the information is then monitored and mapped to the other media version of information and the two media versions are synchronized. Consequently, a user can transfer between two media versions of the same information easily and relatively seamlessly so that the information can be accessed and utilized in either media version efficiently and effectively without significant user action and at the appropriate location in either media version.

Claims

1. A system for synchronizing activity in electronic text-based and audio-based versions of the same information comprising:

one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems implementing at least part of a process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information, the process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information including;

creating, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, an electronic text-based version and an audio-based version of the same information;

providing, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, a multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

providing, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, a user access to a first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

monitoring, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the user'"'"'s utilization of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

obtaining, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, first media version exit location data indicating a location in the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information where the user stopped utilizing the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

mapping, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the first media version exit location data of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information to a corresponding location in a second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information and designating the corresponding location in the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information a second media version begin location for the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

the user accessing, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface; and

providing, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the user access to the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information at the begin location for the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information corresponding to the first media version exit location of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information.

2. A system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information comprising:

two or more media versions of the same information, the two or more media versions of the same information each being created in a different media format, the two or more media versions of the same information including at least two of an audio-based version of the information, a video-based version of the information, and an electronic text-based version of the information;

a multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface; and

one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems implementing at least part of a process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information, the process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information including;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to provide a user access to a first media version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to monitor the user'"'"'s utilization of the first media version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to obtain first media version exit location data indicating a location in the first media version of the information where the user stopped utilizing the first media version of the information;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to map the first media version exit location data to a corresponding location in a second media version of the information and designating the corresponding location in the second media version of the information a second media version begin location for the second media version of the information;

the user accessing the second media version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface; and

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to provide the user access to the second media version of the information at the begin location for the second media version of the information corresponding to the first media version exit location in the first media version of the information.

3. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 2, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an electronic text-based version of the information and an audio-based version of the information.

4. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 2, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an electronic text-based version of the information and a video-based version of the information.

5. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 2, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an audio-based version of the information and a video-based version of the information.

6. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 2, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an audio-based version of the information, a video-based version of the information, and an electronic text-based version of the information.

7. A system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information comprising:

two or more media versions of the same information, the two or more media versions of the same information each being created in a different media format, the two or more media versions of the same information including at least two of an audio-based version of the information, a video-based version of the information, and an electronic text-based version of the information;

a multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface; and

one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems implementing a process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information, the process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information including;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to provide a user access to a first media version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to monitor the user'"'"'s utilization of the first media version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to obtain first media version user input data representing one or more user input actions in the first media version of the information;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to obtain first media version user input location data indicating a user data input location in the first media version of the information corresponding to the place in the first media version of the information where the user input data was entered;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to obtain first media version exit location data indicating a location in the first media version of the information where the user stopped utilizing the first media version of the information;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to map the first media version exit location data to a corresponding location in a second media version of the information and designating the corresponding location in the second media version of the information a second media version begin location for the second media version of the information;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to map the first media version user input location to a corresponding location in the second media version of the information and designating the corresponding location in the second media version of the information a second media version user data input location for the second media version of the information;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to transform the first media version user input data into second media version user input data in the media format of the second media version of the information;

the user accessing the second media version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to provide the user access to the second media version of the information at the begin location for the second media version of the information corresponding to the first media version exit location; and

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to insert the second media version user input data in the media format of the second media version of the information at the second media version user input location for the second media version of the information.

8. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 7, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an electronic text-based version of the information and an audio-based version of the information.

9. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 7, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an electronic text-based version of the information and a video-based version of the information.

10. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 7, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an audio-based version of the information and a video-based version of the information.

11. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 7, wherein;

the two or more media versions of the same information include an audio-based version of the information, a video-based version of the information, and an electronic text-based version of the information.

12. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 7, wherein;

the first media version user input data includes data representing a definition of a word in the first media version of the information.

13. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 7, wherein;

the first media version user input data includes data representing user notes in the first media version of the information.

14. The system for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information of claim 7, wherein;

the first media version user input data includes data representing user bookmarks and/or highlights in the first media version of the information.

15. A system for synchronizing activity in electronic text-based and audio-based versions of the same information comprising:

an electronic text-based version and an audio-based version of the same information;

a multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface; and

one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems implementing a process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information, the process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information including;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to provide a user access to a first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to monitor the user'"'"'s utilization of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to obtain first media version exit location data indicating a location in the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information where the user stopped utilizing the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to map the first media version exit location data of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information to a corresponding location in a second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information and designating the corresponding location in the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information a second media version begin location for the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

the user accessing the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface; and

using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems to provide the user access to the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information at the begin location for the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information corresponding to the first media version exit location of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information.

16. A system for synchronizing activity in electronic text-based and audio-based versions of the same information comprising:

one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems implementing a process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information, the process for synchronizing activity in two or more media versions of the same information including;

creating, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, an electronic text-based version and an audio-based version of the same information;

providing, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, a multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

providing, using the one or more microprocessors associated with a first computing system, a user access to a first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

monitoring, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the user'"'"'s utilization of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

obtaining, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, first media version user input data representing one or more user input actions in the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

obtaining, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, first media version user input location data indicating a user data input location in the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information corresponding to the place in the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information where the user input data was entered;

obtaining, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, first media version exit location data indicating a location in the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information where the user stopped utilizing the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

mapping, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the first media version exit location data of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information to a corresponding location in a second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information and designating the corresponding location in the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information a second media version begin location for the second media version of the information;

mapping, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the first media version user input location to a corresponding location in the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information and designating the corresponding location in the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information a second media version user input location for the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

transforming, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the first media version user input data into second media version user input data in the media format of the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information;

the user accessing the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information through the multi-media monitoring, mapping, and synchronization interface;

providing, using the one or more microprocessors associated with a second computing system, the user access to the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information at the begin location for the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information corresponding to the first media version exit location of the first one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information; and

inserting, using the one or more microprocessors associated with one or more computing systems, the second media version user input data in the media format of the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information at the second media version user input location for the second one of the electronic text-based version or audio-based version of the information.

17. The system for synchronizing activity in electronic text-based and audio-based versions of the same information of claim 16, wherein;

the user input data includes data representing a definition of a word.

18. The system for synchronizing activity in electronic text-based and audio-based versions of the same information of claim 16, wherein;

the user input data includes data representing user notes.

19. The system for synchronizing activity in electronic text-based and audio-based versions of the same information of claim 16, wherein;

the user input data includes data representing user bookmarks and/or highlights.