Managing playback of supplemental information

• US 9,348,554 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Audible Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Story, Guy A. Jr., Goldstein, Doug S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TANK, ANDREW L
• Application Number:
  US13/332,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20130159853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,617 Days
• Field of Search: 715/233, 715/716, 715727-729, 715730-732, 715/776
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/169 Annotation, e.g. comment data or footnotes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/006 using audible presentation of the information
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/06 with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied

Abstract

A computing device may provide an interface that enables a user to playback audio content including supplemental information. The supplemental information may correspond, for example, to endnotes, footnotes, glossaries, appendices, commentary from an author, editor, or other party, or to additional supplemental information. During playback of the audio content, a user may indicate that an item of supplemental information associated with a current playback position of the audio content should be played. In some embodiments, this indication may be in response to an indication to the user that supplemental information is available. The device may then playback the supplemental information associated with the current playback position.

Claims

1. A system for output of supplemental audio information, the system comprising:

one or more data stores that store audio content and one or more items of supplemental audio information, wherein each of the one or more items of supplemental audio information is associated with one or more playback positions within the audio content;

an input device that obtains an input of a user;

a display device that presents information regarding the audio content;

an output device that outputs the audio content; and

a processor in communication with the one or more data stores, the input device, and the output device, the processor operative to;

receive a preference of the user for outputting an indication that an item of supplemental audio information is available for playback, the preference specifying a maximum number of indications desired to be output within a specified period of time;

cause output of the audio content via the output device;

determine that a first item of supplemental audio information of the one or more items of supplemental audio information is ;

associated with a current playback position within the audio content;

determine that no more than the maximum number indications has been output within the specified period of time;

responsive to determining that no more than the maximum number of indications has been output within the specified period of time, cause output, via at least one of the output device and the display device, of the indication that the first item of supplemental audio information is available for playback;

obtain input from the use indicating that the first item of supplemental audio information should be played; and

cause output of the first item of supplemental audio information associated with the current playback position via the output device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to pause output of the audio content in response to the input obtained from the user, and to resume output of the audio content after output of the first item of supplemental audio information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the output of the audio content is resumed at a point prior to the point at which the output of the audio content was paused.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the output of the audio content is resumed at the point at which the output of the audio content was paused.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least one of a personal music player, a personal computing device, a laptop, a tablet, an eBook reader, and a mobile phone.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first item of supplemental audio information comprises at least one of a footnote, editor commentary, author commentary, user commentary, an endnote, glossary information, and an appendix.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to obtain input from the user indicating the preference of the user.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the indication is at least one of a sound, a visual indication, and a vibration.

9. A computer-implemented method for playback of supplemented audio information to a user, wherein the supplemented audio information comprises a primary audio content and one or more items of supplemental audio information, and wherein each item of supplemental audio information is associated with at least one playback position within at least one of the primary audio content and one of the one or More Items of supplemental audio information, the computer-implemented method comprising:

under control of one or More computing devices,

causing output of the primary audio content via an output device;

determining that a first item of supplemental audio information of the one or more items of supplemental audio information is associated with a current playback position within the primary audio content being output via the output device;

determining a user preference for outputting an indication during playback of the primary audio content that an item of supplemental audio information is available for playback, the user preference specifying a maximum number of indications to be output within a specified period of time;

determining that a number of indications output within the specified period of time does not exceed the Maximum number of indications;

responsive to determining that the number of indications output within the specified period of time does not exceed the maximum number of indications, causing output of the indication that the first item of supplemental audio inform anon is available for playback;

obtaining input from the user via an input device, the input indicating that the first item of supplemental audio information should be played; and

causing output of the first item of supplemental audio information via the output device.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising receiving the first item of supplemental audio information from a distinct computing device via a network.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein each of the one or more items of supplemental audio information is associated with a range of playback positions within the primary audio content.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising pausing output of the audio content in response to obtaining the input and resuming output of the audio content after completing output of the first item of supplemental audio information.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein resuming output of the audio content comprises resuming output of the audio content at a point prior to the point at which the output of the audio content was paused.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the point prior to the point at which the output of the audio content was paused is at a specified duration prior to the point at which the output of the audio content was paused.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the point prior to the point at which the output of the audio content was paused is determined based at least in part on a text corresponding to the audio content.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the computer-implemented method is carried out by at least one of a personal music player, a personal computing device, a laptop, a tablet, an eBook reader, and a mobile phone.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein a position within the first item of supplemental audio information is associated with one or more items of secondary supplemental audio information, and wherein the computer-implemented method farther comprises:

determining that an item of secondary supplemental audio information from the one or more items of secondary supplemental audio information is associated with a current playback position within the first item of supplemental audio information;

causing output of an indication that secondary supplemental audio information is available for playback;

obtaining input from the user indicating that the item of secondary supplemental audio information should be played; and

causing output of the item of secondary supplemental audio information.

18. A system for outputting supplemental audio information, the system comprising:

one or more data stores that store audio content and one or more items of supplemental audio information, wherein each of the one or more items of supplemental audio information is associated with one or more playback positions within at least one of the audio content and one of the one or more items of supplemental audio information;

a processor in communication with the data store, the processor operative to;

cause output of audio content via an output device;

determine that an item of supplemental audio information from the one or more items of supplemental audio information is associated with a current playback position within the audio content being output via the output device;

determine a user preference for outputting an indication that an item of supplemental audio information is available for playback, the user preference specifying a maximum number of indications to be output within a specified period of time;

determine, that a number of indications output within the specified period of time does not exceed the maximum number of indications;

responsive to the determination that the number of indications output within the specified period of time does not exceed the maximum number of indications, cause output of an indication that supplemental audio information is available for playback;

obtain input from the user via an input device indicating that the supplemental audio information should be played; and

cause output of the item of supplemental audio information via the output device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor is further operative to determine text corresponding to the current playback position within the audio content, and wherein the determination of one of the one or more items of supplemental audio information associated with a current playback position within the audio content is based at least in part on the text corresponding to the current playback position.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the user preference further includes a maximum length of supplemental audio information preferred by a user, and wherein the processor is further operable to determine that a length of the item of supplemental audio information does not exceed the maximum length.

21. A computer readable, non-transitory storage medium having at least one computer-executable module comprising computer-executable instructions for providing supplemental audio information, the at least one computer-executable module comprising,

a supplemental audio information module that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

cause output of a primary audio content, wherein the primary audio content is associated with one or more items of supplemental audio information, and wherein each of the one or more items of supplemental audio information is associated with one or more playback positions within the at least one of the audio content and one of the one or more items of supplemental audio information;

determine one or more items of supplemental audio information associated with a current playback position within the primary audio content;

determine a user preference for outputting an indication that an item of supplemental audio information is available for playback, the user preference specifying a maximum number of indications to be output within a specified period of time;

determine that a number of indications output within the specified period of time does not exceed the maximum number of indications;

responsive to determining that the number of indications output within the specified period of time does not exceed the maximum number of indications, cause output of an indication that supplemental audio information is available for playback;

obtain input indicating that the at least one supplemental audio information should be played; and

cause output of the at least one item of supplemental audio information.

22. The computer readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 21, wherein the supplemental audio information module is further operative to pause output of the primary audio content in response to obtaining, the input and resume output of the primary audio content after completing output of the at least one Item of supplemental audio information.

23. The computer readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein resuming output of the primary audio content comprises resuming output of the primary audio content at a point prior to the point at which the output of the primary audio content was paused.

24. The computer readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 22, wherein the point prior to the point at which the output of the audio content was paused is determined based at least in part on a text corresponding to the primary audio content.

25. The computer readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 21, wherein the at least one item of supplemental audio information comprises commentary generated by a contact of the user.

26. The computer readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 25, wherein the contact comprises at least one of a contact associated with a provider of the primary audio content and a contact associated with a social networking system.