US005732216A
`5,732,216
`(1) Patent Number:
`United States Patent
`Mar. 24, 1998
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Logan etal.
`
`
`t9
`
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`An audio program and message distribution system in which
`a host system organizes and transmits program segments to
`client subscriber locations. The hose organizes the program
`segments by subject matter and creates scheduled program-
`ming in accordance with preferences associated with each
`subscriber. Program segments are associated with descrip-
`.
`tive subject matter segments, and the subject matter seg-
`[21] Appl. No.s 724,810
`ments may be used to generate both text and audio catalog-
`[22]
`Filed:
`Oct. 2, 1996
`6
`ing presentations to enable the user to more easily identify
`and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the
`ey ne G Seeeaans
`subscriber location reproduces the program segments
`[58] Field of SHEERescarccs
`395/200 33 300 49
`sec cagPE
`ne
`ape
`received from the host and includes mechanisms for inter-
`395/200.57. 200.58, 200.7, ne rie actively navigating among the program segments. A usage
`oo
`log is compiled to record the subscriber’s use ofthe provided
`References Cited
`program materials, to return data to the host for billing. to
`adaptively modify the subscriber’s preferences based on
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`actual usage. and to send subscriber-generated comments
`4,456,789 6/1984. Groves etl. sswusnnnsnsnnee 379/202|and requests to the host for processing, Voice input and
`
`
`3/1993 Baumgarter etal. .
`5,195,086
`370/264
`control mechanisms included in the player allow the user to
`
`5,363,507
`11/1994 Nakayama et al. .
`395/331
`perform hands-free navigation of the program materials and
`
`.......ssssssessseene 386/96
`5,627,936
`5/1997 Prasad et al.
`to dictate comments and messages which are returned to the
`host for retransmission to other subscribers.
`
`[54] AUDIO MESSAGE EXCHANGE SYSTEM
`[75]
`Inventors: James Logan, Windham, N.H.; Daniel
`F, Goessling. Wayland; Charles G.
`Call, Hingham. both of Mass.
`
`.
`.
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Internet Angles, Inc.. Methuen. Mass.
`
`[56]
`
`Primary Examiner—James P. Trammell
`Assistant Examiner—Thomas Peeso
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Banner & Witcoff. Ltd.
`
`19 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`SLIP/PPP
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`Facebook Ex. 1011
`Facebook Ex. 1011
`U.S. Pat. 8,243,723
`US. Pat. 8,243,723
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 of 7
`
`5,732,216
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
`
`5,732,216
`
`
`
`Establish Account
`
`203
`
` Download
`Programming &
`Catalog Updates
`
`Edit Downloaded
`Program
`Sequence
`
`214
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`Choices &
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`Log
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`
`0003
`0003
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`5,732,216
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
`
`5,732,216
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar, 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`5,732,216
`
`Selections
`355
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 24, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
`
`5,732,216
`
`421
`
`
`
`
`Prepare Transcript of
`
`
`Audio Programs
`
`542:
`
`Condense Content
`
`Create Topic Description
`
`Parse into Paragraphs
`
`431
`
`433
`
`435
`
`
`Prepare Voice Program
`from Script
`
`
`Data Package
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`Complete
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`440
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`Library
`
`Fig. 6
`
`0007
`0007
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Mar.24, 1998
`
`Sheet 7 of 7
`
`5,732,216
`
`
`HTML File
`_.. <IMG SRC="IMGFILE1.JPG"><EM>Television and motion pictures
`
`
`
`
`</EM>offer the viewer a rich combination of sights and sounds which effectively
`convey a large amount of information to the viewer, and hence require an
`information delivery system having substantial <EM>bandwidth</EM>. Radio
`programming requires only a fraction of the bandwidth of a <A
`HREF="target">full-motion video</A> presentation, and is especially suitable
`for conveying information expressed in text narrative form. Using suitable audio
`compression techniques, speech can be transmitted over communications
`pathways of much more limited bandwidth, <IMG
`SRC="IMGFILE2.JPG">including telephone dial up connections to the Internet,
`permitting that facility to be used to provide real-time telephone connections
`between two computers connected via the Internet,<IMGOFF> and play
`pre-recorded audio files as they are transferred from an Internet server to a
`suitably programmed cient computer... .
`
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`| Compressed Audio File
`
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`
`"Television and motion pictures" "bandwidth" Fy); motion video"
`
`0008
`0008
`
`

`

`5,732,216
`
`1
`AUDIO MESSAGE EXCHANGE SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to an audio message data gathering
`and distribution system.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The Internet provides a robust facility for exchanging
`information on diverse topics. The World Wide Web makes
`available a rich collection of data files which digitally record
`text. graphic, audio and video information. The Internet
`SMTP and POPprotocols support the most widely used of
`all of Internet services, E-mail, and Internet Listserv and
`Usenet newsgroup services provide forums in which people
`having special interests can freely exchange information.
`normally in text form.
`The Internetis also being increasingly used to send and
`receive audio information. Digitized. compressed, pre-
`recorded audio files may be downloaded from file servers to
`World Wide Web browsers running on computers having
`multimedia capabilities, typically using a “helper” programs
`to reproduce MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension)
`audio files for the listener,. Using suitable software,
`the
`Internet can also provide a digital communication pathway
`which permits two way telephone conversations between
`remotely located computers.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to utilize the data
`transmission capabilities of the Internet, or another suitable
`data transmissionfacility, to distribute, collect and exchange
`information in the form of audio recordings.
`the
`In accordance with one aspect of the invention,
`present invention takes the form of a communication system
`for distributing audio recordings amonga plurality of par-
`ticipating subscribers, some of the recording consisting of
`pre-recorded programs and others being subscriber-
`generated comments, all of which may be classified by the
`topics to whichthey relate for distribution to other subscrib-
`ers having an interest in the subject matter.
`Each subscriber is preferably provided with a player/
`recorder unit capable of reproducing received audio record-
`ings for a listener, and further capable of recording
`comments, annotations, messages, and responses to infor-
`mation requests imbedded in received recordings,
`the
`subscriber-generated recordings being returned to a central
`host facility for processing and redistribution to other sub-
`scribers.
`By way of example, a given subscriber may indicate an
`interest in a group of specific topics and be provided with a
`program catalog identifying recorded programs which relate
`to those topics. While listening to program selected from this
`catalog, the subscriber mayutilize the recorder to comment
`upon that program. The recorded commentis uploaded to
`the host along with identification data which designates the
`recording subscriber,
`the program segment being com-
`mented upon, and the position within that program segment
`when the comment was generated. Thereafter, the recorded
`comment may be transferred to other subscribers who
`request that program segment commented upon who,at their
`option, indicated a desire to listen to the comments made by
`other subscribers. Subscribers wholisten to comments may.
`in turn, wish to add further comments to the program. or
`respond to or comment upon another subscribers comment.
`A subscriber who records a comment maylimit its trans-
`mission to the author or provider of the material commented
`
`2
`upon, may make the comment a private note for the sub-
`scriber’s sole use without transmitting it to anyone, or may
`choose to make it publicly available to any requesting
`subscriber. Publicly available comments may be listed in
`program cataloglistings organized in accordance with sub-
`ject matter categories assigned to the comment. A request for
`information on a particular topic may accordingly yield not
`only the program material originally provided by the host
`system on that topic, but also the comments of subscribers
`who share an interest in the topic.
`The same facility used to generate public or private
`comments and annotations may also be used to enable a
`system subscriber to record and upload audio messages to
`identified subscribers or to the host system. This capability
`may in turn be used as a mechanism for providing help and
`support to subscribers concerning system operation, to pro-
`vide free-form requests for desired programming which may
`be made generally available to subscribers. or to request
`specific information to be sent to the requesting subscriber
`on a fee basis.
`Unlike Internet UseNet groups. which store and distribute
`text-based messages on particular special interest topics. the
`present invention utilizes audio recording and playback
`mechanisms to provide an interactive. conversational envi-
`ronment which eliminates the need to use a keyboard to
`interject comments and pose questions. Coupled with voice
`command responsive controls, the invention may be imple-
`mented as a hands-free system suitable for use by an
`automobile driver or other user's who cannot conveniently
`manipulate a keyboard to enter commands and data.
`In accordance with a related aspect of the present
`invention, recorded audio programming sent to a listener
`may advantageously include imbedded requests for infor-
`mation formed by the combination of recorded audio
`prompts and request markers. The listener’s player/recorder
`detects request markers to pause the playback while the
`listener dictates a response to the question contained in the
`audio prompt. Each recorded response is stored for future
`use along with identification data which designates the
`imbedded request and the program which holds the request.
`Combinations of such imbedded requests can be used to
`create an audio “fill-in-the-blanks” questionnaire that can be
`used to gather data from listeners, including survey data.
`program ratings, and the like. Subscribers who provide
`requested information may receive credit which reduces
`subscription charges or other incentives.
`These and other objects. features and advantages of the
`present invention may be more completely understood by
`considering the following detailed description of a preferred
`embodiment of the invention.
`In the course of this
`description. reference will frequently be made to the
`attached drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an electronic
`program and advertising distribution system which embod-
`ies the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the principle steps
`followed in the course of the performing the information
`distribution functions contemplated by the invention;
`FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the principle steps
`performed during a playback session in the illustrative
`embodiment;
`FIG.4 is an information structure and data flow diagram
`illustrating the manner in which programmingis selected
`and accounting functions are performed in theillustrative
`embodiment of the invention;
`
`35
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`0009
`0009
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`

`

`5,732,216
`
`3
`FIG. 5 is an information structure diagram illustrating the
`manner in which the program segments are dynamically
`selected and played in responseto the user's preferences and
`control decisions;
`FIG.6 is a flow chart which describes a preferred proce-
`dure for preparing the program content whichis distributed
`to subscribers in accordance with the invention; and
`FIG. 7 is an information structure diagram illustrating the
`manner in which a narrative text file expressed in hypertext
`markup language (HTML) may be translated in to the
`combination of an audio speech file. a textfile transcript, and
`a sequencing file used by the player to create a multimedia
`presentation.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`The illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in
`FIG. 1 utilizes the Internet to provide communications
`between a host computer indicated generally at 101 and an
`audio player device illustrated at 103.
`
`Subscriber Audio Player
`
`The player 103 may be advantageously implemented by a
`conventional laptop or desktop personal computer including
`a processor (the client CPU 105), a time of day clock 106.
`and a data storage system consisting of both high speed
`RAM storage and a persistent mass storage device, such as
`a magnetic disk memory, the data storage system being used
`for storing audio, text and image data at 107 and for storing
`usage data at 169 which records the nature of the program-
`ming reproduced by the player 103. The player 103 further
`includes a sound card 110 which receives audio input from
`a microphoneinput device 111 for accepting voice dictation
`and commandsfrom a user and which delivers audio output
`to a speaker 113 in order to supply audio informationto the
`user. The program data stored at 107 may advantageously
`include compressed audio recordings and/or text (files of
`characters) which may be converted into audio form by
`conventional speech synthesis programs executed by the
`client CPU 105.
`The sound card 110 is conventional and preferably com-
`plies with the recommendations detailed in the Hardware
`Design Guide for Microsoft Windows 95, by Doug
`Klopfenstein, Microsoft Press (1994), ISBN 1-55615-642-1.
`The sound card 110 advantageously supports a 44 kHz,
`16-bit, stereo codec providing analog to digital conversion
`of audio input signals from the microphone 111 as well as
`digital to analog conversion for programmingdirected to the
`speaker 111. The sound card provides external connections
`and hardware support for Microphone-In, Line-In, Line-Out.
`and Headphones-Out, with volume controlled by the player
`software (including yolume level logging as discussed later
`in connection with FIG. 3 of the drawings).
`To support multimedia capabilities, the CPU 105 should
`meet or exceed the capabilities of an Intel 486 DX2-66
`computer to provide consistently good playback results and
`the sound card 110 should include a 16-bit digital-to-analog
`converter for playback and a 16-bit analog-to-digital con-
`verter for recording. The sound card 11@ should further
`support 8, 11, 22, and 44 kHz waveforms. A frequency of 44
`kHzis used for CD-quality sound and fractions of 44, such
`as 11 and 22. are often used for compressed waveforms
`meant to save CPU processing. Support for an 8 kHz
`frequency should be in order to properly support Windows
`95 TrueSpeech™ compression, which is optimized for com-
`pression and playback of human speech. Using TrueSpeech
`
`15
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`25
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`4
`compression, programs containing largely voice narrative
`data can be substantially condensed, and users can record
`annotations and voice mail responses as discussed later.
`In addition, the sound card 110 should be capable of
`reproducing downloaded MIDI(Musical Instrument Device
`Interface) commands, enabling the system take a MIDI data
`stream and produce sound according to the compressed files
`consisting of digital sheet music instructions. Preferably. the
`sound card should support at least 16-voice polyphony(the
`ability to play several sounds at the same time), and poly-
`message MIDI. an capability included in Windows 95 that
`allows a sound card to receive and batch-process multiple
`MIDI messages (such as Note On and Note Off). The sound
`card 110 should also a microphone port for microphone 111.
`a speaker-out port (for one or two (stereo) unpowered
`speakers 113, and a headphone-outport.
`The personal computer CPU 105 is also preferably con-
`nected to a conventional personal computer video display
`118 and a standard keyboard 119, as well as a pointing
`device (such as a mouse,trackball or touchpad, not shown).
`The facilities provided by the operating system. such as
`Windows 95,
`typically includes multimedia support. as
`noted above, as well as a standard WINSOCK TCP/IP stack
`and modem dial up driver software to support a SLIPP/PPP
`Internet connection, as next discussed.
`Theplayer 103 further includes a conventional high speed
`data modem 115 for receiving (downloading) the program
`information 107 from the remote server 101 and for trans-
`mitting (uploading) program selections and preferences as
`well as usage data in the file 109 to the server 101. To effect
`these file transfers, the modem 115 is connected via con-
`ventional dial up telephone SLIP or PPP TCP/IP series data
`communication link 117 to an Internet service provider 121
`which provides access to the Internet. The service provider
`121 is in turn connected to the host server 101 via a high
`speed Internet link seen at 123.
`Host File Server
`
`The host server 101 provides a FTP server interface 125
`which providesfile transfer protocol services to the player
`103, a CGI interface 127 which performs Common Gateway
`Interface script program execution in response to requests
`from the player 103, and an HTML interface 129 which
`provides hypertext transport protocol (HTTP) World Wide
`Web server functions to the connected player 103. The host
`server 101 stores and maintains a plurality of data files
`including a program data library indicated generally at 130
`consisting of a collection of compressed audio program
`segments 131, announcement (“glue”) segments 132, text
`program segments 133, image segments 134, advertising
`segments 135 and program catalog information 137.
`The compressed audio segments program segments com-
`prise audio voice and musicfiles which may be compressed.
`using conventional compression mechanisms suited to the
`data being compressed, such as TrueSpeech compressionfor
`voice signals and MIDIfiles for compressed synthetic music
`reproducible by the sound card 116 as noted earlier.
`Compressed voice programmingin the database 131 may
`advantageously be accompanied by text transcripts (files of
`characters) stored in the text database 133. Similarly, images
`stored in the image database 134 may be used to provide a
`multimedia presentation which combines images repro-
`duced on the display 118 of player 103 with concurrently
`presented audio at the speaker 113 and/or displayed text.
`Program segments which present advertising, illustratively
`shown as being resident in a separate database 135 in FIG.
`
`0010
`0010
`
`

`

`5,732,216
`
`5
`text and/or image
`1, may likewise consist of audio,
`segments, as may the program segments which provide
`announcements between program segments as well as
`audible and visible menu options which the user may select
`as described later.
`As hereinafter described in connection with FIG. 5, each
`voice or text program segment preferably includes a
`sequencing file which contains the identification of high-
`lighted passages and hypertext anchors within the program
`content. This sequencing file may further contain references
`to imagefiles andthestart and ending offset locations in the
`audio presentation when each image display should begin
`and end. In this way. the image presentation may be syn-
`chronized with the audio programming to provide coherent
`multimedia programming.
`As contemplated by the invention, information which is
`available in text form from news sources, libraries, etc. may
`be converted to compressed audio form either by human
`readers or by conventional speech synthesis.
`If speech
`synthesis is used, the conversion of text to speech is pref-
`erably performed at the client station 103 by the player. In
`this way. text information alone may be rapidly downloaded
`from the server 101 since it requires much less data than
`equivalent compressed audio files, and the downloaded text
`further provides the user with ready access to a transcript of
`voice presentations. In other cases, where it is important to
`capture the quality and authenticity of the original analog
`speech signals, a text
`transcript
`file which collaterally
`accompanies a compressed voice audiofile may be stored in
`the database 133 from which a transcript may be made
`available to the user upon request.
`The host server 101 further stores web page data 141
`which is made available to the player 103 by means of the
`HTMLinterface 128. The host server 101 additionally stores
`and maintains a user data and usage log database indicated
`at 143 which stores uploaded usage data received from the
`store 109 in the player 103 via the Internet pathway 123 and
`the FTP server interface 125. The user data 143 further
`contains additional data describing the preferences, demo-
`graphic characteristics and program selections unique to
`each subscriber which is developed largely from user-
`supplied data obtained when users submit HTML form data
`via the Internet pathway 123 for processing by the CGI
`mechanism 127.
`
`The host server 101 periodically transmits a download
`compilation file 145 upon receiving a request from the
`player 103. The file 145 is placed in a predetermined FTP
`download file directory and assigned a filename known to
`the player 103. At a time determined by player 103 moni-
`toring the time of day clock 106, a dial up connection is
`established via the service provider 121 and the Internet to
`the FTP server 125 and the download compilation 145 is
`transferred to the program data store 107 in the player 103.
`The compilation 145 is previously written to the download
`directory by a download processing mechanism seen at 151
`in the server 101. Download processing, as described in
`more detail later. extracts from the library 130 data defining
`compressed program, advertising, and glue segments, and/or
`associated text program data, based on selections and pref-
`erences made by (or inferred for) the user as specified in the
`subscriber data and usage log database 143.
`The download compilationfile 145, though represented as
`a single file in FIG. 1, preferably takes the form of one or
`more subscriber and session specific files which contain the
`identification of separately stored sharable files. By way of
`example, the recommended order and the identification of
`
`6
`the program files making up an individual playback session
`are stored in a session schedulefile (to be described in detail
`in connection with FIG. 5) which contains program identi-
`fiers of the program segments to be played during an
`upcoming session. The player 103 downloads the session
`schedule file and then issues download requests for those
`identified program segment files which are not already
`available in the player's local storage unit 107.
`Usage data in the store 109 maintained by the player 103
`is preferably uploaded as a file bearing a predeterminedfile
`nameindicative of the particular subscriber and upload time
`and stored in a predetermined FTP upload directory. This
`upload advantageously occurs’at the same time the player
`103 establishes a download connection to the FTP server
`125 as noted earlier. and occurs prior to the download of the
`compilation 145. Because the upload data from the store 109
`in the player 103 identifies program segments desired by the
`subscriber, program segments newly requested by the user
`are appended to the compilation 145, Note that, in typical
`cases, programming in addition to the specifically requested
`programming will be included in the download compilation,
`andthetransfer of that programming can begin immediately
`while the newly uploaded user selections and other infor-
`mation are being processed as indicated at 153 to identify
`additional
`information to be included in the download
`compilation.
`As indicated at 161 in FIG. 1, the host server upload
`processing mechanism 153 also provides a number of
`reports, as described in more detail later, based upon the
`record ofactual player use by individual subscribers and the
`community of subscribers as a whole. This report processing
`is advantageously performed on a periodic basis in connec-
`tion with financial and accounting functions including sub-
`scriber and advertiser billing. content provider royalty pay-
`ment accounting. and marketing analysis processing.
`It should be understood that numerous other information
`storage, processing and communications schemes may be
`substituted for the preferred Internet server and PC client
`player architecture shown in FIG. 1. A dedicated host
`computer which communicates directly with client stations
`via dial up telephone facilities may be used. and cellular
`radio, cable modem and satellite links may be used to
`provide data communications in lieu of the conventional
`SLIP/PPP telephone and Internet links shown in FIG. 1. To
`facilitate use of the system in an automobile, a “player”
`computer may be linked to the Internet via a local commu-
`nications server computer via a radio or infrared link when
`the car is parked at the subscriber’s home or office. The
`infrared Data Association's (IrDA) wireless infrared (IR)
`standard provides a highly effective. low-cost communica-
`tions pathway rapidly becoming a standard feature in all
`notebook computers and PDAs. The IrDA international
`standard provides interoperability among widely diverse
`systems, involves no governmental regulation, are provided
`at low cost. provide high speed file transfers (c.g.. 4 Mbs
`data rates), are small and can be easily incorporated into
`portable computers of the type which may be used in a car
`or on public transportation. Alternatively, the files down-
`loaded from the host may be stored on a replaceable media,
`such as an optical disk cartridge. which may then be inserted
`into a portable computeror simplified player for mobile use.
`A direct link between a mobile client player (such as a laptop
`PC) may be implemented using the Cellular Digital Packet
`Data (CDPD) service presently available in major metro-
`politan areas to provide low-cost access to the Internet using
`the TCP/IP protocol, and provides the advantage that needed
`program segments can be downloaded while a sessionis in
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`7
`progress. eliminating the need for a complete download
`before the mobile unit is disconnected from its data source.
`
`5,732,216
`
`8
`listeners control. As indicated at 213 in FIG.2, the listener
`may at any time return to the sequence editing step 211 to
`manually reorder the playing sequence if desired. As indi-
`Upload and Download Sequence—Overview
`cated at 215, a session usage log is recorded during the
`playback session to identify every segment actually played.
`FIG.2 illustrates the sequence of major events whichare
`the volume and speed at whichthat segment wasplayed. and
`executed the program dissemination system contemplated
`the start and end times.
`by the invention.
`At step 211, in addition to deleting and reordering items
`As indicated at 203. an interested subscriber invokes
`on the program schedule,
`the user may alter his or her
`programmingservices by first supplying personal informa-
`selections and general subject matter preferences to control
`tion andinitial programming preferences during an account
`the manner in which the host assembles program schedules
`initialization procedure. Preferably, as explained in more
`for future sessions. When programs are includedin a current
`detail later, account initialization is accomplished by pre-
`schedule which are of particular interest. the subscriber may
`senting the subscriber with HTML forms to complete and
`assign a priority value to the scheduled program and,in that
`submit to CGC script programs which execute on the server
`way, inform the hostthat the user has an interest in receiving
`to post subscriber supplied information into an initial user
`more programing in the same subject matter categories in
`dataset. Based on the information supplied by the user, the
`which the identified program is classified. When a program
`server then compiles one or morefiles for downloading to
`in a serialized sequence is assigned a new or different
`the subscriber at step 207 which include programming and
`priority value at step 211. the host system 101 assigns a
`advertising segments as well as additional data andutility
`corresponding Importance value to the program_segment
`programs needed by the player 103 to begin operation. The
`record for each of the remaining unplayed programs in that
`download operation preferably occurs at a time established
`serialized sequence. Note that, by expressly approving
`by the player whichestablishes a dial up connection via the
`advertising segmentsor categories of acceptable advertising
`SLIP/PPP serial connection 117 to the local Internet service
`in this fashion, the subscriber may be granted a rate reduc-
`provider 121 which provides an Internet connection to the
`tion since advertisers are generally willing to pay more for
`host FTP server 125. The download file or files containing
`advertising directed to customers having a knowninterest in
`programmingandadvertising segments as well as subscriber
`a given subject.
`specific data are designate by filenames provided by the
`At the conclusion of a session, subscriber is given the
`requesting client/player 103 and moved from storage unit
`opportunity at 217 to select programming which should be
`145 utilizing the FTP server 125 and the Internet connection
`included in the next programming download. Tofacilitate
`into local storage at 107 in the client/player 103. The
`this selection process, additional programming which fits the
`filenames used to specify the files in the server 125 may
`subscriber’s indicated subject matter preferences. along with
`conveniently be formed from the program_id value used
`additional programming which the server includes as being
`internally by both the host and the player to identify and
`of particular interest. is identified in a catalog (as periodi-
`differentiate the different program segments used.
`cally supplemented by a download file seen at 308 in FIG.
`The data downloaded includes a recommended program
`4) and presented to the user in the form of a proposed
`sequence file which provisionally identifies the order in
`program schedule together with a catalog of additional
`which downloaded program segments are to be played. with
`selections which may be substituted or inserted into the
`the initial selection and sequence being established based on
`proposed schedule. At step 219. the selections made by the
`user preference data by the download compilation process-
`user at 217 as well as the contents of the usage log recorded
`ing mechanism seen at 151 at the server.
`at 215 are uploaded to the server as a requested file (seen at
`Before a playback session begins, as indicated at 211, the
`301 in FIG. 4). This upload step may occur at the same time
`subscriber has the opportunity to review and alter the
`the SLIP/PPP dial-up connection is established by the player
`provisional program selections and sequence established as
`103 to accomplish the download, with the upload occurring
`45
`a default by the downloaded information from the server.
`first by an FTP file transfer from the usage data store 107 to
`Utilizing the programming data andautility program pre-
`the FTP server 125 followed by the downloading offiles
`viously supplied by the server, the subscriber may alter the
`requested by the client 103 from the FTP server.
`selection and sequence of program materials to be played,
`In addition to the