Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting at least a portion of an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) retrieving an average speed contour or a democratic speed contour from a database apparatus; and (b) presenting the at least a portion at a playback apparatus using the retrieved average speed contour or democratic speed contour to provide presentation rates.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of storing a speed contour for use in playback of at least a portion of an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) generating one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours for the audio or audio-visual work; (b) storing the one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours in a database; and (c) associating retrieval information with the one or more stored contours in the database.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of storing a speed contour for use in playback of at least a portion of an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) generating one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours for the audio or audio-visual work; (b) storing the one or more speed contours and/or average speed contours and/or democratic speed contours in a database; and (c) associating retrieval information with the one or more stored contours in the database.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for testing an audience member's comprehension rate and presenting material in a media work at a rate determined from the comprehension rate, the method including: (a) determining a comprehension rate for materials to be presented in a media work; (b) storing information representing the comprehension rate; (c) determining a presentation rate for intervals of the media work utilizing the comprehension rate information to alter effort required for comprehension; and (d) presenting portions of the media work at the presentation rates determined.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to a client device, which device utilizes presentation rates to present information at various presentation rates, and which method includes: (a) broadcasting information; and (b) broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the client device in presentation of the information; wherein the guidance information comprises insistence information that specifies a measure of importance of utilizing presentation rate information contained in the guidance information.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for testing an audience member's comprehension rate and presenting material in a media work at a rate determined from the comprehension rate, the method including: (a) determining a comprehension rate for materials to be presented in a media work; (b) storing information representing the comprehension rate; (c) determining a presentation rate for intervals of the media work utilizing the comprehension rate information to alter effort required for comprehension; and (d) presenting portions of the media work at the presentation rates determined.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for generating a listener-interest-filtered work for an audio or audio-visual work, which method includes steps of: (a) generating one or more average speed contours for one or more audio or audio-visual works for one or more categories of users; (b) converting the one or more average speed contours to one or more conceptual speed association data structures; and forming a listener-interest-filtered conceptual speed association data structure from the one or more conceptual speed association data structures.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to a client device, which device utilizes presentation rates to present information at various presentation rates, and which method includes: (a) broadcasting information; and (b) broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the client device in presentation of the information; wherein the guidance information comprises insistence information that specifies a measure of importance of utilizing presentation rate information contained in the guidance information.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for generating a listener-interest-filtered work for an audio or audio-visual work, which method includes steps of: (a) generating one or more average speed contours for one or more audio or audio-visual works for one or more categories of users; (b) converting the one or more average speed contours to one or more conceptual speed association data structures; and forming a listener-interest-filtered conceptual speed association data structure from the one or more conceptual speed association data structures.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a client apparatus for preparing streaming media received over a non-deterministic delay network for playback or distribution which includes: (a) a buffer which stores data corresponding to the streaming media; (b) a time-scale modification system that time-scale modifies data output from the buffer at a time-scale modification playback rate; (c) a rate determiner that determines the time-scale modification playback rate over an interval to control an amount of data in the buffer; and (d) a user interface which receives a user requested time-scale modification playback rate.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for presenting broadcast information that comprises steps of: (a) receiving broadcast information; (b) receiving guidance information relating to presentation of the broadcast information; (c) paying for a capability to alter or override at least a portion of the guidance information; (d) receiving user input to alter or override at least some of the guidance information; (e) analyzing the guidance information, the capability, and the user input to provide one or more presentation rates; and (f) presenting the information at the one or more presentation rates.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for preparing streaming media such as an audio or audio-visual work for playback which comprises: (a) a buffer which stores data corresponding to the streaming media; (b) a buffer monitor which determines an amount of data stored in the buffer; (c) a rate determiner, in response to output from the buffer monitor, that determines a playback rate; and (d) a time-scale modification system, responsive to the playback rate, that time-scale modifies at least a portion of the data in the buffer. In a further embodiments, a playback system plays back the time-scale modified data as a portion of the streaming media.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for preparing media for playback which comprises: (a) a buffer which stores data corresponding to the media; (b) a time-scale modification system that time-scale modifies data output from the buffer at a playback rate; and (c) a rate determiner that determines the playback rate over an interval to control the amount of data in the buffer.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for transmitting a work to a client which includes steps of: (a) saving at least a portion of the work for a first period of time; (b) receiving a request for the work from the client; (c) transmitting a time-scale modified version of the saved portion of the work for a second period of time, wherein the second period of time is substantially equal to a time it takes for the time-scale modified version to synchronize with the work, had the work been transmitted from a start of the first period; and (d) transmitting the work starting at the synchronized point.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for generating a listener-interest-filtered work for an audio or audio-visual work, which method includes steps of: (a) generating one or more average speed contours for one or more audio or audio-visual works for one or more categories of users; (b) converting the one or more average speed contours to one or more conceptual speed association data structures; and forming a listener-interest-filtered conceptual speed association data structure from the one or more conceptual speed association data structures.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for generating a listener-interest-filled work for an audio or audio-visual work, which method comprises the steps of: (a) generating one or more average speed contours for one or more audio or audio-visual works for one or more categories of users; (b) converting the one or more average speed contours to one or more conceptual speed association data structures; and (c) forming a listener-interest-filtered conceptual speed association data structure from the one or more conceptual speed association data structures.