Abstract: An interactive Web book (“ibook”) system is provided that allows material to be contributed to the World Wide Web. An ibook is a self-extending, self-sustaining information-redistributing Web robot, which is resident on a data network such as the Internet or an intranet. Users may enroll with an ibook as viewers or contributors. Viewers may view ibook material, such as text or multimedia content. Contributors may contribute original material to the ibook or may create derivations of existing ibook material. Attribution information that identifies the source of material in a derivation is automatically generated. Information concerning the derivation of each work and its characteristics can be used to help the user navigate through ibook material. The ibook system keeps track of how often users access each work within an ibook. Contributors may be automatically rewarded (e.g., by a monetary distribution) based on the extent to which their contributed material is viewed by the users.

Abstract: Method for managing Presentation Time in a digital rendering system for presentation of temporally-ordered data when the digital rendering system includes a Variable Rate Presentation capability. In a particular, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for converting Presentation Time to Data Time, and for reporting Presentation Time when only one time can be returned.

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 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: Systems and methods for editing broadcast programming signals which allow a user to compile a proprietary signal tailored to the user's individual preferences are provided. Systems of the present invention include a receiver for receiving a broadcast programming signal in any broadcast format, a database memory having identification signals stored therein, a comparator for comparing portions of the broadcast signal with the identification signal in order to select those portions of the broadcast programming signal to be recorded, a data processor, and a compression buffer for storage of the selected broadcast programming signals.

Abstract: The text is generated from voice input that divides the processing of each spoken word into a dictation event and a text event. Each dictation event handles the processing of data relating to the input into the system, and each text event deals with the generation of text from the inputted voice signals. In order to easily distinguish the dictation events from each other and text events from each other the system and method creates a data structure for storing certain information relating to each individual event. Such data structures enable the system and method to process both simple spoken words as well as spoken commands and to provide the necessary text generation in response to the spoken words or to execute an appropriate function in response to a command.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for generating text from a voice input that divides the processing of each speech event into a dictation event and a text event. Each dictation event handles the processing of data relating to the input into the system, and each text event deals with the generation of text from the inputted voice signals. In order to easily distinguish the dictation events from each other and text events from each other the system and method creates a data structure for storing certain information relating to each individual event. Such data structures enable the system and method to process both simple spoken words as well as spoken commands and to provide the necessary text generation in response to the spoken words or to execute an appropriate function in response to a command. Speech recognition includes the ability to distinguish between dictation text and commands.

Abstract: A report generation method and apparatus automatically bind and capitalize text strings provided, for example, by speech recognition systems as text to be inserted into a report form. The method and apparatus associate with each text string, text string signals representing instructions for binding and capitalizing the text strings. Spaces, if any, are then prepended to the next string in response to the text string signals and the first alphanumeric letter of the text string is capitalized in response to the text string signals. The text string signals include left and right codes or instructions describing the beginning and ending of the text material and can include either preset or machine-generated action instructions designating the binding and capitalization requirements for the text string. The apparatus and method preferably employ a look-up table for associating the binding and capitalization requirements of the text string with the text string code types.