Abstract: An audio program and message distribution system in which a host system organizes and transmits program segments to client subscriber locations. The host organizes the program segments by subject matter and creates scheduled programming in accordance with preferences associated with each subscriber. Program segments are associated with descriptive subject matter segments, and the subject matter segments may be used to generate both text and audio cataloging presentations to enable the user to more easily identify and select desirable programming. A playback unit at the subscriber location reproduces the program segments received from the host and includes mechanisms for interactively navigating among the program segments. A usage log is compiled to record the subscriber's use of the provided program materials, to return data to the host for billing, to adaptively modify the subscriber's preferences based on actual usage, and to send subscriber-generated comments and requests to the host for processing.

Abstract: A system for customising the synthesis and generation of spatial hearing in virtual auditory space (VAS) for individual listeners includes a measuring ruler (12) and a digital processing unit (DPU) (14) to which the ruler (12) is connected. The ruler (12) is used for measuring various physical dimensions of the morphology of a person's external auditory periphery (16). The ruler (12) comprises a base (18) insertable into an ear canal (20) of the person's ear. A robotic measuring arm (22) extends from the base (18) and has a measuring tip (24) to enable the ruler (12) to record the Cartesian (x,y,z) coordinates of the tip (24) relative to the base (18). By suitable manipulation of the robotic arm (22), the tip (24) can be positioned at desired locations on the person's external auditory periphery (16) to enable the morphological measurements of the person's external auditory periphery (16) to be effected.

Abstract: A system for recording and reproducing a three dimensional auditory scene for individual listeners includes one or more microphone arrays (2 and 16); a support (3) for holding, moving the microphone array and also for attaching other devices (14); a data storage and encoding device (9); a control interface (13), and a processor and decoding device (10). The microphones in the microphone array (2) preferably have strong directional characteristics. The microphone array support mount (4) can support one or more physical structures (5) to provide directional acoustic filtering. The directional microphone array is electrically connected via a lead (8) to the sound encoding processor (9) and sound decoding processor (10).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for editing the content of a broadcast programming signal to provide a proprietary program signal that has been tailored to the preferences of an individual monitoring the broadcast programming signal. Accordingly, the systems and methods of the invention offer computer-integrated television monitoring.