Abstract: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in an audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the audio of the audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio or audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus so that the audio is presented at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more indicia of words of interest; and wherein the audio or audio-visual work includes conversations.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting the information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting non-time-scale modified information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is broadcast prior to or after a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work including: (a) a user selecting a speed contour from one or more speed contours stored in a database apparatus; (b) presenting the audio or audio-visual work at a playback device using the user selected speed contour to provide presentation rates; (c) during presenting, the user selecting another speed contour from the one or more speed contours stored in the database apparatus; and (d) continuing to present the audio or audio-visual work at the playback device using the user selected another speed contour to provide presentation rates.

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: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in an audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the audio of the audio portion of the audio or audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio or audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus so that the audio is presented at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more indicia of words of interest; and wherein the audio or audio-visual work includes conversations.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in a visual portion of the audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the portion of the audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more of a predetermined number of items in a video frame, a predetermined number of moving items in a video frame, and one or more predetermined individuals; and wherein the audio-visual work is output from a surveillance camera.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting a media work that includes one or more media works at a client device, which method includes: receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source; determining whether the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present a portion of the media work, and if so; presenting the portion.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information to one or more client devices from a broadcaster that is not a client device, which one or more client devices utilize presentation rates to present audio in broadcast information at various presentation rates using time-scale modification, and which method includes: (a) the broadcaster broadcasting the information; and (b) the broadcaster broadcasting guidance information used to determine presentation rates for use by the one or more client devices in presentation of audio in the broadcast information using time-scale modification; wherein the guidance information is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method of presenting an audio-visual work which includes: (a) detecting media work content properties in a visual portion of the audio-visual work using a media work content properties detection apparatus; (b) associating a presentation rate of the portion of the audio-visual work with the detected media work content properties; and (c) presenting the portion of the audio-visual work using the media work content properties detection apparatus; wherein the media work content properties comprise one or more of a predetermined number of items in a video frame, a predetermined number of moving items in a video frame, and one or more predetermined individuals; and wherein the audio-visual work is output from a surveillance camera.

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 is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.

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 presenting a media work which includes: detecting media work content properties in a portion of the media work; associating a presentation rate of the portion with the detected media work content properties; and presenting the portion at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties include one or more of: (a) indicia of a number of syllables in utterances; (b) indicia of a number of letters in a word; (c) indicia of the complexity of grammatical structures in portions of the media work; (d) indicia of arrival rate of newly presented objects; (e) indicia of temporal proximity of between events in portions of the media work or (f) indicia of number of phonemes per unit of time in portions of the media work.

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: An embodiment of the present invention is a method for broadcasting information from a server to a client which includes the steps of: (a) broadcasting information at predetermined starting times; (b) receiving a request for the information from the client at an arrival time different from the predetermined starting times; and (c) transmitting a time-scale modified version of the information to the client for a period of time.

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 is transmitted at or not at a time of broadcast of the broadcast information.

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 of presenting a media work which includes: detecting media work content properties in a portion of the media work; associating a presentation rate of the portion with the detected media work content properties; and presenting the portion at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties include one or more of: (a) indicia of a number of syllables in utterances; (b) indicia of a number of letters in a word; (c) indicia of the complexity of grammatical structures in portions of the media work; (d) indicia of arrival rate of newly presented objects; (e) indicia of temporal proximity of between events in portions of the media work or (f) indicia of number of phonemes per unit of time in portions of the media work.