United States Patent (19)
`Hanson
`
`USOO5922045A
`Patent Number:
`11
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`5,922,045
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`54 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`PROVIDING BOOKMARKS WHEN
`LISTENING TO PREVIOUSLY RECORDED
`AUDIO PROGRAMS
`
`75 Inventor: Bruce Lowell Hanson, Little Silver,
`N.J.
`73 Assignee: AT&T Corp., Middletown, N.J.
`
`21 Appl. No.: 08/682,034
`22 Filed:
`Jul. 16, 1996
`51) Int. Cl. .............................. H04M 3/56; H04M 3/50
`52 U.S. Cl. .......................... 709/206; 709/203; 709/217;
`709/227; 709/228
`58 Field of Search ......................... 395/20033, 20036,
`395/200.42-200.48, 200.57-200.59; 348/7,
`12, 13; 379/93, 88, 202; 455/4.2, 5.1; 709/202-203,
`205, 212-219, 227-229, 237
`
`56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,668,863 9/1997 Bieselin et al. ......................... 379/202
`5,732.216 3/1998 Logan et al. .............................. 709/46
`5,740,304 4/1998 Katsuyama et al. ...................... 386/46
`5,841,979 11/1998 Schulhof et al. ....................... 709/237
`Primary Examiner Zarni Maung
`ASSistant Examiner Bharat Barot
`57
`ABSTRACT
`An audio Service monitors the progreSS of a user as he or she
`proceeds through the Service. The location in the Service at
`the time of termination is detected and correlated with user
`and Service identification information. As a result, a book
`mark is created which enables the user to later resume the
`Service at the point of prior termination.
`
`30 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`.
`
`- - - -
`
`-
`
`-
`
`- -m as - m error
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`AUDIO INFORMATION SERVICE PLATFORM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PUBLIC SWITCHED
`TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`USER'S
`TELEPHONE
`
`BLOCK COUNTER
`
`PROGRAM RETRIEWA
`AND PLAYBACK
`MODULE
`
`USER ID
`MODULE
`
`
`
`SERVICE MENU
`MODULE
`
`O3
`
`a -- a-- S.
`
`
`
`AUDIO
`CONTENT
`DATABASE
`
`PERSONAL
`PROFILE
`DATABASE
`
`-1-
`
`Amazon v. Audio Pod
`US Patent 10,805,111
`Amazon EX-1033
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13, 1999
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,922,045
`5,922,045
`
`OIGNV
`
`LNSINO9
`
`ASVEVIVG
`
`WNOSHId
`
`41140d
`
`ASVEV1V
`
`
`
`
`
`ANSWJOTAYSS
`
`U3]IOULNCD
`||01|us|||
`
`Ob}
`
`
`
`HILNNOINIOTd
`
`60
`J
`
`JINGOW
`
`
`
`WAATHISHWYE90Ud
`
`MOVEAVIdCNY
`
`J1NGOWQI¥3sn
`
`901
`
`JJIANSS
`
`JWNGOW
`
`
`
`
`
`S.Y35N
`
`SNOHdI131
`
`Q3HOLIMSITTNd
`
`
`
`MHOMIINANOHdS141
`
`-2-
`
`cOt
`
`-2-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`5,922,045
`
`JOTAWSS Ve“914W0¢
`INSINODOTOAYSSASSIIOVHITIOWLNODJOTAWIS“YITIOWLNOD
`
`
`
`
`
`ONYWASTHISHWYH90UdSLHOd3HJINCOWANS
`
`
`
`SyISHOONY“ASVEVLVdWYH90HdWOKSHOVEAVIdSLSINOIY
`
`
`HISN41WWHIOHd404JWNGOWNOVEAVTdONYWASTYLSd
`
`
`JINGOWYNOVEAV'IdJOIAUASOLNOTLOITSSWSWOLSND
`
`
`e02Cais)
`
`
`
`WWH90UdOICAYNV
`
`JQIANSSNOTLYAUONI
`
`AATLOVYILNIVIA
`
`4138SSTSTINSOTCNV
`
`
`SLOSTASHSWOLSNI
`
`
`OIGAYS3SS3Q9¥HSNOLSND
`
`
`
`AINSWSOIAUSS
`
`
`
`SNVSWIVNHONAG
`
`ne102
`80¢c0c1c
`
`CONTABVO08
`
`
`
`N01WYHOOHdSTS3AJOO08LSHI4SSHILII
`
`
`FINOONYOVEAVTd
`
`
`S3HO134JTNGOWMOVEAYId
`
`‘S3131dN0D9078HOVASV
`SHOLINOW!AISNOANTLNOD
`
`YATIOWLNODSOTAWIS
`
`MOTTVOLHONONS
`
`49078SOHOISHONYWVE90ed
`HALNNODX9018YIAYIWNN
`
`
`YSENNODXO018VIABSGWNN
`
`40078SALONONYITAVIdQ1SNI93
`
`“YQ078LX3N
`
`HONOLWIA)WYH9OUdONS
`dNONVHHSNHO(S3NOL
`O11S3A03H43SN404
`
`
`
`90¢
`
`JHLNIWVH90HdOVE
`
`LAOHLIMAVM“TYNHON
`
`SHOO18INTHOVEL
`
`
`
`
`
`SAV]dFINGOWNOVEAYId
`
`ON
`
`fhe
`
`22HW
`
`ONINSLST]TLS
`
`éNVudOudOL
`
`YSNSI
`
`ON
`
`
`
`
`
`SaSS¥dUFTIOUINODJOIAWSS
`
`
`
`JON3U3434SUNNHOS
`
`1sv7Sassy
`
`CON}HGHNIN9078C0HOI3ISVONY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3eVGVIVOT130dWNOSHRdOL
`OLWvua0udSidOLYaHOISND
` HITIOWINOD
`ITION 39TAH3SOLOWVUOHdONY(HSINNOD¥907dOVEIdesnoHAWNHogCaeventaSar
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S3LYNINUSLJINGOWYOVEAVUSTTOHLNOYSOLARIS
`
`-3-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 13, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`5,922,045
`
`YITIOWLNODJOTAYSS
`
`CONVWVH90UdS3SS¥d
`
`
`O1SANTAYeYWx008
`
`
`HLIM(S)WWHOOUdSSIASTHISY
`JI4103dSONYSYYVWXOOE
`
`ISTX3SMYVWO08
`éHASNSIHL404
`
`
`ASVEVIVG31140dWNOSYSd
`
`ONYS3ONSH3438dININYILIOGNVCIBSSASTHAAOL
`
`JINGOWMNIWSOTAWIS
`
`
`ASVEVIVOJ11J0UdWNOSUId
`
`WOu4SANWAYYVWNOOE
`
`
`
`
`
`SNINNTIOSENOUSW¥WO0bd
`
`vec
`
`
`
`HITIOBINODSITAWSS
`
`WOVGAVIdSLONYLSNT
`
`AW1dOLJINOOK
`
`CEe
`
`ASXLVHM
`
`
`
`é05SS3udSVN
`
`
`
`SA¥IdJINGOWANSWJOTAUIS
`
`SIHLSNNILNODOL,6°2:S39T0H9
`
`
`IS¥1NOAJHSHMWOH4WYU9OHd
`
`YHYWNOOTW193dSHLIMNNSA
`
`QUVONVISHLIMJINGOK
`
`HITIOWLNODJIIAUIS
`ANAWSOIAUSSSTO
`
`
`
`
`LHVISOL°FSS3Hd‘4401437
`2SS3ddONINNIO3AHiWOH
`
`AINSWYeWWOO8-NON
`
`ON
`
`
`
`SYHVNNOO8F1ISSOd
`
`Vee
`
`
`S3lVOdNYHVWNO08403(SNIWTL
`
`40}ONTXOVEL4018S1evIS
`
`
`
`S1S3no3HONY‘3301437Y3SNSUSHNHLIMFINGOWYOVEAVIdOL
`
`WOHSWVESOUd40.40018
`
`3SVEVIVGINSLNODOLN
`«LX3NAW1dOLNOTLONULSNI
`
`YYVANOOWOUSWVHSOUd
`(a8)Lee
`
`CNY“NHYWNO08NOUSNVHOOUd
`
`
`SAWIdJINGOWYOVEAVTd
`
`
`WYHOOHdNIINIOdXSONIO1SAIVA
`
`
`YYVANOOGSASNFINGOWYIVEAVId
`
`
`HITIOHLNODSOTAUSSSAVIdJINGOW
`
`
`SNTWAMEVANOOESASSVd
`
`ANSCHVONVIS
`
`NSNSOTAHSS
`
`LEe
`
`9€¢
`
`
`
`ec2ake922
`
`
`
`YITIOWLNODJOIAWSS
`
`SIA
`
`ANY00
`
`Gee
`
`
`
`
`
`S3THINDYITIOWINODJOTAWIS
`
`Vee
`
`JeC
`
`0Ee
`
`cee
`
`Ge“9I4
`
`
`
`SWIY3NOLSNO
`
`
`
`NOTLVWUOANIOICNV
`
`
`
`(STV)SOTAYSS
`
`NLSdVIA
`
`H3NO1SND Eee
`
`SUSASNYW3LSASC3]4LINSOI
`
`
`
`FINGOW1YASNSTW)
`
`CNV(OI40AMINA
`
`Q3¥INDIYJI
`
`-4-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`PROVIDING BOOKMARKS WHEN
`LISTENING TO PREVIOUSLY RECORDED
`AUDIO PROGRAMS
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention is directed to providing a bookmark
`for audio programs. In one embodiment an audio Service
`includes the capability of creating a user bookmark to enable
`a user to proceed through an audio program at that user's
`OWn pace.
`It is known to provide telephone-based audio Services
`over, for example, the Public Switched Telephone Network
`(PSTN). For example, it is known to provide call up services
`where a Service user dials a particular number through the
`PSTN to obtain information. One example of such a service
`is a “900 Service that enables a user to call a “900' number
`and receive the day-to-day comments of a celebrity or Sports
`personality. Similarly, it is possible to provide an audio
`Service in which the user will dial a designated number and
`have audio program information, Such as news Summaries,
`played back to the user through the PSTN.
`The presently available audio Services are Somewhat
`limited in nature. In particular, audio-based Services that
`provide Serial information are not as powerful as they could
`be because the user is not provided with a way to Select the
`appropriate pace with which they will proceed through the
`material. For example, there presently is no flexibility pro
`Vided to the user for Selecting a Start point, or more impor
`tantly a restarting point if the user accesses a given audio
`Service multiple times. In a typical Service, if the user
`chooses to disconnect from the Service at any point prior to
`the completion of the program material, the call terminates
`and the Service takes no note of where or when the user
`terminated the access to the Service. Connect time may be
`monitored for billing purposes, but no correlation is drawn
`to the user's progreSS through the audio program. If the user
`later reconnects to the Service, the program material is cued
`to its initial Starting point and the user must listen to the
`entire portion of the program material which was accessed
`earlier before returning to the point at which the Service had
`earlier been terminated.
`The present construction of these Services limits their
`usefulneSS in providing audio Services, Such as audio books
`or audio "Soap operas, Since there is no possibility of
`quickly returning to the point at which the user had previ
`ously terminated the Service. The user is discouraged from
`re-accessing Such Services.
`For example, the user could with some difficulty return to
`the same part of a story or Soap opera, at the cost of having
`to listen to the same program material again before proceed
`ing on to new material. Thus, it would be advantageous if
`there were Some technique provided for allowing a user to
`enjoy the audio Services at a pace Set by the user.
`A similar problem arises in the context of audio program
`material that can be downloaded from a network audio
`Service, e.g., a music program could be accessed via the
`Internet and downloaded to a user's PC. Upon playback of
`the program the user may decide to Stop playing the program
`to pursue Some other interest. It would also be advantageous
`if the PC could provide a technique for automatically
`positioning the playing back of the downloaded program to
`avoid having to Search for the desired re-starting point.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides a “bookmark' that permits
`a user who is reviewing audio program material to Stop at
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,922,045
`
`2
`any point in the program and to resume the review at the
`point at which the user previously stopped.
`In accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention, a user can access an audio information Services
`platform through the PSTN. The platform has an audio
`content (program) database and a personal profile database.
`The user has an assigned user code. When the user connects
`to the audio information Service platform, the user code is
`utilized to access information Stored in the personal profile
`database. The stored information identifies the Services
`previously accessed by the user and identifies the location
`within each audio Service at which the user has previously
`terminated the Service. The user can then Select a desired
`audio Service and request to be returned to the location in the
`audio Service at which the previous acceSS had been termi
`nated.
`In accordance with the embodiment the bookmark is
`generated by monitoring or tracking the progress of the user
`in reviewing the program material. In particular, a playback
`module may be coupled to a position location detector Such
`as a block counter or timer. When the user terminates the
`access, the user ID, a Service identifier and a last position
`location are grouped and Stored in the personal profile
`database for later use.
`By providing a bookmark for the audio Services the user
`can better access and utilize audio books, multi-step pro
`grams. Such as Stop-Smoking programs, audio Soap operas,
`travel direction Services, or any Serial presentation of infor
`mation that lends itself to Self-pacing by the user.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 discloses an audio information Service System in
`accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 2A illustrates a flowchart for creating a bookmark in
`the audio service system of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
`embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 2B illustrates a flowchart for using a bookmark
`created in FIG. 2A.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`FIG. 1 illustrates, in block diagram form, a system for
`providing an audio information Service that includes book
`marks. The Service provider has an audio information Ser
`vice platform 103 which is accessible through a Public
`Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) 102. Typically in such
`circumstances the platform is accessible by dialing a par
`ticular number, e.g., 800-XXX-YYYY, that is associated
`with the platform. The user can access the platform through
`the PSTN simply using the telephone 101. The telephone
`will include a keypad which enables the user to enter
`alpha-numeric codes represented by DTMF signals that can
`be transmitted through the PSTN 102 to the audio informa
`tion service platform 103. One known audio services plat
`form that does not include the bookmark capability is the
`CONVERSANT(R) system, belonging to Lucent
`Technologies, Inc.
`In the present invention the platform 103 includes not
`only a database for audio content, 104 but a personal profile
`database 105 that stores information about the users of the
`Service. A Service controller 107 is a processing device
`which has the capability of controlling accesses to the
`personal profile database to obtain information about the
`users that are accessing the Service platform. Alternatively,
`the Service controller can arrange to have information about
`a user stored in their personal profile database 105.
`
`-5-
`
`

`

`3
`The service controller 107 also interfaces with a program
`retrieval and playback module 109. This module is respon
`Sible for accessing audio from the audio content database
`104 under the specific instructions of the service controller.
`For instance, the service controller will provide information
`to the module as to which audio content to obtain as well as
`identify the location within the audio content at which the
`Service should begin. Typically each Service will have an
`asSociated identifier or code that uniquely identifies the
`Service and/or content. The Service controller then arranges
`for the playback audio Service to be routed to the appropriate
`user through the PSTN 102 to the user's telephone 101.
`The Service controller also interfaces with a Service menu
`module 108 that provides information about the available
`audio Services in the audio content database. Under the
`control of the combination of the service controller and the
`Service menu module the user, upon connection to the
`platform, is given information about the available Services
`and, as is described below, can be instructed about options
`for resuming previously accessed audio Services.
`The service controller could also interface with an Auto
`matic Speech Recognition Unit (ASR) which operates to
`detect Voice responses by the users to menu prompts, rather
`than detecting keypad or DTMF responses.
`The service controller 107 also interfaces with a user ID
`module 106. This connection provides the service controller
`with information about the user including the identity of the
`user for use together with the personal profile database. User
`IDs are well known. One possibility for a user ID is the
`detection of the automatic number information (ANI) which
`can be transmitted by the PSTN 102 and which identifies the
`telephone number associated with the line connected to the
`user's telephone. Alternatively, the user can be prompted to
`provide a personal ID or a PIN so that the user can access
`the audio Service from any location rather than be limited to
`accessing it from one particular telephone.
`Finally, the audio information service platform 103 also
`includes a position detector, shown as a block counter in this
`embodiment, which is used in conjunction with the playback
`module 109 to monitor the user's progression through the
`audio Service. The block counter provides useful informa
`tion about where the user is in a Selected audio Service at any
`given time. This present position location information is
`then detected and associated with a user when the user
`terminates an audio Service. The Service controller can then
`provide the user information (userID), Service identification
`information (Service ID) and termination location informa
`tion to the personal profile database at the time the user
`terminates a Service.
`The entire audio service platform is operated with the
`service controller 107 operating under the control of a stored
`program for accessing the audio Services, creating a book
`mark and using an existing bookmark. The accessing of
`audio services itself is well known. However, the creation of
`a bookmark and the use of an existing bookmark is described
`below with reference to the flowcharts in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
`One potential embodiment for creating a bookmark is
`described by the flowchart of FIG. 2A. In accordance with
`this operation, a customer first accesses the audio informa
`tion service platform through the PSTN and the platform
`identifies the user either by detecting the ANI or by prompt
`ing the user to enter a PIN, step 201. The user then is
`provided with an interactive Service menu and Selects an
`audio program from the menu, Step 202. The interactive
`Service menu can operate in conjunction with an ASR and/or
`a DTMF detector to detect the user's responses to the menu
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,922,045
`
`4
`prompts. The Service menu module reports the Selection of
`the audio service to the service controller 107 and in turn, the
`controller activates the playback module to request a play
`back of the desired audio service, step 203. The program
`retrieval and playback module 109 then acts upon the
`request from the Service controller to access the audio
`content database 104 to select the desired audio service in
`accordance with the Service ID associated with the Selected
`service. The playback module 109 then can check the
`Selected program for length, Step 204. This can be done for
`instance by checking the file length or length information
`could be encoded into a header, for example. It may be
`determined in advance that certain programs are too short to
`warrant providing bookmarks to the user So that only
`Selected programs will provide the bookmark capability. If
`that is the case, then having obtained the information iden
`tifying the length of the program, the playback module
`determines whether the program is long enough to warrant
`bookmarks, step 205. If the module detects that the service
`is not long enough to warrant bookmarks then the module
`will playback the program in the normal way without
`tracking the user's progreSS through the program, Step 206.
`If, however, the playback module detects that the program
`is long enough to warrant bookmarks, the playback module
`fetches the first block of the audio program and records the
`block number in the block counter 110 in step 207. As
`playback of a given block of the audio program is
`completed, the playback module fetches the next block in
`the Sequence and begins to play it while updating the content
`of the block counter to ensure that the counter maintains an
`accurate indication of the block now involved in the play
`back process, Step 208. Simultaneously, the Service control
`ler continuously monitors for a user request to end the
`program, Step 209. The user can either terminate the pro
`gram by Selection of Specified keys on the user telephone
`keypad or can simply hang up. If the user is still listening to
`the program as detected in Step 210, then the operation
`recycles through steps 208 and 209 to ensure that the user
`continues to get additional blocks of the audio Service and
`that the location of the user through the Service is constantly
`monitored. If, however, the user is no longer listening to the
`program, then the Service controller notifies the playback
`module to terminate the playback, Step 211. At the time of
`termination the playback module passes the last recorded
`block number stored in the block counter as well as the
`program ID for the Service in use to the Service controller,
`step 212. The service controller then takes the location
`information and the program information and combines it
`with the customer or user ID which is detected in step 201
`and records this information in the personal profile database
`105 for future reference, step 213.
`The creation of the bookmark is variable depending upon
`the type of program that is being provided to the user.
`Different types of programs lend themselves to different
`ways to monitor the user's progreSS through the program.
`For example, in a book environment it may be desirable to
`keep track of the user's progreSS through the book in terms
`of blocks that relate to either chapters, pages, or paragraphs.
`Then, as each element, for example paragraph, is accessed,
`the block counter is increased by one So that the System
`keeps track of which paragraph in the presentation the user
`is presently located. Alternatively, the program may be a
`multi-step improvement program, e.g., a stop-Smoking pro
`gram. In Such a circumstance, it may be beneficial to detect
`the user's progreSS through the individual Steps. In that case
`the blocks referred to in connection with FIG. 2A may in
`fact, correspond to the steps (or Sub-steps) through the
`
`-6-
`
`

`

`S
`proceSS or program. Additionally, it may be advantageous to
`detect the actual elapsed time of the audio program. This
`would be applicable to the actual playback of a continuous
`program where the System monitors the time (the number of
`minutes and Seconds) that the user has progressed into the
`audio file. Therefore, the block counter 110 could be
`replaced by a timer and the timing information associated
`with the location of the user through the audio content could
`be then provided to the service controller at the time of
`termination. Then the timing information would be stored
`with the program ID, and the user ID in the personal profile
`database.
`FIG.2B illustrates a flowchart for use of the bookmark in
`connection with providing the audio Service.
`At the Starting point the customer dials the audio infor
`mation service via the PSTN, step 221. The system answers
`the user's call and the service controller 107 activates the
`user ID module to detect the identity of the user, step 222.
`AS described above, the user module can either use ANI or
`the PIN specifically entered by a user to identify the user,
`Step 223. The Service controller then queries the personal
`profile database to verify the user ID and to determine
`whether any bookmarks exist and to determine, based on
`past experience with the user, whether the user has any
`particular audio Service preferences, Step 224. The controller
`then detects whether any bookmarks exist for the user in
`decision step 225. If no bookmarks exist for the user then the
`Service controller calls the Service menu module with a
`Standard non-bookmark menu Similar to the menu which
`was referred to above in connection with FIG. 2A, step 226.
`That menu provides the user with an identification of the
`audio information Services that are available through that
`platform. The Service module then plays the standard menu,
`step 227 and the process continues from step 203 of FIG.
`2A.
`If, however, the service controller detects that a bookmark
`has been created for this user then the service controller
`retrieves the program or programs with bookmarks and the
`Specific bookmark values from the personal profile database,
`step 230. The service controller can then pass the identifi
`cation information regarding the previously accessed Ser
`vices in which bookmarks exist to the Service menu module,
`step 231. The service menu module then can (step 232): play
`a special menu that includes the programs that have book
`marks associated therewith; and, provide the user with the
`option of continuing the program from where the user last
`left off or to Start the program from the beginning. In one
`embodiment the user indicates the choice by activating a
`corresponding key of the user's keypad to indicate the
`Selection of the program and to Select the location to begin
`playback of the program. The Service menu module then
`indicates which selections the user has made, step 233. If the
`user has opted to begin a program from the beginning rather
`than from the place where the previous access was
`terminated, then the Service controller instructs the playback
`module to play the program from the beginning, Step 234,
`and the process continues from step 207 of FIG. 2A. If the
`user has indicated a desire to continue the program from
`where they last left off, the service controller passes the
`bookmark value to the playback module with the instruction
`to play the program from the bookmark, step 235. The
`playback module uses the bookmark value to indeX a point
`in the program where the user left off. The playback module
`then requests the next block of program from the audio
`content database, Step 236. AS indicated above, if the incre
`ments of the program are in time increments or Step
`increments, the playback module would then proceed to
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,922,045
`
`6
`mark the restart location according to the time or Step
`information provided with the bookmark value. The play
`back module then begins to play the program from the
`bookmark and Starts the block tracking or location monitor
`ing for bookmark updates by carrying out the process from
`step 208 of FIG. 2A onward, step 237.
`Of course, if the user selects a new service for which a
`bookmark has not yet been created, the operation of the
`system would continue from step 203 of FIG. 2A.
`The above block diagrams and flowcharts show one
`embodiment for a System that provides audio Services and
`creates and uses bookmarks in connection with providing
`those audio Services. It should be recognized that various
`modifications to the embodiment are possible. For instance,
`it is possible that the Service will be a revenue generating
`Service. In Such a circumstance the user may be prompted to
`enter information not only identifying the user but also may
`be prompted to provide information for billing purposes.
`This billing information can also be Stored in the personal
`profile database. Of course, the user ID and billing infor
`mation codes can be one and the Same. AS indicated above,
`the user may have the capability of indicating user prefer
`ences for types of audio Services. This preference informa
`tion can also be Stored in the personal profile database and
`used to construct the appropriate menu to be provided by the
`service menu module. Similarly, it should be noted that the
`present invention is not limited to user telephones over a
`PSTN. Any kind of network that will support audio services
`can be an appropriate transmission medium for the audio
`Service from the platform to the user (for example, a wireless
`network). Similarly, the user may employ a PC or other
`device or personal appliance to access the audio information
`Service with, e.g., appropriate user ID information. AS an
`example of an alternative application, a user may access an
`audio program or Service via the Internet. In Such a
`circumstance, available bandwidth may limit the viability of
`real-time audio program presentation. Thus, the more appro
`priate presentation would involve first downloading the
`program material to the user's PC where it would be stored
`for playback. Once the user begins to playback the program
`the PC could monitor the progreSS through the program
`material and generate the appropriate bookmark in a manner
`consistent with the techniques described above. Then when
`the user terminates the program and Subsequently returns
`they will be given the option of where to re-start the
`program. The termination and creation of a bookmark are
`distinct from a pause functionality in that the termination
`actually releases the program and ends its execution. The
`pause function keeps the program indefinitely cued. Thus,
`the bookmark would be useful in this environment as well.
`All of these capabilities are ancillary to the invention and
`are different techniques for employing that invention. The
`invention provides the capability of the user to proceed
`through an audio program at the user's own established pace
`and to return to the program and to the last location in the
`Service at will. As a consequence, it provides the capability
`for creating and utilizing audio Services that contain Serial or
`continuous information in a more user friendly manner.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of facilitating a user's review of previously
`recorded audio program material Over at least two review
`Sessions, the audio program material having been commu
`nicated to the user over a communication network, the
`method comprising the Steps of
`monitoring a user's progreSS in the user's review of audio
`program material during a first review Session; and
`when the user terminates the first review Session, Storing
`in a memory associated with the audio program mate
`
`-7-
`
`

`

`7
`rial an indication of the user's progreSS in reviewing the
`audio program material during Said first review Session,
`wherein Said Stored indication can be utilized in a
`Second review Session Subsequent to the termination of
`Said first review Session.
`2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of
`an audio program Service furnishing Said audio program
`material to Said user over a communication channel.
`3. The method of claim 2, wherein said communication
`channel comprises a data network.
`4. The method of claim 2, wherein Said communication
`channel comprises a telephone network.
`5. The method of claim 2, wherein said communication
`channel comprises a wireleSS communication channel.
`6. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps are imple
`mented by a user's personal appliance.
`7. The method of claim 6, wherein said audio program
`material is stored on CD-ROM.
`8. The method of claim 1, wherein said steps are imple
`mented by a communications network-based Service.
`9. A method of facilitating a user's review of previously
`recorded audio program material over at least two review
`Sessions, the audio program material having been commu
`nicated to the user over a communication network, the
`method comprising the Steps of
`monitoring a user's progreSS in the user's review of audio
`program material, Said monitoring performed during a
`first audio program review Session;
`when the user terminates the first audio program review
`Session, Storing in a memory associated with the audio
`program material an indication of the user's progreSS in
`reviewing the audio program material during Said first
`audio program review Session;
`in a Second audio program review Session Subsequent to
`the termination of Said first audio program review
`Session, playing Said audio program material to Said
`user beginning from a position within Said material
`based on Said Stored indication.
`10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of
`an audio program Service furnishing Said audio program
`material to Said user over a communication channel.
`11. The method of claim 10, wherein said communication
`channel comprises a data network.
`12. The method of claim 10, wherein said communication
`channel comprises a telephone network.
`13. The method of claim 10, wherein said communication
`channel comprises a wireleSS communication channel.
`14. The method of claim 9, wherein said steps are
`implemented by a user's personal appliance.
`15. The method of claim 14, wherein said audio program
`material is stored on CD-ROM.
`16. The method of claim 9, wherein said steps are
`implemented by a communications network-based Service.
`17. A method of creating a bookmark for use with an
`audio Service that provides previously recorded Sequential
`audio information comprising the Steps of:
`asSociating a user code with a user of the audio Service;
`monitoring a present location of the user in a Sequence of
`audio information in an access to the audio Service;
`detecting a termination of the access to the audio Service;
`creating a termination code defining the present location
`of the user in Said Sequence at the time the termination
`is detected;
`correlating the user code and the terminating code; and
`Storing the result of Said correlating Step in a memory
`asSociated with the audio Service for later use.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,922,045
`
`15
`
`25
`
`8
`18. The method of claim 17, wherein a service identifying
`code is associated with each audio Service; and Said Step of
`correlating further includes the Step of associating a Service
`identifying code with Said user code and Said termination
`code.
`19. The method of claim 17, wherein said step of moni
`toring comprises the Steps of loading a register with an
`initialization value at the Start of the Service and updating the
`register as the audio information is presented.
`20. The method of claim 19, wherein said audio infor
`mation is divided into discrete blocks of information and
`wherein Said Step of updating includes the Step of revising
`the contents of Said register to hold a block identifier
`corresponding to the block of information being conveyed
`by the service at that time.
`21. The method of claim 19, wherein said register stores
`the time elapsed from the beginning of the providing of the
`audio information.
`22. A method of providing audio Services using a book
`mark comprising the Steps of:
`generating a menu of a plurality of audio Services,
`detecting a Selection of one of Said plurality of audio
`SerVIceS,
`transmitting previously recorded audio information from
`the Selected audio Service,
`monitoring a user's position in the Selected audio Service
`as the corresponding audio information is transmitted;
`detecting a termination of the Selected audio Service that
`occurs prior to completion of Said Service;
`creating and Storing in a memory associated with at least
`one of Said plurality of audio Services a bookmark that
`identifies a user, the Selected Service and the user's
`position in the Selected