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. Voice input and control mechanisms included in the player allow the user to perform hands-free navigation of the program materials and to dictate comments and messages which are returned to the host for
retransmission to other subscribers. The program segments sent to each subscriber may include advertising materials which the user can selectively play to obtain credits against the subscriber fee. Parallel audio and text transcript files for at least selected
programming enable subject matter searching and synchronization of the audio and text files.
Speech synthesis may be used to convert transcript files into audio format. Image files may also be transmitted from the
server for synchronized playback with the audio programming.