Method and Apparatus to Prepare Listener-Interest-Filtered Works

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work comprises:
 a user selecting a speed contour from one or more speed contours stored in a database apparatus;   presenting the audio or audio-visual work at a playback device using the user selected speed contour to provide presentation rates;   during presenting, the user selecting another speed contour from the one or more speed contours stored in the database apparatus; and   continuing to present the audio or audio-visual work at the playback device using the user selected another speed contour to provide presentation rates.   
     
     
         2 . A method of presenting an audio or audio-visual work comprises:
 retrieving a speed contour from a database apparatus, which speed contour provides a predetermined playback time for the work; and   presenting the work at a playback apparatus using the retrieved speed contour to provide presentation rates.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of retrieving is based on user familiarity with the subject matter of the work.