US20120253492A1

US20120253492A1 - Audio commenting system

Info

Publication number: US20120253492A1
Application number: US13/435,026
Authority: US
Inventors: Christopher C. Andrews
Original assignee: SOUNDLINK Inc
Current assignee: SOUNDLINK Inc
Priority date: 2011-04-04
Filing date: 2012-03-30
Publication date: 2012-10-04
Also published as: WO2012138735A1; WO2012138742A1; US20120253493A1; US8971917B2; US20160234278A1; US10270831B2; US20120252484A1; WO2012138763A1; WO2012138746A1; US20120253795A1; US9973560B2; US20180227345A1; US20120254753A1; US20150111606A1; US9380410B2; WO2012138757A1

Abstract

An audio commenting system including a storage database, one or more network-accessible locations and a computing device all coupled together via a network. The computing device comprises a processor and an application executed by the processor configured to input audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device, store the audio data at a unique address on the storage database and provide the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into at least one of the network-accessible locations.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/471,541, filed Apr. 4, 2011 and entitled “AUDIO COMMENTING SYSTEM FOR THE INTERNET INCLUDING WEBSITES, SOCIAL NETWORKS, AND BLOGS,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/471,548, filed Apr. 4, 2011 and entitled “AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR CREATING AND PUBLISHING INTERNET-BASED AUDIO PROGRAMMING,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/471,552, filed Apr. 4, 2011 and entitled “AUDIO RECORDING, PLAYBACK, AND PUBLISHING SYSTEM FOR CREATING VOICEOVERS, SOUNDTRACKS AND OTHER AUDIO PROGRAMMING FOR INTERNET CONTENT INCLUDING WEBSITES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/582,164, filed Dec. 30, 2011 and entitled “AUTOMATIC AUDIO RECORDING AND PUBLISHING SYSTEM,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/488,954, filed May 23, 2011 and entitled “LOCATION-BASED INTERNET RADIO PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM,” all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of Internet/network content. Specifically, the present invention relates to an audio commenting system for the Internet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many websites and social networks are designed to receive and republish user generated content, in particular written text. This is content where the user or viewer of the website contributes their thoughts, opinions or information, and that contributed content is then republished on the website after submission. For example, in Facebook users will type in their status or comments about a website, or comment about a photo they see, whether that photo is on their Facebook page or another Facebook page that they have access to. Or on Twitter and LinkedIn, a similar process occurs whereby users write comments about many things, from what they did that day to an article they read about, and then others who view these comments that are written, can then write in their own comments as well, creating a listing of comments. Similarly, an online newspaper will invite comments from readers, about an article or topic. However, all of these features have the drawback of being limited to textual comments. Although textual comments have value, they lack tone, inflection and other information that a user sometimes wishes to convey. For example, when one person writes “Hello” and other person writes “Hello” they are read by the reader as largely the same thing, regardless of whether they came from an angry 50-year old man or a happy little kid. Voice on the other hand, the human voice, is a very unique and individual characteristic of people. Not only do people have voices that are different from other people, how they express themselves can be different, and in particular the conveyance of subtleties such as humor, irony, anger, happiness, strong opinions, and the wide spectrum of human emotion and ideas can be very effectively expressed by a person, if that person uses their voice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The audio commenting device, system and method described herein enables a user to add audio comments, e.g. spoken words, to areas on websites, images or other locations, and previously, users were only able to write or type in their text comments. As well the audio commenting device, system, and method as described herein enables a system whereby audio comments are the primary purpose of the system, even though the system can also include textual comments. Specifically, the audio commenting system comprises a storage database, one or more network-accessible locations and a computing device coupled with the storage database and the network-accessible locations, wherein the computing device comprises a processor and an application executed by the processor configured to input audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device, store the audio data at a unique address on the storage database and provide the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into at least one of the network-accessible locations. As a result, the audio commenting system provides the advantage of enabling a user to comment on internet content by literally “speaking their mind,” at the exact moment that they desire to talk, rather than having to wait or remember what it was they wanted to say, and say it later. In particular, users are able to provide anything from short funny audio comments or long analytical audio comments, by talking, using their own voice. Thus, the audio commenting system provides the benefit of enabling a user or viewer to input to a website whatever audio content they desire, wherein the use of the system requires no changes to the structure the website itself. Consequently, other people are able to listen to and enjoy these audio comments in addition to the previous text comments, and add their own audio comments as well. In some embodiments, this system is able to include adding audio comments to audio and video on websites, where, for example, text comments are allowed at certain time codes or moments within an audio or video file. For example, the SoundCloud service allows text comments at certain times or time codes within an audio file, and the service is able to be envisioned such that Youtube and other video providers would allow for comments to be placed within, or associated with a specific point or time code within a video file.
Further, in some embodiments the system is able to be used to exchange a recording between two or more people, whereby one person listens to the recording and places audio comments at specific moments in the recording, sending the recording back to the other person who then hears the first person's audio comments either mixed with the original recording or whereby the original recording stops at the correct times, plays the person's comments, and continues with the original recording. In this way, groups of people could exchange audio comments about audio recordings. In some embodiments, the recordings in this system are able to be translated into text. In some embodiments, the commands in this system are able to be voice activated.
Further, in some embodiments the system is able to be used to comment directly on a graphic, image or photo, whereby the audio comment is associated with a specific X and Y axis on the graphic or photo. For example, if there was a photo of a music concert with many people, a user of this system is able to add an audio comment associated with someone's face they see at a concert. Or if an architect wants to point out certain features of a building, the architect is able to associate audio comments with specific places on the building and then create an audio comment to inform others as to that feature.
Further, in some embodiments an audio comment is able to be placed anywhere on a website or other digital content, in a less organized fashion than a formal “commenting system” would envision. For example, a website or online newspaper is able to be set up whereby an audio comment is placed within the text of the website, anywhere the user of this system desires. For example, a user is able to place an audio comment at the end of the third paragraph within a written article, at the beginning of the article or elsewhere in the article to give other listeners an introduction to the article.
Further, in some embodiments an audio comment is able to be represented by a graphic, icon or avatar such that the person who clicks on the graphic, icon, or avatar would hear the audio comment. Additionally, although this system represents the audio file by a link or URL that includes alpha-numeric data, which is also referred to in this document as text, that URL or link can be played back by the listener of the audio comment by methods that do not necessarily require clicking on the alpha-numeric data or text, but instead by selecting a representation of that URL or link such as a graphic, icon, or avatar.
One aspect of the present application is directed to a method of providing audio data to a network-accessible location having a content-receiving feature. The method comprises activating an audio commenting application on an electronic device, inputting audio data to the audio commenting application from an audio recording mechanism or a memory, transmitting the audio data to a storage database and storing the audio data at a unique address on the storage database and providing the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into a network-accessible location. In some embodiments, this system creates an audio comment that is then copied and pasted in another system or website whereby the audio comment is played back. In some embodiments, this system automatically places the audio comment in the desired place for the user requiring no copying and pasting of the audio comment or URL of the audio comment. In some embodiments, the unique address comprises a universal resource locator. In some embodiments, the method further comprises inserting the unique address into the content-receiving feature of the network-accessible location. In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing access to the audio data to the network-accessible location when a viewer selects the link within the content-receiving feature of the network-accessible location. In some embodiments, the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback. In some embodiments, the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program. In some embodiments, the method further comprises enabling a user to edit the audio data. In some embodiments, the method further comprises storing metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address. In some embodiments, the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted. In some embodiments, the method further comprises storing the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database. In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata. In some embodiments, the audio data further comprises video data.
A second aspect of the application is directed to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform the method comprising inputting audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device, storing the audio data at a unique address on a storage database and providing the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into a network-accessible location. In some embodiments, the unique address comprises a universal resource locator. In some embodiments, the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback. In some embodiments, the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program. In some embodiments, the method further comprises inserting the unique address into the network accessible location upon selection of the location by the user. In some embodiments, the method further comprises enabling a user to edit the audio data. In some embodiments, the method further comprises storing metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address. In some embodiments, the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted. In some embodiments, the metadata is automatically inserted by the system, such as the location where the audio comment was created, or the time that the audio comment was created, or other information that is captured by a system which is able to then be interfaced or built into this system. In some embodiments the metadata is manually input by the user into the system. In some embodiments the metadata is a combination of automatically computer generated metadata and metadata input by the user. In some embodiments, the method further comprises storing the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database. In some embodiments, the method further comprises providing the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata. In some embodiments, the audio data further comprises video data.
Another aspect of the application is directed to a computing device for providing audio comments. The computing device comprises a processor and an application executed by the processor configured to input audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device, store the audio data at a unique address on a storage database and provide the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into a network-accessible location. In some embodiments, the unique address comprises a universal resource locator. In some embodiments, the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback. In some embodiments, the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to insert the unique address into the network accessible location upon selection of the location by the user. In some embodiments, the audio comment is played back within the system or website where the audio comment was placed, thereby enabling the listeners of the audio comment to stay on the website where the audio comment was placed. In some embodiments, the audio comment is a link to another website or URL where the audio comment is played back. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to enable a user to edit the audio data. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to store metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address. In some embodiments, the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to store the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to provide the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata. In some embodiments, the audio data further comprises video data. In some embodiments, wherein the storage database is integrated with the computing device. In some embodiments, the network-accessible location is located within the computing device. In some embodiments, the audio recording mechanism is integrated with the computing device.
Yet another aspect of the application is directed to a system for providing audio comments. The system comprises a storage database, one or more network-accessible locations and a computing device coupled with the storage database and the network-accessible locations, wherein the computing device comprises a processor and an application executed by the processor configured to input audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device, store the audio data at a unique address on the storage database and provide the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into at least one of the network-accessible locations. In some embodiments, the unique address comprises a universal resource locator. In some embodiments, the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback. In some embodiments, the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to insert the unique address into the network accessible location upon selection of the location by the user. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to enable a user to edit the audio data. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to store metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address. In some embodiments, the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to store the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database. In some embodiments, the application is further configured to provide the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata. In some embodiments, the audio data further comprises video data. In some embodiments, the storage database is integrated with the computing device. In some embodiments, the network-accessible location is located within the computing device. In some embodiments, the audio recording mechanism is integrated with the computing device. In some embodiments, the network-accessible location is located within the storage database.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an audio commenting system according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an audio commenting device according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of providing audio data to a network-accessible location having a content-receiving feature according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The audio commenting system described herein enables a user to add audio data/comments (e.g. spoken words) to websites or other content where text is accepted by the website or other content (e.g. comment boxes). As a result, the audio commenting system provides the benefit of enabling people to communicate the tone and other information in audio data that is lost when converted to text. In some embodiments, the websites or other content is located on the internet. Alternatively, the websites or other content is able to be located on other networks or computing devices.
FIG. 1 illustrates an audio commenting system 100 according to some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, the audio commenting system 100 comprises one or more electronic devices 102 having an audio commenting application, one or more content entities 106 having a content receiving feature and one or more storage elements/databases 108 coupled together via one or more networks 104. In some embodiments, one or more of the content entities 106 is integrated with the electronic device 102 such that one of the networks 104 comprise an internal network. For example, the electronic device 102 is able to be a laptop computer and the content entity 106 is able to be a word processing program stored on the laptop computer. In some embodiments, one or more of the storage elements 108 is integrated with the electronic device 102. For example, one of the storage elements 108 is able to be the local memory on the electronic device. Alternatively, the storage elements 108 are able to be integrated with one or more of the content entities 106 and/or remote storage devices separate from both the electronic device 102 and the content entities 106. In some embodiments, the commenting application is stored and runs locally on the electronic device 102. Alternatively, the audio commenting application is able to be partially or fully stored and/or executed on a device separate from but coupled with the electronic device 102 over the network 104. For example, the audio commenting application is able to be stored and executed on a remote server coupled to the device 102 via the network 104. In some embodiments, a user downloads the audio commenting application onto the electronic device 102. Alternatively, the audio commenting application is able to come pre-installed on the electronic device 102.
In some embodiments, the electronic device 102 comprises a mobile computing device such as a smart phone, computer or computing component within a vehicle. Alternatively, the electronic device 102 is able to comprise a mobile phone or other type of computing and/or networking device. In some embodiments, the one or more networks 104 comprise the internet. Alternatively, the one or more networks 104 are able to be any combination of wired and/or wireless networks such as the internet, an ethernet or other types of networks capable of transmitting audio data as are well known in the art. In some embodiments, the content entity 106 comprises a website and the content receiving feature comprises a text box on the website. Alternatively, the content receiving feature is able to comprise any location on the content entity 106 capable of receiving a link or other data associated with a comment. For example, the content receiving feature is able to comprise a text box, a document, an image, other types of content and/or selected locations within the content receiving features. For example, the content receiving features are able to comprise a photo file and/or a location within the photo file. The content entity 106 itself is able to be any network-accessible software and/or hardware entity such as audio files, images, websites, blogs, twitter, email, documents, document review programs and other types of content and the content receiving feature is able to be any content receiving and posting feature. For example, the entity 106 is able to be a newspaper's online website where readers are able to comment about a news article or photo in a content receiving feature area or other area configured to receive data. In some embodiments, the audio comment is able to be embedded in or around a photo or other graphic on a website or other document. As another example, the entity 106 is able to be an audio file of a song and/or a music distributing service such as Pandora where listeners to the audio file are able to comment about the file and the comment is able to be inserted into the audio file or associated with the audio file on the music distributing service. Alternatively, the entity 106 is able to be a Facebook page, where users normally write in their comments about photos or other events in the comment line/text box. Alternatively, the entity 106 is able to be a text editing program such as Microsoft Word, wherein the commenting feature is able to be a comment in tracked changes or an insertion into the text of the document.
In some embodiments, the storage elements 108 comprise a server. For example, as described above, the storage elements 108 are able to comprise the server that runs the content entity 106 where the audio comments are being submitted. In particular, if a website where the comments are being made wanted more control over the audio comments, (for example, to be able to keep recordings private or delete recordings or not let uses put in links to files outside the website address), utilizing the website server as the storage element 108 allows the submitted audio comments to be controlled by the same people who own the website where the audio comments are being made. Alternatively, the storage elements 108 comprise other types of data storage/memory devices as are well known in the art. In some embodiments, the storage elements 108 comprise a master database that includes a table or list of all stored audio data and data associated with the audio data (e.g. metadata). In such embodiments, the audio data and associated data are able to be sorted and republished using the audio commenting application. For example, a user is able to access the master database table via the commenting application and filter/sort the data by one or more parameters returning a list of filtered audio and associated data. For example, the data is able to be sorted based on the associated metadata and/or the characteristics of the audio data such as the content entity 106 where it was submitted, the source or person who created the data, where the data was created, when the data was created, length of the data, size of the data, format of the data, subject of the data or combinations thereof. As a result, the system 100 provides the benefit of enabling a user to utilize the audio commenting application and the master database to organize and access all the data stored in the system 100.
In operation, a user utilizes the electronic device 102 to access one or more of the content entities 106 and select a content receiving feature of the content entities 106 which they desire to submit content to. Alternatively, the selection of the content receiving feature is able to be omitted or performed automatically by the system 100. For example, the system 100 is able to automatically determine the current content receiving feature or features being viewed on the electronic device 102 (and/or a specific location within the content receiving feature) and automatically select those features (and/or specific locations) for insertion of the audio comment by the system 100. The system 100 then utilizes the audio commenting application of electronic device 102 to transmit recorded audio data and/or other data over the network 104 to the storage elements 108 for automatic storage and formatting of the data. In some embodiments, this storage and formatting comprises capture and use of the URL of content entity 106 in order to create/determine a link to the data. In some embodiments, the transmission, storing and formatting of the audio data and/or other data is able to occur prior to accessing the content entities 106. For example, a user is able to reuse previously submitted data and links thereto to comment on subsequent content entities 106. In some embodiments, the system 100 records, transmits, stores, formats and/or presents the audio content based on an activation command submitted by the user to the audio commenting application. As a result, the user is able to access/create links to the stored audio data and/or other data and submit those links into the content receiving features of the desired content entities 106. Alternatively, the system 100 is able to automatically submit the links in the selected locations of the selected content receiving features. Consequently, other individuals accessing the content entities 106 are able to select and listen to the submitted links and hear the associated audio stored on the storage elements 108 via the link. Accordingly, the system 100 provides the benefit of automatically processing the audio comments/data, formatting the data into an audio file accessible on the network, and providing a link to that audio file within the content receiving feature or text comment field of a desired content entity (e.g. website). Further, the system 100 provides the benefit of being able to run independently of the content entity 106 where the audio comments are being submitted because the system 100 not alter the data associated with the operation of the content entity 106 such as the html code of a website.
FIG. 2 illustrates the electronic device 102 according to some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device 102 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 202 for executing a audio commenting application and controlling the operation of the electronic device 102, a memory 204 for storing the audio commenting application and the recorded audio, an input/output interface 206 for inputting commands from a user and outputting the recorded data to the storage elements 108 via the networks 104, an audio recording mechanism 208 for recording the audio, and one or more buses 210 for coupling the electronic device 102 components together. Additionally, it is understood that the electronic device 102 is able to comprise one or more additional components well known in the art, which have not been included herein for the sake of brevity.
In operation, when a user wishes to submit audio to the content receiving feature of a content entity 106 being accessed via the electronic device 102, the user inputs an activation command to the input/output interface 206 causing the CPU 202 to execute the audio commenting application. In some embodiments, the activation comprises a voice command input by the recording mechanism. Alternatively, the activation comprises one or more of a voice command, the pressing of a button on the device 102 and/or other triggering actions as are well known in the art. Upon being activated, the audio commenting application enables a user to begin recording audio using the audio recording mechanism 208 by issuing a “record” command to the audio recording mechanism 208. Alternatively, the activation command is able to automatically issue the “record” command to the recording mechanism 208 without requiring any second or subsequent actions by the user. The device 102 is then able to transmit the recorded data using the I/O interface 206 to the storage elements 108 where the data is formatted and saved as well as to present the user with a link to the data. Accordingly, the link is able to be submitted into the content receiving feature of the entity 106 such that others are able to access the audio content on the content entity 106 by selecting the link.
In some embodiments, the memory 204 comprises non-volatile memory. Alternatively, the memory 204 comprises one or both of non-volatile and volatile memory. In some embodiments, the input/output interface 206 comprises a display with a graphical user interface (GUI) for receiving commands from the user. Alternatively, the input/output interface 206 comprises one or more of a display, a GUI, a voice recognition mechanism, transceiver, device physical inputs, peripherals such as mice and keyboards, and other interface components as are well known in the art. In some embodiments, the audio recording mechanism 208 is integrated into the device 102. Alternatively, the recording mechanism 208 is able to be a peripheral device that is coupled to the electronic device 102 via the network 104 or another wired or wireless network. In some embodiments, the recording mechanism 208 comprises a voice recorder. Alternatively, the recording mechanism 208 is able to be other types of audio and/or video recording devices/mechanisms that are able to record any kind of sound the user desires, such as their voice to music or pre-recorded sound effects as are well known in the art. In some embodiments, the recording mechanism 208 comprises recording software stored and executed on the electronic device 102. Alternatively, the recording software is able to be partially or fully remotely executed and/or stored from the device 102. For example, the recording software is able to be remotely stored and/or executed on a website server coupled with the electronic device 102 over the network 102. In some embodiments, the recording application comprises one or more editing functions such that the inputted and recorded data is able to be edited. Some exemplary types of such recording software include Quicktime that runs from a hard drive of a computer, Javasonics.com or Pubclip.com or Byoaudio.com that run from a web-based application, and Voice Memo that runs on an iPhone. In some embodiments, a voice to text product like Apple's Siri product is able to input the metadata such as title and description of the audio comment. Alternatively, the recording mechanism 208 does not include recording software and the recording and/or editing functionality is implemented by the audio commenting application.
FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating the audio commenting system 100 according to some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 3, a user selects the content receiving feature of a content entity 106 where the user wants to add an audio comment using the electronic device 102 at the step 302. In some embodiments, the selecting of the content receiving feature of the entity 106 comprises submitting a voice command to the electronic device 102. Alternatively, the selecting is able to comprise other methods of selecting content such as via a graphical user interface or other types of interfaces as are well known in the art. Alternatively, step 302 is able to be omitted. The user activates and issues a “record” command to the audio commenting application on the electronic device 102 which activates the recording mechanism 208 at the step 304. In some embodiments, the activation of the audio commenting application comprises clicking on an activation button on the electronic device 102. Alternatively, the activation is able to comprise touching a touch screen of the device 102, issuing voice commands to the device 102 or other activation methods as are well known in the art. In some embodiments, the activation of the commenting application automatically causes the recording mechanism 208 to be activated and begin recording without the user issuing a “record” command. The recording mechanism 208 begins recording audio and/or video data upon activation at the step 306. In some embodiments, the audio and/or video data comprises the user's voice. In some embodiments, the recording mechanism 208 comprises a text to audio translation element such that the audio data recorded by the recording mechanism 208 is able to comprise inputted text that has been converted into audio data. In some embodiments, the text to be converted into audio data is input to the audio commenting application using the input/output interface 206 of the electronic device 102. In some embodiments, the text to audio translation element is AT&T Natural Voices.
The audio commenting application inputs audio data recorded by the recording mechanism 208 and stores the recorded audio data in the storage element 108 in a location having a unique address and presents the unique address to the user on the input/output interface 206 of the electronic device 102 at the step 308. Alternatively, the audio data is able to be input from existing audio data stored on a memory coupled with the commenting application via the network 104. For example, a user is able to import previously recorded or downloaded audio files to the commenting application instead of or in addition to recording new audio data. In some embodiments, the unique address is a unique universal resource locator (URL) and/or the URL is presented to the user as a link to the stored audio data. In some embodiments, the audio commenting application also stores metadata related to the audio data with the audio data in the storage element 108. In some embodiments, the metadata comprises one or more of the name of the source/person who input the audio data, the time the audio data was created, where the audio data was created, the subject of the audio data, the size of the data, the length of the data, the format of the data, content entities 106 where the data was submitted, and other types of information related to the audio data as is well known in the art. As a result, the system 100 provides the advantage of creating a distinct URL for any audio comment and any desired associated information about that recording within a storage element/database 108 that is able to be accessible by computer programs for organizing, sorting, and display based on the metadata and/or other data. In some embodiments, the unique address (e.g. URL) is automatically displayed to the user through one of many different publishing technologies such as Java or DHTML or push technologies. Alternatively, the unique address is able to be presented to the user by being automatically emailed to the user by the commenting application or placed in a predetermined file on the electronic device 102 by the commenting application. Alternatively, the unique address is able to be manually selected by the user for display by interacting with the audio commenting application. As a result, the system 100 also provides the advantage of enabling a user who just made the recording to access to the unique address in order to playback the recording.
The user inserts the unique address as a link into the content receiving feature of the content entity 106 at the step 310. Alternatively, the unique address is inserted into the content receiving feature as standard text. In some embodiments, the insertion comprises selecting a “submit” command of the content receiving feature causing the feature to accept and publish the inserted data. In some embodiments, insertion of the unique address comprises the user typing the unique address into the content receiving feature of the entity 106. Alternatively, the insertion is able to comprise utilizing a copy and paste function of the commenting application and/or electronic device 102, wherein the user copies the unique address from the commenting application and pastes the address into the content receiving feature. Alternatively, the audio commenting application comprises an automatic insertion feature such that the user is able to select an insertion button command that causes the commenting application to automatically insert the unique address into the preselected content receiving feature or features. Alternatively, the audio commenting system automatically places the audio comment into the correct place for playback upon completion of the audio comment recording, without the need for an insertion button. In some embodiments, the user is able to add text to the unique address inserted into the content receiving feature. In some embodiments, the audio commenting application is able to input and/or preselect text to be automatically inserted along with the unique address. For example, the preselected text is able to comprise metadata associated with the audio data and/or custom text entered by the user such as “Listen to my comments.” A viewer of the entity 106 selects the inserted link causing them to access the stored audio data such that they are able to play the audio data associated with the link at the step 312. Alternatively, if the inserted unique address is not a link, the viewer is able to cut and paste or re-type the unique address in a browser in order to access and play the audio data. As a result, anyone who has access to the storage element 108 where the audio data is stored is able to play the recording (e.g. are able to click/activate that link and the audio data will play back on their local devices). The audio data and/or associated data is saved in a table/list within a master database at the step 314. Alternatively, step 314 is able to be omitted.
The audio commenting system 100 described herein has numerous advantages. Specifically, the system provides the advantage of enabling users to submit their audio comments to different content receiving features instead of only being able to enter text. Further, the system provides the advantage of creating a distinct URL for any audio comment and any desired associated information about that recording within a storage element/database 108 that is able to be accessible by computer programs for organizing, sorting, and display based on the metadata and/or other data. Moreover, the system provides the advantage of enabling a user to utilize the audio commenting application and the master database to organize and access all the data stored in the system 100. Finally, the system provides the advantage of enabling a user who just made the recording to access to the unique address in order to playback the recording.
The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that other various modifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, it should be noted that although as described herein, the system is taught as combining sound recordings with content, the system is able to operate substantially similarly while combining video recordings with content. For example, a user is able to record video and audio data about content and then associate the audio and video data with the content utilizing the system. Alternatively, the user is able to utilize an A/V recorder, but only record video or only record audio for association with the target content. As a result, additional data formats for the recorded data are available including audio formats, video formats, and audio/video formats. It also should be noted that although the system is described herein in relation to internet content, the target content is able to be other types of content such as editable text document. For example, the target content is able to be a Microsoft Word document wherein the created audio link is able to be inserted into the document.

Claims

1. A method of providing audio data to a network-accessible location having a content-receiving feature, the method comprising:

a. activating an audio commenting application on an electronic device;

b. inputting audio data to the audio commenting application from an audio recording mechanism or a memory;

c. transmitting the audio data to a storage database and storing the audio data at a unique address on the storage database; and

d. providing the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into a network-accessible location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique address comprises a universal resource locator.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising inserting the unique address into the content-receiving feature of the network-accessible location.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing access to the audio data to the network-accessible location when a viewer selects the link within the content-receiving feature of the network-accessible location.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling a user to edit the audio data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio data further comprises video data.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform the method comprising:

a. inputting audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device;

b. storing the audio data at a unique address on a storage database; and

c. providing the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into a network-accessible location.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein the unique address comprises a universal resource locator.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises inserting the unique address into the network accessible location upon selection of the location by the user.

18. The medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises enabling a user to edit the audio data.

19. The medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises storing metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted.

21. The medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises storing the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database.

22. The medium of claim 21, where the method further comprises providing the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata.

23. The medium of claim 13, wherein the audio data further comprises video data.

24. A computing device for providing audio comments comprising:

a. a processor; and

b. an application executed by the processor configured to:

i. input audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device;

ii. store the audio data at a unique address on a storage database; and

iii. provide the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into a network-accessible location.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the unique address comprises a universal resource locator.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein the application is further configured to insert the unique address into the network accessible location upon selection of the location by the user.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein the application is further configured to enable a user to edit the audio data.

30. The device of claim 24, wherein the application is further configured to store metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the application is further configured to store the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the application is further configured to provide the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata.

34. The device of claim 24, wherein the audio data further comprises video data.

35. The device of claim 24, wherein the storage database is integrated with the computing device.

36. The device of claim 24, wherein the network-accessible location is located within the computing device.

37. The device of claim 24, wherein the audio recording mechanism is integrated with the computing device.

38. A system for providing audio comments comprising:

a. a storage database;

b. one or more network-accessible locations; and

c. a computing device coupled with the storage database and the network-accessible locations, wherein the computing device comprises a processor and an application executed by the processor configured to:

i. input audio data from an audio recording mechanism or a memory device;

ii. store the audio data at a unique address on the storage database; and

iii. provide the unique address to a user such that the address is able to be inserted into at least one of the network-accessible locations.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the unique address comprises a universal resource locator.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the unique address is provided as a hyperlink that links to the stored audio data such that if the hyperlink is selected the stored audio data is accessed for playback.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the network-accessible location comprises a website, an email, a text message, a tweet or a word processing program.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the application is further configured to insert the unique address into the network accessible location upon selection of the location by the user.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the application is further configured to enable a user to edit the audio data.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the application is further configured to store metadata that describes the audio data at the unique address.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the metadata comprises one or more of the group consisting of the size of the audio data, the creation time of the audio data, the length of the audio data, the source of the audio data, the title of the audio data, the format of the audio data, the subject of the audio data, where the audio data was recorded and the network-accessible locations where links to the audio data have been inserted.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the application is further configured to store the unique address and the metadata in a table of a master database along with all other unique addresses and metadata associated with other audio data stored on the storage database.

47. The system of claim 46, where the application is further configured to provide the master database to the user such that the user is able to sort and access resulting lists of the unique addresses within the master database based on the associated metadata.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the audio data further comprises video data.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the storage database is integrated with the computing device.

50. The system of claim 38, wherein the network-accessible location is located within the computing device.

51. The system of claim 38, wherein the audio recording mechanism is integrated with the computing device.

52. The system of claim 38, wherein the network-accessible location is located within the storage database.