Abstract:
A method of disseminating recorded information (e.g. a press release) spoken by a first person, including the steps of: a) recording at least audio information at a first location, thereby creating recorded information; b) generating a bibliographic tag which is associated with the recorded information and includes an identifier; c) transmitting the recorded information and the bibliographic tag to a second location; and d) storing the recorded information and the bibliographic tag at said second location for selective access by further persons from respective further locations. The bibliographic tag can include a condition access means substantially determining a condition which upon being fulfilled allows selective access. The condition could include: a time after which selective access is to be allowed; and authorization of any editing of the information on behalf of the first person; a geographical limitation on the further locations from which further persons can obtain selective access; or an authorization of the further persons to obtain selective access.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation of pending PCT application Ser. No. PCT/AU02/01470 filed on Oct. 31, 2002, which was a continuation of original Australian patent application Serial No. PR 8601, which was filed on Oct. 31, 2001. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a system and method of dissemination recorded audio information.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     It is known for a public figure, or other new maker, to provide information to reporters, or any other news providers, for distribution to the public in the form of a media release. The public figure might present the media release orally before a gallery of reporters, or provide the media release as a text document for reporters.  
         [0004]     In the event that the public figure presents the media release orally, reporters capture the presentation using any suitable audio or video recording device for later dissemination over a radio or television network. In order to record the audio portion of such a presentation, the reporter must be at the location where the media release is presented and be close enough to the public figure to be able to clearly record his/her voice. When there are large numbers of reporters in the gallery, each vying for the best position to record the public figures voice, the task of making a quality recording becomes difficult. In order to record the video portion of such a presentation, the reporter must position a video camera to obtain clear, uninterrupted, view of the public figure. When the gallery of reporters is large, it might be difficult to position a video camera in such a position. As such, it might be difficult to record the audio/video presentation of the media release that is of an acceptable quality for broadcasting on a radio or television network.  
         [0005]     Typically, the public figure does not have an opportunity to correct any error in the information or flaw in the presentation of the media release once he/she has made the presentation. Further, the public figure is not generally able to control when the reporters disseminate the presentation of the media release.  
         [0006]     If a reporter missed the presentation of the media release, that reporter might have missed their opportunity to broadcast that media release to the public unless he/she can obtain a copy of the media release from a fellow reporter.  
         [0007]     Alternatively, the public figure, or any other new maker, might provide a media release in the form of a text document for reporters, or any other new providers, for distribution to the public. Upon receipt of such a document, a reporter might prepare and present the media release to the public by printing the information in a newspaper, posting the information on the Internet, or broadcasting the information over a radio or television network. The reporter who receives the text version of the media release might attempt to contact the public figure to whom the media release pertains an request a recitation of a quotable portion of the media release for broadcasting to the public. If the public figure agrees to provide such a quote, the public figure might read the quotable portion of the media release over a telephone to the reporter while the reporter records the audio of the recitation.  
         [0008]     The public figure might err in their recitation and might not be given an opportunity to rerecord the quote by the reporter. As such, a less than desirable quote from the public figure might be released to the public by the reporter. Once the reporter has the quote from the public figure, the public figure might not be able to control when his/her quote will be released to the public. Further, such recordings, typically made over mobile or dedicated telephone networks, might not be of an standard that is suitable for broadcasting to the public.  
         [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to overcome one or more of the above-mentioned problems, or at lease provide a useful alternative.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In accordance with the invention there is provided a method of dissemination recorded information spoken by a first person, including the steps of:  
         [0011]     a) recording at least audio information at a first location, thereby creating recorded information;  
         [0012]     b) generating a bibliographic tag which is associated with the recorded information and includes an identifier;  
         [0013]     c) transmitting the recorded information and the bibliographic tag to a second location; and  
         [0014]     d) storing the recorded information and the bibliographic tag at said second location for selective access by further persons from respective further locations.  
         [0015]     The method of dissemination recorded information can include the bibliographic tag including a conditional access means substantially determining a condition which upon such being fulfilled allows said selective access. The condition could include a time after which selective access is to be allowed. The condition could include an authorization of any editing of the information on behalf of the first person. In another form or in combination the condition including a geographical limitation on the further locations from which further persons can obtain selective access. The condition could also or instead include an authorization of the further persons to obtain selective access.  
         [0016]     The method of dissemination recorded information can include the steps of requesting a key from the second location and receiving a key from the second location before said step of recording, with the key forming part of said bibliographic tag.  
         [0017]     The recorded information can be a recitation of text information and said step of transmitting includes transmitting the text information to the second location and said step of storing includes storing the text information at the second location for selective access by further persons from respective further locations. Preferably the recorded information being of audio or video general broad cast quality. The recorded information includes recorded audio information or corresponding recorded video information.  
         [0018]     The method of disseminating recorded information can have the identifier including a searchable subject mater identifier for review by the further persons allowed selective access. The identifier including a searchable subject mater identifier for review by the further persons allowed selective access.  
         [0019]     The bibliographic tag can include an address of the second location to enable ready transmittal of the recorded information to the second address. In one form the recorded information is undertake on a recording machine attachable to a public communications network wherein upon the recording being completed the recorded information is automatically transmitted over the public communications network to the second location for selective access by further persons a further locations. The method of dissemination recorded information has the bibliographic tag including an address of the second location to enable ready transmittal of the recorded information to the second address. The recorded information can be undertake on a recording machine attachable to a public communications network wherein upon the recording being completed the recorded information is automatically transmitted over the public communications network to the second location for selective access by further persons at further locations.  
         [0020]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of dissemination recorded audio information spoken by a first person, including the steps of:  
         [0021]     a) recording the audio information at a first location, thereby crating recorded audio information;  
         [0022]     b) generating a bibliographic tag;  
         [0023]     d) transmitting the recorded audio information and the bibliographic tag to a second location; and  
         [0024]     d) storing the recorded audio information the bibliographic tag at said second location for selective access by further persons from respective further locations.  
         [0025]     The bibliographic tag can substantially determine when said selective access can occur.  
         [0026]     The method can include the steps of requesting a key from the second location and receiving a key from the second location before said step of recording, wherein the key forms part of said bibliographic tag.  
         [0027]     The recorded information can be the recitation of text information and said step of transmitting includes transmitting the text information to the second location and said step of storing includes storing the text information at the second location for selective access by further persons from respective further locations.  
         [0028]     The recorded information can be of broadcast quality.  
         [0029]     In one form of the invention, the recorded audio information includes corresponding recorded video information.  
         [0030]     The present invention also provides a method of issuing a media release including:  
         [0031]     a) recording a quote spoken by a person as audio data;  
         [0032]     b) generating a bibliographic tag for said audio data;  
         [0033]     d) Storing a media release including said audio data and said bibliographic tag for access on a public communications network.  
         [0034]     In one form of the invention, the recorded audio information includes corresponding recorded video information.  
         [0035]     The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional objects and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments of the invention is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. Even when the claims recite a “means for” or “step for” performing a function, if they also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means of step, then the intention is not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, materials or acts for performing the claimed function. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system of disseminating recorded audio information connected to a network;  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the system;  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of users interacting with the system;  
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of steps executed by a news maker module of the system;  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of further steps executed by the news maker module of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a display generated by the news maker module of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 7  is another display generated by the news maker module of  FIGS. 4 and 5 ;  
         [0043]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of system functions provided for news providers of the system;  
         [0044]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of steps executed by the system for a news provider;  
         [0045]      FIG. 10  is a display generated by the system for a news provider;  
         [0046]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of method steps executed for the system administrators of the system;  
         [0047]      FIG. 12  is a block diagram of system functions provided for system administrators of the system;  
         [0048]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram of the system functions for a news maker provided by one embodiment of the system;  
         [0049]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram of method steps executed for a news maker by the system of  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0050]      FIG. 15  is a display generated by the system of  FIGS. 13 and 14 ; and  
         [0051]      FIG. 16  is a display generated by the system of  FIGS. 13, 14 , and  15 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0052]     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiment is shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.  
         [0053]     A system  10  of disseminating recorded audio information is provided by a computer system  12  that is able to interact with client terminals  14  of members, or users, of the system  10  over a communications network  16  using standard communications protocols, as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0054]     The terminals  14  of the members might be a wide variety of communications devices, such as a computer, a telephone or an interactive television. The communications network  16  might include the Internet, telecommunications networks and/or local area networks. The components of the system  10  can be configured in a variety of ways. The components might be implemented entirely by software to be executed entirely on standard computer server hardware, which might comprise one hardware unit or different computer hardware units distributed over various locations, some of which might require the communications network  16  for communication. A number of the components or parts thereof might also be implemented by application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). It will be apparent from the description of the system  10  and its operation below, that the most practical implementation of the components of the computer system  12  is a software implementation. Alternative methods of providing system displays and information can also be used, for example WML pages for mobile telephones, and interactive voice response (IVR) systems for connection to standard fixed telephones or voice over IP terminals.  
         [0055]     The computer system  12  includes a web server  18 , a transaction engine  20 , a database server  22  and a database  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The web server  18  is software stored on the computer system  12  that allows the computer system  12  to serve static and dynamic web pages. The web server  18  allows members of the system  10  to access web pages crated and stored on the computer system  12  via their respective terminals  14 . The web pages published by the web server  18  are dynamic and are populated by data provided by the transaction engine  20  of the computer system  12 .  
         [0056]     The database server  22  is software stored on the computer system  12  that allows the computer system  12  to manage the database  24 . The database server  22  reads, writes, maintains and secures data on the database  24 . The database server  22  maintains data in the database  24  for all members of the system  10 . The database  24  is maintained preferably on hard disk storage of the computer system  12 .  
         [0057]     The transaction engine  20  is software that processes data received by the web server  18  for users of the system  10  via their terminals  14  and is able to retrieve and store data on the database  24  via the database server  22 . The transaction engine  20  communicates with the web server  18  and database server  22  to execute data transactions for the system  10  and thereby provides dynamic content for the web pages provided by the web server  18 .  
         [0058]     There are three distinct groups of members or users of the system  10 , news makers  26 , system administrators  28  and news providers  30  who interact with the system  10  via their equipment  14 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . A news maker  26  is a person who creates news for the public. A system administrator  28  is a person who maintains the computer system  12  and who interacts with both news makers  26  and news providers  30 . A news provider  30  is a person who distributes information to the public.  
         [0059]     In order to use the system  10 , a news maker  26  first subscribes to the system  10 . A news maker  26  might subscribe to the system  10  by calling a system administrator  28  using a telephone  14  and making a formal request to be a member of the system  10 . The system administrator  28  will request details from the news maker  26  in order to establish an account for the news maker  26  on the computer system  12 . The system administrator  28  can either enter these details directly into the computer system  12  or from a remote computer  14  that is able to establish a secure communications connection with the computer system  12 . Once an account has been established for a news maker  26 , the system administrator  28  sends the news maker  26  a start-up kit containing a microphone, a set of headphones and a copy of a news maker module.  
         [0060]     Alternatively, to subscribe to the system  10  over the Internet, a news maker  26  uses his/her computer  14  to establish a communications connection with an Internet service provider and then uses a web browser on their computer  14  to access the computer system&#39;s web site. The splash page for the system&#39;s web site includes a function button for subscribing to the system  10 . The news maker  26  executes the subscription function button and the web server  18  generates a subscription page for the new maker  26 . The subscription page prompts the news maker  26  for various details so that the computer system  12  can set up an account for the new maker  26 . The transaction engine  20  obtains these details and stores them on the database  24 . On completion of entry of these details, the web server  18  prompts the news maker  26  to either down load a copy of the news maker module or to submit a quest to a system administrator  28  for a start-up kit to be posted to them.  
         [0061]     Each news maker module is an executable software program with a unique serial number. Each news maker  26  who subscribes to the system  10  can therefore be identified by the serial number of their news maker module.  
         [0062]     A news maker  26  installs the executable news maker module on his/her computer  14  from either the CD that was posted to them or from the copy that was downloaded by them from the system&#39;s web site. Once the news maker module has been installed, the news maker  26  connects a microphone and a headphone set to his/her computer  14  and loads the news maker module.  
         [0063]     When the news maker module is loaded, it executes the steps shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The news maker module establishes a communications connection between the news maker&#39;s computer  14  and the computer system  12  via the computer&#39;s modem (step  402 ) and forwards identification information, which includes the news maker module&#39;s serial number, to the computer system  12  (step  404 ). The computer system  12  receives the identification information, confirms that the information is correct and returns a session identification number to the news maker module (step  406 ).  
         [0064]     Upon receipt of the session identification number, the news maker module generates an application interface  32  for the news maker  26  (step  408 ), as shown in  FIG. 6 . The news maker  26  begins a recording session by clicking on the “NEW” function button  34  on the application interface  32  with the computer&#39;s mouse. Upon execution of the “NEW” function button  34 , the news maker module deletes all temporary files stored in a predetermined temporary file storage area in the memory of the news maker&#39;s computer  14  and prompts the news maker  26  to choose between loading a text document (step  410 ) from a text file into “TEXT” and “HEADLINE” data fields  36 ,  38  on the application interface  32  or manually entering text (step  412 ) these date fields  36 ,  38 .  
         [0065]     The “TEXT” and “HEADLINE” data fields  36 ,  38  of the application interface  32  are empty if manual entry of text is selected by the news maker  26  and the news maker module allows the news maker  26  to create text in these data fields  36 ,  38 .  
         [0066]     With the “TEXT” and “HEADLINE” date fields  36 ,  38  filled with text the news maker  26  scrolls through the text in the “TEXT” data field  36 , identifies a quotable passage and highlights that passage using the computer&#39;s mouse or keyboard. By clicking the “QUOTE” function button  40  on the application interface  32 , the highlighted text appears in a larger font in the “QUOTE” data field  42  on the application interface  32  (step  414 ).  
         [0067]     With microphone and headphones connected to the news maker&#39;s computer  14 , the news maker  26  clicks the “REC” function button  44  on the application interface  32  and begins reading the text presented to him/her in the “QUOTE” data field  42  into the microphone. When the “REC” function button  44  is executed, the news maker module deletes all files stored in the temporary file storage area on the news maker&#39;s computer  14  and begins to record the news maker&#39;s recitation (step  416 ).  
         [0068]     The news maker module samples the news maker&#39;s recitation through the microphone and records the news make&#39;s recitation until the news maker  26  clicks on the “STOP” function button  46  on the application interface  32 . Upon execution of the “STOP” function button  46 , the news maker module saves the recitation as a WAV audio file in the temporary file storage area on the news maker&#39;s computer  14 .  
         [0069]     When the “STOP” function button  46  is executed, the news maker module makes a “PLAY” function button  48  on the application interface  32  available for use by the news maker  26 . When executed, the “PLAY” function button  48  plays the WAV audio file for the news maker  26  through the news maker&#39;s headphones. The news maker  26  might rerecord the quote by clicking on the “REC” function button  44  a further time. The news maker module saves each new WAV audio file for a quote in the place of any previous WAV audio file in the temporary file storage are for that quote.  
         [0070]     When the news maker  26  has completed recording a recording session the news maker  26  might elect to send the media release, including the text of the media release and WAV audio file, to the computer system  12  by clicking the “SEND” function button  50  on the application interface  32  with the computer&#39;s mouse. Upon clicking the “SEND” function button  50 , the news maker module generates (at step  418 ) a meta data interface  52 , as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0071]     The meta data interface  52  prompts the news maker  26  to enter the following bibliographic information:  
         [0072]     (i) their first and second names in the “First Name” and “Last Name” data fields  54 ,  56 ;  
         [0073]     (ii) their organization name in the “Organization” data field  58 ;  
         [0074]     (iii) the title of the recording in the “Title” data field  60 ;  
         [0075]     (iv) contact E-mail address in the “Contact E-Mail” data filed  62 ;  
         [0076]     (v) the recording category in the “Select a Category” data field  64 ; and  
         [0077]     (vi) the release date for the media release in the “Date to be Released” data field  66 .  
         [0078]     The news maker  26  is able to control the date on which the system  10  allows news providers  30  to access the media release by allowing news makers  26  to nominate a media release date in the “Date to be Released” data field  66 .  
         [0079]     Once this information is entered, the news maker  26  clicks the “OK” function button  68  with the computer&#39;s mouse and the news maker module generates (at step  420 ) a bibliographic tag for the media release from the above bibliographic information (i) to (vi) and establishes a FTP connection with a FTP server, not shown, on the computer system  12 .  
         [0080]     The news maker module then uploads the following to the computer system  12 :  
         [0081]     (i) a file including the text of the media release from “TEXT”, “HEADLINE” and “QUOTE” data fields  36 ,  38 ,  42 ;  
         [0082]     (ii) a WAV audio file of the recitation;  
         [0083]     (iii) a file comprising the bibliographic tag, containing the bibliographic data entered by the news maker  26  using the meta data interface  52 ;  
         [0084]     (iv) the session identificaiotn number; and  
         [0085]     (v) the news maker module serial number.  
         [0086]     On receipt of this information, the computer system  12  checks whether the information was in order and stores the information on the database  24  via the database server  22  (step  424 ). The computer system  12  sends a confirmation message to the news maker&#39;s computer  14  once this is done.  
         [0087]     The news maker module returns the news maker  26  to the application interface  32  once it receives confirmation from the computer system  12 . The news maker  26  might then either end the recording session by selecting the close function butter, not shown, from the “FILE” menu button  72  on the application interface  32  or make another recording by clicking the “NEW” function button  34 . When the close function button is selected, the news maker module clears the temporary file storage area of the news maker&#39;s computer  14 , logs out of the computer system  12  and closes the application interface  32 .  
         [0088]     The computer system  12  allows news providers  30  to access its web site and download a media release that includes the text of the media release, a WAV audio file of a quote from the text of the media release and a bibliographic tag. In order for a news provider  30  to use the system, a news provider  30  subscribes to the system  10 . A news provider  30  might subscribe to the system  10  by either contacting a system administrator  28  using a telephone or by visiting the system&#39;s web site.  
         [0089]     To subscribe to the system  10  by telephone  14 , a news provider  30  calls a system administrator  30  and makes a formal request to be a member of the system  10 . The system administrator  28  will request details from the news provider  30  in order to establish an account and user profile for the news provider  30  on the computer system  12 . The system administrator  28  can either enter these details directly into the computer system  12  or from a remote computer  14  that is able to establish a secure communications connection with the computer system  12 .  
         [0090]     Alternatively, to subscribe to the system  10  over the Internet, a news provider  30  uses his/her computer  14  to establish a communications connection with an Internet service provider and a web browser, installed on their computer  14 , to accesses the system&#39;s web site. The splash page for the system&#39;s web site includes a function button for subscribing to the system  10 . The news provider  30  executes the subscription function button and the web server  18  generates a subscription page for the news provider  30 . The subscription page prompts the news provider  30  for various details and once these details are entered the computer system  12  generates an account for the news provider  30 . The web server  18  stores these details on the database  24 . On successful entry of these details, the computer system  12  prompts the news provider  30  to nominate a login name and password to be associated with their account and stored on the database  24 .  
         [0091]     The registration details of each news provider  30  are stored on the database  24  and these details, together with other data stored on the database  24 , are used to populate pages generated by the web server  18 . The collection of pages, populated with data pertaining to the registered news provider  30 , form a profile  74  for a news provider  30  as shown in  FIG. 8 . A news provider&#39;s profile  74  might simply comprise dynamic page scripts, such as ASP scripts, or might include additional code to invoke software modules accessible from the news provider&#39;s profile  74 . The computer system  12  includes a module to execute the steps shown in  FIG. 9  for a news provider  30 . Preferably, the module is stored on hard disk storage on the computer system  12 .  
         [0092]     A news provider  30  who has registered with the system  10  can access their profile  74  by entering their user name and password at the splash page  76  of the system  10  (step  902 ). On successful entry of these details the module generates the central page  78  of the news provider&#39;s profile  74  (step  904 ). A news provider&#39;s profile  74  includes a central page  78  from which a new&#39;s provider  30  can search for a media release by executing a “FIND” function button, not shown, and preview a media release by executing a “PREVIEW” function button, also not shown.  
         [0093]     A news provider  30  searches for a particular media release by executing the “FIND” function button on the central page  78 . Upon execution of the “FIND” function button, the web server  18  generates (at step  906 ) a “FIND” page  80  for the news provider  30 . The “FIND” page  80  prompts the news provider  30  to enter details pertaining to a particular media release. The computer system  12  then searches the database  24  to find the files associated with that media release. If the computer system  12  was able to match the search information with a particular media release, the computer system  12  then determines whether the relevant news provider  30  has permission to access the media release and whether the release date of the media release is equal to or less than the present date.  
         [0094]     If the news provider  30  is not granted permission to access the media release because the current-date is less than the release date, then the computer system asks the news provider  30  whether they wish to be notified when the media release is accessible. If the new provider  30  elects to be notified, the computer system  12  will prompt the news provider  30  to nominate their preferred method of notification. The computer system  12  stores this information on the database  24  and on the relevant release date the computer system  12  notifies the relevant news providers  30  that the media release is accessible.  
         [0095]     If the news provider  30  is granted permission to access the media release, the “FIND” page will indicate that the following information is available:  
         [0096]     (i) a text file of the media release;  
         [0097]     (ii) a WAV audio file of a quote from the media release; and  
         [0098]     (iii)a file comprising the bibliographic tag containing the bibliographic data entered by the relevant news maker  26 .  
         [0099]     The news provider  30  might either preview the media release by executing the “PREVIEW” function button, not shown, on the “FIND” page  80  or download the media release by executing the “DOWNLOAD” function button, also not shown, on the “FIND” page  80 .  
         [0100]     If a news provider  30  elects to download the media release by executing the “DOWNLOAD” function button, the computer system  12  downloads (at step  908 ) the files associated with the media, release onto the news provider&#39;s computer  14 . The news provider  30  is then free to use the copy of the media release on his/her computer  14  to broadcast the media release to the public.  
         [0101]     If the news provider  30  elects to preview the media release by executing the “PREVIEW” function button on the “FIND” page  80 , the web server  18  generates (at step  910 ) the “PREVIEW” page  86 , shown in  FIG. 10 , for the news provider  30 . The “PREVIEW” page  86  includes “TEXT”, “HEADLINE” and “QUOTE” data fields  88 ,  90 ,  92 . These data fields  88 ,  90 ,  92  are populated with data from the relevant media release when the “PREVIEW” page  86  is generated from the “FIND” page  80  and are otherwise empty.  
         [0102]     The PREVIEW” page  86  also includes “PLAY” , “STOP” function buttons  94 ,  96  and a “DOWNLOAD” function button, not shown. The news provider is able to play the WAV audio file associated with the media release on their computer  14  by executing in the “PLAY” and “STOP” function buttons  94 ,  96 . If the news provider is satisfied with the preview, he/she can download the media release files from the computer system  12  to his/her computer  14  by executing the “DOWNLOAD” function button. When the “DOWNLOAD” function button is executed, the computer system  12  down loads (at step  908 ) the files associated with the media release onto the news provider&#39;s computer  14 . The news provider  30  is then free to use the copy of the media release on his/her computer  14  to broadcast the media release to the public.  
         [0103]     The news provider  30  is able to preview a media release from the central page  78  by executing the “PREVIEW” function button, not shown. On execution of the “PREVIEW” button from the central page  78  the computer system  12  generates (at step  910 ) the “PREVIEW” page  86  for the news provider  30 . The “PREVIEW” page  86  includes “TEXT”, “HEADLINE” and “QUOTE” data fields  88 ,  90 ,  92  that are empty.  
         [0104]     The news provider  30  is able to search for a media release to preview by executing the “FIND” function button, not shown, on the “PREVIEW” page  86 . The “FIND” function button generates (at step  906 ) a “FIND” page  80  that functions in the above-described manner.  
         [0105]     The details of each system administrator  28  are stored on the database  24  and these details, together with other data stored on the database  24 , are used to populate pages generated by the computer system  12 . The computer system  12  includes a program module to execute the steps shown in  FIG. 11  for each system administrator  28 . Preferably, the program module is stored on hard disk storage of the computer system  12 .  
         [0106]     A system administrator  28  interacts with the system  10  by either directly interacting with the computer system  12  or by remote connection to the computer system  12  over a communications network  16 . A system administrator  28  logs on to the system  10  (at step  1102 ) from a login page  100  generated by the program module, by entering their username and password in corresponding data fields, not shown. The computer system  12  checks these details and generates (at step llO 4 ) a central page  102  of a system administrator&#39;s profile  104 , shown in  FIG. 12 , if these details are in order.  
         [0107]     The central page  102 , of a profile  104 , includes a “MAINTENANCE” function button, not shown, and a “SUBSCRIPTION” function button, also not shown. The computer system  12  generates (at step  1106 ) a “MAINTENANCE” page  106  when the system administrator  28  executes the “MAINTENANCE” function button is executed. The “MAINTENANCE” page includes tools to allow the system administrator  28  to regulate the activity of the news makers  28  and the news provider  30  of the system  10  and tools to maintain the system  10 .  
         [0108]     The computer system  12  generates (at step  1108 ) a “SUBSCRIPTION” page  108  when a system administrator  28  executes the “SUBSCRIPTION” function button. The “SUBSCRIPTION” page includes tools to allow a system administrator  28  to set up accounts for both news makers  26  and news providers  30 .  
         [0109]     A system administrator  28  ends a session by logging out of the system  10  (at step  1110 ).  
         [0110]     In one embodiment of the system  10 , the news maker module on the news maker&#39;s computer  12  establishes an FTP connection with the computer system  12  and uploads the text that is entered by a news maker  26  into the “TEXT” and “HEADLINE” data fields  36 ,  38  on the news maker&#39;s application interface  32 , together with the news maker software serial number and the session identification number, to the computer system  12  once a news maker  26  completes entry of the text. This information is received by the computer system  12  and stored on the database  24 . Further, once the news maker  26  has finished recording, the news maker module establishes an FTP connection with the computer system  12  and uploads a copy of the WAV audio file, together with the news maker software serial number and the session identification number, to the computer system  12 . This information is received by the computer system  12  and stored on the database  24 .  
         [0111]     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a news maker might subscribe to the system  10  by the telephone by calling a system administrator  28  and making a formal request to be a member of the system  10 . The system administrator  28  requests details from the news maker  26  so that he/she can form an account for the news maker  26 . The system administrator  28  enters these details into the computer system  12 , and the computer system  12  generates a profile  110 , shown in  FIG. 13 , for that news maker  26 . The news maker  26  nominates a login name and password to the system administrator  28  and, on approval of the login and the password, the system administrator  28  provides the news maker  26  with an identification number. Once the system administrator  28  has entered these details into the computer system  12 , the system administrator  28  sends the news maker  26  a start-up kit containing a microphone and a set of head phones.  
         [0112]     Alternatively, to subscribe over the Internet, a news maker  26  uses the web browser on his/her computer  14  to accesses the system&#39;s web site. The splash page for the system&#39;s web site  76  includes a function button to subscribe to the system  10 . The news maker  26  executes the subscription function button by clicking the mouse while the mouse cursor is over the subscription function button and the web server  18  generates a subscription page for the news maker  26 . The subscription page prompts the news maker  26  for various details and once entry of these details have been entered in to the computer system  12 , the web server  18  prompts the news maker  26  to nominate a user name and password. The web server  18  checks that the details are in order and issues the news maker  26  with a unique identification number. Each news maker  26  has a unique identification number and, therefore, each news maker  26  who subscribes to the system  10  can be identified by their identification number.  
         [0113]     The registration details of each news maker are stored on the database  24  and these details, together with other data stored on the database  24 , are used to populate pages generated by the web server  18 . The collection of pages, populated with data pertaining to the registered news maker  26 , form a profile  110  for that news maker. A news maker&#39;s profile  110  might simply comprise dynamic page scripts, such as ASP scripts, or might include additional code to invoke software modules accessible from the news maker&#39;s profile  110 .  
         [0114]     The computer system  12  includes a news maker module that executes the steps shown in  FIG. 14  for each news maker  26 . Preferably, the news maker module is stored on hard disk storage on the computer system  12 .  
         [0115]     A news maker  26 , who has registered with the system  10  and accordingly has a user name, password and identification number, can access their profile  110  from the home page of the system  10  by entering these details at the splash page  76  of the system  10 . The web server  18  receives this information, confirms that the serial number corresponds to a subscriber of the system  10  and allots a session identification number to the news maker  26  (step  1602 ).  
         [0116]     On successful entry into the system  10 , the news maker module generates (at step  1604 ) an application page  112  for the newsmaker  26 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . The news maker  26  begins a recording session by clicking on the “NEW” function button  114  on the application page  112  with the computer&#39;s mouse. Upon execution of the “NEW” function button  114 , the news maker module deletes all temporary files stored in a predetermined temporary file storage area in the memory of computer system and prompts the news maker  26  to choose between loading (at step  1606 ) a text document from a text file into “TEXT” and “HEADLINE” data fields  116 ,  118  on the application page  112  or manually entering text (step  1608 ) into these data fields  116 ,  118 .  
         [0117]     The “TEXT” and “HEADLINE” data fields  116 ,  118  of the application page  112  are empty if manual entry of text is selected by the news maker  26  and the news maker module allows the news maker  26  to create text in these data fields  116 ,  118 .  
         [0118]     With the “TEXT” and “HEADLINE” data fields  116 ,  118  filled with text, the news maker  26  scrolls through the text in the “TEXT” data field  116 , identifies a quotable passage and highlights that passage using the computer&#39;s mouse or keyboard. By clicking the “QUOTE” function button  120  on the application page 112, the highlighted text appears in a larger font in a “QUOTE” data field  122  on the application page  112  (step  1610 ).  
         [0119]     With the microphone and headphones connected to the news maker&#39;s computer  14 , the news maker  26  clicks the “REC” function button  124  on the application page  112  and begins reading the text presented to him/her in the “QUOTE” data field  122  into the microphone. When the “REC” function button  120  is executed, the news maker module deletes all files stored in the temporary file storage and begins to record the news maker&#39;s recitation (step  1612 ).  
         [0120]     The news maker module samples the news maker&#39;s recitation through the microphone and records the news maker&#39;s recitation until the news maker  26  clicks on the “STOP” function button  126  on the application page  112 . Upon execution of the “STOP” function button  126 , the news maker module saves the recitation as a WAV audio file in the temporary file storage area.  
         [0121]     When the “STOP” function button  126  is executed, the news maker module makes a “PLAY” function button  128  on the application page  112  available for use by the news maker  26 . When executed, The “PLAY” function button  128  plays the WAV audio file for the news maker  26  through the news maker&#39;s headphones. The news maker  26  might rerecord the quote by clicking on the “REC” function button  124  a further time. The news maker module saves the each new WAV audio file for a quote in the place of any previous WAV audio file in the temporary file storage area.  
         [0122]     When the news maker  26  has completed recording a recording session, the news maker  26  might elect to permanently store the media release, including the text of the media release and WAV audio file, on the computer system  12  by clicking the “SEND” function button  130  on the application page  112  with the computer&#39;s mouse. Upon clicking the “SEND” function button  130 , the news maker module generates (at step  1614 ) a meta data page  134 , as shown in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0123]     The meta data page  134  prompts the news maker  26  to enter the following bibliographic information:  
         [0124]     (i) their first and second names in the “First Name” and “Last Name” data fields  136 ,  138 ;  
         [0125]     (ii) their organization name in the “Organization” data field  140 ;  
         [0126]     (iii) the title of the recording in the “Title” data field  142 ;  
         [0127]     (iv) contact E-mail address in the “Contact E-mail” data filed  144 ;  
         [0128]     (v) the recording category in the “Select a Category” data field  146 ; and  
         [0129]     vi) the release date for the media release in the “Date to be Released” data field  148 .  
         [0130]     The news maker  26  is able to control the date on which the system  10  allows news providers  30  to access the media release by allowing news makers  26  to nominate a media release date in the “Date to be Released” data field  148 .  
         [0131]     Once this information is entered, the news maker  26  clicks the “OK” function button  150  with the computer s mouse and the news maker module generates (at step  1616 ) a bibliographic tag for the media release from the above bibliographic information (i) to(vi) and stores (step  1618 ) the following information on the database  24  via the database server  22 :  
         [0132]     (i) a file including the text of the media release from “TEXT”, “HEADLINE” and “QUOTE” data fields  36 ,  38 ,  42 ;  
         [0133]     (ii) a WAV audio file of the recitation;  
         [0134]     (iii) a file comprising the bibliographic tag, containing the bibliographic data entered by the news maker  26  using the meta data page  52 ;  
         [0135]     (iv) the session identification number; and  
         [0136]     (v) the news maker identification number.  
         [0137]     The computer system  12  sends a confirmation message to the news maker  26  once this is done.  
         [0138]     The news maker module returns the news maker  26  to the application page once it receives confirmation from the computer system  12 . The new maker  26  might then either end the recording session by selecting the close function button, not shown, from the “FILE” menu button  152  on the application page  112  or make another recording by clicking the “NEW” Function button  114 . When the close function button is selected, the news maker module clears the temporary file storage area, logs out the news maker out of the system  10  and closes the application page  112 .  
         [0139]     In preferred embodiments of the invention, the WAV audio file created by the system  10  is an MPEG audio file or any other suitable audio file.  
         [0140]     In preferred embodiments of the invention, the system  10  allows news makers  26  to record audio and video information and the system  10  allows news providers  30  to access the audio and video information recorded by a news maker  26  using the above described techniques.  
         [0141]     The preferred embodiment of the invention is described above in the Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.