Patent Publication Number: US-2009228279-A1

Title: Recording of an audio performance of media in segments over a communication network

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/044,627 filed 7 Mar. 2008 entitled “Synchronized display of media and recoding of audio over a network.” This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/057,136 filed 27 Mar. 2008 entitled “Fulfillment of an audio performance recorded across a network based on a media selection.” This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/109,250 filed 24 Apr. 2008 entitled “Synchronization of media display with recording of audio over a telephone network.” Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In modern society, extended families are often separated by great geographic distances due to circumstances of employment locations, retirement decisions, or merely personal preference for location and lifestyle. It may further be difficult for families to physically visit each other regularly due to the significant distance, cost of travel, or health conditions limiting or preventing travel. Modern technologies have helped bridge this divide by increasing the ease of communications between separated family members. The telephone network is the most obvious example. Additionally, computer networks such as the Internet have made it even easier for family members to quickly communicate with each other in many ways and formats. In addition to electronic mail messages and instant messaging, family members can exchange digital photographs and video as well as post such images to a family web site to allow access, viewing, and message posting by any family member. Further, third party service providers, e.g., photographic developers, have created Internet platforms for the presentation and viewing of electronic photo albums that allow families to share visual experiences and perhaps annotate the pictures with text comments. It is in the spirit of this background that the technology disclosed herein was developed as an alternative way for families to share and interact. 
     The information included in this Background section of the specification, including any references cited herein and any description or discussion thereof, is included for technical reference purposes only and is not to be regarded subject matter by which the scope of the invention is to be bound. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosed technology enables a person, using a telephone to record a media selection in segments over a communication network (e.g. a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a mobile telephone over a wireless network, or a voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) network). The media selection, for example, text (e.g., pages of a book, either printed or in a portable digital form), images, music, or video, may be stored at or accessible by a network server and may be delivered in a tangible form (e.g., as a book) to a sender&#39;s physical address. The sender can annotate each media segment and record, in segments as well, e.g., a reading of the text of a book, and any additional commentary including, for example, observations or opinions regarding sound or video media selections, using the telephone. The voice data or recording, i.e., the “audio performance,” may be transferred over the communication network to the network server. The segments of audio may be synchronized with the media segments and assembled with prerecorded segment cues (e.g., “turn the page now”). In one implementation, the audio performance may be synchronized and assembled with a stream of the corresponding media. 
     In one exemplary implementation, the technology may be used to allow a person, for example, a grandparent, to view the pages of a children&#39;s book, to add or edit personal anecdotes, and to read the book for page-by-page recording over a telephone network to a network server for later presentation to a grandchild. Once recorded, the network server may write the audio recording to a physical medium, for example, a compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), removable flash memory storage device, analog or digital audio tape, analog or digital video tape, floppy disk, or other portable or removable storage medium. The physical medium may then be packaged with a printed copy of the book and sent to the grandchild. In an alternate embodiment, the grandchild may be provided a web link to download the audio recording, for example, as an MP3 file for presentation on an MP3 compatible device, and listen to the recording while viewing a printed copy of the book. In a further embodiment, the audio recording may be combined with a visual presentation of the pages of the book and stored on a CD or DVD that is packaged and shipped to the grandchild for presentation on a computer or DVD player. In another embodiment, the grandchild may simultaneously listen to the recorded audio while viewing an electronic copy of the book via a web browser. In yet another embodiment, the grandchild may listen to the recorded audio through a telephone (either a traditional analog telephone, wireless telephone, or a VoIP telephone) while viewing a physical or electronic copy of the book. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other features, details, utilities, and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following more particular written Detailed Description of various embodiments and implementations as further illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system for implementing the recording of an audio performance of media in segments over a communication network. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of exemplary operations for making a media selection, recording an audio performance, and synchronizing the audio performance associated with a media selection across a network. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of exemplary operations for recording an audio performance associated with a media selection through a telephony device. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of operations for one exemplary implementation of fulfillment of a media and audio performance package for a recipient. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of operations for an alternative exemplary implementation of fulfillment of a media and audio performance package for a recipient. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an exemplary computer system for implementing operations for synchronizing the display of media and recording of audio over a network. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The recording of audio may be realized across a communications network linking several pieces of telephony and computer hardware controlled by a combination of standard and special purpose software operating in conjunction to form a distributed system. The system may primarily include a telephone connected via a communication network (e.g., an analog telephone connected via the public switched telephone network (PSTN), a mobile telephone over a wireless network, or a digital VoIP phone connected via the Internet or other similar data network) to a network server that further manages one or more databases. The person who creates an audio recording over the telephone network is referred to herein as the “sender.” Similarly, the person who receives the audio recording, often in conjunction with a book or other media selection, is referred to herein as the “recipient.” 
     In one exemplary implementation, the network server may present a variety of children&#39;s books available for purchase through the communication network. It should be understood that a book is merely one form of media selection and other selections could be made, for example, an audio recording, a video, a periodical, a digital scrapbook, or other media. The sender is provided with a telephony interface, for example, an interactive voice response (IVR) system, a “touch-tone” dual-tone-multi-frequency (DTMF) system, or some other form of telephone input system, through which she is able to browse the available books, select one or more books, and then proceed to check out. Alternatively, a call center with live caller support could facilitate the media purchase by the sender. Payment may be secured though typical means available to telephone purchasers, for example, credit card, debit card, money order, and cash on delivery (COD). The book or books may then be delivered to the sender in hard copy form, for example, a book, CD, flash storage device, or DVD. 
     Alternatively, a selection of books or other media items may be presented to the sender via a traditional physical catalog or a display in a store. The sender may browse the available books, select one or more items, and then proceed to check out via a mail-in order form, a PTSN telephone ordering system, a store clerk, a web store, or any other known means of purchasing media items. The media item may then be delivered to the sender or taken from the store in hard copy form, for example, a book, CD, flash storage device, or DVD. Alternatively, the sender may already have in her possession a copy of one of the available media items (e.g., a children&#39;s book) which she desires to record an audio performance using the system described herein. 
     Once a media item is selected or purchased and in the sender&#39;s possession, the sender may wish to prepare annotations to the media item. Instructions provided along with the purchase of the media item for use in the audio recording system may encourage and facilitate the use of prepared annotations. These annotations may be a list of personal anecdotes, comments about the story, or a complete scripted dialogue the sender wants to record for a future playback by the recipient. These annotations may be prepared separately or the media item may have prepared templates for inserting annotations as well as suggestions for possible comments. Alternatively, the sender may wish to write the annotations on a separate piece or paper or directly into a physical copy of the media item (e.g., in the margins of a book). In one implementation, the sender may actually send the personally annotated book directly to the recipient or to the operator of the system described herein after recording an audio performance of the media item. The operator may package the personally annotated book with a copy of the audio performance described herein or package the personally annotated book alone for physical shipping to the recipient. 
     Once a sender has reviewed the media item, prepared or added any desired annotations, and is ready to record, the sender may use a telephony device to communicate with the network server and record audio segments through the telephony device corresponding to segments of the media item (e.g., pages of the book). The network server may be equipped with an IVR system, a touch-tone DTMF system, or some other form of telephony input that enables the sender to select the media item and record audio segments corresponding to segments of the media item (pages of the book). The network server may audibly prompt the sender to indicate the page, track, or other segment being read, to read the current segment, and to include the sender&#39;s notes and anecdotes in the recording. Further, the network server may play pre-recorded prompts which guide the sender to recognize the next segment (e.g., a page in a book) to record, since not all pages in all books are numbered. These prompts may contain voice audio which includes an identifiable description of a segment (e.g., the first few words (about 5 to 8) on a page, or something recognizable in an image or video). The network server marks each audio segment recorded by the sender corresponding to each segment (e.g., page of the book) and associates the audio segment with the corresponding media item segment. Once the sender has completed recording a page, the telephony input system may provide the sender with options to review the current recording of the segment, to add an additional recorded segment (either through insertion or appendage), to cancel the recorded segment, record over with a new segment, to accept a recorded segment, and to save the current session to return later for further recording. 
     Once the sender has completed recording segments for each segment of the media item (e.g., page of the book), the network server synchronizes each recorded segment from the saved audio recordings of the sender&#39;s performance with the corresponding media segments, e.g., pages from the books. In one embodiment, the network server may assemble the recorded performance and the media selection into an integrated multimedia format. Completed media and audio performance combinations may be made available in several different forms. For example, the completed audio performance may be transferred to a physical medium, e.g., an audio CD, flash media, a floppy disk, or an audio tape, and a manufacturing or fulfillment center may then ship physical medium storing the recorded performance together with a tangible copy of the media, e.g., a book, as a packaged product to the recipient. In another embodiment, the recorded audio performance may be combined with the media on a multimedia CD, DVD, or video tape for physical fulfillment, or alternatively may be transmitted to a recipient as a multimedia streaming internet presentation, a telephone network accessible audio file, and other combinations. 
       FIG. 1  depicts one exemplary implementation of a system  100  for the recording of an audio performance of a media selection across a telephone network. The sender  102  may use a telephony device  104  or other communication device to communicate with a network media server  106  over a communication network  108 . The network server  106  generally connects with the communication network  108  via a network link. The telephony device  104  may be wired or wireless and capable of providing appropriate interface and connectivity functionality to communicate with the network server  106  over the telephone network  108 . The telephone  104  may alternatively be any telephony device connected through a cable network, a micro-wave network, a satellite network, or a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) network that may connect with a communication network  108  for a portion of the transmission. 
     A media recording and synchronization (MRS) application  114  may execute on the network server  106  to provide the primary functionality of the system  100 . The network server  106  may further maintain or have access to one or more media repositories. A source media data repository  110 , e.g., a database, may store all available media files for use by the system  100 . Such media files may include electronic copies of books, music, video, and other similar forms of media. Such media files may be categorized within the media data repository  110  by one or more criteria, for example, by title, author, subject, target audience age, cost, and other similar criteria. Further, for recording an audio performance by only using a telephony device, the media repository may also include pre-recorded voice prompts which recite the first few words (perhaps 5 to 8) of each segment (e.g., pages in a book). The network server  106  may also be connected with an audio recording data repository  112  which stores audio recordings or “performances” made by multiple senders. The audio recording data repository  112  may index the audio recordings by sender name, sender identification, media title, author, date of recording, and other similar criteria. The MRS application  114  on the network server  106  provides an interface for indexing and control of reads and writes from and to the source media data repository  110  and the audio recording data repository  112 . 
     The MRS application  114  may be designed to function as, or to interface with, the telephony device  104  to allow for simple access by a sender  102 . Note, however, that this aspect of the system  100  may be implemented in a variety of different ways including, for example, in a direct client-server application format. 
     The network server  106  may offer a variety of media selections, for example, a selection of children&#39;s books to the sender  102  available for purchase through the communication network  108 . The sender will be able to search or browse the books or other media available through the telephony device  104 , select one or more media titles for purchase, and then proceed to check out via a telephone ordering system, for example, an IVR system, a touch-tone DTMF system, or some other form of telephone input system. At this point a typical electronic commerce processing platform may be used to complete the purchase of the media. This electronic commerce platform may be fully integrated in the MRS application  114  or alternatively may be an adjunct software program utilized to complete a purchase transaction. The media may then be delivered to the sender in hard copy print or electronic form. 
     Alternatively, the variety of media selections may be presented to the sender  102  via a traditional physical catalog or display in a store. The sender  102  may browse the available media by walking through aisles in a store or thumbing through pages in a catalogue, selecting one or more media titles, and then checking out via a mail-in order form, a telephone ordering system, a store clerk, or a web store as described above. The media may then be delivered to the sender or taken from the store in hard copy print or electronic form. Alternatively, the sender may already have in her possession a copy of one of the variety of media files of which she desires to record an audio performance using the system described herein. 
     Once a media selection is made and is in the sender&#39;s possession, the sender  102  may wish to prepare annotations to the media selection. These annotations may be a list of personal anecdotes, comments about the story, or a complete scripted dialogue the sender  102  wants to record for a future playback by the recipient  122 . Alternatively, the sender  102  may wish to write the annotations directly into a physical copy of the media. The sender  102  may then send the personally annotated media directly to the recipient  122  or to the operator of the system described herein. The operator may package the personally annotated media with a copy of the audio performance described herein or package the personally annotated media alone for physical shipping to the recipient  122 . 
     After the sender  102  has reviewed the media selection and has prepared or added any desired annotations, the sender may use a telephony device  104  to communicate with the network server  106  and utilize the MRS application  114  through the telephony device  104  to record audio segments corresponding to segments of the media. The network server  106  may be equipped with an IVR system, a touch-tone DTMF system, or some other form of telephone input that enables the sender  102  to select the media and record audio segments corresponding to segments of the media. The media selection may include a telephone number to access and instructions for using the MRS application  114  to record the media selection in segments. The sender  102  may progress through the media segment-by-segment (e.g., page-by-page in a book) and read the text and provide commentary for each segment that is recorded by the MRS application  114 . 
     In one exemplary implementation, the MRS application  114  may provide tools within a IVR or touch-tone DTMF interface for allowing the sender  102  to effectuate a recording of the media selection. After the sender calls the specific telephone number associated with the network server  106  with her telephony device  104 , the MRS application  114  may audibly request the sender&#39;s identity as well as the sender&#39;s media selection. The sender  102  may respond audibly and/or via touchtone selections depending on whether the MRS application  114  has IVR and/or touch-tone DTMF menu capabilities respectively. The MRS application  114  may additionally collect information regarding the recipient including name and address for delivery of a copy of the media selection and recorded audio performance. 
     The MRS application  114  may then begin a recording session by audibly instructing the sender  102  to first make a touch-tone selection on the telephony device  104  or say an audible command to begin recording, next read the current media segment as well as provide any additional comments or anecdotes as desired, and then make another touch-tone selection on the telephone  130  or audible command to end recording. Further, the MRS application  114  may play pre-recorded prompts which guide the sender  102  to recognize the next segment (e.g., a page in a book) to record, since not all pages in all books are numbered. These prompts may contain voice audio which includes an identifiable description of a segment, e.g., the first few words (about 5 to 8) on a page. The MRS application  114  may also be configured to begin and/or end recording after a pre-determined period of silence. The sender  102  may then progress to the next media segment of the media selection and begin another recording session on the MRS application  114  as described above. 
     Once a recording for a particular media segment is completed, the MRS application  114  may mark each audio segment recorded by the sender  102  by associating the audio segment with a unique identifier of the sender  102  and further associating the recorded segment with the corresponding media segment. Recording of the media selection may continue in this fashion on a segment-by-segment basis until the entire media selection has been recorded. The sender  102  may be provided with options to review the current recording for each segment before progressing to the next segment by listening to the recording via the telephone  104 , to cancel the recorded segment and record a new segment, to edit a recorded segment by inserting additional comments or appending additional comments to the end of the segment, and to accept a recorded segment in order to proceed to the next segment. In addition, the MRS application  114  may allow the sender  102  to suspend and store the current recording session to return at a later time to complete the recording of the media selection. 
     Once a sender  102  has completed a recording of all segments for a particular media selection, the segments of the audio performance are synchronized or mapped to the corresponding segments of the media selection. Alternatively, each audio segment may be synchronized with corresponding segments of the media selection individually as the sender records. Because the sender  102  may record in segments and may further re-record some of those segments, there is a likelihood that the finished recorded performance will have different audio volumes between the sections. This variance in recording levels between recorded segments may be caused, for example, by differing positions of the telephony device&#39;s microphone, differing distances of the sender to the telephony device  104 , use of a speakerphone, sender adjustment of input gain, or other disparities in the recording input. To address any inconsistencies in recording levels between segments, the MRS application  114  may incorporate editing software to ensure even sound quality and volume throughout. Such audio editing functions may be automated so that all recording segments are edited against pre-established criteria for normalization before compiling a complete recorded performance. 
     The MRS application  114  may further automatically annotate each recorded segment for ease of use by the recipient  122 . For example, the MRS application  114  may insert pauses between recorded segments to allow a recipient  122  to move to the next media segment, e.g., turn the page of a book. Additionally, audio cues, for example, audible directions to turn to the next page, may also be inserted between the recorded audio segments. The completed recording of a media selection may then be stored in the audio recording data repository  112  for later and potentially perpetual access in a one time or on-demand fulfillment process. Alternately, the sender  102  may be given the option to record one or more custom audio cues in the sender&#39;s voice which instruct the recipient  122  to proceed to the next page. These custom audio cues, may include, for example, “Turn the page now,” or “Let&#39;s see what&#39;s next by turning the page,” or “Are you ready? Let&#39;s go to the next page!” 
     In one exemplary implementation, a fulfillment process  120  may be at least partially manually implemented. Once a sender&#39;s recording has been completed, the MRS application  114  may generate fulfillment instructions identifying a recipient  122  and a corresponding shipping address provided by the sender  102  and associate this recipient information with an identification of the sender&#39;s media selection and/or a related audio recording made by the sender  102 . The audio recording may be automatically copied to a physical media, for example, a CD, flash storage device, or DVD, by the MRS application  114 , or such a copy of the sender&#39;s recording may be initiated manually as part of the fulfillment process  120 . In this implementation, a copy of the media selection, e.g., a book, and a copy of the corresponding audio recording  126 , e.g., a CD or DVD, may be packaged together for shipment to the recipient  122 . Upon receipt of the shipment, the recipient  122  may play the audio media  126  while simultaneously following along with a copy of the physical media  124  (e.g., a book). 
     In an alternate fulfillment embodiment, the recipient  122  may be notified of the availability of a media selection and corresponding audio recording prepared by the sender  102  for the recipient&#39;s benefit. Such a notification may come in the form of an electronic mail message sent by or automatic telephone call from the MRS application  114  from the network server  106  to a computing device  128  associated with the recipient  122 . Alternately, the MRS application  114  may send an electronic message to another mail distribution server which, in turn, sends it to the computing device  128  associated with the recipient  122 . In yet another embodiment, notification may be sent physically through the postal service or other delivery service to the recipient&#39;s shipping address. The recipient&#39;s computing device  128  may be connected with the network server  106  via a network  114 , for example, the Internet (whether wired or wireless), or via a similar network. 
     In one embodiment of this implementation, the media selection and accompanying audio recording of the sender  102  may be sequentially served or streamed to the recipient&#39;s computing device  128  for presentation in a browser interface. Alternatively, the recipient  122  may download a complete copy of the media selection and the associated audio recording from the sender  102  for local presentation on the recipient&#39;s computing device  128 . In a hybrid implementation, the media selection  124  may be manually fulfilled, e.g., by shipping a copy of a book to the recipient  122 , while the audio recording of the sender  102  may be fulfilled electronically, e.g., by the recipient  122  downloading a copy of the audio file from the network server  106  to the recipient&#39;s computing device  128 . The audio file may be in any known form, for example, MP3, WMV, MPEG, or other digital format, and may be played back on the recipient&#39;s computing device  128  or transferred to another playback device, e.g., an MP3 player. 
     In yet another implementation, the audio recording of the sender  102  may be fulfilled via the telephone network  108 , e.g., by the recipient  122  using a telephone  130  to access the audio file from the network server  106 . In this implementation, the media selection  124  may be manually fulfilled as well, e.g., by shipping a copy of the book to the recipient  122  or electronically fulfilled using any of the aforementioned methods. 
     An exemplary process  200  for selecting media and recording audio of the sender across the network is depicted in  FIG. 2 . Initially, in a presentation operation  202 , media selections, for example, a variety of books, are presented to the sender through a telephony interface. Alternatively, the variety of books may be presented to the sender via a traditional physical catalog or a display in a store. It should be understood that while this description uses the example of books, other forms of media in addition to books, for example, music (e.g., songs for karaoke singing), video (e.g., for commentary or narration), and other similar forms of media, may be presented to the sender for presentation, selection, and recording. 
     One or more books from the variety of books are selected in a selection operation  204 . The selection is based on input from the sender through a telephony interface. The selection of books is then delivered to the sender in a delivery operation  206 . The selection of books may be delivered through a postal service in various forms. Exemplary forms include printed copies of the books on loose paper, bound copies of the books and electronic copies contained within electronic media such as a CD, flash storage device, DVD, or some other portable digital media player. 
     The recording phase of the process  200  begins by identifying the sender and media selection in an identification operation  208 . As described in more detail below, the sender and media selection may be identified by sender input through a telephony interface such as an IVR, touch-tone DTMF, or speech recognition menu. The process  200  may continue by playing pre-recorded prompts in prompting operation  210 , which guide the sender to recognize the next segment (e.g., a page in a book) to record. These prompts may be in the form of prerecorded or generated voice audio which includes an identifiable description of a segment, for example, the first few words (e.g., about 5 to 8) on a page. 
     The sender&#39;s performance of the media selection is then recorded on a segment by segment basis as indicated in recording operation  212 . The recorded segments may then be synchronized with the respective media segments in synchronizing operation  214 . Each of the recorded segments may be tagged or marked with identification information to track the association of the recorded segments with a particular sender, with each other, and with the media selection and the media segments. These associations may take place through the use of database tables, file headers for each recorded segment, or other well known data indexing or identification methodologies. Each of the sender&#39;s recorded performance segments may then be stored in a database repository in storing operation  216 . 
     An exemplary process  300  for recording audio of the sender over a telephony device is depicted in  FIG. 3 . The process begins when a network connection is initiated between the sender and the network server in an initiation operation  302 . This operation may be accomplished when the sender calls a specific telephone number associated with the network server and the network server answers the call, initiating the connection. 
     After the connection between the sender and the network server is established, the sender may be audibly presented with menu selections. The sender may be instructed that the network server utilizes an IVR system, a “touch-tone” DTMF system, or some other form of telephone input system to identify inputs from the sender. One exemplary menu option is to enter or obtain a sender identification in a sender identification operation  304 . The sender may be in possession of a unique identifier assigned by the MRS application to the sender when the sender was previously presented a variety of media and made media selections. In this case, the sender may be instructed to input the unique sender identifier and the MRS application will recognize the sender&#39;s identifier and associated account though the telephone input system. In another embodiment, the sender may be provided with a unique identifier in conjunction with the purchase of the media selection. Alternatively, the sender may not be in possession of a sender identifier. In either of these cases, the sender may indicate the lack of a sender identifier and the MRS application will recognize the sender&#39;s selection through the telephone input system, assign a sender identifier to the sender, and audibly provide the sender identifier to the sender. At this time, the MRS application may create an associated account and collect sender and recipient information for contact, billing, tracking, and fulfillment purposes. In yet another embodiment, the sender&#39;s name may operate as a sender identifier. 
     Once the network server has identified the sender, the telephone input system menu may audibly instruct the sender to identify a media selection in a media selection operation  306 . If the media selection was selected and delivered to the sender from the network server, the media selection may be assigned and marked with a unique identifier. The sender may enter the media selection identifier and the MRS application may recognize the sender&#39;s selection through the telephone input system. Alternatively, the sender may not be in possession of a unique media selection identifier because one was not provided by the network server when the media selection was selected and delivered or the sender selected and came into possession of the media selection through a source other than the network server (e.g., store purchase). In this case, the sender may use alternate information to identify the media selection, for example, the title, author, subject, and/or ISBN number of the media selection. The alternative information may be entered by the sender and recognized by the MRS application through the telephone input system. 
     Once the MRS application has identified the sender and the media selection, the telephone input system menu may give the sender an option to record comments and/or anecdotes generally associated with the media selection in a media selection recording operation  308 . The MRS application may instruct the sender to first make a touch-tone selection or say an audible command to begin recording, record any media selection comments and/or anecdotes, and then make another touch-tone selection or say an audible command to end recording. Alternatively, the telephone input system may be configured such that recording may begin and/or end after a certain period of silence from the sender. Further, the telephone input system may give the sender the option of reviewing the comments and/or anecdotes and re-recording if the sender is unsatisfied with the previous recording. 
     The telephone input system menu may next audibly instruct the sender to identify a media segment of the media selection in a media segment performance operation  310 . Media segments may be directly associated with page numbers, track numbers, or other identification system that identifies disparate sections of a media selection. The sender may enter the page number or other segment identification and the MRS application may recognize the sender&#39;s selection through the telephone input system. Alternately or in addition, the MRS application may play pre-recorded prompts which guide the sender to recognize the next segment (e.g., a page in a book) to record, since not all pages in all books are numbered. These prompts may contain voice audio which includes an identifiable description of a segment, for example, the first few words (e.g., about 5 to 8) on a page. The sender may then be instructed by the telephone input system to record a performance of the media segment in recording operation  312  in a manner similar to recording comments and/or anecdotes as described above. 
     Further, the telephone input system menu may provide the sender the option to record comments and/or anecdotes specifically associated with the media segment of the media selection in a media segment annotation operation  314 . The sender may then be instructed by the telephone input system to record a performance of the comments and/or anecdotes specifically associated with the media segment in a manner similar to recording comments and/or anecdotes generally associated with the media selection as described above. 
     Next, the telephone input system menu may give the sender the option to record another media segment of the media selection in the next media segment operation  316 . If the user chooses to record another media segment, the user repeats the media segment recording operation  312  and the media segment annotation operation  314  as described above in association with the new media segment. 
     The telephone input system menu may also give the sender the option to record media segments of another media selection in the next media selection operation  318 . If the user chooses to record another media selection, the user repeats the media selection operation  306 , the media selection recording operation  308 , the media segment recording operation  312 , the media segment annotation operation  314 , and the next media segment operation  316  as described above in association with the new media selection. 
     When the sender is finished recording media segments associated with one or more media selections, the sender may elect to terminate the network connection in a network termination operation  320 . The sender may indicate to the network server to terminate the connection by making a selection using the telephone input system or by simply hanging up the telephone. When the MRS application recognizes that the sender desires to terminate the network connection, the MRS application causes the network server to terminate the connection and proceeds to the synchronizing operation  214  and storing operation  216  as described above in association with  FIG. 2 . 
     One exemplary implementation of a fulfillment process  400  for providing the recipient with copies of the sender&#39;s media selection and recorded performance are presented in  FIG. 4 . In order to initiate the fulfillment process  400 , identification information for the recipient must be known. Such identification information may include the recipient&#39;s name, a mailing address, an e-mail address, a telephone number, or other contact information. This contact information may be received from the sender in receiving operation  402 . 
     Once a particular recipient is identified and a media selection and recorded performance are associated with the recipient, the recorded performance segments may be accessed from the data repository in accessing operation  404 . If not previously completed during the process of recording the sender&#39;s performance, accompaniment cues may be inserted between the performance segments for the benefit of the recipient as indicated in inserting operation  406 . Exemplary accompaniment cues may include extended pause periods between recorded segments, for example, to allow a recipient to view pictures accompanying text on the page of a book. Other accompaniment cues may instruct the recipient to turn the page when viewing a book. Alternately, the sender may be given the option of recording one or more custom audio cues in the sender&#39;s voice which instruct the recipient to proceed to the next page. These custom audio cues, may include, for example, “Turn the page now,” or “Let&#39;s see what&#39;s next by turning the page,” or “Are you ready? Let&#39;s go to the next page!” 
     Once any accompaniment cues have been inserted into the performance segments, the entire performance of the sender may be recorded to a physical media for example by burning a CD or DVD with the performance data as indicated in recording operation  408 , or copying the performance data to a flash memory storage media. Once a sender&#39;s performance has been recorded onto physical media, a fulfillment center may be notified to package the recorded media in conjunction with a tangible copy of the media selection of the sender, e.g., the accompanying book, and ship the package to the recipient using the contact information collected from the sender as indicated in notifying operation  410 . In some implementations, the physical media and the tangible copy may be the same physical object, for example, a DVD or video tape with recorded performance accompanying the video as part of the audio track. In another implementation, the physical media may be incorporated into the tangible object, for example, a flash memory chip storing the recorded performance may be imbedded in a book with playback control buttons. 
     An alternate implementation of a fulfillment process  500  is depicted in  FIG. 5 . In order to initiate the fulfillment process  500 , identification information for the recipient must be known. Such identification information may include the recipient&#39;s name, a mailing address, an e-mail address, a telephone number, or other contact information. This contact information is received from the sender in receiving operation  502 . 
     Once a particular recipient is identified and a media selection and recorded performance are associated with the recipient, the recorded performance segments may be accessed from the data repository in accessing operation  504 . If not previously completed during the process of recording the sender&#39;s performance, accompaniment cues may be inserted between the performance segments for the benefit of the recipient as indicated in inserting operation  506 . Exemplary accompaniment cues may include extended pause periods between recorded segments, for example, to allow a recipient to view pictures accompanying text on the page of a book. Other accompaniment cues may instruct the recipient to turn the page when viewing a book. Alternately, the sender may be given the option of recording one or more custom audio cues in the sender&#39;s voice which instruct the recipient to proceed to the next page. These custom audio cues, may include, for example, “Turn the page now,” or “Let&#39;s see what&#39;s next by turning the page,” or “Are you ready? Let&#39;s go to the next page!” 
     Once any accompaniment cues have been inserted into the performance segments, a multimedia compilation of the media selection and the sender&#39;s recorded performance may be prepared in preparation of operation  508 . For example, in the case of a book, bitmap images of each page of the book, including text and illustrations, may be time synchronized for display with the sender&#39;s recorded performance for that particular page of the book. Alternatively, if the selected media is a song, the sender&#39;s performance of the song may be synchronized and overlaid with the instrumental tracks of the song to create a karaoke performance. Further if the selected media is a video, the sender&#39;s commentary or narration may be synchronized with the video to create a complete multimedia compilation. 
     Once a multimedia compilation is complete, the recipient may be notified of the availability of the multimedia compilation as indicated in notification operation  510 . This notification may be in the form of an electronic mail message sent, and/or a wireless phone “text message,” and/or an “instant” chat message, and/or a voice mail message and/or a postal service message, to an address of the recipient that is provided by the sender. Upon receipt of the notification message, a recipient may access the multimedia compilation, e.g., by selecting a hyperlink provided in the notification message or by using a browser program to navigate to a website that can provide the recipient access to the multimedia compilation. In one embodiment, the recipient may receive a copy of the media selection and the audio performance on CD by mail or shipping delivery or with instructions for accessing the audio performance via some other mode of delivery or playback. Alternatively, a recipient may access the audio component of the multimedia compilation via telephone by dialing into the network server. 
     Once the recipient locates the multimedia compilation, it may be presented to the user in any of several forms. For example, the user may download a file containing the multimedia compilation for playback on the recipient&#39;s computing device using standard media presentation software. Alternatively, the multimedia compilation may be presented to the user through the user&#39;s browser interface in the form of a streaming multimedia presentation. In a further implementation, fulfillment of the media selection may be performed by sending the recipient a physical copy of the media selection, e.g., a book, while the accompanying audio performance of the sender may be provided through a download of an audio file, e.g., an MP3 file, to the recipient&#39;s computing device or playback through a telephone. Playback of the audio file may be performed by recipient&#39;s computing device using standard audio player applications. Alternatively, the audio file may be copied from the recipient&#39;s computing device to an alternative playback device, for example, an MP3 player, or burned to a physical medium, e.g., a CD, for playback by the recipient using other devices then the recipient&#39;s computing device connected to the network. 
     An exemplary computer system  600  for implementing the audio recording processes above is depicted in  FIG. 6 . The computer system  600  of a recipient may be a personal computer (PC), a workstation, a notebook or portable computer, a tablet PC, a handheld media player (e.g., an MP3 player), a smart phone device, a video gaming device, or a set top box, with internal processing and memory components as well as interface components for connection with external input, output, storage, network, and other types of peripheral devices. Internal components of the computer system in  FIG. 6  are shown within the dashed line and external components are shown outside of the dashed line. Components that may be internal or external are shown straddling the dashed line. Alternatively to a PC, the computer system  600 , for example, for running the MRS application, may be in the form of any of a server, a mainframe computer, a distributed computer, an Internet appliance, or other computer devices, or combinations thereof. 
     In any embodiment or component of the systems described herein, the computer system  600  includes a processor  602  and a system memory  606  connected by a system bus  604  that also operatively couples various system components. There may be one or more processors  602 , e.g., a single central processing unit (CPU), or a plurality of processing units, commonly referred to as a parallel processing environment (for example, a dual-core, quad-core, or other multi-core processing device). The system bus  604  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, a switched-fabric, point-to-point connection, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory  606  includes read only memory (ROM)  608  and random access memory (RAM)  610 . A basic input/output system (BIOS)  612 , containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within the computer system  600 , such as during start-up, is stored in ROM  608 . A cache  614  may be set aside in RAM  610  to provide a high speed memory store for frequently accessed data. 
     A hard disk drive interface  616  may be connected with the system bus  604  to provide read and write access to a data storage device, e.g., a hard disk drive  618 , for nonvolatile storage of applications, files, and data. A number of program modules and other data may be stored on the hard disk  618 , including an operating system  620 , one or more application programs  622 , and data files  624 . In an exemplary implementation, the hard disk drive  618  may store the media, recording, and synchronization application  626 , the media data repository  664  for storage of media selections for presentation to a recipient, and the audio recording data repository  666  for storing audio performances recorded by a sender according to the exemplary processes described herein above. Note that the hard disk drive  618  may be either an internal component or an external component of the computer system  600  as indicated by the hard disk drive  618  straddling the dashed line in  FIG. 6 . In some configurations, there may be both an internal and an external hard disk drive  618 . 
     The computer system  600  may further include a magnetic disk drive  630  for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk  632 , tape, or other magnetic media. The magnetic disk drive  630  may be connected with the system bus  604  via a magnetic drive interface  628  to provide read and write access to the magnetic disk drive  630  initiated by other components or applications within the computer system  600 . The magnetic disk drive  630  and the associated computer-readable media may be used to provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for the computer system  600 . 
     The computer system  600  may additionally include an optical disk drive  636  for reading from or writing to a removable optical disk  638  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. The optical disk drive  636  may be connected with the system bus  604  via an optical drive interface  634  to provide read and write access to the optical disk drive  636  initiated by other components or applications within the computer system  600 . The optical disk drive  630  and the associated computer-readable optical media may be used to provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data for the computer system  600 . 
     A display device  642 , e.g., a monitor, a television, or a projector, or other type of presentation device may also be connected to the system bus  604  via an interface, such as a video adapter  640  or video card. Similarly, audio devices, for example, external speakers or a microphone (not shown), may be connected to the system bus  604  through an audio card or other audio interface (not shown). 
     In addition to the monitor  642 , the computer system  600  may include other peripheral input and output devices, which are often connected to the processor  602  and memory  606  through the serial port interface  644  that is coupled to the system bus  606 . Input and output devices may also or alternately be connected with the system bus  604  by other interfaces, for example, a universal serial bus (USB), an IEEE 1394 interface (“Firewire”), a parallel port, or a game port. A user may enter commands and information into the computer system  600  through various input devices including, for example, a keyboard  646  and pointing device  648 , for example, a mouse. Other input devices (not shown) may include, for example, a joystick, a game pad, a tablet, a touch screen device, a satellite dish, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a telephone, a digital camera, and a digital video camera. In implementations described herein, the computer system  600  of the sender may include a microphone  668  to capture the sender&#39;s performance. Output devices may include a printer  650  and one or more loudspeakers  670  for presenting the audio performance of the sender. Other output devices (not shown) may include, for example, a plotter, a photocopier, a photo printer, a facsimile machine, a telephone, and a press. In some implementations, several of these input and output devices may be combined into single devices, for example, a printer/scanner/fax/photocopier. It should also be appreciated that other types of computer-readable media and associated drives for storing data, for example, magnetic cassettes or flash memory drives, may be accessed by the computer system  600  via the serial port interface  644  (e.g., USB) or similar port interface. 
     The computer system  600  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections through a network interface  652  coupled with the system bus  604  to communicate with one or more remote devices. The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 6  include a local-area network (LAN)  654  and a wide-area network (WAN)  660 . Such networking environments are commonplace in home networks, office networks, enterprise-wide computer networks, and intranets. These logical connections may be achieved by a communication device coupled to or integral with the computer system  600 . As depicted in  FIG. 6 , the LAN  654  may use a router  656  or hub, either wired or wireless, internal or external, to connect with remote devices, e.g., a remote computer  658 , similarly connected on the LAN  654 . The remote computer  658  may be another personal computer, a server, a client, a peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer system  600 . 
     To connect with a WAN  660 , the computer system  600  typically includes a modem  662  for establishing communications over the WAN  660 . Typically the WAN  660  may be the Internet. However, in some instances the WAN  660  may be a large private network spread among multiple locations, or a virtual private network (VPN). The modem  662  may be a telephone modem, a high speed modem (e.g., a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem), a cable modem, or similar type of communications device. The modem  662 , which may be internal or external, is connected to the system bus  618  via the network interface  652 . In alternate embodiments the modem  662  may be connected via the serial port interface  644 . It should be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of and communications devices for establishing a network communications link between the computer system and other devices or networks may be used. 
     The technology described herein may be implemented as logical operations and/or modules in one or more systems. The logical operations may be implemented as a sequence of processor-implemented steps executing in one or more computer systems and as interconnected machine or circuit modules within one or more computer systems. Likewise, the descriptions of various component modules may be provided in terms of operations executed or effected by the modules. The resulting implementation is a matter of choice, dependent on the performance requirements of the underlying system implementing the described technology. Accordingly, the logical operations making up the embodiments of the technology described herein are referred to variously as operations, steps, objects, or modules. Furthermore, it should be understood that logical operations may be performed in any order, unless explicitly claimed otherwise or a specific order is inherently necessitated by the claim language. 
     In some implementations, articles of manufacture are provided as computer program products. In one implementation, a computer program product is provided as a computer-readable medium storing an encoded computer program executable by a computer system. Another implementation of a computer program product may be provided in a computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave by a computing system and encoding the computer program. Other implementations are also described and recited herein. 
     The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Although various embodiments of the invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. In particular, it should be understood that the described technology may be employed independent of a personal computer. Other embodiments are therefore contemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of particular embodiments and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the basic elements of the invention as defined in the following claims.