Patent Abstract:
A method for delivering audio announcements, includes: receiving an announcement package, the announcement package including a package identity, a package update time, and one or more announcement items; and presenting the announcement package to an audio player. Each announcement item includes an item identity, and a summary part, where the summary part includes audio information. The audio information includes an audio data type and audio data. Updates for the announcement package can be received, where the announcement package is modified according to the update. A content of the announcement package can be replaced, deleted, or added. The announcement item can be presented to the audio player once, repeatedly, or periodically. In this manner, audio announcements are delivered in an effective and timely manner.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/401,844, filed on Feb. 22, 2012; which in turn is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/870,525 filed on Aug. 27, 2010 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,144,844 on Mar. 27, 2012; which in turn is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/443,901 filed on May 30, 2006 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,817,785 on Oct. 19, 2010. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     This invention relates generally to telecommunications, and more specifically to a system and a method for delivering audio announcement. 
     2. Related Art 
     There are many existing methods for delivering audio announcement to a user. In one scenario, a person dials a telephone number at a telephone to connect to a machine and listens to a pre-recorded announcement such as location and business hours of a merchant, road conditions or weather conditions. The machine, from a simple answering machine to a sophisticated Interactive Voice Recorder (IVR), delivers the announcement by sending the audio signals of the announcement to the telephone over a telephony network. For the user to listen to the announcement again, he/she has to dial the telephone number to connect to the machine again. When there is an update for the announcement, an operator records a new announcement in the machine. The user needs to dial in to listen to the announcement. 
     In a different scenario, a radio broadcasting system delivers an announcement such as world and local news, weather reports, sports updates, and financial news by sending audio signals of the announcement to a radio. To deliver an announcement, a broadcaster reads the announcement or plays a pre-recorded announcement through the radio broadcasting system. To deliver an announcement multiple times, the broadcaster reads or plays the announcement multiple times. When there is an update for an announcement, the broadcaster reads the updated announcement or plays a pre-recorded updated announcement. To deliver a plurality of announcements, a broadcaster repeats the above process for each announcement, whether it is a repeat announcement, an updated announcement, or a new announcement. The broadcaster typically delivers the announcements infrequently or at a mixed time, such as every hour by the hour, 6 times a day, or in the morning and evening hours. 
     In another scenario, a television broadcasting system delivers an announcement in a similar fashion as a radio broadcasting system. 
     With the emergence of the Internet, a person uses a Web browser to obtain information, including listening to an announcement over the Internet. To listen to an announcement, a person navigates a web page or multiple web pages, and selects a textual or graphical representation of the announcement. Where there is an update for the announcement, the person needs to navigate a web page or multiple web pages, and selects a textual or graphical presentation of the announcement to listen to the announcement. 
     The above scenarios illustrate deficiencies in delivering audio announcement to a user in an effectively and timely manner. Therefore, there is a need to improve the effectiveness and timeliness of delivering audio announcement. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method for delivering audio announcements includes: receiving an announcement package, the announcement package including a package identity, a package update time, and one or more announcement items; and presenting the announcement package to an audio player. Each announcement item includes an item identity, and a summary part, where the summary part includes audio information. The audio information includes an audio data type and audio data. Updates for the announcement package can be received, where the announcement package is modified according to the update. A content of the announcement package can be replaced, deleted, or added. The announcement item can be presented to the audio player once, repeatedly, or periodically. In this manner, audio announcements are delivered in an effective and timely manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a scenario where an announcer receives an announcement package, and presents the announcement package. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a process of announcer to update an announcement package. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a process for announcer to present an audio information. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a process for announcer to present an announcement package. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a process for announcer to determine an order for the plurality of announcement items in an announcement package. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a process for announcer to select an announcement item from a plurality of announcement items in an announcement package. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a scenario where an announcer receives an announcement package, and presents the announcement package. 
     In one embodiment, an announcement is a world news report, a local news report, a sports score update, or a weather forecast. In one embodiment, an announcement is an astrology or horoscope prediction. In one embodiment, an announcement is a financial report, a stock recommendation, or a mortgage rate summary. In one embodiment, an announcement is a government alert, such as a flood alert, a mountain lion sighting alert, or a child abduction alert. In one embodiment, an announcement is a notification, such as a prescription drug ready notification or a restaurant table ready notification. In one embodiment, an announcement is a personal reminder, such as a dental appointment reminder, a conference meeting reminder, or a physiotherapy session reminder. In one embodiment, an announcement is an advertisement, a commercial promotion, or a product recall alert. 
     An announcement package  100  includes information for a plurality of announcements. In one embodiment, announcement package  100  includes information for a greeting message. 
     Announcer  150  receives announcement package  100  from a server  110  over a communication network  190 . In one embodiment, communication network  190  includes an Internet Protocol (IP) network. In one embodiment, communication network  190  includes a public network such as the Internet. In one embodiment, communication network  190  includes a private network such as a corporate Virtual Private Network (VPN) or a home network. In one embodiment, communication network  190  includes a wired network such an Ethernet network. In one embodiment, communication network  190  includes a cellular network, such as a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network. In one embodiment, communication network  190  includes a wireless local area network (WLAN), such as a WiFi network. In one embodiment, announcer  150  receives announcement package  100  from server  110  using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). For example, announcer  150  sends an HTTP GET request to server  110  and receives announcement package  100  in a response for the request. In one embodiment, the entity-body of the response includes announcement package  100 . Hypertext Transfer Protocol is described in IETF RFC 2616 “Hypertext Transfer Protocol—HTTP/1.1”. 
     Announcer  150  presents announcement package  100  by presenting the plurality of announcements and the greeting message. In one embodiment, announcer  150  connects to an audio player  170 . Announcer  150  presents announcement package  100  by sending information for the plurality of announcements and the greeting message to audio player  170 . Audio player  170  converts the information to sound. 
     In one embodiment, announcer  150  presents announcement package  100  once, repeatedly, or periodically. In one embodiment, announcer  150  presents the plurality of announcement items according to an order. In one embodiment, announcer  150  selects an announcement from the plurality of announcement items for presentation. 
     In one embodiment, announcer  150  receives an update for announcement package  100 . In one embodiment, announcer  150  receives an update for announcement package  100  from server  110 . In one embodiment, the update for announcement package  100  is an announcement package  120 . Announcer  150  updates announcement package  100  based on announcement package  120 . In one embodiment, announcer  150  updates announcement package  100  by modifying information for an announcement in announcement package  100 . In one embodiment, announcer  150  updates announcement package  100  by adding information for a new announcement to announcement package  100 . In one embodiment, announcer  150  updates announcement package  100  by removing information for an existing announcement from announcement package  100 . In one embodiment, announcer  150  updates announcement package  100  by modifying information for the greeting message in announcement package  100 . Announcer  150  presents the modified announcement package  100 . 
     Equation 1.01 describes an announcement package. Equation 1.01 and subsequent equations use a syntax similar to Extensible Markup Language (XML) Document Type Declaration (DTD) based on World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Recommendation “Extensible Markup Language (XML)”. 
     (Equation 1.01) &lt;!ELEMENT announcement package 
     
         
         
           
             (package identity, 
             package update time, 
             prelude, 
             announcement item+)&gt; 
           
         
       
    
     Equation 1.01 describes announcement package. Announcement package includes a package identity, a package update time, a prelude, and one or more announcement items. 
     Equation 1.02 describes package identity. Equation 1.03 describes package update time. Equation 1.04-1.08 describe ELEMENTs that are included in prelude or announcement item. Equation 1.09-1.10 describe prelude and announcement item respectively. 
     Equation 1.02 describes package identity. 
     (Equation 1.02) &lt;!ELEMENT package identity (#PCDATA)&gt; 
     Package identity is #PCDATA (parsed character data), or a collection of parsed characters. 
     (Example 1.02a) &lt;package identity&gt;local-weather-report&lt;/package identity&gt; 
     (Example 1.02b) &lt;package identity&gt;World News Tonight 10987&lt;/package identity&gt; 
     In example 1.02a, package identity is “local-weather-report”. In example 1.02b, package identity is “World News Tonight 10987”. 
     Equation 1.03 describes package update time. 
     (Equation 1.03) &lt;!ELEMENT package update time (#PCDATA)&gt; 
     (Example 1.03a) &lt;package update time&gt;30 minutes&lt;/package update time&gt; 
     (Example 1.03b) &lt;package update time&gt;42 minutes&lt;/package update time&gt; 
     In example 1.03a, package update time is “30 minutes”. In example 1.03b, package update time is “42 minutes”. 
     Equation 1.04 describes audio data type. 
     (Equation 1.04) &lt;!ELEMENT audio data type (#PCDATA)&gt; 
     Audio data type can have content of “GSM” or “G723”. 
     (Example 1.04a) &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     (Example 1.04b) &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     In example 1.04a, audio data type is “G723”. In example 1.04b, audio data type is “GSM”. 
     Equation 1.05 describes audio data. 
     (Equation 1.05) &lt;!ELEMENT audio data (#CDATA)&gt; 
     Audio data is #CDATA (character data) or a collection of non-parsed characters. 
     (Example 1.05a) &lt;audio data&gt;Breaking news from Orlando, Fla. Hurricane Andrew is in striking distance&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     (Example 1.05b) &lt;audio data&gt;NCAA basketball tournament is underway in Oakland, Calif. Duke is taking on Utah state tonight at 630 pm&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     For illustrative purpose, audio data is presented in textual representation. In example 1.05a, audio data is “Breaking news from Orlando, Fla. Hurricane Andrew is in striking distance”. In example 1.05b, audio data is “NCAA basketball tournament is underway in Oakland, Calif. Duke is taking on Utah state tonight at 630 pm”. 
     Equation 1.06 describes audio information. 
     (Equation 1.06) &lt;!ELEMENT audio information (audio data type, audio data)&gt; 
     Audio information includes an audio data type and an audio data. 
     (Example 1.06a) &lt;audio information&gt; 
     
         
         
           
             &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
             &lt;audio data&gt;We are expecting a sunny day in the Bay Area. Day time high is 85 degree. Day time low is 67 degree&lt;/audio data&gt; 
             &lt;/audio information&gt;
 
(Example 1.06b) &lt;audio information&gt;
 
             &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
             &lt;audio data&gt;This is it for now. Please stay tuned for an update in 30 minutes&lt;/audio data&gt; 
             &lt;/audio information&gt; 
           
         
       
    
     In example 1.06a, audio information includes audio data type “G723” and audio data “We are expecting a sunny day in the Bay Area. Day time high is 85 degree. Day time low is 67 degree”. In example 1.06b, audio information includes audio data type “GSM” and audio data “This is it for now. Please stay tuned for an update in 30 minutes”. 
     Equation 1.07 describes summary part. 
     (Equation 1.07) &lt;!ELEMENT summary part (audio information)&gt; 
     Summary part includes an audio information. 
     (Example 1.07a) &lt;summary part&gt; 
     &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;We are expecting a sunny day in the Bay Area. Day time high is 85 degree. Day time low is 67 degree&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     &lt;/summary part&gt; 
     (Example 1.07b) &lt;summary part&gt; 
     &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;Seattle Seahawks just wiped Texas Cowboys 49 to zip&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     &lt;/summary part&gt; 
     Examples 1.07a-1.07b are examples of summary part. 
     Equation 1.08 describes item identity. 
     (Equation 1.08) &lt;!ELEMENT item identity (#PCDATA)&gt; 
     (Example 1.08a) &lt;item identity&gt;Wimbledon-men-singles&lt;/item identity&gt; 
     (Example 1.08b) &lt;item identity&gt;News-Item-108&lt;/item identity&gt; 
     In example 1.08a, item identity is “Wimbledon-men-singles”. In example 1.08b, item identity is “News-Item-108”. 
     Equation 1.09 describes prelude. 
     (Equation 1.09) &lt;!ELEMENT prelude (audio information)&gt; 
     Prelude includes an audio information. 
     (Example 1.09a) &lt;prelude&gt; 
     &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;Good morning. This is Jul. 22, 2005. I am Jason Brown for Hummingbird News Service. I will be bringing you breaking news from the country and around the world, plus local weather report&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     &lt;/prelude&gt; 
     (Example 1.09b) &lt;prelude&gt; 
     &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;Good afternoon. This is Jul. 22, 2005. I am Terry Huffman reporting for Hummingbird News Service&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     &lt;/prelude&gt; 
     Examples 1.09a-1.09b are examples of prelude. 
     Equation 1.10 describes announcement item. 
     (Equation 1.10) &lt;!ELEMENT announcement item 
     (item identity, summary part)&gt; 
     Announcement item includes an item identity and a summary part. 
     (Example 1.10a) &lt;announcement item&gt; 
     &lt;item identity&gt;Weather-Bay Area&lt;/item identity&gt; 
     &lt;summary part&gt; 
     &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;We are expecting a sunny day in the Bay Area. Day time high is 85 degree. Day time low is 67 degree 
     &lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     &lt;/summary part&gt; 
     &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
     (Example 1.10b) &lt;announcement item&gt; 
     &lt;item identity&gt;NFL-Update-2133&lt;/item identity&gt; 
     &lt;summary part&gt; 
     &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;Seattle Seahawks just wiped Texas Cowboys 49 to zip&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     &lt;/summary part&gt; 
     &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
     In example 1.10a, announcement item includes item identity “Weather-Bay Area” and a summary part. In example 1.10b, announcement item includes item identity “NFL-Update-2133” and a summary part. 
     Example 1.11 illustrates an announcement package in the format according to Equation 1.01 to 1.10. 
     (Example 1.11) 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 (Line 101) 
                 &lt;announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 102)  
                  &lt;package identity&gt;News Report 1039&gt;/package identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 103)  
                  &lt;package update time&gt;30 minutes&lt;/package update time&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 104) 
                  &lt;prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 105) 
                   &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 106) 
                    &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 107) 
                    &lt;audio data&gt;Good morning. This is July 22, 2005. 
               
               
                 (Line 108) 
                    I am Jason Brown for Hummingbird News Service. 
               
               
                 (Line 109) 
                    I will be bringing you breaking news from the 
               
               
                 (Line 110) 
                    country and around the world, plus local weather 
               
               
                 (Line 111) 
                    report&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 112) 
                   &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 113)  
                  &lt;/prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 114)  
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 115) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;Weather-Bay Area&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 116) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 117) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 118) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 119) 
                     &lt;audio data&gt;We are expecting a sunny day in the 
               
               
                 (Line 120) 
                     Bay Area. Day time high is 85 degree. Day time 
               
               
                 (Line 121) 
                     low is 67 degree&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 122) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 123) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 124) 
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 125)  
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 126) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;News-Item-102&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 127) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 128) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 129) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 130) 
                     &lt;audio data&gt;NASA announces today they it will try 
               
               
                 (Line 131) 
                     for three shuttle flights this year if the space agency 
               
               
                 (Line 132) 
                     is able to launch Discovery in May or July 
               
               
                 (Line 133) 
                     &lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 134) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 135) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 136)  
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 137) 
                 &lt;/announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The announcement package is illustrated in line  101 - 137  in example 1.11. The announcement package includes a package identity, a package update time, a prelude, and two announcement items. 
     The package identity is illustrated in line  102   
     The package update time is illustrated in line  103 . 
     The prelude is illustrated in line  104 - 113 . 
     A first announcement item is illustrated in line  114 - 124 . 
     A second announcement item is illustrated in line  125 - 136 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a process for announcer to update an announcement package. 
     Announcer  250  receives an announcement package  200  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Announcement package  200  includes a package identity  201 , a package update time  202 , a prelude  203 , and announcement items  205  and  206 . 
     Announcement package  200  is illustrated as, 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 (Line 201) 
                 &lt;announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 202) 
                  &lt;package identity&gt;News Report 1039&lt;/package identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 203) 
                  &lt;package update time&gt;28 minutes&lt;/package update time&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 204) 
                  &lt;prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 205) 
                   &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 206) 
                    &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 207) 
                    &lt;audio data&gt;Good morning. This is July 22, 2005. 
               
               
                 (Line 208) 
                    I am Jason Brown for Hummingbird News Service. 
               
               
                 (Line 209) 
                    I will be bringing you breaking news from the 
               
               
                 (Line 210) 
                    country and around the world, plus local weather 
               
               
                 (Line 211) 
                    report&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 212) 
                   &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 213) 
                  &lt;/prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 214) 
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 215) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;SportsUpdate 10324&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 216) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 217) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 218) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 219) 
                   &lt;audio data&gt;NCAA basketball update. Duke is 
               
               
                 (Line 220) 
                   leading Texas State by a score of 56 to 14 in the 
               
               
                 (Line 221) 
                   waning minutes of the first half&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 222) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 223) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 224) 
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 225) 
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 226) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;News-Item-102&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 227) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 228) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 229) 
                      &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 230) 
                      &lt;audio data&gt;NASA announces today they it will try 
               
               
                 (Line 231) 
                      for three shuttle flights this year if the space agency 
               
               
                 (Line 232) 
                      is able to launch Discovery in May or July. 
               
               
                 (Line 233) 
                     &lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 234) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 235) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 236) 
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 237) 
                 &lt;/announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Package identity  201  is illustrated in line  202 . Package update time  202  is illustrated in Line  203 . Prelude  203  is illustrated in line  204 - 213 . Announcement item  205  is illustrated in line  214 - 224 . Announcement item  206  is illustrated in line  225 - 236 . 
     Announcer  250  connects to a timer  260 . Announcer  250  sets timer  260  based on package update time  202 . In this embodiment, package update time is “28 minutes”. Announcer  250  sets timer  260  to 28 minutes. 
     When timer  260  expires. Announcer  250  receives an announcement package  220 . Announcement package  220  is an update for announcement package  200 . 
     Announcement package  220  includes package identity  221 , package update time  222 , prelude  223 , and announcement items  225  and  226 . 
     Announcement package  220  is illustrated as, 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 (Line 301) 
                 &lt;announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 302) 
                  &lt;package identity&gt;News Report 1039&lt;/package identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 303) 
                  &lt;package update time&gt;17 minutes&lt;/package update time&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 304) 
                  &lt;prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 305) 
                   &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 306) 
                    &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 307) 
                    &lt;audio data&gt;Good afternoon. This is July 22, 2005. I am 
               
               
                 (Line 308) 
                    Terry Huffman reporting for Hummingbird News 
               
               
                 (Line 309) 
                    Service&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 310) 
                   &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 311) 
                  &lt;/prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 312) 
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 313) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;SportsUpdate 10324&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 314) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 315) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 316) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 317) 
                     &lt;audio data&gt;NCAA basketball update. Duke is 
               
               
                 (Line 318) 
                     widening the lead over Texas State to 74 to 23 at 
               
               
                 (Line 319) 
                     the half way mark of the second half&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 320) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 321) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 322) 
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 323)  
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 324) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;News-Item-253&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 325) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 326) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 327) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 328) 
                     &lt;audio data&gt;The flood level at the Russian river has 
               
               
                 (Line 329) 
                     risen to dangerous level&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 330) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 331) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 332) 
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 333) 
                 &lt;/announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Package identity  221  is illustrated in line  302 . Package update time  222  is illustrated in line  303 . Prelude  223  is illustrated in line  304 - 311 . Announcement item  225  is illustrated in line  312 - 322 . Announcement item  226  is illustrated in line  323 - 332 . 
     Package identity  201  is “News Report 1039” and package identity  221  is “News Report 1039”. Announcer  250  determines that package identity  221  matches package identity  201 ; announcer  250  updates announcement package  200  based on announcement package  220 . 
     Announcer  250  modifies package update time  202  by replacing the content of package update time  202  with the content of package update time  222 . 
     Announcer  250  modifies prelude  203  by replacing the content of prelude  203  with the content of prelude  223 . 
     Announcer  250  matches the item identity of announcement item  225  with the item identity of announcement items  205  and  206 . Announcer  250  determines that the item identity of announcement item  225  “SportsUpdate 10324” matches the item identity of announcement item  205  “SportsUpdate 10324”. Announcer  250  replaces the content of announcement item  205  with the content of announcement item  225 . 
     Announcer  250  matches the item identity of announcement item  226  with the item identity of announcement items  205  and  206 . Announcer  250  determines that the item identity of the announcement item  226  “News-Item-253” does not match the item identity of announcement items  205  and  206 . Announcer  250  adds announcement item  226  to announcement package  200 . 
     After the update, announcement package  200  becomes, 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 (Line 401) 
                 &lt;announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 402) 
                  &lt;package identity&gt;News Report 1039&lt;/package identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 403)  
                  &lt;package update time&gt;17 minutes&lt;/package update time&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 404)  
                  &lt;prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 405) 
                   &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 406) 
                    &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 407) 
                    &lt;audio data&gt;Good afternoon. This is July 22, 2005. I am 
               
               
                 (Line 408) 
                    Terry Huffman reporting for Hummingbird News 
               
               
                 (Line 409) 
                    Service&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 410) 
                   &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 411)  
                  &lt;/prelude&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 412) 
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 413) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;SportsUpdate 10324&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 414) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 415) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 416) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 417) 
                     &lt;audio data&gt;NCAA basketball update. Duke is 
               
               
                 (Line 418) 
                     widening the lead over Texas State to 74 to 23 at 
               
               
                 (Line 419) 
                     the half way mark of the second half&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 420) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 421) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 422) 
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 423) 
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 424) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;News-Item-102&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 425) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 426) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 427) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;GSM&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 428) 
                     &lt;audio data&gt;NASA announces today they it will try 
               
               
                 (Line 429) 
                     for three shuttle flights this year if the space agency 
               
               
                 (Line 430) 
                     is able to launch Discovery in May or July. 
               
               
                 (Line 431) 
                     &lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 432) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 433) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 434)  
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 435) 
                  &lt;announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 436) 
                   &lt;item identity&gt;News-Item-253&lt;/item identity&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 437) 
                   &lt;summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 438) 
                    &lt;audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 439) 
                     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 440) 
                     &lt;audio data&gt;The flood level at the Russian river has 
               
               
                 (Line 441) 
                     risen to dangerous level&lt;/audio data&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 442) 
                    &lt;/audio information&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 443) 
                   &lt;/summary part&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 444) 
                  &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
               
               
                 (Line 445) 
                 &lt;/announcement package&gt; 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In the updated announcement package  200 , package identity  201  is illustrated in line  402 ; package update time  202  is illustrated in line  403 . Prelude  203  is illustrated in line  404 - 411 . Announcement item  205  is illustrated in Line  412 - 422 . Announcement item  206  is illustrated in Line  423 - 434 . The added announcement item is illustrated in Line  435 - 444 . 
     Announcer  250  sets timer  260  based on package update time  202  “17 minutes” in the updated announcement package  200 , as illustrated earlier in  FIG. 2 . When timer  260  expires, announcer  250  repeats the process in  FIG. 2  to update the updated announcement package  200 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a process for announcer to present an audio information. 
     Announcer  350  connects to audio player  370 . In one embodiment, audio player  370  accepts G723 speech codec format. 
     Audio information  300  includes audio type  301  and audio data  302 . In one embodiment, audio data type  301  is “G723”, matching the audio format accepted by audio player  370 . Announcer  350  presents audio information  300  by sending audio data  302  to audio player  370 . Audio player  370  converts audio data  302  into sound. 
     In one embodiment, audio data type  301  is “GSM”. Announcer  350  presents audio information  300  by converting audio data  302  from GSM speech codec format to G723 speech codec format; and by sending the result of the conversion to audio player  370 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a process for announcer to present an announcement package. 
     Announcement package  400  includes a prelude  403  and announcement items  405  and  406 . 
     Announcer  450  presents announcement package  400  by presenting prelude  403 , and the plurality of announcement items  405  and  406 . Announcer  450  presents prelude  403  by presenting the audio information in prelude  403 . Announcer  450  presents an announcement item  405  by presenting the audio information in the summary part of the announcement item  405 . Announcer  450  presents an announcement item  406  by presenting the audio information in the summary part of the announcement item  406 . 
     In one embodiment, announcer  450  presents announcement package  400  once. In another embodiment, announcer  450  presents announcement package repeatedly. In one embodiment, announcer  450  presents announcement package  400  periodically, such as every 10 minutes, every 12 minutes, or every hour at the half hour. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a process for announcer to determine an order for the plurality of announcement items in an announcement package. 
     Announcement Package  500  includes announcement items  505 ,  506  and  507 . 
     Announcer  550  includes an announcement sorter  551 . Announcement sorted  551  determines an order for announcement items  505 ,  506  and  507 . 
     In one embodiment, announcement sorter  551  determines an order based on time information. In one embodiment, the time information is a receiving time of an announcement item. In one embodiment, the receiving time of an announcement item is based on the time when announcer  550  first receives an announcement package that includes the announcement item. 
     In an example, the receiving time of announcement item  505  is “Mar. 3, 2005, 11:53 pm”; the receiving time of announcement item  506  is “Mar. 3, 2005, 11:49 pm”; and the receiving time of announcement item  507  is “March 5, 12.02 am”. Announcement sorter  551  determines the order as announcement item  507 ,  505 , and  506 . 
     In one embodiment, the time information is a publication time of an announcement item. In one embodiment, an announcement item includes an item publication time. 
     Equation 2.01 describes item publication time. Example 2.01a is an example of item publication time. Example 2.01b is an example of an announcement item with item publication time. 
     (Equation 2.01) &lt;!ELEMENT item publication time (#PCDATA)&gt; 
     (Example 2.01a) &lt;item publication time&gt;10:45 am, Jul. 20, 2005 
     &lt;/item publication time&gt; 
     (Example 2.01b) &lt;announcement item&gt; 
     &lt;item identity&gt;SportsUpdate 10324&lt;/item identity&gt; 
     &lt;item publication time&gt;10:45 am, Jul. 20, 2005 
     &lt;/item publication time&gt; 
     &lt;summary part&gt; 
     &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;G723&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;NCAA basketball update. Duke is widening the lead over Texas State to 74 to 23 at the half way mark of the second half&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     &lt;/summary part&gt; 
     &lt;/announcement item&gt; 
     Announcement sorter  551  determines an order for announcement items  505 ,  506  and  507  based on item publication time. 
     In an example, Item publication time in announcement item  505  is “9:32 am Jul. 5, 2005”; item publication time in announcement item  506  is “10:22 am Jul. 5, 2005”; and item publication time in announcement item  507  is “6:19 am Jul. 5, 2005”. Announcement sorter  551  determines the order as announcement item  506 ,  505 , and  507 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a process for announcer to select an announcement item from a plurality of announcement items in an announcement package. 
     Announcement Package  600  includes announcement items  605 ,  606  and  607 . 
     Announcer  650  includes an announcement selector  651 . Announcement selector  651  selects an announcement item from announcement items  605 ,  606  and  607 . 
     In one embodiment, announcement selector  651  selects an announcement item based on receiving time of the announcement item. In one embodiment, announcement selector  651  selects an announcement item with a receiving time that is less than a time duration prior to the current time of day. 
     In one embodiment, the receiving time of announcement item  605  is “Mar. 3, 2005, 11:53 pm”; the receiving time of announcement item  606  is “Mar. 3, 2005, 11:22 pm”; and the receiving time of announcement item  607  is “Mar. 4, 2005, 12:02 am”. In one embodiment, the time duration is 1 hour, and the current time of day is “March 4, 1.00 am”. Announcement selector  651  determines that the receiving times for announcement  607  is less than 1 hour prior to the current time of day; announcement selector  651  selects announcement items  607 . 
     In one embodiment, audio data does not include directly the data suitable for sound conversion. In one embodiment, an audio data type has a content of “WEB ADDRESS”. Audio information includes an audio data location. Audio data location has a content indicating a WEB URL where additional audio data can be obtained. 
     Equation 3 describes audio data location. Example 3a and 3b are examples of audio data location. Example 3c is an example of an audio information that includes an audio data type “WEB ADDRESS” and an audio data location “http://www.sportcaster.com/NCAA”. 
     (Equation 3) &lt;!ELEMENT audio data location (#PCDATA)&gt; 
     (Example 3a) &lt;audio data location&gt;http://www.abc.com/news2045 
     &lt;/audio data location&gt; 
     (Example 3b) &lt;audio data location&gt;http://www.sportcaster.com/NCAA 
     &lt;/audio data location&gt; 
     (Example 3c) &lt;audio information&gt; 
     &lt;audio data type&gt;WEB ADDRESS&lt;/audio data type&gt; 
     &lt;audio data location&gt;http://www.sportcaster.com/NCAA 
     &lt;/audio data location&gt; 
     &lt;audio data&gt;&lt;/audio data&gt; 
     &lt;/audio information&gt; 
     In one embodiment, announcement sorter determines the order of the plurality of announcement items in an announcement package based on other information, such as announcement item priority, or a announcement item type. 
     In one embodiment, announcement selector selects an announcement item from the plurality of announcement items based on other information, such as item publication time, announcement priority or announcement item type. 
     In one embodiment, an announcement item includes a title part. Title part includes an audio information. In one embodiment, announcer presents an announcement item by presenting the audio information in the title part before presenting the audio information in the summary part. In one embodiment, announcer presents the audio information in the title part more frequently than audio information in the summary part. 
     In one embodiment, an announcement package includes a postlude. A postlude includes audio information for a concluding message. In one embodiment, announcer presents postlude after presenting the plurality of announcement items. 
     In one embodiment, an announcement package is for local news, national news, corporate news, traffic report, weather report, sports update, governmental information, or financial report. In one embodiment, an announcement is for a state news item, a national news item or a world news item. In one embodiment, an announcement is for a local weather report, a national weather report, or a road conditions for local freeways. In one embodiment, an announcement is for a snow condition update for a ski resort, or a sports update. In one embodiment, an announcement is for a financial briefing, a stock quote, or a mortgage rate forecast. In one embodiment, an announcement is for a schedule update of a business conference, or a personal appointment reminder. In one embodiment, an announcement is for an advertisement, a product or service promotion. 
     In one embodiment, an announcement package is for top-10 popular songs. An announcement is for a song. In one embodiment, announcer receives an update for the announcement package once a week, twice a week, or every other day. Announcer updates the announcement package by adding or removing a song. In one embodiment, announcer determines the order of the songs for presentation. In one embodiment, announcer selects a song for presentation. 
     In one embodiment, an announcement package is for audio syndicated columns. An announcement is for an audio syndicated column. In one embodiment, an announcement package is for audio book reviews, audio interviews, such as political, cultural, or spiritual interviews. In one embodiment, an announcement package is for weekly city council meetings. In one embodiment, an announcement package is for religious sermons. 
     In one embodiment, an announcer can be included in a telephone. In one embodiment, the telephone includes a graphical display screen and an announcement package includes information for audio-video announcements. The telephone presents the announcement package by sending audio signals to the telephone speaker, and video signals to the graphical display screen. 
     In one embodiment, an announcer can be included in a personal computer, a personal data assistance (PDA), a smartphone or a television. 
     Foregoing described embodiments of the invention are provided as illustrations and descriptions. They are not intended to limit the invention to precise form described. In particular, it is contemplated that functional implementation of invention described herein may be implemented equivalently in hardware, software, firmware, and/or other available functional components or building blocks, and that networks may be wired, wireless, or a combination of wired and wireless. Other variations and embodiments are possible in light of above teachings, and it is thus intended that the scope of invention not be limited by this Detailed Description, but rather by Claims following.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7