Patent ID: 8009962

Claim:
An apparatus to process an audio/video program, comprising: a processing unit; and a memory connected to the processing unit and including a preferences module configured to coordinate specification, by a first user, of multiple, first presentation settings with respective ones of multiple, first portions of said audio/video program and with a first attribute of said first user, wherein said preferences module is configured to receive input by said first user at different times during an initial playback session of said audio/video program for said first user, and said preferences module is configured to synchronize said first presentation settings with respective ones of said first portions of said audio/video program according to said different times when said input by said first user is received during said initial playback session of said audio/video program for said first user, and coordinate specification, by a second user, of multiple, second presentation settings with respective ones of multiple, second portions of said audio/video program and with a second attribute of said second user, wherein said preferences module is configured to receive input by said second user at different times during an initial playback session of said audio/video program for said second user, and said preferences module is configured to synchronize said second presentation settings with respective ones of said second portions of said audio/video program according to said different times when said input by said second user is received during said initial playback session of said audio/vide program for said second user; and a presentation module coupled to said preferences module, said presentation module being configured to, during a subsequent playback session of said audio/video program for said first user, based on said first attribute of said first user, retrieve said first presentation settings for said first user, and selectively apply said first presentation settings to respective ones of said first portions of said audio/video program, such that said first presentation settings remain synchronized with respective ones of said first portions of said audio/video program during said subsequent playback session for said first user, and during a subsequent playback session of said audio/video program for said second user, based on said second attribute of said second user, retrieve said second presentation settings for said second user, and selectively apply said second presentation settings to respective ones of said second portions of said audio/video program, such that said second presentation settings remain synchronized with respective ones of said second portions of said audio/video program during said subsequent playback session for said second user.