Patent ID: 8160919

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving, at a processor, data related to content; automatically estimating, at the processor, a first cost associated with producing a first audio version of the content using a first text-to-speech conversion process, wherein automatically estimating the first cost associated with producing the first audio version of the content includes estimating a cost of using a human to read the content; automatically estimating, at the processor, a first expected revenue amount from distribution of the first audio version of the content, wherein automatically estimating the first expected revenue amount from distribution of the first audio version of the content includes accounting for a reduction in a potential audience size as a result of a delay associated with using the human to read the content rather than using a computerized text-to-speech conversion process; and automatically determining, at the processor, whether to produce the first audio version of the content using the first text-to-speech conversion process based at least partially on whether the first expected revenue amount from distribution of the first audio version of the content exceeds the first cost associated with producing the first audio version of the content using the first text-to-speech conversion process.