Dynamic audio file generation

Abstract

A method includes generating a dynamic audio file configured to be added to a conventional media library as a static asset, but including dynamic primary content. Generating the file includes inserting audio content formatted for processing and playout by conventional media players. The audio content includes an audible preamble at a beginning of the audio content, and primary content. Generating the file also includes inserting a tag associated with the dynamic portion of the primary content and a content start indicator. The tag specifies a source address used by an updater application to retrieve updated primary audio content. The content start indicator specifies a starting point of the primary content within the dynamic audio file, and is used by the updater application to strip the audible preamble from the dynamic audio file during the update process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 generating a dynamic audio file configured to be added to a conventional media library as a static asset, but including dynamic primary content, the generating including;
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, audio content formatted for processing and playout by one or more conventional media players, the audio content including:
 an audible preamble at a beginning of the audio content; 
 primary content; 
 
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, at least one tag associated with at least one dynamic portion of the primary content, the at least one tag specifying a source address used by an updater application to retrieve, during update of the dynamic audio file, updated primary audio content to replace the primary content; and 
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, a content start indicator specifying a starting point of the primary content within the dynamic audio file, the content start indicator used by the updater application to strip the audible preamble from the dynamic audio file during update of the dynamic audio file. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the audible preamble includes instructions for downloading the updater application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the source address includes:
 a uniform resource locator (URL) specifying a publicly available address.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying an alternate source address used by the updater application to retrieve updated primary audio content if the updated primary audio content is unavailable at the source address.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying a maximum time the updater application is permitted to shift a request to update the dynamic audio file.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the content start indicator designates an offset measured from the beginning of the audio content. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying an update time associated with the primary content.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying an update frequency associated with the primary content.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 sending, to a user computer with updater application thereon, a dynamic audio file including initial audio content formatted for processing and playout by one or more conventional media players, the initial audio content including:
 an audible preamble positioned at a beginning of the initial audio content; 
 primary content; 
 at least one tag associated with at least one dynamic portion of the primary content, the at least one tag specifying a source address; 
 a content start indicator specifying a starting point of the primary content within the dynamic audio file; 
   receiving a request from the updater application for updated primary audio content for the dynamic audio file, wherein the request includes the source address;   in response to receiving the request creating updated audio content by:
 obtaining updated primary audio content using the source address; 
 removing a portion of the initial audio content prior to the content start indicator, the portion of the initial audio content prior to the content start indicator corresponding to the audible preamble; and 
   sending the updated audio content to the user computer for enabling the updater application to replace the initial audio content with the updated audio content.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the audible preamble includes instructions for downloading the updater application. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the source address includes:
 a uniform resource locator (URL) specifying a publicly available address.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying a maximum time the updater application is permitted to delay updating the dynamic audio file.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the content start indicator designates an offset measured from the beginning of the initial audio content. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 inserting, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying an update time associated with the primary content.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions configured to be stored in a memory and executed by a processor, the program of instructions comprising:
 at least one instruction to generate a dynamic audio file configured to be added to a conventional media library as a static asset, but including dynamic primary content;   at least one instruction to insert, into the dynamic audio file, audio content formatted for processing and playout by one or more conventional media players, the audio content including:
 an audible preamble at a beginning of the audio content; 
 primary content; 
   at least one instruction to insert, into the dynamic audio file, at least one tag associated with at least one dynamic portion of the primary content, the at least one tag specifying a source address used by an updater application to retrieve, during update of the dynamic audio file, updated primary audio content to replace the primary content; and   at least one instruction to insert, into the dynamic audio file, a content start indicator specifying a starting point of the primary content within the dynamic audio file, the content start indicator used by the updater application to strip the audible preamble from the dynamic audio file during update of the dynamic audio file.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the audible preamble includes instructions for downloading the updater application. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the source address includes:
 a uniform resource locator (URL) specifying a publicly available address.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one instruction to insert, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying an alternate source address used by the updater application to retrieve updated primary audio content if the updated primary audio content is unavailable at the source address.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one instruction to insert, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying a maximum time the updater application is permitted to shift a request to update the dynamic audio file.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one instruction to insert, into the dynamic audio file, a tag specifying an update frequency associated with the primary content.