Method and system for delivering podcasts to communication devices

A system for communicating audio content from one or more web sites to one or more communication devices, the system comprising:

• an account for a user, the account including a first telephone number, the first telephone number uniquely associated with the user, the account being directed to a customized account on a web site associated with an audio service for the user, the web site being coupled to the Internet;
• one or more media files on one or more mass storage devices coupled to the customized account on the web site for the user, each of the one or more media files being capable of distribution by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using one or more syndication feeds;
• a database schema characterized by one or more preferences for the user of the customized account, the database schema being coupled to the customized account for the audio service;
• wherein the system comprises one or more computer readable memories, the one or more computer readable memories including:
• one or more codes directed to receiving information associated with a second telephone number from a communication device, the second telephone number being associated with the audio service of the web site, the information being associated with the second telephone number through a circuit switched telephone network from the communication device, the second telephone number being associated with the audio process;
• one or more codes directed to forming a connection between the communication device and the audio service through the circuit switched telephone network;
• one or more codes directed to selecting one or more of the media files using the communication device;
• one or more codes directed to processing the one or more media files to convert the one or more media files from a first format to a second format;
• and
• one or more codes directed to transmitting the one or more media files in the second format through the telephone network.

A method for communicating audio content from one or more web sites to one or more communication devices, the method comprising:

• maintaining an account for a user, the account including a first telephone number, the first telephone number uniquely associated with the user, the account being directed to a customized account on a web site associated with an audio service for the user, the web site being coupled to the Internet;
• maintaining one or more media files on one or more mass storage devices coupled to the customized account for the user having the first telephone number on the web site for the user, each of the one or more media files being capable of distribution by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using one or more syndication feeds;
• maintaining a database schema characterized by one or more preferences for the user of the customized account, the database schema being coupled to the customized account for the audio service;
• inputting a second telephone number into a communication device from the user of the first telephone number or a non-registered user of a non-registered telephone number, the second telephone number being associated with the audio service of the web site;
• transferring information associated with the second telephone number through a circuit switched telephone network from the communication device, the second telephone number being associated with the audio process;
• forming a connection between the communication device of the user of the first telephone number or of the non-registered user of the non-registered telephone number and the audio service through the circuit switched telephone network;
• selecting one or more of the media files from the customized account using the communication device of the user or selecting one or more default media files for the non-registered user;
• processing the one or more media files to convert the one or more media files from a first format to a second format;
• transmitting the one or more media files in the second format through the telephone network;
• and
• outputting audio information associated with the one or more media files to the user using the communication device.

A method for communicating audio content from one or more web sites to one or more communication devices, the method comprising:

• inputting a telephone number into a communication device, the telephone number being associated with an audio session;
• transferring information associated with the telephone number through a circuit switched telephone network from the communication device, the telephone number being associated with the audio session;
• forming a connection between the communication device and the audio session through the circuit switched telephone network;
• selecting one or more of the media files using the communication device associated with the audio session;
• processing the one or more media files to convert the one or more media files from a first format to a second format;
• transmitting the one or more media files in the second format through the telephone network;
• outputting audio information associated with the one or more media files to the user using the communication device;
• terminating the audio session voluntarily or involuntarily;
• and
• determining a pause point associated with a time associated with a time when the audio session was terminated.

A database system comprising media files to be transmitted to one or more communication devices, the method comprising:

• a web interface coupled to the Internet;
• one or more mass storage devices coupled to the web interface;
• one or more media files provided on the one or more mass storage devices coupled to the web interface, each of the one or more media files being capable of distribution by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using one or more syndication feeds, each of the one or more media files being pre-processed to be transmitted over a circuit switched and/or packet switched network coupled to the Internet;
• and
• a plurality of database schema numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 10, each of the numbers being associated with a unique user from a plurality of users, the plurality of users being numbered respectively from 1 through N, each of the data schema being characterized by one or more preferences for the unique user.

A method for populating a database, the method comprising:

• providing one or more mass storage devices;
• providing one or more media files;
• processing the one or more media files, each of the one or more media files being capable of distribution by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using one or more syndication feeds, such that each of the one or more media files being capable of being transmitted over a circuit switched and/or packet switched network coupled to the Internet;
• and
• storing the one or more media files onto one or more portions of the one or more mass storage devices.