Multimedia communications system and method for providing audio on demand to subscribers

A method of receiving a digital encoded audio data files for use on a client networked device coupled with one or more remote computers delivering digital encoded audio data file and related metadata via a communications network, said related metadata is synchronized to said digital encoded audio data, the method comprising:

• displaying on the client networked device a unique file identifier used to access:
• (a) a location or address where the digital encoded audio data file is stored in a memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers, and
• (b) a location or address where the related metadata is stored in a memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers;
• receiving a selection of the displayed unique file identifier used to access a location or address where the digital encoded audio data file is stored and used to access a location or address where the related metadata is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers in response to using an input device coupled with the client networked device;
• generating on the client networked device, as a result of the receiving of the selection of the displayed unique file identifier, a request to the one or more remote computers via the communications network to receive the digital encoded audio file and related metadata from said location or address where the digital encoded audio data file is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers and from said location or address where the related metadata is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers;
• receiving by the client networked device, as a result of the generated request, via the communications network:
• (a) the digital encoded audio data file from said location or address where the digital encoded audio data file is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers, and (b) the related metadata from said location or address where the related metadata is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers;
• storing at least a portion of the digital encoded audio data file and related metadata respectively into a first and second data buffer;
• decoding at least a portion of the stored digital encoded audio data file and rendering at least a portion of the decoded stored digital encoded audio data file on the client networked device during the receiving of the digital encoded audio data file from said location or address where the digital encoded audio data file is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers.

A computer readable medium having instructions for use in a single media player application, the instructions when executed by a processor in a client networked device, for receiving digital encoded audio data and related metadata via a communication network, said related metadata is synchronized to said digital encoded audio data, the client networked device comprising:

• displaying on the client networked device a unique file identifier related to one or more locations or addresses where digital encoded audio data and related metadata are stored in a memory storage device coupled with one or more remote computers;
• receiving a selection of the displayed unique file identifier related to the one or more locations or addresses where the digital encoded audio data and related metadata are stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers, the selection received via an input device coupled with the client networked device;
• generating on the client networked device, as a result of the receipt of the selection of the displayed unique file identifier, a request to at least one of the remote computers via a communications network to receive digital encoded audio and related metadata from said one or more locations or addresses where the digital encoded audio data and related metadata is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers;
• receiving by the client networked device, as a result of the generated request and via the communications network, the digital encoded audio data and related metadata from said one or more locations or addresses in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers;
• and
• storing at least a portion of the received digital encoded audio data and related metadata respectively into a first and second data buffer;
• and
• decoding at least a portion of the stored digital encoded audio data and rendering at least a portion of the decoded and stored digital encoded audio data and related metadata on the client networked device during the receiving of the digital encoded audio data from said one or more locations or addresses where the digital encoded audio data is stored in the memory storage device coupled with the one or more remote computers.