Method and Apparatus for Presenting Media Works

1 . A method of presenting a media work comprised of one or more media works at a client device, which method comprises:

receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source;

determining whether the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present a portion of the media work, and if so;

presenting the portion.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the client device receiving at least a portion of the media work from a remote source.

4 . The method of claim 3 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

6 . The method of claim 3 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

7 . A method of presenting a media work comprised of one or more media works at a client device, which method comprises:

receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source;

receiving user input requesting the client device to fast forward through a portion of the media work;

determining whether the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present the portion of the media work, and if so;

presenting the portion without fast forwarding.

8 . The method of claim 7 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

9 . The method of claim 7 further comprising the client device receiving at least a portion of the media work from a remote source.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

12 . The method of claim 9 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

13 . A method of presenting a media work comprised of one or more media works at a client device, which method comprises:

receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source;

receiving user input requesting the client device to skip a portion of the media work;

determining whether the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present the portion of the media work, and if so;

presenting the portion.

14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising the client device receiving at least a portion of the media work from a remote source.

16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

18 . The method of claim 15 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

19 . A method of presenting a media work comprised of one or more media works at a client device, which method comprises:

receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source;

receiving user input requesting the client device to fast forward through a portion of the media work;

determining whether the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present the portion of the media work, and if so;

determining a presentation rate for the portion; and

presenting the portion at the determined presentation rate.

20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

21 . The method of claim 19 further comprising the client device receiving at least a portion of the media work from a remote source.

22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

23 . The method of claim 22 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

24 . The method of claim 21 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

25 . A method of presenting a media work comprised of one or more media works at a client device, which method comprises:

receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source;

receiving user input pertaining to presentation rate of a portion of the media work;

determining whether the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present the portion of the media work, and if so;

presenting the portion without modifying the presentation rate in response to the user input.

26 . The method of claim 25 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

27 . The method of claim 25 further comprising the client device receiving at least a portion of the media work from a remote source.

28 . The method of claim 27 further comprising the client device storing the presentation rate guidance information.

29 . The method of claim 28 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

30 . The method of claim 27 further comprising the client device storing the media work.

31 . A method of controlling presentation of a media work comprised of one or more media works by a client device which is capable of presenting a media work in response to user input, which method comprises:

providing presentation rate guidance information; and

transmitting the presentation rate guidance information from a remote source to the client device, wherein:

at least a portion of the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present at least a portion of the media work.

32 . The method of claim 31 wherein the at least a portion of the presentation rate guidance information indicates that it is mandatory to present the at least a portion of the media work at a predetermined presentation rate.

33 . A client device that presents a media work comprised of one or more media works comprises:

a decoder adapted to receive presentation rate guidance information transmitted from a remote source, which decoder is further adapted to process the presentation rate guidance information and to output insistence information relating to one or more portions of the media work to a presentation apparatus; and

a user interaction interface apparatus adapted to receive user input regarding presentation of the media work and to transmit at least a portion of the user input to the presentation apparatus;

wherein the presentation apparatus is adapted to present the one or more portions if the insistence information indicates that it is mandatory to present the one or more portions even if the user input includes a request to skip the one or more portions.

34 . A method of presenting a media work comprised of one or more media works at a client device, which method comprises:

receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source;

receiving user input regarding presentation of the media work;

processing the presentation rate guidance information to determine insistence information relating to one or more portions of the media work; and

presenting the one or more portions if the insistence information indicates that it is mandatory to present the one or more portions even if the user input includes a request to skip the one or more portions.

35 . A client device that presents a media work comprised of one or more media works comprises:

a decoder adapted to receive presentation rate guidance information transmitted from a remote source, which decoder is further adapted to process the presentation rate guidance information and to output insistence information and presentation rates relating to one or more portions of the media work to a presentation apparatus;

a user interaction interface apparatus adapted to receive user input regarding presentation of the media work and to transmit at least a portion of the user input to the presentation apparatus;

wherein the presentation apparatus is adapted to present the one or more portions at the presentation rates if the insistence information indicates that it is mandatory to present the one or more portions at the presentation rates even if the user input includes a request to modify the presentation rates of the one or more portions.

36 . A method of presenting a media work comprised of one or more media works at a client device, which method comprises:

receiving presentation rate guidance information from a remote source;

receiving user input regarding presentation rate of a portion of the media work;

processing the presentation rate guidance information to determine insistence information and presentation rates relating to one or more portions of the media work; and

presenting the one or more portions at the presentation rates if the insistence information indicates that it is mandatory to present the one or more portions at the presentation rates even if the user input includes a request to modify the presentation rates of the one or more portions.

37 . A client device that presents a media work comprised of one or more media works comprises:

a decoder means for (a) obtaining presentation rate guidance information transmitted from a remote source, (b) processing the presentation rate guidance information to determine insistence information relating to one or more portions of the media work, and (c) providing the insistence information to a presentation apparatus;

a user interaction interface apparatus adapted to receive user input regarding presentation of the media work and to transmit at least a portion of the user input to the presentation apparatus;

wherein the presentation apparatus is adapted to present the one or more portions if the insistence information indicates that it is mandatory to present the one or more portions even if the user input includes a request to skip the one or more portions.

38 . A client device that presents a media work comprised of one or more media works comprises:

a decoder means for (a) obtaining presentation rate guidance information transmitted from a remote source, (b) processing the presentation rate guidance information to determine insistence information relating to one or more portions of the media work, and (c) providing the insistence information to a presentation apparatus;

a user interaction interface apparatus adapted to receive user input regarding presentation of the media work and to transmit at least a portion of the user input to the presentation apparatus;

wherein the presentation apparatus is adapted to present the one or more portions at the presentation rates if the insistence information indicates that it is mandatory to present the one or more portions at the presentation rates even if the user input includes a request to modify the presentation rates of the one or more portions.