Method and apparatus for annotating media streams

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing an executable program for distributing an annotated media stream created by a first user, where the program performs steps of:

• selecting a media stream under instruction from the first user, wherein the media stream is associated with an index of one or more segment identifiers that are associated with one or more segments of the media stream;
• selecting at least one item of supplemental content under instruction from the first user;
• mapping the at least one item of supplemental content to at least one of the one or more segment identifiers, such that the media stream remains substantially unaltered, wherein the mapping is performed under instruction of the first user to produce a mapping;
• storing the media stream and the mapping;
• receiving a first request from a second user, different from the first user, to view the media stream;
• distributing the media stream and the mapping over a network to a first display device operated by the second user, wherein the media stream and the mapping produce the annotated media stream when utilized together, such that the at least one item of supplemental content and a segment of the one or more segments of the media stream indicated by the one or more segment identifiers are displayed simultaneously in a time-synchronized manner such that the at least one item of supplemental content relates to a localized context specific to the segment, wherein the at least one item of supplemental content and the segment are displayed in separate, non-overlapping viewing panes;
• separating the at least one item of supplemental content from the media stream;
• sending the at least one item of supplemental content, independent of the media stream, to a second display device operated by the second user for later viewing without requiring an input from the second user or from the second display device;
• collecting a commission when the annotated media stream is viewed by the second user;
• providing a first portion of the commission to the first user, wherein an amount of the first portion of the commission is calculated, at least in part, based on a number of times the annotated media stream has been viewed;
• and
• providing a second portion of the commission to one or more individuals who selected the at least one item of supplemental content for mapping, wherein an allocation of the second portion of the commission among the one or more individuals is dictated by the one or more individuals.

System for distributing an annotated media stream created by a first user, comprising:

• a first user device for selecting a media stream and at least one item of supplemental content under instruction from the first user, wherein the media stream is associated with an index of one or more segment identifiers that are associated with one or more segments of the media stream, and wherein the first user device is also for mapping the at least one item of supplemental content to at least one of the one or more segment identifiers, such that the media stream remains substantially unaltered, wherein the mapping is performed under instruction of the first user to produce a mapping;
• a server for storing the media stream and the mapping, the server being further configured for receiving a first request from a second user device, different from the first user device, to view the media stream and for distributing the media stream and the mapping to the second user device over a network, wherein the media stream and the mapping produce the annotated media stream when utilized together, such that the at least one item of supplemental content and a segment of the one or more segments of the media stream indicated by the one or more segment identifiers are displayed simultaneously in a time-synchronized manner such that the at least one item of supplemental content relates to a localized context specific to the segment, where the at least one item of supplemental content and the segment are displayed in separate, non-overlapping viewing panes, the server being further configured for separating the at least one item of supplemental content from the media stream and sending the at least one item of supplemental content, independent of the media stream, to a third user device different from the first user device and the second user device without requiring a user input or a signal from the third user device and wherein the server is also for collecting a commission when the annotated media stream is viewed on the second user device and for providing a first portion of the commission to the first user and a second portion of the commission to one or more individuals who selected the at least one item of supplemental content for mapping, wherein an amount of the first portion of the commission is calculated based at least in part on a number of times the annotated media stream has been viewed, and an allocation of the second portion of the commission among the one or more individuals is dictated by the one or more individuals.

A method for distributing an annotated media stream created by a first user, comprising:

• selecting a media stream under instruction from the first user, wherein the media stream is associated with an index of one or more segment identifiers that are associated with one or more segments of the media stream;
• selecting at least one item of supplemental content under instruction from the first user;
• mapping the at least one item of supplemental content to at least one of the one or more segment identifiers, such that the media stream remains substantially unaltered, wherein the mapping is performed under instruction of the first user to produce a mapping;
• distributing the media stream and the mapping to a first display device operated by a second user, different from the first user, wherein the media stream and the mapping produce the annotated media stream when utilized together, wherein the distributing comprises displaying the at least one item of supplemental content and at least a portion of the media stream in a simultaneous, time-synchronized manner such that the at least one item of supplemental content relates to a localized context specific to the segment, wherein the at least one item of supplemental content and a segment of the one or more segments of the media stream indicated by the one or more segment identifiers are displayed in separate, non-overlapping viewing panes;
• separating the at least one item of supplemental content from the media stream;
• sending the at least one item of supplemental content, independent of the media stream, to a second display device operated by the second user for later viewing without requiring an input from the second user or from the second display device;
• collecting a commission when the annotated media stream is viewed by the second user;
• providing a first portion of the commission to the first user, wherein an amount of the first portion of the commission is calculated, at least in part, based on a number of times the annotated media stream has been viewed;
• and
• providing a second portion of the commission to one or more individuals who selected the at least one item of supplemental content for mapping, wherein an allocation of the second portion of the commission among the one or more individuals is dictated by the one or more individuals.

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing an executable program for distributing an annotated media stream created by a first user, where the program performs steps of:

• selecting a media stream under instruction from the first user, wherein the media stream is associated with an index of one or more segment identifiers that are associated with one or more segments of the media stream;
• selecting at least one item of supplemental content under instruction from the first user;
• mapping the at least one item of supplemental content to at least one of the one or more segment identifiers, such that the media stream remains substantially unaltered, wherein the mapping is performed under instruction of the first user to produce a mapping;
• distributing the media stream and the mapping to a first display device operated by a second user, different from the first user, wherein the media stream and the mapping produce the annotated media stream when utilized together, wherein the distributing comprises displaying the at least one item of supplemental content and at least a portion of the media stream in a simultaneous, time-synchronized manner such that the at least one item of supplemental content relates to a localized context specific to the segment, wherein the at least one item of supplemental content and a segment of the one or more segments of the media stream indicated by the one or more segment identifiers are displayed in separate, non-overlapping viewing panes;
• separating the at least one item of supplemental content from the media stream;
• and
• sending the at least one item of supplemental content, independent of the media stream, to a second display device operated by the second user for later viewing without requiring an input from the second user or from the second display device;
• collecting a commission when the annotated media stream is viewed by the second user;
• providing a first portion of the commission to the first user, wherein an amount of the first portion of the commission is calculated, at least in part, based on a number of times the annotated media stream has been viewed;
• and
• providing a second portion of the commission to one or more individuals who selected the at least one item of supplemental content for mapping, wherein an allocation of the second portion of the commission among the one or more individuals is dictated by the one or more individuals.

System for distributing an annotated media stream created by a first user, comprising:

• a first user device for selecting a media stream and at least one item of supplemental content under instruction from the first user, wherein the media stream is associated with an index of one or more segment identifiers that are associated with one or more segments of the media stream, and wherein the first user device is also for mapping the at least one item of supplemental content to at least one of the one or more segment identifiers, such that the media stream remains substantially unaltered, wherein the mapping is performed under instruction of the first user to produce the annotated media stream;
• and
• a server for distributing the media stream and the mapping to a second user device, different from the first user device, wherein the media stream and the mapping produce the annotated media stream when utilized together, wherein the distributing comprises displaying the at least one item of supplemental content and at least a portion of the media stream in a simultaneous, time-synchronized manner such that the at least one item of supplemental content relates to a localized context specific to the segment, wherein the at least one item of supplemental content and a segment of the one or more segments of the media stream indicated by the one or more segment identifiers are displayed in separate, non-overlapping viewing panes, the server being further configured for separating the at least one item of supplemental content from the media stream and sending the at least one item of supplemental content, independent of the media stream, to a third user device different from the first user device and the second user device without requiring an input from the second user or from the third user device, and wherein the server is also for collecting a commission when the annotated media stream is viewed on the second user device and for providing a first portion of the commission to the first user and a second portion of the commission to one or more individuals who selected the at least one item of supplemental content for mapping, wherein an amount of the first portion of the commission is calculated based at least in part on a number of times the annotated media stream has been viewed, and an allocation of the second portion of the commission among the one or more individuals is dictated by the one or more individuals.