US 2,007,250,901 · Filed 2007-03-30

The Patent for Adding Interactive Overlays to Videos

Imagine you're watching a video and the creator has embedded clickable links, product info, or extra content that pops up at specific moments. This patent covers the system for layering that supplemental material onto a video stream and letting creators earn money when viewers interact with it.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a method for taking a media stream (like a video) and mapping supplemental content—such as hyperlinks, product information, or other data—to specific portions of that stream to create an annotated version. It also protects the distribution system: receiving the annotated stream from a creator, storing it, and delivering it to viewers. Additionally, the patent covers collecting a commission or payment when viewers watch or interact with the annotations, such as clicking a hyperlink or completing a transaction.

Why it matters

This patent addresses a core monetization problem in digital media: how creators can overlay interactive content and sponsored material into videos while tracking viewer engagement and generating revenue. The ability to map supplemental content to precise moments in a video and collect commissions on viewer action is foundational to modern interactive video platforms and sponsorship models.

Real-world use

Every YouTube video with a pinned comment, product link card, or clickable annotation that appears at a specific timestamp is touching the mechanics this patent describes.

Original USPTO abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for annotating media streams. One embodiment of a method for facilitating creation of an annotated media stream by a user includes receiving the media stream from the user, mapping at least one item of supplemental content to at least a portion of the media stream to produce the annotated media stream, and storing the annotated media stream. In another embodiment, a method for distributing an annotated media stream provided by a user includes receiving the annotated media stream from the user, where the annotated media stream includes at least one item of supplemental content mapped to at least a portion of a media stream to produce the annotated media stream, storing the annotated media stream, receiving a request from a viewer to view the annotated media stream, and distributing the annotated media stream to the viewer. In another embodiment, a method for distributing an annotated media stream provided by a user includes distributing the annotated media stream to a viewer, where the annotated media stream includes at least one item of supplemental content mapped to at least a portion of a media stream to produce the annotated media stream, and collecting a commission when the annotated media stream is viewed by the viewer. In one embodiment, the collecting requires further action on a part of the viewer (such as selection of a hyperlink contained in the at least one item of supplemental content or consummation of a commercial transaction).

Patent details

Publication number: US 2,007,250,901
Filing date: 2007-03-30
Grant date: Application — not yet granted
Assignee: Mcintire John P / Stringer-Calvert David W J
Inventor(s): MCINTIRE JOHN P., STRINGER-CALVERT DAVID W.J.
CPC class: G01S13/878

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