Tout Industries, Inc.

Tout Inc.

John P McIntire

David W J Stringer-Calvert

Michael Downing

A method for creating a compound media stream includes obtaining a first media segment, obtaining a first matching criterion, and automatically associating the first media segment with an existing media stream to produce the compound media stream.

Method and apparatus for automatically associating media segments with broadcast media streams

In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for selecting related content for display in conjunction with a media. One embodiment of a method for selecting related content for display in conjunction with a media, where the media includes a primary media and a secondary media that is time-synchronized with the primary media, includes retrieving one or more items of metadata associated with the media, selecting at least one item of related content based on the metadata, and displaying the related content substantially simultaneously with display of the media.

Method and apparatus for selecting related content for display in conjunction with a media

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).

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

John P McIntire