System and method for interactive video content programming

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for interacting with video by displaying one or more interface links associated with video content being displayed, pausing the video content when an interface link is interacted with, allowing the user to view ancillary content the interface link is linked to over a network, and unpausing the video content after the user elects to continue viewing the video content. In one or more embodiments, the ancillary content may permit e-commerce, display additional video or other images, and/or include links to additional ancillary content. The present invention also includes a method for creating an interactive video.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using an interactive video, the method comprising the steps of:
 displaying a video on a visual display, the video having at least one interface link associated therewith, the interface link adapted to be displayed on the visual display and being linked to ancillary content accessible over a network;   interacting with the interface link to access the ancillary content;   interrupting the display of the video at a point in time;   delivering the ancillary content to the visual display for interaction by a user; and   continuing the display of the video from the point in time where the display of the video was interrupted after the interaction by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying step includes streaming video over a network to the visual display. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interacting step includes interacting with an interface link that is embedded in the video. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interacting step includes overlaying the interface link on the video on the visual display. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interacting step includes interacting with the interface link originating from a separate feed from that of the video. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interacting step includes hiding the interface link from view on the display until interacted with by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying step includes displaying the interface link being at least a partially transparent graphic. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interacting step includes interacting with primary ancillary content having a link to secondary ancillary content. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said displaying step includes displaying an interface link that provides the appearance of moving across the screen of the visual display as the video is being played. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said interacting step includes the sub-step of conducting a commercial transaction with a user. 
     
     
         11 . A data structure for multiple categories of media content, the data structure comprising:
 a plurality of fields, at least a first one of said fields corresponding to any one of a plurality of different categories of media content, the category of media content corresponding to said first one of said fields being different from the category of media content corresponding to another one of said fields; and   a unique identifier associated with the data structure.   
     
     
         12 . The data structure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said fields corresponds to a selected category of metadata. 
     
     
         13 . The data structure of  claim 11 , wherein each field has a unique identifier and the media content has a unique identifier to facilitate association with the field identifier of the field corresponding to the category of the media content being associated therewith. 
     
     
         14 . The data structure of  claim 11 , wherein the media content has a unique identifier to facilitate association with the unique identifier of the data structure. 
     
     
         15 . The data structure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of said fields corresponds to a category of media assets. 
     
     
         16 . The data structure of  claim 11 , wherein the quantity and variety of fields present in the data structure are based on a selected category of at least one media asset to be associated with the data structure. 
     
     
         17 . A method for creating an item data structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating the item data structure having a number of undefined fields;   obtaining at least one media asset for association with the item data structure;   defining at least one of the fields based on a category of the at least one media asset to create at least one defined field;   associating an identifier with each defined field;   associating media content with each defined field; and   storing the item data structure in a database.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of selecting a category of media content for each defined field. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of selecting a category of metadata for at least one of the defined fields. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of associating a unique identifier with the item data structure for facilitating the organization of the item data structure in relation to other item data structures.