Media platform for adding synchronized content to media with a duration

Abstract

A video authoring system has an authoring computing device that generates a visual synchronization layout, via a graphical user interface without user-based inputting of computer executable code, for a video with a time duration and for content to be added to the video at one or more time-based positions within the video. The video authoring system also has a processor, in operable communication with the authoring computing device, that sends data associated with the visual synchronization layout to a remote server that automatically generates a manifest based on the data associated with the visual synchronization layout. The manifest is computer executable code that is executed by a media player at a computing device so that the media player plays the video in synchronization with the content.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 receive, at a content server from an author computing device, content synchronization data that synchronizes rendering of user-generated content at a predetermined time during playback of a video and at a predetermined position within the video;   receive, at the content server from a media player, a request to perform the playback of the video;   in response to said receiving of the request, automatically generate, at the content server, a manifest according to the content synchronization data; and   send the video, the user-generated content, and the manifest to the media player, the manifest being configured to be executed by the media player to perform the synchronized rendering of the user-generated content during the playback of the video.   
     
     
         2 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the user-generated content is a website link to a product website that displays data associated with a product that appears in the video. 
     
     
         3 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the user-generated content is a link to a social media platform that displays data associated with the video. 
     
     
         4 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the user-generated content is a question associated with the video. 
     
     
         5 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the user-generated content is an image. 
     
     
         6 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the user-generated content is text. 
     
     
         7 . The computer program product of  claim 1 , wherein the content synchronization data is generated via a graphical user interface having a visual timeline slider that is slid to the predetermined time in the video. 
     
     
         8 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable device having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 render, at an author computing device, a graphical user interface that displays a video, displays user-generated content, and a visual timeline slider, the visual timeline slider being slide to a plurality of different times corresponding to the video;   capture, at the author computing device, a movement of the visual timeline slider to a predetermined time in the video, the predetermined time being indicative of a time at which the user-generated content is to be rendered during playback of the video;   generate, with the authoring computing device, content synchronization data that synchronizes rendering of the user-generated content at the predetermined time during the playback of the video and at a predetermined position within the video; and   send, from the author computing device, the content synchronization data to a content server, the content synchronization data being configured to be executed by a media player that is in operable communication with the server such that the synchronized rendering of the user-generated content is performed during the playback of the video.   
     
     
         9 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the computer is further caused to capture, at the author computing device, the predetermined position within the video. 
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the user-generated content is a website link to a product website that displays data associated with a product that appears in the video. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the user-generated content is a link to a social media platform that displays data associated with the video. 
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the user-generated content is a question associated with the video. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the user-generated content is an image. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the user-generated content is text. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 8 , wherein the content synchronization data is generated via a graphical user interface having a visual timeline slider that is slid to the predetermined time in the video. 
     
     
         16 . A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable device having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
 request, at a media player preprogrammed to be linked to a content server, a video from the content server, the media player being implemented on a client computing device that is remotely situated from the content server;   receive, at a media player implemented on a client computing device from a content server, a manifest, a video, and user-generated content, the manifest comprising content synchronization data synchronizing rendering of the user-generated content at a predetermined time during playback of the video and at a predetermined position within the video;   perform, with a processor, playback of the video at the media player; and   upon the playback of the video reaching the predetermined time, render the user-generated content at the predetermined position within the video.   
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the user-generated content is a website link to a product website that displays data associated with a product that appears in the video. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the user-generated content is a link to a social media platform that displays data associated with the video. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the user-generated content is a question associated with the video. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , wherein the user-generated content is an image.