Embedding Interactive Objects into a Video Session

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a media device, overlay data associated with media content. The overlay data includes information indicating a time and a position at which a particular object is represented within the media content, and the overlay data includes information associating the particular object with supplemental information. The method further includes, during playback of the media content, receiving user input at the media device, and, responsive to the user input, generating an overlay display based on the overlay data, where the overlay display causes the particular object to be highlighted in a display of the media content.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the processor to perform operations,   the operations comprising:
 receiving media content; 
 obtaining an overlay file that includes first overlay data for a first resolution of the media content and second overlay data for a second resolution of the media content, wherein the first overlay data comprises a first coordinate for an object and the second overlay data comprises a second coordinate for the object; 
 determining a resolution for a display communicatively coupled to the device resulting in a determined resolution; 
 selecting the first overlay data according to the determined resolution; and 
 providing the media content and first instructions to the display according to the first overlay data, wherein the display presents the media content on the display and presents the object according to the first coordinate of the first overlay data and the first instructions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the operations comprise receiving first user-generated input. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the operations comprise providing second instructions to the display according to the first user-generated input, wherein the display highlights the object according to the second instructions. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the operations comprise receiving second user-generated input. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the operations comprise providing third instructions to the display according to the second user-generated input, wherein the display presents a menu of user actions according to the third instructions. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the user actions comprise social network actions, sharing a portion of the media content, transmitting an advertisement regarding the media content, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the operations comprise providing object information to the display according to the second user-generated input, wherein the display presents the object information. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the receiving of the second user-generated input comprises:
 detecting a pointing device hovering at a particular location on the display for a time period; and   determining the time period is above a time threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the operations comprise providing fourth instructions to the display in response to receiving the second user-generated input, wherein the display pauses playback of the media content according to the fourth instructions. 
     
     
         10 . A machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving media content;   obtaining an overlay file that includes first overlay data for a first resolution of the media content and second overlay data for a second resolution of the media content, wherein the first overlay data comprises a first coordinate for an object and the second overlay data comprises a second coordinate for the object;   determining a resolution for a display communicatively coupled to the processing system resulting in a determined resolution;   selecting the first overlay data according to the determined resolution;   providing the media content and first instructions to the display according to the first overlay data, wherein the display presents the media content on the display and presents the object according to the first coordinate of the first overlay data and the first instructions; and   providing second instructions to the display in response to receiving first user-generated input, wherein the display highlights the object according to the second instructions.   
     
     
         11 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the operations comprise receiving second user-generated input. 
     
     
         12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise providing third instructions to the display according to the second user-generated input, wherein the display presents a menu of user actions according to the third instructions. 
     
     
         13 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the user actions comprise social network actions, sharing a portion of the media content, transmitting an advertisement regarding the media content, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise providing object information to the display according to the second user-generated input, wherein the display presents the object information. 
     
     
         15 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the receiving of the second user-generated input comprises:
 detecting a pointing device hovering at a particular location on the display for a time period; and   determining the time period is above a time threshold.   
     
     
         16 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the operations comprise providing fourth instructions to the display in response to receiving the second user-generated input, wherein the display pauses playback of the media content according to the fourth instructions. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a processing system including a processor, media content;   obtaining, by the processing system, an overlay file that includes first overlay data for a first resolution of the media content and second overlay data for a second resolution of the media content, wherein the first overlay data comprises a first coordinate for an object and the second overlay data comprises a second coordinate for the object;   determining, by the processing system, a resolution for a display communicatively coupled to the processing system, resulting in a determined resolution;   selecting, by the processing system, the first overlay data according to the determined resolution;   providing, by the processing system, the media content and first instructions to the display according to the first overlay data, wherein the display presents the media content on the display and presents the object according to the first coordinate of the first overlay data and the first instructions; and   providing, by the processing system, second instructions to the display in response to receiving first user-generated input, wherein the display presents a menu of user actions according to the second instructions.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the user actions comprise social network actions, sharing a portion of the media content, transmitting an advertisement regarding the media content, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising providing, by the processing system, object information to the display according to the first user-generated input, wherein the display presents the object information. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving of the first user-generated input comprises:
 detecting, by the processing system, a pointing device hovering at a particular location on the display for a time period; and   determining, by the processing system, the time period is above a time threshold.