Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A groupware management system for collaborative groups is disclosed that is scalable to support large, dynamic, multiple, and other virtual VPNs. The system may introduce a graph (or hierarchical) structure to the VPN, providing multiple master nodes controlling membership in subsets of the collaborative group. Use of multiple master nodes in a graph-structured (or hierarchical) network topology often relaxes the need for a single, centralized, globally consistent view of VPN group membership, and enables distribution of the management burden among multiple master nodes. Membership in the VPN may be changed dynamically by the second master node for the member nodes of the second subset, without requiring the first master node to dynamically update its group membership records to reflect the change and in many cases without even having to notify the first master node (and vice versa), for example.

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.

Abstract: A scalable method and architecture for efficiently locating desired resources within a network containing a plurality of server nodes, each of which hosts or otherwise provides access to a subset of a global resource set. In one aspect of the invention, each of the server nodes are assigned membership in at least two sets, an “announce” set and a “request” set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deconstructing video into a hierarchical structure, distributing the deconstructed video and reconstructing the deconstructed video to form a video signal having characteristics that match the capabilities of a user device. The video stream may be deconstructed using a single dimension deconstruction or a multidimensional deconstruction.

Abstract: A scalable method and architecture for efficiently locating desired resources within a network containing a plurality of server nodes, each of which hosts or otherwise provides access to a subset of a global resource set. In one aspect of the invention, each of the server nodes are assigned membership in at least two sets, an “announce” set and a “request” set.

Abstract: Client-transparent methods and apparatus are taught for compressing and transmitting requested network server data and uncompressing this data on client browsers. A network request for a file from a typical client specifies a list of acceptable encoding schemes. In response, the file is compressed using a substantially lossless encoding format or codes that is one of the acceptable encoding schemes listed. In some embodiments, compression is performed dynamically in response to requests. A particular content delivery server may be chosen to handle each network request for a file at least partly based upon one or more criteria indicating a relative quality of connectivity between the selected server and the requesting client. Compression is performed as a further element of a content delivery business service, and may be performed either dynamically or statically and in either a centralized or distributed manner.

Abstract: A groupware management system for collaborative groups is disclosed that is scalable to support large, dynamic, multiple, and other virtual VPNs. The system may introduce a graph (or hierarchical) structure to the VPN, providing multiple master nodes controlling membership in subsets of the collaborative group. Use of multiple master nodes in a graph-structured (or hierarchical) network topology often relaxes the need for a single, centralized, globally consistent view of VPN group membership, and enables distribution of the management burden among multiple master nodes. Membership in the VPN may be changed dynamically by the second master node for the member nodes of the second subset, without requiring the first master node to dynamically update its group membership records to reflect the change and in many cases without even having to notify the first master node (and vice versa), for example.