Patent ID: 8359611

Claim:
A method, operable on a server, for providing access to advertising within a media stream, the method comprising: identifying descriptors to be embedded into at least one media stream and to be used for indexing a commercial among a plurality of commercials; creating an index of the descriptors; embedding the descriptors into at least one media stream to identify the commercial for indexing among a plurality of commercials and searching the index of the plurality of commercials, the descriptors being embedded within a blanking interval between a program and the commercial; receiving, at the server, a request for a commercial from a first user, the request including a keyword query; searching at least one stored media stream for commercials matching the request; presenting at least one commercial matching the request to the first user; responsive to selection of one commercial within the at least one commercial, delivering the selected commercial to a user; recording points earned by the first user for viewing the delivered commercial, wherein the delivered commercial is assigned points; receiving an assignment of points from the first user for at least a second user; and assigning the points to the second user.