Abstract: A system for generating an output multimedia stream user multimedia streams each comprising partially- or fully-animated images that track the movement, orientation, and facial expression of respective users, a non-user multimedia stream (e.g., television broadcast), graphic elements, and video and audio effects. The system includes a multiplexer that generates a multiplexed stream from a plurality of user multimedia streams, a selector for selecting one or more user multimedia stream from the multiplexed stream, a multimedia director device for generating the output multimedia stream from the selected streams, non-user multimedia stream, and added graphics and video effects. The output multimedia stream may be sent to the user devices for generating an interactive experience, such as an online gaming experience. These systems may be organized in a hierarchical manner, whereby regional systems provide multimedia streams to a central system that generates an output stream from the regional streams.

Abstract: An image processing system and related method for simultaneously generating a plurality of partially- or fully-animated images on a display that substantially track the movements, changes in orientations, and changes in facial expressions of a corresponding plurality of face images captured by an image capturing device, such as a camera or video recorder. The image processing system includes graphic tools to allow a user to create the partially- or fully animated pictures on the display. Additionally, the image processing system has the capability of generating a video clip or file of the plurality of partially- or fully-animated images for storing locally or remotely, or uploading to a website. Further, the image processing system has the capability of transmitting and receiving information related to the partially- or fully-animated images in a video instant messaging or conferencing session.