Importance

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Abstract

A video entertainment system includes a video display device and a user interface unit connected for operation in conjunction with the video display device to receive a television image and to display the television image on the video display device. The system also includes a remote control handset having viewer-actuable controls. The remote control handset sends commands to the user interface unit in response to actuation of the viewer-actuable controls. The user interface unit has a graphics overlay component which is programmable to display entertainment images on the video display device overlying the received television image. The user interface unit has a viewer participation program that a viewer can initiate with the remote control handset. The viewer participation program allows the viewer to use the remote control handset to draw, 'drop,' or 'throw' designs or pre-rendered graphics on top of the television image. Further aspects of the invention include the ability to attach a pre-rendered image to a moving point within a television image so that the pre-rendered image moves with the moving point. Using this capability, the viewer can attach, for example, a hat to someone's head, and the hat will stay on the person's head regardless of the person's movement within the television frame.

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First Claim