Apparatus and method of data transfer

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention provides a method of transferring real-time multimedia data in a virtual environment between a plurality of entertainment devices each having a peer-to-peer communication device operable to transmit data to and receive data from other entertainment devices. Each entertainment device has an associated avatar within the virtual environment, and each entertainment device has a corresponding client index. The method includes generating, at a first one of the entertainment devices, a target list of client indices associated with entertainment devices to which the real-time multimedia data should be forwarded and dividing, at the first one of the entertainment devices, the target list into a first subset of entertainment devices and a second subset of entertainment devices. The method further includes allocating, at the first one of the entertainment devices, the client index for each entertainment device in the second subset to an entertainment device in the first subset, and transmitting, from the first one of the plurality of entertainment devices to each entertainment device in the first subset, the real-time multimedia data together with the respective client indices from the second subset allocated to the respective entertainment devices. The target list is generated in dependence upon attribute data associated with each entertainment device, and the attribute data comprises data indicating whether the avatar associated with each entertainment device is within a predetermined area within the virtual environment.

1 . A method of transferring real-time multimedia data in a virtual environment between a plurality of entertainment devices each having a peer-to-peer communication device operable to transmit data to and receive data from other entertainment devices, each entertainment device having an associated avatar within the virtual environment, and each entertainment device having a corresponding client index, the method comprising the steps of: generating, at a first one of the entertainment devices, a target list of client indices associated with entertainment devices to which the real-time multimedia data should be forwarded; dividing, at the first one of the entertainment devices, the target list into a first subset of entertainment devices and a second subset of entertainment devices; allocating, at the first one of the entertainment devices, the client index for each entertainment device in the second subset to an entertainment device in the first subset; and transmitting, from the first one of the plurality of entertainment devices to each entertainment device in the first subset, the real-time multimedia data together with the respective client indices from the second subset allocated to the respective entertainment devices, in which: the target list is generated in dependence upon attribute data associated with each entertainment device; and the attribute data comprises data indicating whether the avatar associated with each entertainment device is within a predetermined area within the virtual environment. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which, for each of the entertainment devices that receives the real-time multimedia data together with the respective client indices from the second subset allocated to that entertainment device, the method comprises: dividing the received client indices into a third subset of entertainment devices and a fourth subset of entertainment devices; allocating the client index for each entertainment device in the fourth subset to an entertainment device in the third subset; and transmitting, to each entertainment device in the third subset, the real-time multimedia data together with the respective client indices from the fourth subset allocated to the respective entertainment devices. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the predetermined area is defined with respect to the avatar associated with the first one of the entertainment devices. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the attribute data comprises data indicating whether a user of that entertainment device wishes their entertainment device to receive the real-time multimedia data. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which there is a predetermined number of entertainment devices on the target list that can be accommodated in the first subset, and if the number of entertainment devices on the target list is less than the predetermined maximum number, all the entertainment devices in the target list are placed in the first subset. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the multimedia data comprises audio data and/or video data. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , in which the audio data comprises speech data. 
     
     
         8 . A method of transferring real-time multimedia data in a virtual environment between a plurality of entertainment devices each having a peer-to-peer communication device operable to transmit data to and receive data from other entertainment devices, each entertainment device having an associated avatar within the virtual environment, and each entertainment device having a corresponding client index, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a first one of the entertainment devices, the real-time multimedia data together with a target list of client indices associated with entertainment devices to which the real-time multimedia data should be forwarded; dividing, at a second one of the entertainment devices, the target list into a first subset of entertainment devices and a second subset of entertainment devices; allocating, at the second one of the entertainment devices, the client index for each entertainment device in the second subset to an entertainment device in the first subset; and transmitting, from the second one of the entertainment devices to each entertainment device in the first subset, the real-time multimedia data together with the respective client indices from the second subset allocated to the respective entertainment devices, in which: the target list is generated in dependence upon attribute data associated with each entertainment device; and the attribute data comprises data indicating whether the avatar associated with each entertainment device is within a predetermined area within the virtual environment. 
     
     
         9 . A method of transferring real-time multimedia data between a plurality of entertainment devices each having a peer-to-peer communication means for transmitting data to and receiving data from another one of the plurality of entertainment devices via a peer-to-peer communication link, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, via the peer-to-peer communication means and at a first one of the plurality of entertainment devices, the real-time multimedia data from a second one of the plurality of entertainment devices which originates the data; selecting, at the first one of the plurality of entertainment devices, which of the plurality of entertainment devices to poll; polling the selected entertainment devices so as to detect which of the other entertainment devices have received the real-time multimedia data, the polling of the selected entertainment devices being carried out by the first one of the plurality of entertainment devices; and transmitting from the first one of the plurality of entertainment devices the real-time multimedia data received via the peer-to-peer communication means to those entertainment devices that are detected as not having received the real-time multimedia data. 
     
     
         10 . A data carrier comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An entertainment device operable to transmit real-time multimedia data in a virtual environment to a plurality of entertainment devices each having a peer-to-peer communication device operable to for transmit data to and receive data from other entertainment devices, each entertainment device having an associated avatar within the virtual environment, and each entertainment device having a corresponding client index, the entertainment device comprising:
 a processor operable to: generate a target list of client indices associated with entertainment devices to which the real-time multimedia data should be transmitted; divide the target list into a first subset of entertainment devices and a second subset of entertainment devices; and allocate the client index for each entertainment device in the second subset to an entertainment device in the first subset; and a transmitter operable to transmit, to each entertainment device in the first subset, the real-time multimedia data together with the respective client indices from the second subset allocated to the respective entertainment devices, in which: the target list is generated in dependence upon attribute data associated with each entertainment device; and the attribute data comprises data indicating whether the avatar associated with each entertainment device is within a predetermined area within the virtual environment.   
     
     
         12 . An entertainment device operable to transmit real-time multimedia data in a virtual environment to a plurality of entertainment devices each having a peer-to-peer communication device operable to transmit data to and receive data from other entertainment devices, each entertainment device having an associated avatar within the virtual environment, and each entertainment device having a corresponding client index, the entertainment device comprising: a receiver operable to receive, from a first one of the entertainment devices, the real-time multimedia data together with a target list of client indices associated with entertainment devices to which the real-time multimedia data should be transmitted; a processor operable to: divide the target list into a first subset of entertainment devices and a second subset of entertainment devices; and allocate the client index for each entertainment device in the second subset to an entertainment device in the first subset; and a transmitter operable to transmit, to each entertainment device in the first subset, the real-time multimedia data together with the respective client indices from the second subset allocated to the respective entertainment devices, in which: the target list is generated in dependence upon attribute data associated with each entertainment device; and the attribute data comprises data indicating whether the avatar associated with each entertainment device is within a predetermined area within the virtual environment.