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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.

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First Claim