Patent ID: 7260539

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of rendering a talking head on a client device, wherein the client device has a client cache capable of storing audio/visual data associated with rendering the talking head, the method comprising: A. establishing a network connection between a client device and a server, and soon thereafter storing sentences from the server in a client cache of the client device that relate to bridging delays in a dialog; B. storing templates to be used in dialogs; C. generating a talking head response to a user inquiry from a client device; D. determining whether sentences or stored templates stored in the client cache relate to the talking head response; E. if stored sentences or stored templates relate to the talking head response: 1. instructing the client device to use the appropriate sentence or stored template from the client cache to render at least a part of the talking head response; and 2. transmitting a portion of the talking head response not stored in the client cache, if any, to the client device to render a complete talking head response; F. if the client cache has no stored data associated with the talking head response: 1. transmitting the talking head response to be rendered on the client device; and G. rendering the talking head response on the client device.