Patent ID: 7111045

Claim:
An image distribution system in a virtual space system composed of terminal apparatuses respectively provided at plural users and a server apparatus connected to the terminal apparatuses through a communication channel for constructing a virtual space for distributing an image among the terminal apparatuses, wherein each of the terminal apparatuses comprises: display means for displaying one of a first virtual area to show a condition of each of the plural users with respective images and text and a second virtual area to have a conference in a screen; image obtaining means for obtaining the respective images of the plural users; image compression means for compressing image data with a quantization coefficient, determining means for determining whether each of the respective images of the plural users obtained by said image obtaining means is arranged in the first virtual area or in the second virtual area; control means for controlling said image compression means to make compressed image data by compressing data of the respective images of the plural users with a first quantization coefficient in case that each of the respective images of the plural users obtained by said image obtaining means is arranged in the first virtual area or by compressing data of the respective images of the plural users with a second quantization coefficient smaller than the first quantization coefficient in case that the respective images of the plural users obtained by said image obtaining means is arranged in the second virtual area; and transmission means for transmitting the compressed image data of the respective images of the plural users to the server apparatus.