Patent ID: 7426539

Claim:
A method of computer network data transfer, the method comprising: determining an update data subset relating to a data object operative in a three-dimensional virtual environment maintained by an owning network user in a multiple user network application shared data space, such that the update data subset specifies a corresponding set of data fields that is less than or equal to a full data update for the data object, wherein the determination is performed by an updating user who maintains a local copy corresponding to the data object; sending a network data update request message to the owning network user from the updating user maintaining a local copy corresponding to the data object, the network data update request message requesting the determined update data subset from the owning network user; and receiving update data from the owning network user for the data object comprising the set of data fields as determined by the updating user, wherein determining the update data subset comprises determining an available network bandwidth associated with the updating user; and wherein the corresponding set of data fields, which is less than or equal to the full data update for the data object, is dynamically specified in accordance with the determined available bandwidth selected by the updating user.