Network conference system using limited bandwidth to generate locally animated displays

The method of generating a presentation on a plurality of participant computers from a host computer over a network using a limited bandwidth, comprising the steps of:

• downloading a data stream including text and animation control signals from said host to said participant computers over a network connection using a limited bandwidth, said animation control signals defining an animation sequence of display entities using a plurality of image files stored at the participant computers;
• generating animation on said participant computers by displaying information regarding said entities from said image files responsive to said animation control signals, wherein the bandwidth of the information from said image files exceeds that of the animation control signals in said data stream;
• generating audible speech on said participant computers responsive to said text;
• and
• generating additional animation of said entities on said participant computers responsive to said text.

A method of enabling two or more participant computers to communicate over a network using a limited bandwidth, comprising the steps of:

• transferring a data stream including text and commands regarding movements of animated entities from one of said participant computers to others of said participant computers, said others of said participating computers having locally stored graphic image files comprising representations of a limited number of movements of entities for display;
• generating audible speech on said other participant computers responsive to said text;
• and
• generating animation on said other participant computers responsive to said data steam using said graphic image files to generate information representing respective movements of said entities at a bandwidth exceeding that of said commands regarding movements of the animated entities.