System and method for item-based economy in a virtual world

• US 20100280919A1
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Everett, Jason, Colvin, Richard, Jones, Allan, Schell, Jesse
• Granted Patent: US 8,151,198 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

There is provided a system and method for an item-based economy in a virtual world. There is provided a server for providing an item exchange for a virtual world lacking a common currency for item valuation, comprising a processor configured to receive a request from a client having an inventory to initiate the item exchange, present a user interface on a display of the client for the item exchange, receive a selection of either a second quantity of second items or a third quantity of third items for the item exchange from the client, remove from the inventory of the client a first quantity of tradable items defined by a first exchange value or a second exchange value based on the selection, and add the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of the third items to the inventory of the client based on the selection.

Claims

1. A server providing an item exchange for a virtual world lacking a common currency for item valuation, the server comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a request from a client to initiate the item exchange, the client having an inventory including a first quantity of tradable items, wherein the first quantity of tradable items has a first exchange value defined by a second quantity of second items and has a second exchange value defined by a third quantity of third items;

present a user interface on a display of the client for the item exchange;

receive a selection of either the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of third items for the item exchange from the client;

remove from the inventory of the client the first quantity of tradable items defined by the first exchange value or the second exchange value, based on the selection; and

add the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of the third items to the inventory of the client, based on the selection.

2. The server of claim 1 further comprising a memory storing the inventory of the client.

3. The server of claim 1, wherein the selection comprises an avatar wearable component, and wherein processor is further configured to:

receive a request from the client to wear the avatar wearable component on an avatar of the client; and

present a depiction of the avatar of the client on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the avatar wearable component.

4. The server of claim 1, wherein the selection comprises a furnishing, and wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a request from the client to place the furnishing on a virtual property of the client; and

present a depiction of the virtual property on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the furnishing.

5. The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

change the second quantity of second items defined by the first exchange value dynamically in response to a condition of the virtual world.

6. The server of claim 5, wherein the condition of the virtual world comprises reaching a predetermined time.

7. The server of claim 1, wherein the inventory of the client comprises a subset of items from a finite global inventory.

8. The server of claim 1, wherein the request from the client comprises a request to barter with a non-player character (NPC) of the virtual world, and wherein the user interface presents an inventory of the NPC.

9. The server of claim 8 wherein prior to receiving the request the processor is further configured to determine the first exchange value and the second exchange value using the NPC.

10. The server of claim 1, wherein the request from the client comprises a command to combine items to create a new combination item, and wherein the user interface presents a list of combination items possible from the inventory of the client.

11. The server of claim 10, wherein the list of combination items possible is affected by a parameter of the client.

12. The server of claim 10, wherein the command comprises a use of a crafting skill.

13. A method for use by a server to provide an item exchange for a virtual world lacking a common currency for item valuation, the method comprising:

receiving a request from a client to initiate the item exchange, the client having an inventory including a first quantity of tradable items, wherein the first quantity of tradable items has a first exchange value defined by a second quantity of second items and has a second exchange value defined by a third quantity of third items;

presenting a user interface on a display of the client for the item exchange;

receiving a selection of either the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of third items for the item exchange from the client;

removing from the inventory of the client the first quantity of tradable items defined by the first exchange value or the second exchange value, based on the selection; and

adding the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of the third items to the inventory of the client, based on the selection.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a request from the client to wear the selection on an avatar of the client, wherein the selection comprises an avatar wearable component; and

presenting a depiction of the avatar of the client on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the avatar wearable component.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a request from the client to place the selection on a virtual property of the client, wherein the selection comprises a furnishing; and

presenting a depiction of the virtual property on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the furnishing.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

changing the second quantity of second items defined by the first exchange value dynamically in response to a condition of the virtual world.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the condition of the virtual world comprises reaching a predetermined time.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving the request from the client comprises receiving a request to barter with a non-player character (NPC) of the virtual world, and wherein the user interface presents an inventory of the NPC.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising prior to receiving the request determining the first exchange value and the second exchange value using the NPC.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving the request from the client comprises receiving a command to combine items to create a new item, and wherein the user interface presents a list of combination items possible from the inventory of the client.