Computer system and method for more efficiently storing, issuing, and transacting tokenized blockchain game assets managed by a smart contract

Abstract

A computer system and method is disclosed including a vault application to facilitate the transacting of game assets represented by tokens managed by a smart contract via a hybrid approach that permits certain transactions of game assets to be conducted using an in-game centralized database approach (which does not necessarily include a decentralized network) and other transactions to be managed on a decentralized network, via a blockchain or other distributed ledger technology (DLT) network.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 950,390, filed Nov. 17, 2020, entitled “COMPUTER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MORE EFFICIENTLY STORING, ISSUING, AND TRANSACTING TOKENIZED BLOCKCHAIN GAME ASSETS MANAGED BY A SMART CONTRACT”, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63 / 052,601, filed Jul. 16, 2020, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention pertains to a computer system and method including a vault application to facilitate the transacting of game assets represented by tokens managed by a smart contract via a hybrid approach that permits certain transactions of game assets to be conducted using an in-game centralized database approach (which does not necessarily include a decentralized network, per-transaction fee to the user) and other transactions to be managed on a decentralized network,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]One aspect of the disclosure relates to a computer-implemented system that comprises a computer implemented vault application running on one or more hardware processors, including a vault that includes a facilitator and one or more vault smart contracts. When a game is configured to work with the vault, players can deposit tokens to the vault to add the corresponding game assets to their in-game inventory. The vault stores crypto tokens (e.g., NFTs) representing different digital assets (e.g., game assets) on behalf of a player and communicates with an in-game management system to reflect ownership of the game assets in the player's in-game inventory. The application provides a convenient interface to enable a user to move tokens to / from their vault and to / from their wallet(s) via the application interface.

[0018]Each of the vault smart contracts are created in advance, while the issuance of each individual token only occurs when a user intends to withdraw the token from the game, allowing for a massive cost reduction and / or deferral in the issuance of the tokens.

Problems solved by technology

Yet, the vast majority of these game assets exist as sunken, non-transferable value from the player perspective.

If a player account is terminated, the license to use the game assets is terminated and the associated value is lost.

The requirement for players to acquire and maintain a wallet, and manage their private keys to acquire and manage tokens, leads to other problems.

Loss or exposure of the private key can result in the player losing access to and / or ownership of the items in their wallet.

The need to obtain a wallet has led to various difficulties in onboarding of new players.

Additionally, there can be costs associated with transferring tokens.

Market prices for these transactions oscillate regularly, they tend to be more expensive when there is a higher usage of the network.

The need to pay a gas fee for each transaction and the variability of the fee is undesirable.

Additionally, for game companies that already have a traditional (non-blockchain) game management system for managing traditional game assets and player's inventories, the switch to a blockchain-based management approach can be costly and disruptive.

For at least these reasons, while blockchain games overcome some of the problems with traditional games, they create other issues.

These and other problems and drawbacks exist with known approaches to game assets.

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