Homogenous Database for Cross-Platform Virtual Item Trading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) and virtual worlds lack a unified method for trading, exchanging, and valuating virtual items across different platforms, and do not allow users to seamlessly transfer virtual items between virtual worlds or convert them into physical items.
Innovation Solution
A homogenous database system is implemented to store and index virtual objects, enabling users to trade, exchange, and value virtual items by translating their attributes into a common format, allowing for cross-platform transactions and valuations using a bid management module, user management module, and translation module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a unified trading system is implemented across different MMOGs and virtual worlds, then cross-platform trading capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third-party trading platform that acts as an intermediary between different MMOGs and virtual worlds. This platform provides a unified interface for cross-platform trading without requiring direct integration between each game system, thereby reducing the complexity of implementing cross-platform capability while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The trading system is designed with universal functionality that can handle multiple types of virtual items and currencies from different platforms through a common database and standardized protocols. This multi-functional approach enables cross-platform trading without requiring separate specialized systems for each game, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity through consolidation.
2Productivity
If virtual items are translated into a homogenous format for storage, then searchability and trading efficiency are improved, but data transformation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming virtual item attributes from their original platform-specific formats into a standardized homogenous format. This involves changing data parameters such as item identifiers, properties, and values to match a universal schema, thereby improving searchability and trading efficiency while managing the transformation complexity through systematic parameter mapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of virtual item data in a standardized format within the common database, separate from the original platform-specific representations. This copying approach allows efficient searching and trading operations on the standardized data while preserving the original item characteristics, thus improving productivity without permanently altering the source data structures.
3Measurement precision
If automatic monetary valuation is implemented for virtual items, then market consistency is improved, but valuation system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valuation system incorporates feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor market transactions and adjust item valuations accordingly. By analyzing actual trading data and market conditions, the system maintains consistent monetary values for virtual items while managing complexity through automated feedback loops that reduce manual intervention and standardize valuation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service valuation where the marketplace itself provides the data needed for automatic pricing. Virtual item values are determined by aggregate market transactions and user-provided valuation data, eliminating the need for complex external appraisal systems. This approach improves measurement precision through market-driven consistency while reducing valuation system complexity by leveraging the marketplace's inherent data.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a common database is used to store virtual items from multiple platforms, then cross-world exchange capability is improved, but data management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common database is segmented into distinct tables and sections for different virtual worlds and item types, with clear delimitation between platforms. This segmentation allows the system to store and manage data from multiple sources in a unified structure while reducing data management complexity through organized categorization and isolated storage zones that simplify queries and migrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The database schema incorporates local quality by preserving platform-specific characteristics and data formats within the common database structure. Each virtual world maintains its unique item properties and identifiers while conforming to the overall standardized structure, enabling cross-world exchange without sacrificing the specific qualities and nuances of individual platforms.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for trading, exchanging, and/or valuating virtual items that exist in MMOGs or other types of virtual worlds. According to various embodiments, the present invention utilizes a homogenous database to store virtual objects and their attributes across different MMOGs and virtual worlds. The items in the database are indexed and searchable. Using the system, users can trade, exchange, sell and/or valuate their virtual objects.