Inventory Interface Virtual Item Sales Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems do not allow users to offer virtual items for sale from their inventory interface, limiting user convenience and potential revenue streams within virtual game spaces.

Innovation Solution

A system that integrates an inventory component and a shop component, enabling users to display and sell virtual items from their inventory interface, allowing for real-time purchasing using real or virtual currency, and managing user profiles and inventory tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If virtual items are offered for sale only in a shop interface, then the system structure remains simple and separate, but user convenience is reduced and additional navigation steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidinterface integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the shop interface functionality directly into the inventory interface by embedding a shop component within the inventory component. This allows users to view and purchase virtual items without navigating to a separate shop interface, thereby improving ease of operation while managing complexity through integrated design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If users can purchase items only through a separate shop interface, then system complexity is reduced, but user engagement and potential revenue are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverevenue generationVSAvoidinterface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and filtering item offers before displaying them in the inventory interface. The server component receives offers from multiple sources, processes them according to user profile and inventory state, and presents only relevant items to the user, enabling immediate purchasing without requiring navigation to a separate shop

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the inventory interface displays only user-owned items, then interface clarity is maintained, but immediate purchasing opportunities are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmediate purchasing capabilityVSAvoidinterface information density

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The inventory interface applies local quality by differentiating the display of items based on ownership status. User-owned items are displayed with standard attributes, while offer items include additional purchasing information such as price and purchase buttons. This localized information enhancement provides immediate purchasing capability without overwhelming the entire interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9511281B1Beginner's offer via inventory item pack

Publication Date: 2016.12.06 ELECTRONIC ARTS INC

AI summary

A system and method for offering virtual items for sale in a user inventory interface.