Shared Inventory Donation in Virtual Universes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual universe inventory systems are limited in sharing capabilities, leading to excessive storage requirements and prohibitive costs, as users cannot easily loan or share inventory items without losing control, and manual management is cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing donations of shared inventory items in a virtual universe, allowing multiple users to borrow items simultaneously, with metadata tracking and donation conditions, enabling efficient sharing and tracking of usage to determine donation amounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inventory items are stored separately for each user, then user control and ownership are maintained, but storage requirements and maintenance costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges inventory item storage by implementing a shared inventory system where multiple users can access the same inventory item simultaneously. Instead of storing separate copies for each user, the system consolidates storage while maintaining individual user access rights and ownership metadata, thereby reducing overall storage requirements while preserving user control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies or references to inventory items rather than physical duplicates. Each user receives a reference or pointer to the shared inventory item, allowing simultaneous access without duplicating the actual item data. This approach maintains user control through individual access permissions while minimizing storage requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If inventory items are shared between users, then storage efficiency improves, but control over the item is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary inventory management system that mediates between the shared inventory item and multiple users. This intermediary layer maintains control rules, access permissions, and ownership metadata, allowing storage efficiency through sharing while preserving user control through the mediation layer that enforces ownership rights and access conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control mechanisms where access permissions and control rights can change based on conditions. The system dynamically adjusts user access levels, borrowing conditions, and control parameters, allowing flexible control over shared items while maintaining storage efficiency. Control is not static but adapts to different users and situations.
3Reliability
If manual inventory management is used, then user ownership is clear, but management becomes cumbersome and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the inventory management system automatically handles tracking, borrowing, returning, and ownership attribution without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages inventory records, user access logs, and donation tracking, maintaining ownership clarity through automated metadata while dramatically improving management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that automatically track and report inventory item usage, borrowing status, and donation information. The system provides continuous feedback to users and administrators about inventory status, enabling clear ownership tracking and efficient management through automated information flow rather than manual processes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If inventory items are made available for donation, then charitable purposes are supported, but tracking usage and determining donation amounts becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring donation parameters, tracking rules, and calculation methodologies when inventory items are made available for donation. The system establishes donation conditions, usage tracking parameters, and donation amount calculation formulas in advance, simplifying the actual donation process and reducing tracking complexity during item usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the donation tracking system to automatically calculate donation amounts based on pre-established rules and actual usage data. The system self-services the complex tracking and calculation tasks by automatically monitoring item usage, applying donation parameters, and determining donation amounts without requiring manual intervention, thereby supporting charitable purposes while managing complexity automatically.
Data Source
AI summary
Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for managing donations of shared inventory items in a virtual universe are disclosed. Embodiments of the method may include receiving a request to make available for donation a shared inventory item list that can be borrowed simultaneously by a plurality of users of a virtual universe where the request includes an indication of donation conditions for the donated shared inventory item. Embodiments may also include generating and storing metadata associated with the donated shared inventory item and receiving a request from a plurality of users to borrow the item. Embodiments may include lending the donated shared inventory item to the plurality of borrowing users such that multiple users are borrowing the item simultaneously. Embodiments may also include tracking usage of the donated shared inventory item by the plurality of borrowing users and optionally determining a donation amount resulting from the tracked usage.