Virtual Inventory Item Renewal via Metadata and Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual universe inventory items lack dynamic management for expiration and renewal, limiting their usage and commercial potential within the virtual economy.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that provides metadata for items specifying renewal requirements, obtaining and executing renewal instructions, and managing item updates and usage through communication signaling, including teleportation, notification, data storage, and subscription services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If inventory items are made permanent without expiration, then user convenience is improved, but commercial revenue potential deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidcommercial revenue potential

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making inventory items temporarily expireable rather than permanent, allowing them to transition between active and expired states. This dynamic property enables items to be renewed through various mechanisms (teleportation, notification, subscription), creating ongoing commercial opportunities while maintaining user convenience through automated renewal processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If inventory items require manual renewal management, then commercial control is improved, but user time consumption deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommercial controlVSAvoiduser time consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling automated renewal mechanisms where items can renew themselves through teleportation to renewal locations, receiving notifications, or through subscription services. This reduces manual intervention requirements while maintaining commercial control through the structured renewal frameworks and associated fees.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action through notification mechanisms that alert users before items expire, giving them advance warning to renew. This allows users to plan renewals in advance rather than dealing with unexpected expirations, reducing time loss while maintaining commercial control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If inventory items are made renewable with multiple mechanisms, then commercial flexibility is improved, but system complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommercial flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the renewal mechanism into distinct, independent methods (teleportation-based renewal, notification-based renewal, subscription-based renewal). Each method operates as a separate module with its own logic, making the overall system more manageable despite offering multiple renewal pathways and commercial flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8041614B2Inventory item expiration and renewal in a virtual universe

Publication Date: 2011.10.18 ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to inventory item expiration and renewal in a virtual universe. A method for in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention provides at least one item in the inventory of an avatar with metadata specifying whether the item must be renewed and how often. Instructions are obtained regarding a renewal of the item and the item is renewed based on the instructions.