Blockchain Wallet Overlay for Desktop Game Client Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video games lack seamless integration with external blockchain wallets due to the unavailability of EIP1193 provider in desktop games, leading to trust issues with embedded and custodial wallets, which require users to trust the game developer with their private keys, exposing them to security risks.
Innovation Solution
A locally hosted server acts as an intermediary between the video game client and external blockchain wallet, processing requests and displaying an overlay window for secure and efficient blockchain interactions, allowing users to control their keys and connect to an existing wallet without creating new ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an embedded wallet is deployed with the game to enable local private key storage and signing, then the game can perform blockchain transactions without external dependencies, but users must place complete trust in the game for asset management and not all game engines have the necessary SDKs or plugins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a local server as an intermediary component that runs separately from the game client. This server acts as a mediator between the game and external wallets, providing blockchain transaction capabilities without requiring the game to directly handle private keys. The server receives requests from the game, forwards them to the user's external wallet, and relays responses back, thus enabling versatility while maintaining security through the mediation layer.
2Ease of operation
If a custodial wallet is used to store private keys on a centralized server, then users can access their wallets through the game without managing keys themselves, but users are exposed to risks from potential attacks on the game developer's server and must fully trust the developer
Solution Approach 1:
The local server acts as an intermediary that eliminates the need for a centralized custodial server. Instead of storing keys on the game developer's server, the local server communicates with the user's own external wallet installation, maintaining convenience while removing the single point of failure and trust requirement associated with custodial solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the private key storage and management functionality from the game client and the centralized server, placing it in the user's external wallet application. This separation allows the game to benefit from wallet integration while the actual key management resides in a secure, user-controlled environment outside the game ecosystem.
3Ease of operation
If browser-based games use EIP1193 provider through window.ethereum global to access external wallets, then seamless wallet integration is achieved, but this connection is not available for desktop games
Solution Approach 1:
The local server serves as an intermediary that replicates the browser-based EIP1193 provider functionality in the desktop environment. It creates a standardized interface that the game can use to communicate with external wallets, making the integration experience consistent across platforms while adapting to the desktop game architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The local server implements a universal communication interface that works across different game engines and platforms. By providing a standardized API layer that handles various wallet protocols and communication methods, it enables seamless integration for desktop games similar to how browser extensions work, making the solution universally applicable.
4Ease of operation
If users connect to existing wallets instead of creating new ones, then user experience is improved by allowing connection to a single application, but the game must integrate with external wallet infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The local server acts as an intermediary that abstracts the complexity of external wallet infrastructure from the game. It handles the communication protocols, authentication, and data formatting required to interact with various external wallet implementations, allowing users to connect to existing wallets while shielding the game developers from the underlying complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device and method are provided for improving interactions between video games and blockchain wallets by establishing a connection between an external blockchain wallet and a video game client and by displaying an overlay on the video game client. A locally hosted server is exposed to the video game client and processes requests between the video game client and the external blockchain wallet. The local server also outputs data that is displayed in an overlay window.