# US 8,151,198 B2 · System and method for item-based economy in a virtual world

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,151,198 B2
- Document ID: US8151198B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/387,267
- Filed: 2009-04-29
- Published: 2010-11-04
- Granted: 2012-04-03
- Earliest claimed: 2009-04-29
- Assignees: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
- Inventors: Jason Everett; Allan Jones; Jesse Schell; Richard Colvin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8151198B2

## CPC

- G06Q 10/00: Administration; Management
- A63F 13/12
- A63F 13/30: Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
- A63F 13/537: using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
- A63F 13/85: Providing additional services to players
- G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
- G06Q 30/00: Commerce
- G06Q 30/0641: {utilising user interfaces specially adapted for shopping}
- G06Q 40/00: Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
- A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
- A63F 2300/5553: user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
- A63F 2300/575: for trading virtual items
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

There is provided a system and method for an item-based economy in a virtual world. There is provided a server for providing an item exchange for a virtual world lacking a common currency for item valuation, comprising a processor configured to receive a request from a client having an inventory to initiate the item exchange, present a user interface on a display of the client for the item exchange, receive a selection of either a second quantity of second items or a third quantity of third items for the item exchange from the client, remove from the inventory of the client a first quantity of tradable items defined by a first exchange value or a second exchange value based on the selection, and add the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of the third items to the inventory of the client based on the selection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A server providing an item exchange for a virtual world lacking a common currency for item valuation, the server comprising:
a processor configured to:
receive a request from a client to initiate the item exchange, the client having an inventory including a first quantity of tradable items, wherein the first quantity of tradable items has a first exchange value defined by a second quantity of second items and has a second exchange value defined by a third quantity of third items;
present a user interface on a display of the client for the item exchange;
receive a selection of either the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of third items for the item exchange from the client;
remove from the inventory of the client the first quantity of tradable items defined by the first exchange value or the second exchange value, based on the selection; and
add the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of the third items to the inventory of the client, based on the selection.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The server of claim 1 further comprising a memory storing the inventory of the client.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The server of claim 1, wherein the selection comprises an avatar wearable component, and wherein processor is further configured to:
receive a request from the client to wear the avatar wearable component on an avatar of the client; and
present a depiction of the avatar of the client on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the avatar wearable component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The server of claim 1, wherein the selection comprises a furnishing, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a request from the client to place the furnishing on a virtual property of the client; and
present a depiction of the virtual property on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the furnishing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The server of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:
change the second quantity of second items defined by the first exchange value dynamically in response to a condition of the virtual world.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The server of claim 5, wherein the condition of the virtual world comprises reaching a predetermined time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The server of claim 1, wherein the inventory of the client comprises a subset of items from a finite global inventory.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The server of claim 1, wherein the request from the client comprises a request to barter with a non-player character (NPC) of the virtual world, and wherein the user interface presents an inventory of the NPC.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The server of claim 8 wherein prior to receiving the request the processor is further configured to determine the first exchange value and the second exchange value using the NPC.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The server of claim 1, wherein the request from the client comprises a command to combine items to create a new combination item, and wherein the user interface presents a list of combination items possible from the inventory of the client.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the list of combination items possible is affected by a parameter of the client.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the command comprises a use of a crafting skill.

### Claim 13

A method for use by a server to provide an item exchange for a virtual world lacking a common currency for item valuation, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a client to initiate the item exchange, the client having an inventory including a first quantity of tradable items, wherein the first quantity of tradable items has a first exchange value defined by a second quantity of second items and has a second exchange value defined by a third quantity of third items;
presenting a user interface on a display of the client for the item exchange;
receiving a selection of either the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of third items for the item exchange from the client;
removing from the inventory of the client the first quantity of tradable items defined by the first exchange value or the second exchange value, based on the selection; and
adding the second quantity of second items or the third quantity of the third items to the inventory of the client, based on the selection.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
receiving a request from the client to wear the selection on an avatar of the client, wherein the selection comprises an avatar wearable component; and
presenting a depiction of the avatar of the client on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the avatar wearable component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
receiving a request from the client to place the selection on a virtual property of the client, wherein the selection comprises a furnishing; and
presenting a depiction of the virtual property on the display of the client, wherein the depiction includes the furnishing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
changing the second quantity of second items defined by the first exchange value dynamically in response to a condition of the virtual world.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the condition of the virtual world comprises reaching a predetermined time.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving the request from the client comprises receiving a request to barter with a non-player character (NPC) of the virtual world, and wherein the user interface presents an inventory of the NPC.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising prior to receiving the request determining the first exchange value and the second exchange value using the NPC.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the receiving the request from the client comprises receiving a command to combine items to create a new item, and wherein the user interface presents a list of combination items possible from the inventory of the client.