GAMING INTERFACE TO ONLINE AUCTION
An integration of an online auctioning system with the user interface look and feel of a desired application can be performed at varying levels. At one level, a simple mapping of characteristics and actions in the auctioning environment are mapped to characters, actions, features, etc. of the user interface. At another level, the bidder participates in a live auction in a manner that is akin to playing or operating the user interface of the desired application. At yet another level, the user interface and the desire application do not interface to a live auction at all, but rather, define a new game or application that is auction based.
1 . A computing platform for integrating an online auctioning system with the user interface associated with a desired application, the computer platform comprising:
a processor;
a memory device communicatively coupled to the processor and containing definitions for the user interface associated with the desired application and characteristics of the online auctioning system;
a third party interface to a real-world live auction for receiving auction data;
a user interface;
a blending component residing on a memory device and including instructions that, when executed by the processor, are operative to:
identify elements associated with the user interface that is associated with the desired application;
identify characteristics of the online auctioning system;
map the elements of the user interface to the characteristics of the online auctioning system;
generate an integrated user interface and present it to a user; and
receive actions from the user and the online auctioning system and control the user interface based on the received actions.
2 . The computing platform of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics of the online auctioning system that are mapped to elements of the integrated user interface are characteristics associated with a bidder.
3 . The computing platform of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics of the online auctioning system that are mapped to elements of the integrated user interface are characteristics associated with an auctioneer.
4 . The computing platform of claim 1 , further comprising a step for quantifying received user actions.
5 . The computing platform of claim 4 , wherein the quantification comprises the assignment of points.
6 . The computing platform of claim 4 , wherein the quantification comprises awarding a voucher.
7 . The computing platform of claim 1 , further comprising a virtual auction space component residing on a memory device and including instructions that when executed by the processor, are operative to:
receive the auction data from the third party interface;
create a visual environment embedded within the desired application for presentment of the auctioning data to the user interface;
receive a bid from the user interface for an item being auctioned as defined in the auction data;
present the bid to the real world auction through the third party interface;
receive data from the third party interface indicating that the bid from the user interface has been accepted as a winning bid for the item being auctioned; and
finalize a transaction to attribute the item to a user associated with the bid.
8 . The computing platform of claim 7 , wherein the step of creating a visual environment embedded within the desired application for presentment of the auctioning data to the user interface further comprises creating at least one avatar within the visual environment.
9 . The computing platform of claim 8 , wherein the at least one avatar represents a user other than said user.
10 . The computing platform of claim 7 , wherein the step of finalizing a transaction to attribute the item to a user associated with the bid further comprises a monetary transaction.
11 . The computing platform of claim 7 , wherein the step of finalizing a transaction to attribute the item to a user associated with the bid further comprises the redemption of a voucher.
12 . The computing platform of claim 11 , wherein the voucher was obtained by the user through previous activity within the virtual world environment.
13 . The computing platform of claim 7 , wherein the step of finalizing a transaction to attribute the item to a user associated with the bid further comprises presenting said user with a real-world item.
14 . The computing platform of claim 7 , wherein the step of creating a visual environment for presentment of the auctioning data to the user interface further comprises exposing the user to at least one advertisement.
15 . The computing platform of claim 14 , wherein said at least one advertisement is delivered via a character within said desired application.
16 . A method for providing an auction element within a desired application wherein the auction element is integrated with a real-world auction, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying elements associated with the user interface that is associated with the desired application;
identifying characteristics of the online auctioning system;
mapping the elements of the user interface to the characteristics of the online auctioning system;
generating an integrated user interface and presenting it to a user;
receiving auction data from a third party interface to said real-world auction;
creating a visual environment for presentment of the auction data to an integrated user interface to said desired application;
receiving actions from the user and the online auctioning system and controlling the integrated user interface based on the received actions;
receiving data from the third party interface indicating that the received actions from the integrated user interface have been accepted as a winning bid for an item being auctioned; and
finalizing a transaction to attribute the item to a user associated with the winning bid.