Patent ID: 7698229
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: G06F,G06Q,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method in a network data processing system for transferring a unique digital item between a source party and a destination party, the method comprising: storing a unique digital item in a first application on a first server; receiving a request by the first server from the source party to list the unique digital item by a trusted third-party escrow service, wherein the unique digital item is associated with a source account of the source party, and wherein the unique digital item resides in the first application on the first server associated with the source account of the source party; responsive to receiving the request, generating a retrieval tag and a listing request by the first server for the unique digital item, wherein the retrieval tag is used to identify and locate the unique digital item, and wherein receipt of the retrieval tag is required for transferring the unique digital item; transferring the unique digital item by the first server from the first application on the first sewer associated with the source account of the source party to the retrieval tag's temporary account, wherein transferring comprises removing the unique digital item from the first application on the first server associated with the source account of the source party; sending the listing request, digital item descriptor information, and the retrieval tag from the first server to the trusted third-party escrow service; receiving, by the trusted third-party escrow service, the listing request, the digital item descriptor information, and the retrieval tag that is required to transfer the unique digital item, the retrieval tag being held exclusively by the trusted third-party escrow service to prevent fraudulent transfers of the unique digital item; displaying a listing of the unique digital item including the digital item descriptor information by the trusted third-party escrow service; generating a redemption request by the trusted third-party escrow service to transfer the unique digital item from the retrieval tag's temporary account to a destination account for the destination party, wherein the redemption request includes the retrieval tag and an identification of the retrieval tag's destination account; responsive to generating the redemption request, authenticating the redemption request and identifying and locating the unique digital item in the retrieval tag's temporary account using the retrieval tag; and transferring the unique digital item from the retrieval tag's temporary account associated with the retrieval tag to a second application associated with the destination account of the destination party using the retrieval tag.