Patent ID: 8073778

Claim:
A method for managing a transaction in a virtual environment, comprising: receiving a request, via at least one network, to perform a transaction which involves multiple entities, including at least first and second entities, the request identifies a first resource to be provided from the first entity to the second entity and a second resource to be provided from the second entity to the first entity; providing one or more database records of the second entity, the one or more database records of the second entity are configured to allow a viewer process of the second entity to access the second resource in an inventory of objects of the second entity, the viewer process of the second entity provides a user interface associated with the second entity based on the inventory of objects of the second entity; in response to the request, initiating a gathering process which includes attempting to: (a) remove control of the first resource from the first entity, (b) remove control of the second resource from the second entity by updating the one or more database records of the second entity to hide the second resource in the inventory of objects of the second entity from the viewer process of the second entity, and (c) provide one or more database records of the first entity which indicate that the second resource is in an inventory of objects of the first entity but is hidden from a viewer process of the first entity, and is thereby inaccessible to the viewer process of the first entity, the viewer process of the first entity provides a user interface associated with the first entity based on the inventory of objects of the first entity; and if the gathering process is successfully completed, delivering the first and second resources, including providing control of the first resource to the second entity, and providing control of the second resource to the first entity by updating the one or more database records of the first entity to allow the viewer process of the first entity to access the second resource in the inventory of objects of the first entity.