Patent ID: 8239289

Claim:
A system for managing and trading a plurality of collectible items, comprising: an image database storing digital image data representing the plurality of collectible items and metadata relating to the collectible items; an electronic display device connected to the image database for displaying the digital image data and the metadata, the electronic display device implementing a user interface system for receiving user inputs; a clearinghouse management computer remotely connected to the electronic display device; and a clearinghouse database connected to the clearinghouse management computer for storing price information for the plurality of collectible items, the clearinghouse database further storing association information that associates an information receiver device with each of a plurality of requesters, the information receiver device being different from the electronic display device; wherein in response to a first user input, the electronic display device transmits a first request to the clearinghouse management computer, the first request being a request for price information for a specified one of the plurality of collectible items and identifying a requester of the first request, and wherein in response to receiving the first request from the electronic display device, the clearinghouse management computer automatically, without human intervention, transmits the price information for the specified collectible item to the information receiver device which is independent of the electronic display device and which is associated with the identified requester according to the stored association information, without transmitting any price information to the electronic display device in response to the first request.