System for secure transfer of online privileges

A method of transferring privileges, comprising:

• selecting a game item in an online game provided by a game server, wherein said game item is represented by item data stored in a game database connected to said game server, said item data is associated with a first user account, and said item data has an associated privilege in said online game;
• retrieving said item data from said game database;
• transferring auction item data and a first user identifier to an auction server, said auction item data corresponding to said item data and said first user identifier corresponding to said first user account;
• disabling said item data stored in said game database so that said privilege is not available in said online game;
• storing said transferred data in an auction database connected to said auction server;
• presenting an auction for said game item at said auction server;
• accepting one or more bids at said auction server for said game item;
• determining a winning bid for said game item from among accepted bids, said winning bid indicating a second user identifier and said second user identifier corresponding to a second user account with said game server;
• transferring money based on said winning bid from an account indicated by said second user identifier to an account indicated by said first user identifier;
• updating said item data stored in said game database so that said item data is associated with said second user account;
• and
• enabling said item data stored in said game database so that said privilege is available in said online game.

A system for transferring online privileges, comprising:

• a first server having a network connection and storing data providing an online service;
• a first database connected to said first server, said first database storing data representing one or more items, data representing a first user account, and data representing a second user account, said item associated with said first user game account;
• an auction server having a network connection and connected to said first server though said network connections, and storing data providing an online auction for items from said first server;
• and
• an auction database connected to said auction server, said auction database storing data representing one or more items received from said first server, data representing a first user auction account, and data representing a second user auction account.

A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in transferring privileges, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

• select a game item in an online game provided by a game server, wherein said game item is represented by item data stored in a game database connected to said game server, said item data is associated with a first user account, and said item data has an associated privilege in said online game;
• retrieve said item data from said game database;
• transfer auction item data and a first user identifier to an auction server, said auction item data corresponding to said item data and said first user identifier corresponding to said first user account;
• disable said item data stored in said game database so that said privilege is not available in said online game;
• confirm the completion of a transfer of money based on the completion of an auction by said auction server, identified by said first user identifier;
• update said item data stored in said game database so that said item data is associated with a second user account identified by a second user identifier received from said auction server;
• and
• enable said item data stored in said game database so that said privilege is available in said online game.

A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for use in transferring privileges, the program comprising executable instructions that cause a computer to:

• store game item data and a first user identifier received from a game server, said first user identifier corresponding to a first user account with said game server, and said game item data having an associated privilege in an online game provided by said game server;
• present an auction for said game item;
• accept one or more bids for said game item;
• determine a winning bid for said game item from among accepted bids, said winning bid indicating a second user identifier and said second user identifier corresponding to a second user account with said game server;
• confirm the transfer of money based on said winning bid from an account indicated by said second user identifier to an account indicated by said first user identifier;
• send a confirmation to said game server indicating the completion of said auction and that said privilege is to be transferred from said first user account to said second user account.

A system for transferring privileges, comprising:

• means for selecting a game item in an online game provided by a game server, wherein said game item is represented by item data stored in a game database connected to said game server, said item data is associated with a first user account, and said item data has an associated privilege in said online game;
• means for retrieving said item data from said game database;
• means for transferring auction item data and a first user identifier to an auction server, said auction item data corresponding to said item data and said first user identifier corresponding to said first user account;
• means for disabling said item data stored in said game database so that said privilege is not available in said online game;
• means for storing said transferred data in an auction database connected to said auction server;
• means for presenting an auction for said game item at said auction server;
• means for accepting one or more bids at said auction server for said game item;
• means for determining a winning bid for said game item from among accepted bids, said winning bid indicating a second user identifier and said second user identifier corresponding to a second user account with said game server;
• means for transferring money based on said winning bid from an account indicated by said second user identifier to an account indicated by said first user identifier;
• means for updating said item data stored in said game database so that said item data is associated with said second user account;
• and
• means for enabling said item data stored in said game database so that said privilege is available in said online game.