METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING OWNERSHIP OF VIRTUAL PROPERTY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- maintaining on one or more storage devices a software application that is configured for use by remote computing devices via networked communications with the one or more storage devices;
maintaining a data structure indicating one or more users that are owners of the software application;
receiving, by a computing system having one or more processors, a first request for access to the software application by a first user;
accessing, by the computing system, the data structure in order to determine if the first user is one of the one or more users that are owners of the software application; and
in response to determining that the first user is one of the one or more users that are owners of the software application, allowing the first user to access the software application.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing ownership of virtual property accessible to users is provided by a computer-implemented system connected to a network. This method and apparatus further comprises maintaining an inventory of virtual properties, managing ownership of virtual properties, and allowing use of virtual properties by corresponding property owners within corresponding network spaces. In particular, virtual properties are purchased from a system by user computers, wherein virtual properties may be accessed by a user and/or sold or traded to other users which may include auction websites
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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maintaining on one or more storage devices a software application that is configured for use by remote computing devices via networked communications with the one or more storage devices; maintaining a data structure indicating one or more users that are owners of the software application; receiving, by a computing system having one or more processors, a first request for access to the software application by a first user; accessing, by the computing system, the data structure in order to determine if the first user is one of the one or more users that are owners of the software application; and in response to determining that the first user is one of the one or more users that are owners of the software application, allowing the first user to access the software application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computing system comprising:
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one or more storage devices storing a data structure indicating ownership of respective software applications; a network interface configured to receive an ownership transfer indication indicating one or more software applications for which ownership is to be transferred from a transferring party to a receiving party; and one or more processors configured to cause the computing system to access the ownership transfer indication and to update the data structure to indicate that the receiving party is an owner of the one or more software applications and that the transferring party is not the owner of the one or more software applications so that the receiving party is allowed to access the one or more software applications via one or more networked connections and the transferring party is not allowed to access the one or more software applications. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A tangible computer readable medium having software instructions stored thereon that are readable by a computing system, wherein the software instructions are executable by the computing system in order to cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:
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maintaining on one or more storage devices a software application that is configured for use by remote computing devices via networked communications with the one or more storage devices; maintaining a data structure indicating one or more users that are owners of the software application; receiving a first request for access to the software application by a first user; accessing the data structure in order to determine if the first user is one of the one or more users that are owners of the software application; and in response to determining that the first user is one of the one or more users that are owners of the software application, allowing the first user to access the software application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification