Transferring an item

Abstract

The invention is systems and methods for transferring items with restricted transferability. Initially, the systems and methods wait for a first consumer to make a request to transfer an item after having purchased the item from a provider. The systems and methods then send a request to transfer the item to the provider. This request may indicate inducements to the provider to authorize the transfer. If the transfer is authorized, the systems and methods then present information regarding the item to other consumers. This information may be presented as part of a bidding interface or as part of an advertising interface. Once the second consumer submits a winning bid for the item when the information is presented in a bidding interface, or an acceptable offer when the information is presented in an advertising interface, the transfer of the item can then be completed with or without the assistance of an intermediary. When the transfer is completed without the assistance of an intermediary, the first and second consumer may directly transfer the item and payment to each other. When the transfer is completed with the assistance of an intermediary, the first consumer may send the item to the intermediary and the second consumer may send payment to the intermediary. Once both the item and the payment have been received at the intermediary, the intermediary may send the item to the second consumer and all or part of the payment to the first consumer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by at least one computing device, from a consumer a request to transfer an item owned by the consumer, wherein the item includes a restriction that the consumer cannot transfer the item to another consumer unless the transfer has been authorized; and   responsive to the transfer having been authorized, causing, by at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the consumer to another consumer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item is transferred for a price. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus comprising at least one computing device and a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one computing device direct the at least one computing device to:
 receive from a consumer a request to transfer an item owned by the consumer, wherein the item includes a restriction that the consumer cannot transfer the item to another consumer unless the transfer has been authorized; and   responsive to the transfer having been authorized, cause a transfer of the item from the consumer to another consumer.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the item is transferred for a price. 
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by at least one computing device, from a consumer a request to transfer an item owned by the consumer to another consumer, wherein the item includes a restriction that the consumer cannot transfer the item to the other consumer unless the other consumer has been authorized to receive the item;   determining, by at least one computing device, that the other consumer is authorized to receive the item; and   based at least in part on determining that the other consumer is authorized to receive the item, causing, by at least one computing device, a transfer of the item from the consumer to the other consumer.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the item is transferred for a price. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus comprising at least one computing device and a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one computing device direct the at least one computing device to:
 receive from a consumer a request to transfer an item owned by the consumer to another consumer, wherein the item includes a restriction that the consumer cannot transfer the item to the other consumer unless the other consumer has been authorized to receive the item;   determine that the other consumer is authorized to receive the item; and   based at least in part on determining that the other consumer is authorized to receive the item, cause a transfer of the item from the consumer to the other consumer.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the item is transferred for a price.