Secure payment of virtual items

Abstract

A method ( 400, 500 ) and a system ( 100 ) of conducting transactions for acquisition of virtual items. The method can include receiving from a user ( 108 ) a request to acquire the virtual item. Responsive to an identity indicator ( 112 ) that is exclusively unique to an identity confirmation device ( 110 ) being communicated from the identity confirmation device, a determination can be made whether the identity indicator corresponds to the user. Responsive to determining that the identity indicator corresponds to the user, the virtual item can be provided to the user. The method also can include receiving from a user a request to acquire the virtual item, receiving from an identity confirmation device an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device, and communicating the request and the identity indicator from the client device to a server ( 104 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A client device, comprising:
 a user interface that receives from a user a request to acquire a first virtual item;   a device interface that receives from an identity confirmation device an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device; and   a network adapter that communicates the request and the identity indicator from the client device to a server.   
     
     
         18 . The client device of  claim 17 , wherein the device interface receives the identity indicator from a mobile communication device. 
     
     
         19 . The client device of  claim 17 , wherein the device interface receives the identity indicator from a radio frequency identifier. 
     
     
         20 . An identity confirmation device, comprising:
 a data storage upon which an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device is stored; and   a device interface via which the identity indicator is communicated to a client device in response to a transaction for acquisition of a virtual item being initiated.   
     
     
         21 . A system to conduct payment transactions for acquisition of virtual items, comprising:
 a client device comprising a user interface that receives from a user a request to acquire a first virtual item;   an identity confirmation device comprising a data storage upon which an identity indicator exclusively unique to the identity confirmation device is stored; and   a device interface that receives from the identity confirmation device the identity indicator and communicates the identity indicator to the client device in response to the request to acquire a first virtual item.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a network adapter that communicates the request and the identity indicator from the client device to a server. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the device interface receives the identity indicator from a mobile communication device. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a radio frequency identifier, wherein the device interface receives the identity indicator from the radio frequency identifier. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the identity indicator corresponds to the user. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller communicatively linked to the client device to receive the identify indicator.