No point-of-sale terminal exchange item redemption

Abstract

A method includes receiving, by a marketplace server from a computing device, use information regarding a transaction associated with an exchange item, the use information includes a merchant identifier. The method further includes obtaining a record associated with the exchange item that includes identification of an owner computing device. The method further includes determining whether the record indicates the computing device is the owner computing device. When yes, the method includes sending use verification information to an exchange item trusted module and receiving back a use verification response that indicates whether the exchange item is valid for the transaction. When valid, the method further includes generating second use information regarding the transaction that includes one or more of the use information and the use verification response. The method further includes sending the second use information to the merchant computing device associated with the merchant identifier to facilitate completing the transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by a marketplace server of a computing network, the method comprises:
 receiving, from a computing device of the computing network, use information regarding a transaction associated with an exchange item, wherein the use information includes a merchant identifier associated with a merchant computing device of the computing network;   obtaining a record associated with the exchange item from a marketplace database of the computing network based on an identifier associated with the exchange item, wherein the record includes an identification of an owner computing device associated with the exchange item;   determining whether the record indicates the computing device is the owner computing device;   when the computing device is the owner computing device, sending use verification information to an exchange item trusted module, wherein the use verification information includes at least a portion of the use information and at least a portion of the record;   receiving, from the exchange item trusted module, a use verification response that indicates whether the exchange item is valid for the transaction;   when the use verification response indicates the exchange item is valid for the transaction, generating second use information regarding the transaction, wherein the second use information includes one or more of the use information, the use verification response, and additional data for facilitating the transaction with the merchant computing device associated with the merchant identifier; and   sending the second use information to the merchant computing device to facilitate completion of the transaction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 updating the record based on the facilitating the completion of the transaction to produce an updated record associated with the exchange item. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transaction is completed without use of a point of sale terminal of a merchant associated with the merchant identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the use information further comprises an identifier of an item to acquire in the transaction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the use information further comprises exchange item information regarding the exchange item. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the use information further comprises a digital chain of custody regarding the exchange item. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the record further comprises conditions for utilizing the exchange item within the computing network. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a condition of the conditions comprises a range of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a condition of the conditions comprises a geographic location. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a condition of the conditions comprises a user tendency profile. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a condition of the conditions comprises a user loyalty profile. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a condition of the conditions comprises a list of items. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the record further comprises exchange item rules for utilizing the exchange item within the computing network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the record further comprises a digital chain of custody control field that indicates an entity who has secure custody of the exchange item in accordance with a secure custody protocol. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the record further comprises a digital chain of custody location field to identify which entity is storing the digital chain of custody within the computing network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the record further comprises issuance information associated with the exchange item. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second use information further comprises a transaction identifier. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second use information further comprises a direct acquisition identifier. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 maintaining a historical record of transactions initiated by the computing device; and 
 storing the historical record in the marketplace database. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the maintaining the historical record comprises one or more of:
 storing at least a portion of the use information; and   storing a digital chain of custody associated with each of one or more exchange items associated with the computing device, wherein the exchange items include the exchange item.