System and Method for Using a Game Controller Device for Electronic Trading

• US 20070191113A1
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eSpeed Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Longman, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a system for electronic trading is provided. The system includes an interface application having an associated mapping module that defines a plurality of controller signal relationships. Each controller signal relationship associates a game controller signal with a trading system command associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments. The interface application is operable to receive a particular game controller signal, determine the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal using the mapping module, and communicate the determined trading system command such that the trading system command is executed.

Claims

1. A system for electronic trading, comprising:

a memory operable to store;

a first set of controller signal relationships, the first set associated with a game controller and a first user; and

a second set of controller signal relationships, the second set associated with the game controller and a second user;

wherein at least one controller signal relationship associates one of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with electronic trading of financial instruments; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to;

receive a particular game controller signal from the game controller;

access at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on an identified user of the game controller;

determine the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal based at least in part on the at least one determined set of controller signal relationships; and

communicate the determined trading system command.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is further operable to store at least one set of keyboard signal relationships, each keyboard signal relationship associating one of a plurality of keyboard signals with one of the plurality of trading system commands.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input port in communication with the processor, wherein the game controller is configured to interface with the input port such that any game controller signals produced by the game controller are communicated to the processor via the input port.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the input port is a USB type port.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the input port is a serial port.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a keyboard input port in communication with the processor; and

a keyboard configured to interface with the keyboard input port such that any keyboard signals produced by the keyboard are communicated to the processor via the keyboard input port, the keyboard comprising a controller input port;

and wherein the game controller is configured to interface with the controller input port of the keyboard such that any game controller signals produced by the game controller are communicated to the processor via the keyboard.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller input port is a USB type port.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller input port is a serial port.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the memory is further operable to store at least one set of keyboard signal relationships, each keyboard signal relationship associating one of a plurality of keyboard signals produced by the keyboard with one of the plurality of trading system commands.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is further operable to store one or more feedback signal relationships, each feedback signal relationship associating a trading platform signal with a controller feedback command;

and

wherein the processor is further operable to;

receive a particular trading platform signal from a trading platform;

determine the controller feedback command associated with the particular trading platform signal using the one or more feedback signal relationships; and

communicate the determined controller feedback command toward the game controller.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the determined controller feedback command comprises a command to vibrate the game controller.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the game controller comprises a light source; and

the determined controller feedback command is to activate the light source.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the game controller generates the particular game controller signal in response to:

a depression of one button;

a substantially simultaneous depression of a plurality of buttons;

a movement of a joystick;

a substantially simultaneous movement of a joystick and depression of one or more buttons;

a movement of a D-pad;

or

a substantially simultaneous movement of a D-pad and depression of one or more buttons.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined trading system command is a “

Request for Quote”

command.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined trading system command is a command to cancel an order.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined trading system command is a “

Limit”

command.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined trading system command is a “

Buy”

or “

Bid”

command.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined trading system command is a “

Sell”

or “

Offer”

command.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined trading system command is a “

Size Up”

or “

Size Down”

command.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the determined trading system command is a “

Price Up”

or “

Price Down”

command.

21. A method for electronic trading, comprising:

storing a first set of controller signal relationships associated with a game controller and a first user; and

storing a second set of controller signal relationships associated with the game controller and a second user;

wherein at least one controller signal relationship associates one of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with electronic trading of financial instruments;

receiving a particular game controller signal from the game controller;

accessing at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on an identified user of the game controller;

determining the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal based at least in part on the at least one determined set of controller signal relationships; and

communicating the determined trading system command.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing at least one set of keyboard signal relationships, each keyboard signal relationship associating one of a plurality of keyboard signals with one of the plurality of trading system commands;

receiving a particular keyboard signal generated by a keyboard;

determining the trading system command associated with the particular keyboard signal based on the at least one set of keyboard signal relationships; and

communicating the determined trading system command.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

storing one or more feedback signal relationships, each feedback signal relationship associating a trading platform signal with a controller feedback command;

receiving a particular trading platform signal associated with a trading platform;

determining the controller feedback command associated with the particular trading platform signal using the one or more feedback signal relationships; and

communicating the determined controller feedback command toward the game controller.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the determined controller feedback command comprises a command to vibrate the particular game controller.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing to a user a controller configuration interface;

receiving via the controller configuration interface one or more configuration instructions; and

generating one or more of the plurality of sets of controller signal relationships based on the received configuration instructions.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing to a user a controller configuration interface;

receiving via the controller configuration interface one or more reconfiguration instructions; and

reconfiguring one or more of the plurality of sets of controller signal relationships based on the received reconfiguration instructions.

27. A method for electronic trading, comprising:

receiving a particular game controller signal from a game controller;

accessing at least one of a plurality of stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on an identified user of the game controller, wherein;

a first set of controller signal relationships is associated with a game controller and a first user;

a second set of controller signal relationships is associated with the game controller and a second user; and

at least one controller signal relationship associates one of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with electronic trading of financial instruments;

determining the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal based at least in part on the at least one determined set of controller signal relationships; and

communicating the determined trading system command.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

storing at least one set of keyboard signal relationships, each keyboard signal relationship associating one of a plurality of keyboard signals with one of the plurality of trading system commands;

receiving a particular keyboard signal generated by a keyboard;

determining the trading system command associated with the particular keyboard signal based on the at least one set of keyboard signal relationships; and

communicating the determined trading system command.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

storing one or more feedback signal relationships, each feedback signal relationship associating a trading platform signal with a controller feedback command;

receiving a particular trading platform signal associated with a trading platform;

determining the controller feedback command associated with the particular trading platform signal using the one or more feedback signal relationships; and

communicating the determined controller feedback command toward the game controller.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the determined controller feedback command comprises a command to vibrate the particular game controller.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing to a user a controller configuration interface;

receiving via the controller configuration interface one or more configuration instructions; and

generating one or more of the plurality of sets of controller signal relationships based on the received configuration instructions.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing to a user a controller configuration interface;

receiving via the controller configuration interface one or more reconfiguration instructions; and

reconfiguring one or more of the plurality of sets of controller signal relationships based on the received reconfiguration instructions.