Asynchronous Hypertext Messaging

• US 20090327116A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson Reuters Global Resources
• Original Assignee: AV Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: Hellon, Craig, Cunningham, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An asynchronous hypertext messaging system and method are disclosed. The system and method use existing hypertext transfer protocols and is capable of transmitting real-time asynchronous data between server and client regardless of firewalls or proxy servers implemented at the client or the server. In a communication system comprising a client and server interconnected by an internet, initial authentication is performed initially between the server and the client. A secure log in is performed by the client with the server in conjunction with a possible java applet download. The communication server then initiates a multiplexed virtual connection between the server and the client and transmission of asynchronous real-time data can occur over the virtual connection. The virtual connection is periodically refreshed by a request issued from the java applet.

Claims

1. A trading instrument communication system for communicating trading information over the internet between computer workstations, said communication system comprising:

means for providing active hypertext messaging trading information between said computer workstations over the internet, said computer workstations being capable of generating messages, and hypertext messaging means comprising means for converting said messages to be transmitted over the internet; and

means for transacting trades for designated trading instruments based on said communicated trading information.

2. The communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said designated trading instrument is foreign exchange currency.

3. The communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said designated trading instrument is stock.

4. The communication system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising computer server means disposed between said computer workstations, said server means comprising means for creating a pseudo large web browser message pathway between a pair of said computer workstations for enabling real-time trading data supplied to said server to be communicated to said computer workstations over said pathway without polling said computer workstations.

5. The communication system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said real-time trading data comprises pricing information.

6. The communication system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said server comprises push means for forcing said pricing information to said computer workstations over said pathway without polling requests for said pricing information by said computer workstations.

7. The communication system in accordance with claim 4, further comprising means for refreshing said pathway for enabling said pathway to remain open throughout a designated trading session.

8. The communication system in accordance with claim 4, further comprising means for establishing multiple connections between said computer workstations over said pathway.

9. The communication system in accordance with claim 4, further comprising resource means for providing said real-time trading data to said server.

10. The communication system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said pathway is monitored for delays.

11. The communication system in accordance with claim 10, wherein an optimal pathway is found based upon said delays.

12. The communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said server means further comprises means for transmitting a heartbeat message from said server means to said computer workstations at predefined intervals.

13. A communication system for communicating real time updateable information over the internet between computer workstations without polling, said communication system comprising:

means for providing active hypertext messaging information between said computer workstations over the internet, said computer workstations being capable of generating a real time message, said active hypertext messaging means comprising means for converting said generated message into a pseudo HTTP browser type message for transmission over the internet;

server means disposed between said computer workstations and connectable thereto over the internet; and

means for supplying said real time updateable information to said server means during a communication session, said server means comprising means for creating a pseudo large document message pathway between at least a pair of said computer workstations in response to said pseudo HTTP browser type message for enabling said real time updateable information supplied to said server means to be communicated to said pair of computer workstations over said pathway without polling during said communication session.

14. The communication system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said server means comprises push means for forcing said real time updateable information to said pair of computer workstations over said pathway without polling requests for said real time updateable information by said pair of computer workstations during said communication session.

15. The communication system in accordance with claim 14, further comprising means for refreshing said pathway for enabling said pathway to remain open throughout said communication session.

16. The communication system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising means for refreshing said pathway for enabling said pathway to remain open throughout said communication session.

17. The communication system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising means for establishing multiple connections between said pair of computer workstations over said pathway during said communication session.

18. The communication system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising resource means for supplying said real time updateable information to said server means during said communication session.

19. The communication system in accordance with claim 13, wherein said real time updateable information comprises pricing information related to said communication session.

20. The communication system in accordance with claim 19, wherein said communication session comprises a trading session, said messaging information comprising trading information.