System and method for using a game controller device for electronic trading

• US 7,207,885 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• 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 A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski; Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US10/759,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 39, 463/47, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 345/156, 345168-172, 705/1, 705/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 first user and with a first type of game controller;

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

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

an interface application communicatively coupled to the memory, 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 the electronic trading of financial instruments;

the interface application is operable to;

identify a particular user associated with a particular game controller;

identify a particular controller type associated with the particular game controller;

determine at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on the identified user and the identified controller type;

receive a particular game controller signal from the particular 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 such that the trading system command is executed.

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 interface application, wherein the game controller is operable to produce the plurality of game controller signals , and is configured to interface with the input port such that the game controller signals produced by the game controller are communicated to the interface application 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 interface application; and

a keyboard operable to produce keyboard signals and configured to interface with the keyboard input port such that keyboard signals produced by the keyboard are communicated to the interface application via the keyboard input port, the keyboard including a controller input port;

and wherein;

the particular game controller is operable to produce the plurality of game controller signals , and is configured to interface with the controller input port such that the game controller signals produced by the particular game controller are communicated to the interface application 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 interface application 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 particular game controller.

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

12. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the particular 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 memory is further operable to store;

a first default set of controller signal relationships associated with the first type of game controller; and

a second default set of controller signal relationships associated with the second type of game controller;

and

if the particular user associated with the particular game controller is not associated with a customized set of controller signal relationships for the identified controller type, the interface application is operable to;

determine at least one of the default sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on the identified controller type; and

determine the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal based at least in part on the default set of controller signal relationships.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

if the identified controller type is not associated with at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships, the interface application is operable to;

provide a graphical user interface that is usable for configuring a new set of controller signal relationships; and

store in the memory the new set of controller signal relationships in association with the identified controller type.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the interface application is operable to receive a user identifier; and

the identification of the particular user is based at least in part on the received user identifier.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the interface application is operable to receive a control message from the particular game controller; and

the identification of the particular controller type is based at least in part on the control message.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular 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.

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

Request for Quote”

command.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the determined trading system command is a command to cancel an order.

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

Limit”

command.

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

Buy”

or “

Bid”

command.

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

Sell”

or “

Offer”

command.

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

Size Up”

or “

Size Down”

command.

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

Price Up”

or “

Price Down”

command.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface application is further operable to:

provide to a user a controller configuration interface;

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

reconfigure the one or more controller signal relationships based on the received reconfiguration instructions.

25. A system for electronic trading, comprising:

a memory operable to store;

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

a second set of controller signal relationships, the second set associated with the first user and with a second type of same controller; and

a third set of controller signal relationships, the third set associated with a second user and with the first type of same controller;

an interface application communicatively coupled to the memory, 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;

the interface application is operable to identify a particular user associated with a particular same controller, identify a particular controller type associated with the particular same controller, and determine at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on the identified user and the identified controller type;

the interface application is further operable to receive from the particular game controller a particular game controller signal, determine the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal using the determined set of controller signal relationships, and communicate the determined trading system command such that the trading system command is executed; and

the interface application is further operable to provide to a user a controller configuration interface, receive via the controller configuration interface one or more configuration instructions, and generate one or more controller signal relationships based on the received configuration instructions.

27. A method for electronic trading, comprising:

storing a plurality of sets of controller signal relationships, wherein;

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

a second set of controller signal relationships is associated with the first user and with a second type of same controller;

a third set of controller signal relationships is associated with a second user and with the first type of same controller; 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 via a trading platform;

identifying a particular user associated with a particular same controller;

identifying a particular controller type associated with the particular same controller;

determining at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on the identified user and the identified controller type;

receiving a particular game controller signal generated by the particular 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 toward the trading platform such that the trading system command may be executed by the trading platform.

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 toward the trading platform such that the trading system command may be executed by the trading platform.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the particular game controller signal generated by the particular game controller is received via a USB type port.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the particular game controller signal generated by the particular game controller is received via a serial port.

31. The method of claim 27,

wherein the particular game controller is coupled to a controller input port provided by a keyboard;

and

wherein the particular game controller signal generated by the particular game controller is received via the controller input port.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the controller input port is a USB type port.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the controller input port is a serial port.

34. The method of claim 31, 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 the 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 toward the trading platform such that the trading system command may be executed by the trading platform.

35. 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 from a trading platform;

determining the controller feedback command associated with the particular trading platform signal based on the feedback signal relationships; and

communicating the determined controller feedback command toward the particular game controller.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the determined controller feedback command comprises a command to vibrate the particular game controller.

37. 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.

38. 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.

40. The system of claim 29, wherein:

the at least one computer readable medium 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;

the program is further operable to;

receive a particular keyboard signal generated by a keyboard;

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

communicate the determined trading system command toward the trading platform such that the trading system command may be executed by the trading platform.

39. A system for managing trading, comprising:

a computer system having a processor; and

at least one computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the computer system, the at least one computer readable medium storing;

a plurality of sets of controller signal relationships, wherein;

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

a second set of controller signal relationships is associated with the first user and with a second type of same controller;

a third set of controller signal relationships is associated with a second user and with the first type of game controller; 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 via a trading platform;

and

a program operable, when executed by the processor, to;

identify a particular user associated with a particular same controller;

identify a particular controller type associated with the particular same controller;

determine at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on the identified user and the identified controller type;

receive a particular game controller signal generated by the particular 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 toward the trading platform such that the trading system command may be executed by the trading platform.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the computer system further includes a USB type port, and wherein the particular game controller signal generated by the particular game controller is received via the USB type port.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the computer system further includes a serial port, and wherein the particular game controller signal generated by the particular game controller is received via the serial port.

43. The system of claim 39,

wherein the computer system further includes a keyboard having a controller input port;

wherein the particular game controller is coupled to the controller input port; and

wherein the particular game controller signal generated by the identified particular game controller is received via the controller input port.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the controller input port is a USB type port.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the controller input port is a serial port.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein:

the at least one computer readable medium is further operable to store a plurality 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; and

the program is further operable to;

receive a particular keyboard signal generated by the keyboard;

determine the trading system command associated with the particular keyboard signal based on the keyboard signal relationships; and

communicate the determined trading system command toward the trading platform such that the trading system command may be executed by the trading platform.

47. The system of claim 39, wherein:

the at least one computer readable medium 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

the program 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 based on the feedback signal relationships; and

communicate the determined controller feedback command toward the particular game controller.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the determined controller feedback command comprises a command to vibrate the particular game controller.

49. The system of claim 39, wherein the program is further operable to:

provide to a user a controller configuration interface;

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

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

50. The system of claim 39, wherein the program is further operable to:

provide to a user a controller configuration interface;

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

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