Method, apparatus and interface for trading multiple tradeable objects

• US 7,418,422 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Burns, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; James A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ERIC TAK WAI
• Application Number:
  US10/293,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,113 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/36.R, 705/37
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

An interface for trading multiple tradeable objects includes a price axis or scale. A first indication of quantities represented in a market for a first tradeable object is displayed in association with the price axis or scale. A second indication of quantities represented in the market for a second tradeable object is displayed in association with the price axis or scale. The first tradeable object may be different than the second tradeable object. Alternatively, the first tradeable object and the second tradeable object may be the same, but the indications of quantity may be provided from different sources, such as different exchanges.

Claims

1. A method of displaying market information relating to two tradeable objects being traded on at least one electronic exchange using a graphical user interface and a user input device and having preset parameters for trade orders, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of price levels along a common static price axis, wherein the plurality of price levels correspond to price levels for a first tradeable object;

dynamically displaying a first indicator at a location corresponding to a first price level on the common static price axis, the first indicator associated with a highest bid price available in the market for the first tradeable object;

dynamically displaying a second indicator at a location corresponding to a second price level on the common static price axis, the second indicator associated with a lowest ask price available in the market for the first tradeable object;

establishing an offset parameter to be used to display a second tradeable object, which is different from the first tradeable object, in relation to the plurality of price levels along the common static price axis generated to correspond to price levels for the first tradeable object;

applying the offset parameter to a highest bid price available in a market for the second tradeable object to determine a third price level at which to display a third indicator in relation to the common static price axis;

dynamically displaying the third indicator at a location corresponding to the third price level on the common static price axis, the third indicator associated with the highest bid price for the second tradeable object;

applying the offset parameter to a lowest ask price available in the market for the second tradeable object to determine a fourth price level at which to display a fourth indicator in relation to the common static price axis;

dynamically displaying the fourth indicator at a location corresponding to the fourth price level on the common static price axis, the fourth indicator associated with the lowest ask price for the second tradeable object;

wherein the first and second indicators and the third and fourth indicators can move relative to the common static price axis when the market changes for the first and second tradeable objects respectively.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying an order entry region.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first indicator and the third indicator are displayed in a bid display region and the second indicator and the fourth indicator are displayed in an ask display region.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first indicator, the second indicator, the third indicator and the fourth indicator are graphical indicators.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first indicator, the second indicator, the third indicator and the fourth indicator are numbers.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first indicator, the second indicator, the third indicator and the fourth indicator represent quantities.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of dynamically displaying a plurality of additional indicators representing quantities available at prices that are lower than the highest bid price and higher than the lowest ask price.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first indicator and the third indicator and at least one of the second indicator and the fourth indicator are highlighted on the graphical user interface.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common static price axis is a vertical axis.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common static price axis is a horizontal axis.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common static price axis comprises a numerical value for each displayed price level.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first indicator and the third indicator are displayed in a bid quantity region, and the second indicator and the fourth indicator are displayed in an ask quantity region.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bid quantity region includes a first bid quantity region associated with the first tradeable object and a second bid quantity region associated with the second tradeable object.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the ask quantity region includes a first ask quantity region associated with the first tradeable object and a second ask quantity region associated with the second tradeable object.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the bid quantity region and the ask quantity region include consolidated quantities available in the market for the first tradeable object and the second tradeable object.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying an order entry region for receiving commands to send orders to the exchange at different price levels, the order entry region comprising a plurality of locations associated with different price levels on the common static price axis.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a first location from the plurality of locations overlaps with the bid quantity region and a second location from the plurality of locations overlaps the ask quantity region.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1,further comprising the step of displaying at least a portion of the common static price axis in a price region.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of displaying an order entry region overlapping the price region.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the offset parameter comprises a number.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the number is a multiplier.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the number is a divisor.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

adding or subtracting the offset parameter to the highest bid price and the lowest ask price available in the market for the second tradeable object.

24. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the offset parameter is determined using an equation.

25. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the offset parameter is user-defined.

26. A computer readable medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

generating a plurality of price levels along a common static price axis, wherein the plurality of price levels correspond to price levels for a first tradeable object;

dynamically displaying a first indicator at a location corresponding to a first price level on the common static price axis, the first indicator associated with a highest bid price available in the market for the first tradeable object;

dynamically displaying a second indicator at a location corresponding to a second price level on the common static price axis, the second indicator associated with a lowest ask price available in the market for the first tradeable object;

establishing an offset parameter to be used to display a second tradeable object, which is different from the first tradeable object, in relation to the plurality of price levels along the common static price axis generated to correspond to price levels for the first tradeable object;

applying the offset parameter to a highest bid price available in a market for the second tradeable object to determine a third price level at which to display a third indicator in relation to the common static price axis;

dynamically displaying the third indicator at a location corresponding to the third price level on the common static price axis, the third indicator associated with the highest bid price for the second tradeable object;

applying the offset parameter to a lowest ask price available in the market for the second tradeable object to determine a fourth price level at which to display a fourth indicator in relation to the common static price axis;

dynamically displaying the fourth indicator at a location corresponding to the fourth price level on the common static price axis, the fourth indicator associated with the lowest ask price for the second tradeable object;

wherein the first and second indicators and the third and fourth indicators can move relative to the common static price axis when the market changes for the first and second tradeable objects respectively.