System and method for group positioning of market information in a graphical user interface

• US 7,509,276 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: West, Robert A., Brumfield, Harris
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISBERGER, RICHARD C
• Application Number:
  US11/417,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/35
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• 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

A method for repositioning information related to a plurality of commodities on a graphical user interface is provided. The method includes receiving market information relating to a first commodity and a second commodity. The market information includes a number of items of interest, each of which may be associated with a price. A first information display region associated with the first commodity and including a number of locations arranged such that each location corresponds to a price level along at least a portion of a first static price axis is displayed at a first time. A second similar information display region associated with the second commodity is also displayed at that time. Indicators associated with items of interest related to the first commodity and the second commodity are displayed in the first information display region and the second information display region, respectively. The method includes receiving a command to reposition one of the information display regions. In response to the repositioning command, the indicators representing market information are moved to new locations in the first and second information display regions. More than two information display region may alternatively be utilized and positioned in this manner.

Claims

1. A method for repositioning information related to a plurality of commodities on a graphical user interface, the method comprising:

receiving market information relating to a plurality of commodities, the market information comprising a highest bid price and a lowest ask price currently available for each commodity;

displaying a plurality of regions on the graphical user interface, wherein each region corresponds to one of the plurality of commodities and has a plurality of locations that correspond to a plurality of price levels along an axis within the corresponding region;

displaying within each region a first indicator at a first location of the plurality of locations associated with a highest bid price of the corresponding commodity, and displaying a second indicator at a second location of the plurality of locations associated with a lowest ask price of the corresponding commodity, and wherein the first and second indicators are moved relative to the axis when the highest bid price or lowest ask price for the corresponding commodity changes;

linking the plurality of regions;

selecting one of the linked regions as a master region;

receiving a command to reposition the axis within the master region; and

repositioning, upon receipt of the command to reposition, each axis within each region that is linked with the master region, wherein the first and second indicators within each linked region are moved to new locations along the repositioned axis corresponding to the highest bid price and lowest ask price for the corresponding commodity.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising not repositioning a region that is not linked with the plurality of regions upon receipt of the command to reposition.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying each of the plurality of regions in a separate window on the graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying each of the plurality of regions in a single window on the graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the command to reposition comprises a manual repositioning command.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the command to reposition comprises an automatic repositioning command.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the automatic repositioning command is triggered by a timer.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the automatic repositioning command is triggered to center a last traded price in a region.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the automatic repositioning command is triggered to center an inside market price in a region.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an option menu that displays a plurality of repositioning options, such that a selection of one of the plurality of repositioning options is used to determine a trigger of the command to reposition.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising display a working order indicator in one of the plurality of regions, the working order indicator representing a user'"'"'s order that is working to buy or sell the corresponding commodity at an electronic exchange, wherein an electronic message is sent to cancel the user'"'"'s order when the working order indicator is selected through a single action of a user input device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the single action consists of a single click of the user input device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the single action consists of a double click of the user input device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing the working order indicator from the region when the user'"'"'s order is cancelled from the electronic exchange.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the working order indicator represents a single order entered by the user.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the working order indicator represents a plurality of orders entered by the user.