System and method for displaying a constant time selection context menu interface

• US 7,559,036 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trading Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Buck, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton; Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): DiStefano; Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US10/794,559
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 345/810, 345/834, 395/352, 395/353, 395/358, 715/808, 715/810, 715/834
• US Class Current: 715/834
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A system and method are provided for a context menu pop-up interface. In one embodiment, the context menu interface may be activated in relation to a second interface, and may include a plurality of selection areas organized around a central selection area. In a preferred embodiment, the sizes of each of the plurality of selection areas increase as a distance to each selection area increases from the central selection area, and the sizes are selected such that the plurality of selection areas can be selected in approximately the same time.

Claims

1. A trading interface embodied on a computer readable storage medium for execution on a computer, the trading interface for use in trading of a tradeable object on an electronic exchange, the trading interface comprising:

a graphical user interface for displaying, on a display screen, a first indicator at a first area being associated with a highest bid price currently available for a tradeable object and a second indicator at a second area being associated with the lowest ask price currently available for the tradeable object, and for displaying, on the display screen, an order entry region comprising a plurality of locations, each location corresponding to a different price level and being selectable with a pointer of a user input device to initiate a trade order at a price level corresponding to a selected location for the tradeable object;

a plurality of selection areas organized around a central area of a context menu pop-up interface, the plurality of selection areas comprising a plurality of order quantity values to be selected to set an order quantity for the trade order to buy or sell the tradeable object being traded at the electronic exchange,

wherein the plurality of selection areas increase in size as a distance from the central area to each selection area increases, and wherein the size of each selection area is determined such that the plurality of selection areas can be selected in approximately the same time,

wherein the context menu pop-up interface is displayed responsive to a selection of one of the plurality of locations in the order entry region that initiates a first trade order to be sent to the electronic exchange at a desired price level corresponding to the selected location, wherein placement of the central area on the display screen is based on the selected location, wherein a desired order quantity for the first trade order is set responsive to a selection of one of the plurality of selection areas of the context menu pop-up interface.

2. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection areas are arranged in a plurality of regions surrounding the central area, and wherein each region comprises a plurality of selection areas of approximately the same size.

3. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein a shape of each selection area is user customizable.

4. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of selection areas further comprises an order type selection area.

5. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein the size of each selection area is determined based on the Fitts'"'"' law principles.

6. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises a keyboard.

7. The trading interface of claim 6, wherein the user input device comprises a mouse.

8. The trading interface of claim 7, wherein the plurality of selection areas can be selected upon detecting a user action, wherein the user action comprises a mouse down action to activate the context menu pop-up interface, a mouse movement in a direction of a desired selection area, and a mouse up action to select the desired selection area.

9. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection areas are radially organized around the central area.

10. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection areas and the central area form a one-dimensional context menu pop-up interface.

11. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selection areas and the central area form a multi-dimensional context menu pop-up interface.

12. The trading interface of claim 1, wherein the central area comprises a central selection area comprising an order quantity value.

13. A method for an improved trading interface, the method comprising:

providing a trading interface on a display screen for use in trading a tradeable object in an electronic trading environment, wherein the trading interface comprises an order entry region comprising a plurality of locations for receiving commands to send trade orders to buy or sell the tradeable object, wherein the plurality of locations are arranged along a common price axis, and wherein each location is associated with a price along the common price axis;

providing a context menu pop-up interface to be activated in relation to the trading interface upon receiving a command to select one of the plurality of locations in the order entry region with a pointer of a user input device, the context menu pop-up interface comprising a plurality of selection areas organized around a central area of the context menu pop-up interface, the placement of the central area on the display screen is based on the selected location, the plurality of selection areas comprising a plurality of order quantity values to be selected to set an order quantity for a trade order to buy or sell the tradeable object, wherein the plurality of selection areas increase in size as a distance from each selection area to the central area increases, and wherein the size of each of the plurality of selection areas is determined such that the plurality of selection areas can be selected in approximately the same time;

selecting a location of the plurality of locations of the trading interface to initiate a first trade order to buy or sell the tradeable object at a desired price corresponding to the selected location, wherein the first trade order is to be sent to an electronic exchange; and

responsive to selecting the location of the trading interface, activating the context menu pop-up interface in relation to the selected location of the trading interface and selecting a selection area of the context menu pop-up interface to set a desired order quantity corresponding to the selection area for the first trade order.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of selection areas are arranged in a plurality of regions surrounding the central area, and wherein each region comprises a plurality of selection areas of approximately the same size.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of selection areas further comprises an order type selection area.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

selecting at least one selection area on the context menu pop-up interface; and

applying at least one selection parameter to an order quantity associated with the selected area to a trade order to be sent to the electronic exchange.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein selecting at least one selection area on the context menu pop-up interface comprises:

detecting a mouse down action to activate the context menu pop-up interface, wherein the mouse down action is detected in relation to at least one location on the trading interface to send the first trade order;

detecting a mouse movement in a direction of the at least one selection area; and

detecting a mouse up action to select the one of the plurality of selection choices.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of order quantity values are user customizable.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein at least some of the plurality of locations for receiving commands to send trade orders are displayed in relation to a bid display region along the common price axis.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least some of the plurality of location for receiving commands to send trader orders are displayed in relation to an ask display region along the common price axis.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the central area comprises a central selection area comprising an order quantity value.