Method and system for providing configurable features for graphical user interfaces for electronic trading

• US 7,627,517 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosenthal Collins Group LLC (Marex Spectron Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Rosenthal Collins Group LLC (Marex Spectron Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Badenhorst, Abrie J., Downs, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi; Hani
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akintola; Olabode
• Application Number:
  US11/295,313
• Publication Number:
  US 20060129475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 705 37- 44, 345/619
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

A method and system for providing configurable features for a multi-windowed graphical user interface (GUI) for electronic trading. The configurable features include, but are not limited to, creating collective windows comprising plural individual windows, where the collective window functions like an individual window, collapsing plural windows with a single action and changing display characteristics of the plural windows or the collective windows. The method and system allows a user of a target device to customize the multi-windowed GUI based on individual user preferences for electronic trading.

Claims

1. A method for creating a collective graphical window, comprising:

receiving in real-time a plurality of pieces of electronic data from one or more electronic trading exchanges on an application on a target device with one or more processors via a communications network;

receiving from the application a display of the plurality of pieces of electronic data in a plurality of graphical windows on a graphical user interface (GUI) used for electronic trading in real-time, wherein each of the plurality of graphical windows includes one or more specific types of trading functionality for electronic trading;

selecting two or more individual graphical windows from the plurality graphical windows displayed by the application on the graphical user interface of the target device, wherein the plurality of graphical windows include varying shapes and sizes depending on a function provided for electronic trading and wherein a size and shape of an individual graphical window is selected specifically for displaying one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in a desired format in the individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

moving the selected two or more individual graphical windows on the graphical user interface so a portion of each of the selected two or more individual graphical windows touch, thereby forming a collective window, wherein the collective window is formed whenever any portion of two or more individual graphical windows touch;

receiving a collective window from the application including the touching two or more selected individual graphical windows, wherein the two or more individual graphical windows maintain an original size and shape in the collective window and wherein a resulting size and shape of the collective window reflects the original size and shape of the two or more individual graphical windows and actual locations where the two or more individual graphical windows touch and wherein retaining the original size and shape of the two or more individual graphical windows in the collective window retains displaying the one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in the desired format in the two or more individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

selecting the collective window, thereby allowing the collective window including the two or more graphical windows to be moved around the graphical user interface of the target device and used for electronic trading and thereby providing a customized trading interface in the selected collected window with a desired set of graphical windows used for a desired type of electronic trading; and

executing one or more electronic trades on one or more electronic trading exchanges via the application via the selected collective window for the desired type of electronic trading.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to execute the steps of the method.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of graphical windows include a tools window, a settings window, a contracts and quotes window, an order window, a fill window, a position window, an aggregated book value or ask bid volume window, an order ticket window or a reports window.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of graphical windows include a plurality of aggregated book value or ask bid volume (ABV) windows.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of graphical windows include a plurality of order ticket windows.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a size or a shape of the collective window is changeable.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein an individual graphical window can be attached or detached from the collective window.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting two or more graphical windows includes selecting with the two or more graphical windows with a mouse click, key press or stylus touch.

9. A method for manipulating multiple graphical windows, comprising:

receiving in real-time a plurality of pieces of electronic data from one or more electronic trading exchanges on an application on a target device with one or more processors via a communications network;

displaying with the application the plurality of pieces of electronic data in a plurality of graphical windows on a graphical user interface (GUI) used for electronic trading in real-time, wherein each of the plurality of graphical windows includes one or more specific types of trading functionality for electronic trading;

receiving on the application a first selection input for two or more graphical windows from the plurality individual graphical windows displayed on the graphical user interface of the target device, wherein the plurality of graphical windows are used for electronic trading in real-time, wherein the plurality of graphical windows include varying shapes and sizes depending on a function provided for electronic trading and wherein a size and shape of an individual graphical window is selected specifically for displaying one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in a desired format in the individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

receiving on the application a second selection input for the two or more individual graphical windows on the graphical user interface so a portion of each of the two or more graphical windows touch at any portion on the two or more individual graphical windows; and

creating on the application the collective window including the touching two or more individual graphical windows, wherein the collective window includes the two or more individual graphical windows and can be moved around the graphical user interface of the target device,

wherein the two or more individual graphical windows maintain an original size and shape in the collective window,

wherein a resulting size and shape of the collective window reflects the original size and shape of the two or more individual graphical windows and actual locations where the two or more individual graphical windows touch in the collective window,

wherein retaining the original size and shape of the two or more individual graphical windows in the collective window retains displaying the one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in the desired format in the two or more individual graphical window based on trader preferences,

wherein the collective window including the plurality of graphical windows can be collapsed and restored

wherein and original size and shape of the collective window, the original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window and actual locations where the plurality of individual graphical windows touch in the collective window are restored when the collective window is restored and

wherein the collective window provides customized trading interface with a desired set of graphical windows used for a desired type of electronic trading;

displaying the collective window on the graphical user interface via the application;

receiving on the application a third selection input to select the displayed collective window for electronic trading; and

receiving on the application a fourth selection input for executing one or more electronic trades on one or more electronic trading exchanges via the selected collective window for the desired type of electronic trading.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to execute the steps of the method.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows include a tools window, a settings window, a contracts and quotes window, an order window, a fill window, a position window, an aggregated book value or ask bid volume (ABV) window, an order ticket window or a reports window.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows include a plurality of aggregated book value or ask bid volume (ABV) windows.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows include a plurality of order ticket windows.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein a size or a shape of the collective window is changeable.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the first selection input or the selection input includes selecting with the two or more graphical windows with a mouse click, key press or stylus touch.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a single selection input on the application to minimize a plurality of individual graphical windows currently displayed on the graphical user interface in the collective window,

wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows are used for electronic trading in real-time,

wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows include varying shapes and sizes depending on a function provided for electronic trading,

wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows form the collective window, wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows maintain an original size and shape in the collective window,

wherein a shape of the collective window reflects the original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows and actual locations where the plurality of graphical windows touch,

wherein the collective window is formed whenever any portion of two or more individual graphical windows touch and

wherein a size and shape of an individual graphical window in the collective window is selected specifically for displaying one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in a desired format in the individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

collapsing the collective window including the plurality of graphical windows into a plurality of pre-determined identifiers for the plurality of graphical windows;

graphically stacking the plurality of pre-determined identifiers in a pre-determined format in a pre-determined area of the graphical user interface; and

receiving another single selection input on the application to restore the collective window, wherein an original size and shape of the collective window, an original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window and locations wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows touch in the collective window are restored to original locations on the graphical user interface.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to execute the steps of the method.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the single selection input includes a mouse click, key press or stylus touch.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of pre-determined identifiers include a plurality of title bars to uniquely identify individual windows in the plurality of graphical windows.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the graphically stacking step includes graphically stacking the plurality of pre-determined identifiers in a vertical format or a horizontal format.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the pre-determined area includes a tools window.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the tools windows includes a graphical button for switching the tools window between a horizontal display orientation and a vertical display orientation.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows include a settings window, a contracts and quotes window, an order window, a fill window, a position window, an aggregated book value or ask bid volume (ABV) window, an order ticket window, a reports window.

24. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving one or more selection inputs on the application to incrementally increase or decrease font sizes of the collective window used for electronic trading in real-time,

wherein the collective window was formed from a plurality of individual graphical windows used for electronic trading in real-time,

wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows maintain an original size and shape in the collective window,

wherein a shape of the collective window reflects the original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows and actual locations where the plurality of individual graphical windows touch,

wherein the collective window is formed whenever any portion of two or more individual graphical windows touch and

wherein a size and shape of an individual graphical window in the collective window is selected specifically for displaying one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in a desired format in the individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

receiving one or more selection inputs to incrementally increase or decrease a display area of the collective window; and

receiving a selection input on a control area on the window to restore default characteristics to the collective window,

wherein an original size and shape of the collective window, the original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window and actual locations where the plurality of individual graphical windows touch in the collective window are restored to an original location on the graphical user interface.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising a computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to execute the steps of the method.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the selection inputs include a mouse click, key press or stylus touch.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the individual graphical windows include a tools window, settings window, a contracts and quotes window, an order window, a fill window, a position window, an aggregated book value or ask bid volume (ABV) window, an order ticket window, and a reports window used for electronic trading.

28. A graphical window manipulation system with a plurality of means comprising computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing one or more processors to execute the plurality instructions, comprising in combination:

means for receiving in real-time a plurality of nieces of electronic data from one or more electronic trading exchanges for displaying the plurality of pieces of electronic data in a plurality of graphical windows on a graphical user interface user for electronic trading in real-time, wherein each of the plurality of graphical windows includes one or more specific types of trading functionality for electronic trading and for executing one or more electronic trades on one or more electronic trading exchanges via a collective window;

means for creating the collective window wherein the collective window includes two or more individual graphical windows used for electronic trading, wherein the two or more individual graphical windows used for electronic trading in real-time include varying shapes and sizes depending on a function provided for electronic trading, wherein the two or more individual graphical windows maintain an original size and shape in the collective window and wherein a resulting size and shape of the collective window reflects the original size and shape of the two or more individual graphical windows and actual locations where the two or more individual graphical windows touch, wherein the collective window is formed whenever any portion of the two or more individual graphical windows touch and wherein a size and shape of an individual graphical window in the collective window is selected specifically for displaying one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in a desired format in the individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

means for receiving a single selection input to minimize a plurality of individual graphical windows currently displayed on a graphical user interface in the collective window, wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows are used for electronic trading, for collapsing the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window into a plurality of pre-determined identifiers for the plurality of individual graphical windows, for the collective window, for graphically stacking the plurality of pre-determined identifiers in a pre-determined format in a pre-determined area of the graphical user interface, for receiving a single selection input to restore the collective window, wherein an original size and shape of the collective window, an original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window and locations wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows touch in the collective window are restored to original locations on the graphical user interface; and

means for receiving one or more selection inputs to incrementally increase or decrease font sizes of the collective window used for electronic trading, for receiving one or more selection inputs to incrementally increase or decrease a display area of the collective window, for receiving a selection input on a control area on the window to restore default characteristics to the collective window and for receiving a selection input on the pre-determined area of the graphical user interface to restore default characteristics to the collective window, wherein an original size and shape of the collective window, the original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window and actual locations where the plurality of individual graphical windows touch in the collective window is restored; and

means for receiving a selection input for moving the collective window to a new desired location on the graphical user interface, thereby providing a customized trading interface in the collective window with a desired set of graphical windows used for a desired type of electronic trading, for receiving a selection input to select the collective window for electronic trading for receiving a selection input for executing one or more electronic trades on one or more electronic trading exchanges via the selected collective window for the desired type of electronic trading.

29. A graphical window manipulation system with a plurality of software modules comprising computer readable medium having stored therein a plurality of instructions for causing a target device with one or more processors to execute instructions, comprising in combination:

a software module for receiving in real-time a plurality of pieces of electronic data from one or more electronic trading exchanges, for displaying the plurality of pieces of electronic data in a plurality of graphical windows on a graphical user interface user for electronic trading in real-time, wherein each of the plurality of graphical windows includes one or more specific types of trading functionality for electronic trading and for executing one or more electronic trades on one or more electronic trading exchanges via a collective window;

a software module for creating the plurality of individual graphical windows on the graphical user interface used for electronic trading wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows include varying shapes and sizes depending on a function provided for electronic trading, wherein a size and shape of an individual graphical window in the collective window is selected specifically for displaying one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in a desired format in the individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

a software module for creating the collective window wherein the collective window includes two or more individual graphical windows, wherein the two or more individual graphical windows maintain an original size and shape in the collective window and wherein a resulting size and shape of the collective window reflects the original size and shape of the two or more individual graphical windows and actual locations where the two or more individual graphical windows touch, wherein the collective window is formed whenever any portion of the two or more individual graphical windows touch and wherein a size and shape of an individual graphical window in the collective window is selected specifically for displaying one or more pieces of electronic data used for electronic trading in one or more specific locations in a desired format in the individual graphical window based on trader preferences;

a software module for receiving a single selection input to minimize a plurality of individual graphical windows currently displayed on the graphical user interface in the collective window, for collapsing the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window into a plurality of pre-determined identifiers for the plurality of individual graphical windows and the collective window, for graphically stacking the plurality of pre-determined identifiers in a pre-determined format in a pre-determined area of the graphical user interface, and for receiving another single selection input to restore the collective window, wherein an original size and shape of the collective window, an original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window and locations wherein the plurality of individual graphical windows touch in the collective window are restored to original locations on the graphical user interface;

a software module for receiving one or more selection inputs to incrementally increase or decrease font sizes of the collective window, for receiving one or more selection inputs to incrementally increase or decrease a display area of the collective window, for receiving a selection input on a control area on the window to restore default characteristics to the collective window, and for receiving a selection input on the pre-determined area of the graphical user interface to restore default characteristics to the collective window, wherein an original size and shape of the collective window, the original size and shape of the plurality of individual graphical windows in the collective window and actual locations where the plurality of individual graphical windows touch in the collective window is restored; and

a software module for receiving a selection input for moving the collective window to a new desired location on the graphical user interface, thereby providing a customized trading interface in the collective window with a desired set of graphical windows used for a desired type of electronic trading, for receiving a selection input to select the collective window for electronic trading for receiving a selection input for executing one or more electronic trades on one or more electronic trading exchanges via the selected collective window for the desired type of electronic trading.