System and method for providing automated investment alerts from multiple data sources

• US 7,818,232 B1
• Filed: 02/23/1999
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Zinda, Eric K., Fisher, Daniel J., Raghavan, Malti, Jubak, James, Mead, Jennifer Ruth
• Primary Examiner(s): CAMPEN, KELLY SCAGGS
• Application Number:
  US09/255,737
• Time in Patent Office: 4,256 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/37, 705/36.R, 705/36.T, 340/825.26, 340/825.27
• US Class Current: 705/36.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis

Abstract

A system and method provides investors with meaningful information extracted from large volumes of available data for a particular stock, mutual fund, bond, or other investment. The system includes one or more computers that receive and process multiple data feeds to extract information relating to each type of investment. The processed data is compared to “alert rules” each corresponding to a predefined condition, and a truth table is established that identifies alerts that are true for each particular investment. An investor logs onto a web site and enters a stock ticker symbol or similar investment identifier. Computer software displays a web page including “alerts” that are presently true for that particular investment. The alerts can be predefined by financial experts to make them useful to novice investors. When an investor selects a particular investment, a display is generated showing all of the alerts that are true for that investment and allowing the user to get more information concerning the significance of the alerts. The alerts can be grouped into different categories according to their content or time sensitivity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, a plurality of feeds of data each including information concerning one or more investments;

parsing, by the computer, each of the plurality of feeds of data to extract at least one quantitative data item for each of the one or more investments;

comparing, by the computer, each quantitative data item that was extracted to one or more triggers specified by an entity other than a user, each trigger comprising an association between a predefined criterion, specified by an entity other than the user, and one or more of the quantitative data items that were extracted and when the comparison indicates a match;

updating a truth table to include the at least one quantitative data item; and

forwarding, to a computer associated with the user, an alert for the trigger that corresponds to the criterion that matched; and

causing the computer associated with the user to display the alert, that includes the at least one quantitative data item from the truth table, for an investment selected by the user on a screen associated with the computer.

2. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a computer, a plurality of feeds of data each feed of data including information associated with a plurality of investments;

parsing, by the computer, each of the plurality of feeds of data to extract quantitative data items for each investment of the plurality of investments;

comparing, by the computer, the quantitative data items with one or more alert rules that each define a condition that is associated with an alert;

comparing, by the computer, each quantitative data item that was extracted to one or more triggers specified by an entity other than a user, each of the one or more triggers comprising an association between a predefined criterion, specified by an entity other than the user, and one of the extracted quantitative data items and, when the comparison indicates a match, setting an alert that corresponds to the trigger; and

forwarding the alert for display on a screen for a computer associated with the user, the alert flagged for presentation as a footnote indicator for an investment selected by the user.