Systems and methods for providing a trading interface

• US 7,890,416 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chart Trading Development, LLC (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kirwin, Glenn D., Claus, Matthew, Noviello, Joseph, Gilbert, Andrew C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kazimi, Hani
• Assistant Examiner(s): TINKLER, MURIEL S
• Application Number:
  US11/756,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 705/35, 705/36.R, 705/36.T, 705/37, 705/38, 705/39, 705/40, 705/41, 705/42, 345/156, 345/157, 715/700
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• 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 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies

Abstract

Systems and methods for configurable trading interfaces that allow a trader to quickly and easily submit trading commands to a trading system are provided. Using these systems and methods, a trader can using various trading interfaces to initiate trading commands, configure various display features and default command settings, and control a level of command entry verification that is provided to protect against inadvertent entry of incorrect trading commands.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, the memory storing computer readable code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to;

display at least one of a bid for at least one item and an offer for the at least one item at a first interface, wherein a plurality of trading commands for trading the at least one item are available for selection in conjunction with the first interface, the plurality of trading commands comprising a first trading command and a second trading command;

receive input indicative of a selection of the first trading command of the plurality of trading commands;

in response to the input, display a second interface, the second interface comprising;

at least one first button to confirm the selection of the first trading command;

a price field, wherein a price displayed in the price field is alterable;

a size field, wherein a size displayed in the size field is alterable, wherein the price and the size are associated with trading the at least one item; and

at least one bid price adjustment button to alter the price displayed in the price field;

at least one offer price adjustment button to alter the price displayed in the price field; and

at least one second button to submit the second trading command of the plurality of trading commands; and

in response to a selection of at least one of the at least one offer price adjustment button and the at least one bid price adjustment button at the second interface, display an altered price in the price field; and

in response to a selection of the at least one first button at the second interface, submit the first trading command to an electronic trade system for execution.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface further comprises:

at least one size adjustment button to alter the size displayed in the size field.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one bid price adjustment button comprises a price up button and a price down button.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one offer price adjustment button comprises a price up button and a price down button.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface further comprises:

at least one cancel button to cancel the selection of the first trading command.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one first button and the at least one cancel button are associated with the first trading command, and the at least one second button is associated with the second trading command.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to the input, position a pointing device pointer over the at least one first button.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a command line interface;

and

wherein receiving the input indicative of the selection of the first trading command comprises;

receiving a keyboard entry of the first trading command.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein receiving the input indicative of the selection of the first trading command comprises:

receiving a pointing device entry of the first trading command.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the at least one second button at the second interface, submit the second trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein receiving the input indicative of the selection of the first trading command comprises:

receiving, from a pointing device, a selection at the first interface of at least one component of the at least one of the bid for the at least one item and the offer for the at least one item.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

receive second input indicative of a selection of the second trading command of the plurality of trading commands; and

in response to the second input, display a third interface, the third interface comprising;

a button for confirming the selection of the second trading command;

a cancel button for canceling the selection of the second trading command,

another button for submitting the first trading command of the plurality of trading commands.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the button at the third interface, submit the second trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the cancel button at the third interface,

cancel the second trade command; and

not submit the second trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the another button at the third interface, submit the first trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second interface comprises the third interface, the at least one second button comprises the button, and the at least one first button comprises the another button.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein submitting the first trading command to the electronic trade system for execution comprises:

submitting an offer command for the at least one item at the altered price.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein submitting the first trading command to the electronic trade system for execution comprises:

submitting a bid command for the at least one item at the altered price.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displaying at least one of the bid for the at least one item and the offer for the at least one item at the first interface comprises:

displaying one or more components of the bid for the at least one item at the first interface, wherein at least one component of the one or more components is selectable at the first interface to indicate a selection of at least one of the plurality of trading commands.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises a bid price.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the bid price at the first interface, post the bid price in the price field of the second interface.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

initially display the bid price in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the bid price, displaying the bid price in a second color.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

display the bid price in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises a bid size.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the bid size at the first interface, post the bid size in the size field of the second interface.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

initially display the bid size in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the bid size, displaying the bid size in a second color.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

display the bid size in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displaying at least one of the bid for the at least one item and the offer for the at least one item at the first interface comprises:

displaying one or more components of the offer for the at least one item at the first interface, wherein at least one component of the one or more components is selectable at the first interface to indicate a selection of at least one of the plurality of trading commands.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises an offer price.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the offer price at the first interface, post the offer price in the price field of the second interface.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

initially display the offer price in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the offer price, displaying the offer price in a second color.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

display the offer price in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises an offer size.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of the offer size at the first interface, post the offer size in the size field of the second interface.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

initially display the offer size in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the offer size, displaying the offer size in a second color.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:

display the offer size in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface further comprises:

a settings button to cause a system settings interface to be displayed; and

wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to;

in response to a selection of the settings button, display the system settings interface.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the systems settings interface further comprises:

a second settings button to cause a second system setting interface to be displayed; and

wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to;

in response to a selection of the second settings button, display the second system settings interface.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface further comprises:

at least one trade preference field.

40. A method, comprising:

displaying, by a processor of a computer, at least one of a bid for at least one item and an offer for the at least one item at a first interface, wherein a plurality of trading commands for trading the at least one item are available for selection in conjunction with the first interface, the plurality of trading commands comprising a first trading command and a second trading command;

receiving, by the processor, input indicative of a selection of the first trading command of the plurality of trading commands;

in response to the input, displaying, by the processor, a second interface, the second interface comprising;

at least one first button to confirm the selection of the first trading command;

a price field, wherein a price displayed in the price field is alterable;

a size field, wherein a size displayed in the size field is alterable, wherein the price and the size are associated with trading the at least one item; and

at least one bid price adjustment button to alter the price displayed in the price field;

at least one offer price adjustment button to alter the price displayed in the price field; and

at least one second button to submit the second trading command of the plurality of trading commands; and

in response to a selection of at least one of the at least one offer price adjustment button and the at least one bid price adjustment button at the second interface, displaying, by the processor, an altered price in the price field; and

in response to a selection of the at least one first button at the second interface, submitting, by the processor, the first trading command to an electronic trade system for execution.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second interface further comprises:

at least one size adjustment button to alter the size displayed in the size field.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one bid price adjustment button comprises a price up button and a price down button.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one offer price adjustment button comprises a price up button and a price down button.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the second interface further comprises:

at least one cancel button to cancel the selection of the first trading command.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the at least one first button and the at least one cancel button are associated with the first trading command, and the at least one second button is associated with the second trading command.

46. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

in response to the input, positioning, by the processor, a pointing device pointer over the at least one first button.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein the first interface comprises a command line interface;

and

wherein receiving the input indicative of the selection of the first trading command comprises;

receiving, by the processor, a keyboard entry of the first trading command.

48. The method of claim 40, wherein receiving the input indicative of the selection of the first trading command comprises:

receiving, by the processor, a pointing device entry of the first trading command.

49. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the at least one second button at the second interface, submitting, by the processor, the second trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein receiving the input indicative of the selection of the first trading command comprises:

receiving, by the processor, from a pointing device, a selection at the first interface of at least one component of the at least one of the bid for the at least one item and the offer for the at least one item.

51. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, second input indicative of a selection of the second trading command of the plurality of trading commands; and

in response to the second input, displaying, by the processor, a third interface, the third interface comprising;

a button for confirming the selection of the second trading command;

a cancel button for canceling the selection of the second trading command.

another button for submitting the first trading command of the plurality of trading commands.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the button at the third interface, submitting, by the processor, the second trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the cancel button at the third interface,

canceling, by the processor, the second trade command; and

not submitting, by the processor, the second trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

54. The method of claim 51, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the another button at the third interface, submitting, by the processor, the first trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the second interface comprises the third interface, the at least one second button comprises the button, and the at least one first button comprises the another button.

56. The method of claim 40, wherein submitting the first trading command to the electronic trade system for execution comprises:

submitting, by the processor, an offer command for the at least one item at the altered price.

57. The method of claim 40, wherein submitting the first trading command to the electronic trade system for execution comprises:

submitting, by the processor, a bid command for the at least one item at the altered price.

58. The method of claim 40, wherein displaying at least one of the bid for the at least one item and the offer for the at least one item at the first interface comprises:

displaying, by the processor, one or more components of the bid for the at least one item at the first interface, wherein at least one component of the one or more components is selectable at the first interface to indicate a selection of at least one of the plurality of trading commands.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises a bid price.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the bid price at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the bid price in the price field of the second interface.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

initially displaying, by the processor, the bid price in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the bid price, displaying, by the processor, the bid price in a second color.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising:

displaying, by the processor, the bid price in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page.

63. The method of claim 58, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises a bid size.

64. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the bid size at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the bid size in the size field of the second interface.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

initially displaying, by the processor, the bid size in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the bid size, displaying, by the processor, the bid size in a second color.

66. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

displaying, by the processor, the bid size in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page.

67. The method of claim 40, wherein displaying at least one of the bid for the at least one item and the offer for the at least one item at the first interface comprises:

displaying, by the processor, one or more components of the offer for the at least one item at the first interface, wherein at least one component of the one or more components is selectable at the first interface to indicate a selection of at least one of the plurality of trading commands.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises an offer price.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the offer price at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the offer price in the price field of the second interface.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

initially displaying, by the processor, the offer price in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the offer price, displaying, by the processor, the offer price in a second color.

71. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

displaying, by the processor, the offer price in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises an offer size.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the offer size at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the offer size in the size field of the second interface.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

initially displaying, by the processor, the offer size in a first color; and

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the offer size, displaying, by the processor, the offer size in a second color.

75. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

displaying, by the processor, the offer size in at least one of;

a market cell,

a spread sheet,

a data window,

an entry window, and

a web page.

76. The method of claim 40, wherein the second interface further comprises:

a settings button to cause a system settings interface to be displayed; and

wherein the method further comprises;

in response to a selection of the settings button, displaying, by the processor, the system settings interface.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the systems settings interface further comprises:

a second settings button to cause a second system setting interface to be displayed; and

wherein the method further comprises;

in response to a selection of the second settings button, displaying, by the processor, the second system settings interface.

78. The method of claim 40, wherein the second interface further comprises:

at least one trade preference field.