Systems and methods for providing a trading interface

• US 8,041,626 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• 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): Akintola, Olabode
• Assistant Examiner(s): TINKLER, MURIEL S
• Application Number:
  US11/756,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 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, 715/212
• 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 a first interface, the first interface comprising a plurality of selectable trading commands for trading at least one item;

in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable trading commands,

display a second interface comprising;

a price field, in which a price displayed in the price field is adjustable;

a size field, in which a size displayed in the size field is adjustable, and in which the price and the size are associated with trading the item;

one or more numeric buttons, in which the size is adjustable to a desired size, in response to a selection of at least one numeric button;

at least one first button for confirming the at least one of the plurality of selectable trading commands; and

at least one second button for submitting another of the plurality of selectable trading commands;

and

in response to a selection of the second button, submit a trade command associated with the second button to an electronic trade system for execution.

2. A method, comprising:

displaying, by a processor of a computer, a first interface, the first interface comprising a plurality of selectable trading commands for trading at least one item;

in response to a selection of at least one of the plurality of selectable trading commands, displaying, by the processor, a second interface comprising;

a price field, in which a price displayed in the price field is adjustable;

a size field, in which a size displayed in the size field is adjustable, and in which the price and the size are associated with trading the item;

one or more numeric buttons, in which the size is adjustable to a desired size, in response to a selection of at least one numeric button;

at least one first button for confirming the at least one of the plurality of selectable trading commands; and

at least one second button for submitting another of the plurality of selectable trading commands; and

in response to a selection of the second button, submitting, by the processor, a trade command associated with the second button to an electronic trade system for execution.

3. 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;

a price field, in which a price displayed in the price field is adjustable;

a size field, in which a size displayed in the size field is adjustable, and in which the price and the size are associated with trading the item;

one or more numeric buttons, in which the size is adjustable to a desired size, in response to a selection of at least one numeric button;

at least one first button for confirming the selection of the first trading command; and

at least one second button for submitting the second trading command of the plurality of trading commands;

and

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

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second interface further comprises:

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

5. The apparatus of claim 3, 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, 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 second button.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, 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 cancel button.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, 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 3, 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 3, 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.

11. The apparatus of claim 3, 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 another instance of the second interface, the another instance of the second 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; and

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

12. The apparatus of claim 11, 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 another instance of the second interface, submit the second trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, 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 another instance of the second interface,

cancel the second trade command; and

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

14. The apparatus of claim 11, 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 another instance of the second interface, submit the first trade command to the electronic trade system for execution.

15. The apparatus of claim 4, 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.

16. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second interface further comprises at least one of a price field and a size field.

17. The apparatus of claim 3, 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.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of a bid price at the first interface, post the bid price in the price field of the second interface, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises the bid price.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to a selection of a bid size at the first interface, post the bid size in the size field of the second interface, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises the bid size.

20. The apparatus of claim 3, 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.

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 an offer price at the first interface, post the offer price in the price field of the second interface, wherein the price field is alterable and wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises the offer price.

22. 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 an offer size at the first interface, post the offer size in the size field of the second interface, wherein the size field is alterable and wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises the offer size.

23. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to the input, display at least one offer variable associated with the at least one item.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein displaying the at least one offer variable comprises:

initially displaying the at least one offer variable in a first color;

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

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the at least one offer variable, displaying the at least one offer variable in a second color.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein displaying the at least one offer variable comprises:

displaying the at least one offer variable in at least one of;

a market cell, a spread sheet, a data window, an entry window, and a web page.

26. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computer readable code, when executed by the processor, further causes the processor to:

in response to the input, display at least one bid variable associated with the at least one item.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein displaying the at least one bid variable comprises:

initially displaying the at least one bid variable in a first color;

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

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the at least one bid variable, displaying the at least one bid variable in a second color.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein displaying the at least one bid variable comprises:

displaying the at least one bid variable in at least one of;

a market cell, a spread sheet, a data window, an entry window, and a web page.

55. The apparatus of claim 3, in which the one or more numeric buttons comprise:

a button for a number 1;

a button for a number 5;

a button for a number 10; and

a button for a number 100.

29. 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;

a price field, in which a price displayed in the price field is adjustable;

a size field, in which a size displayed in the size field is adjustable, and in which the price and the size are associated with trading the item;

one or more numeric buttons, in which the size is adjustable to a desired size, in response to a selection of at least one numeric button;

at least one first button for confirming the selection of the first trading command; and

at least one second button for submitting the second trading command of the plurality of trading commands;

and

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

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second interface further comprises:

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

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

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

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

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

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

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

34. The method of claim 29, 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.

35. The method of claim 29, 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.

36. The method of claim 29, 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.

37. The method of claim 29, 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, another instance of the second interface, the another instance of the second 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; and

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

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

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

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

in response to a selection of the cancel button at the another instance of the second 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.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

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

41. The method of claim 30, 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.

42. The method of claim 29, wherein the second interface further comprises at least one of a price field and a size field.

43. The method of claim 29, 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.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

in response to a selection of a bid price at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the bid price in the price field of the second interface, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises the bid price.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

in response to a selection of a bid size at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the bid size in the size field of the second interface, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the bid for the at least one item comprises the bid size.

46. The method of claim 29, 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.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

in response to a selection of an offer price at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the offer price in the price field of the second interface, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises the offer price.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

in response to a selection of an offer size at the first interface, posting, by the processor, the offer size in the size field of the second interface, wherein the at least one component of the one or more components of the offer for the at least one item comprises the offer size.

49. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

in response to the input, displaying, by the processor, at least one offer variable associated with the at least one item.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein displaying the at least one offer variable comprises:

initially displaying, by the processor, the at least one offer variable in a first color; and

wherein the method further comprises;

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the at least one offer variable, displaying, by the processor, the at least one offer variable in a second color.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein displaying the at least one offer variable comprises:

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

a market cell, a spread sheet, a data window, an entry window, and a web page.

52. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

in response to the input, displaying, by the processor, at least one bid variable associated with the at least one item.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein displaying the at least one bid variable comprises:

initially displaying, by the processor, the at least one bid variable in a first color;

and wherein the method further comprises;

in response to a pointing device pointer being placed over the at least one bid variable, displaying, by the processor, the at least one bid variable in a second color.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein displaying the at least one bid variable comprises:

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

a market cell, a spread sheet, a data window, an entry window, and a web page.

56. The apparatus of claim 29, in which the one or more numeric buttons comprise:

a button for a number 1;

a button for a number 5;

a button for a number 10; and

a button for a number 100.