System and method for managing a game controller device for electronic trading

• US 8,469,808 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BGC Partners Incorporated (BGC Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Longman, James A., Noviello, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US11/171,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,918 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 345/156, 345/172
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a method for electronic trading is provided. A plurality of controller signal relationships are stored, each controller signal relationship associating one or more game controller signals with a trading system command associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments via a trading platform. One or more game controller signals generated by a game controller are received and at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships is modified based at least on the one or more received game controller signals.

Claims

1. A method for managing electronic trading, comprising:

storing, by at least one processor, a plurality of controller signal relationships, each controller signal relationship associating one or more of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments via a trading platform, the plurality of controller signal relationships associating at least one trading system command with one or more controller signals comprising directional data associated with movement of a joystick configured for movement away from a center position in a plurality of directions spanning 360 degrees;

receiving, by the at least one processor, one or more game controller signals generated by a game controller, the one or more game controller signals comprising a plurality of directional inputs of at least one joystick generated by movements by at least one joystick in at least one direction, said at least one joystick configured for movement away from a center position in a plurality of directions spanning 360 degrees;

storing, by the at least one processor a log of the one or more received game controller signals generated by the game controller, the log comprising the plurality of directional inputs of the at least one joystick;

determining, based at least on the log of received game controller signals comprising the plurality of directional inputs, that one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous, in which the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals comprise at least one of the plurality of directional inputs; and

based on the act of determining that at least one of the plurality of directional inputs are erroneous, modifying, by the at least one processor, at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals, in which the act of modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships comprises modifying the directional data associated with the at least one trading system command.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the act of determining that the one or more particular received determining, based on the controller signal relationships, that the one or more particular received game controller signals do not correspond with any of the plurality of trading system commands;

and

wherein modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals comprises modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the determination that the one or more particular received game controller signals do not correspond with any of the plurality of trading system commands.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying at least one controller signal relationship based on the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals comprises:

based at least on the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals, communicating a message indicating a proposed modification of a particular controller signal relationship;

receiving a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, implementing the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based at least on the log of received game controller signals, that one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous comprises:

determining a particular trading system command associated with the one or more particular received game controller signals based on the controller signal relationships; and

determining that the particular trading system command is an invalid command in a particular state of trading activity in which the one or more particular game controller signals are received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based at least on the log of received game controller signals, that one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous comprises:

determining a particular trading system command associated with the one or more particular received game controller signals based on the controller signal relationships;

receiving from the game controller a command to cancel the determined particular trading system command; and

determining that the one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous based on the received command to cancel the determined particular trading system command.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining that the number of erroneous received game controller signals associated with a particular controller signal relationship equals or exceeds a predetermined numerical threshold greater than one; and

responsive to determining that the number of erroneous received game controller signals associated with a particular controller signal relationship equals or exceeds a predetermined numerical threshold greater than one, modifying the particular controller signal relationship based on the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining that the number or pattern of erroneous received game controller signals associated with a particular controller signal relationship equals or exceeds a predetermined numerical threshold greater than one; and

responsive to determining that the number or pattern of erroneous received game controller signals associated with a particular controller signal relationship equals or exceeds a predetermined numerical threshold greater than one, communicating a message indicating a proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship;

receiving a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, implementing the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals comprises:

based at least on the one or more received game controller signals, communicating a message indicating a proposed modification of a particular controller signal relationship;

receiving a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, implementing the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals comprises recalibrating the game controller.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein recalibrating the game controller comprises at least partially recalibrating a joystick or directional pad (D-pad).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of controller signal relationships includes a particular controller signal relationship associating a particular trading system command with one or more game controller signals including a first particular game controller signal associated with a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with a first input;

the one or more game controller signals received from the game controller comprise a second particular game controller signal generated in response to a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with a second input;

determining that the one or more game controller signals received from the game controller were intended to initiate the particular trading system command; and

modifying the particular controller signal relationship to replace the first particular game controller signal associated with a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with the first input with the second particular game controller signal associated with a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with the second input.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals; and

receiving one or more game controller signals generated by a game controller comprises receiving one or more instances of one or more of the game controller signals generated by a game controller; and

wherein modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals comprises modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the determined frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each game controller signal is associated with a particular manipulation of a game controller.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising:

based at least on the determined frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals, communicating a message indicating a proposed modification of a particular controller signal relationship;

receiving a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, implementing the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising modifying a particular controller signal relationship associated with the particular received game controller signal if the determined frequency of instances of a particular received game controller signal exceeds a predetermined threshold frequency.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals comprises performing a statistical analysis of the received game controller signals.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals comprises determining the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals associated with selecting the size of a trading order.

18. A system for electronic trading, comprising:

an interface application comprising a mapping module that defines a plurality of controller signal relationships, each controller signal relationship associating one or more of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments, the plurality of controller signal relationships associating at least one trading system command with one or more controller signals comprising directional data associated with movement of a joystick configured for movement away from a center position in a plurality of directions spanning 360 degrees;

wherein the interface application is operable to;

receive one or more game controller signals generated by a game controller, the one or more game controller signals comprising a plurality of directional inputs of at least one joystick generated by movements by at least one joystick in at least one direction, said at least one joystick configured for movement away from a center position in a plurality of directions spanning 360 degrees;

store, by the at least one processor a log of the one or more received game controller signals generated by the game controller, the log comprising the plurality of directional inputs of the at least one joystick;

determine, based at least on the log of received game controller signals comprising the plurality of directional inputs, that one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous, in which the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals comprise at least one of the plurality of directional inputs; and

based on the act of determining that at least one of the plurality of directional inputs are erroneous, modify at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals, in which the act of modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships comprises modifying the directional data associated with the at least one trading system command.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the interface application is further operable to:

determine, based on the controller signal relationships, that the one or more particular received game controller signals do not correspond with any of the plurality of trading system commands; and

modify at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the determination that the one or more particular received game controller signals do not correspond with any of the plurality of trading system commands.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein modifying at least one controller signal relationship based on the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals comprises:

based at least on the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals, communicating a message indicating a proposed modification of a particular controller signal relationship;

receiving a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, implementing the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein determining, based at least on the log of received game controller signals, that one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous comprises:

determining a particular trading system command associated with the one or more particular received game controller signals based on the controller signal relationships; and

determining that the particular trading system command is an invalid command in a particular state of trading activity in which the one or more particular game controller signals are received.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein determining, based at least on the log of received game controller signals, that one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous comprises:

determining a particular trading system command associated with the one or more particular received game controller signals based on the controller signal relationships;

receiving from the game controller a command to cancel the determined particular trading system command; and

determining that the one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous based on the received command to cancel the determined particular trading system command.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising a storage module operable to store a log of the one or more received game controller signals generated by the game controller;

wherein the interface application is further operable to;

determine that the number of erroneous received game controller signals equals or exceeds a predetermined numerical threshold greater than one; and

modify at least one game controller signal relationship based on the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals.

24. The system of claim 18, further comprising a storage module operable to store a log of the one or more received game controller signals generated by the game controller;

wherein the interface application is operable to;

determine that the number of erroneous received game controller signals equals or exceeds a predetermined numerical threshold greater than one;

communicate a message indicating a proposed modification of a particular controller signal relationship;

receive a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, cause the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship to be implemented.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals comprises:

based at least on the one or more received game controller signals, communicating a message indicating a proposed modification of a particular controller signal relationship;

receiving a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, implementing the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals comprises recalibrating the game controller.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein recalibrating the game controller comprises at least partially recalibrating a joystick or directional pad (D-pad).

28. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the plurality of controller signal relationships includes a particular controller signal relationship associating a particular trading system command with one or more game controller signals including a first particular game controller signal associated with a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with a first input;

the one or more game controller signals received from the game controller comprise a second particular game controller signal generated in response to a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with a second input;

determining that the one or more game controller signals received from the game controller were intended to initiate the particular trading system command; and

modifying the particular controller signal relationship to replace the first particular game controller signal associated with a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with the first input with the second particular game controller signal associated with a directional pad (D-pad) of the game controller being controlled with the second input.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the interface application is operable to:

determine the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals; and

wherein receiving one or more game controller signals generated by a game controller comprises receiving one or more instances of one or more of the game controller signals generated by a game controller; and

wherein modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals comprises modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the determined frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein each game controller signal is associated with a particular manipulation of a game controller.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface application is operable to:

based at least on the determined frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals, cause a message indicating a proposed modification of a particular controller signal relationship to be communicated;

receive a response to the message, the response indicating an acceptance of the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship; and

based on the received response, cause the proposed modification of the particular controller signal relationship to be implemented.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the interface application is operable to modify a particular controller signal relationship associated with the particular received game controller signal if the determined frequency of instances of a particular received game controller signal exceeds a predetermined threshold frequency.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein determining the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals comprises performing a statistical analysis of the received game controller signals.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein determining the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals comprises determining the frequency of instances of one or more particular received game controller signals associated with selecting the size of a trading order.

37. The system of claim 23, in which the predetermined numerical threshold is ten.

35. A system for managing trading, comprising:

a computer system having a processor; and

a computer readable medium coupled to the computer system, the computer readable medium comprising a program operable, when executed by the processor, to;

store, by at least one processor, a plurality of controller signal relationships, each controller signal relationship associating one or more of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments via a trading platform, the plurality of controller signal relationships associating at least one trading system command with one or more controller signals comprising directional data associated with movement of a joystick configured for movement away from a center position in a plurality of directions spanning 360 degrees;

receive, by the at least one processor, one or more game controller signals generated by a game controller, the one or more game controller signals comprising a plurality of directional inputs of at least one joystick generated by movements by at least one joystick in at least one direction, said at least one joystick configured for movement away from a center position in a plurality of directions spanning 360 degrees;

store, by the at least one processor a log of the one or more received game controller signals generated by the game controller, the log comprising the plurality of directional inputs of the at least one joystick;

determine, based at least on the log of received game controller signals comprising the plurality of directional inputs, that one or more particular received game controller signals are erroneous, in which the one or more particular erroneous game controller signals comprise at least one of the plurality of directional inputs; and

based on the act of determining that at least one of the plurality of directional inputs are erroneous, modify, by the at least one processor, at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships based at least on the one or more received game controller signals, in which the act of modifying at least one of the plurality of controller signal relationships comprises modifying the directional data associated with the at least one trading system command.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

a memory operable to store;

a first set of controller signal relationships, the first set associated with a first user and with a first type of game controller;

a second set of controller signal relationships, the second set associated with the first user and with a second type of game controller; and

a third set of controller signal relationships, the third set associated with a second user and with the first type of game controller;

an interface application communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein;

at least one controller signal relationship associates one of a plurality of game controller signals with one of a plurality of trading system commands associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments; and

the interface application is operable to;

identify a particular user associated with a particular game controller;

identify a particular controller type associated with the particular game controller;

determine at least one of the stored sets of controller signal relationships based at least in part on the identified user and the identified controller type;

receive a particular game controller signal from the particular game controller;

determine the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal based at least in part on the at least one determined set of controller signal relationships; and

communicate the determined trading system command such that the trading system command is executed.