Systems and methods for providing a trading interface

• US 7,991,679 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• 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: Claus, Matthew, Noviello, Joseph, Gilbert, Andrew C., Kirwin, Glenn D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalinowski; Alexander
• Assistant Examiner(s): TINKLER, MURIEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/745,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,875 Days
• Field of Search: 705/37, 705/35, 705/36.R, 705/36.T, 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. A method comprising:

displaying, using a computing device, a first interface that comprises a plurality of variables associated with trading at least one item, in which the plurality of variables comprises a first variable, and in which the first variable comprises at least one of;

a bid price,

a bid size,

an offer price, and

an offer size;

receiving, via a selection of a variable, a trading command to trade the at least one item, in which the selection occurs at a remote device that is connected to the computing device via a network;

generating a second interface in response to the selection of the variable, in which the second interface comprises;

at least one size field that is alterable;

at least one price field that is alterable; and

a button for submitting the trading command;

automatically repositioning a cursor in the second interface such that the cursor is positioned over the button for submitting the trading command; and

submitting the trade command for execution in response to receiving a selection of the button at the remote device.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the plurality of variables comprises a second variable, and in which the second variable comprises at least one of:

the bid price,

the bid size,

the offer price, and

the offer size.

3. The method of claim 1, in which displaying the first interface further comprises:

displaying at least one variable in a color in response to a pointing device passing over the at least one variable on a display screen.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the bid size.

5. The method of claim 4, in which generating the second interface further comprises:

automatically posting the bid size in the at least one size field.

6. The method of claim 5, in which the trading command is submitted at the bid size that is posted in the at least one size field.

7. The method of claim 4, in which the trading command is submitted for execution at a best bid price where the trading command is submitted without a price.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the offer size;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the offer size in the at least one size field.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the bid price;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the bid price in the at least one price field.

10. The method of claim 1, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the offer price;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the offer price in the at least one price field.

11. The method of claim 1,

in which the selection of the first variable in the first interface corresponds to a first trading command;

in which the plurality of variables comprises a second variable; and

in which a selection of the second variable in the first interface corresponds to a second trading command.

12. The method of claim 11, in which the first trading command and the second trading command are different.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, in which the memory stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to;

display, using a computing device, a first interface that comprises a plurality of variables associated with trading at least one item, in which the plurality of variables comprises a first variable, and in which the first variable comprises at least one of;

a bid price,

a bid size,

an offer price, and

an offer size;

receive, via a selection of a variable, a trading command to trade the at least one item, in which the selection occurs at a remote device that is connected to the computing device via a network;

generate a second interface in response to the selection of the variable, in which the second interface comprises;

at least one size field that is alterable;

at least one price field that is alterable; and

a button for submitting the trading command;

automatically reposition a cursor in the second interface such that the cursor is positioned over the button for submitting the trading command; and

submit the trade command for execution in response to receiving a selection of the button at the remote device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the plurality of variables comprises a second variable, and in which the second variable comprises at least one of:

the bid price,

the bid size,

the offer price, and

the offer size.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, in which displaying the first interface further comprises:

displaying at least one variable in a color in response to a pointing device passing over the at least one variable on a display screen.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the bid size.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, in which generating the second interface further comprises:

automatically posting the bid size in the at least one size field.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the trading command is submitted at the bid size that is posted in the at least one size field.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the trading command is submitted for execution at a best bid price where the trading command is submitted without a price.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the offer size;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the offer size in the at least one size field.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the bid price;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the bid price in the at least one price field.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the offer price;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the offer price in the at least one price field.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the selection of the first variable in the first interface corresponds to a first trading command;

in which the plurality of variables comprises a second variable; and

in which a selection of the second variable in the first interface corresponds to a second trading command.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, in which the first trading command and the second trading command are different.

25. An article of manufacture comprising:

a storage medium, in which the storage medium stores instructions which, when executed by a processor, direct the processor to;

display, using a computing device, a first interface that comprises a plurality of variables associated with trading at least one item, in which the plurality of variables comprises a first variable, and in which the first variable comprises at least one of;

a bid price,

a bid size,

an offer price, and

an offer size;

receive, via a selection of a variable, a trading command to trade the at least one item, in which the selection occurs at a remote device that is connected to the computing device via a network;

generate a second interface in response to the selection of the variable, in which the second interface comprises;

at least one size field that is alterable;

at least one price field that is alterable; and

a button for submitting the trading command;

automatically reposition a cursor in the second interface such that the cursor is positioned over the button for submitting the trading command; and

submit the trade command for execution in response to receiving a selection of the button at the remote device.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 25, in which the plurality of variables comprises a second variable, and in which the second variable comprises at least one of:

the bid price,

the bid size,

the offer price, and

the offer size.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 25, in which displaying the first interface further comprises:

displaying at least one variable in a color in response to a pointing device passing over the at least one variable on a display screen.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 25, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the bid size.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 28, in which generating the second interface further comprises:

automatically posting the bid size in the at least one size field.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 29, in which the trading command is submitted at the bid size that is posted in the at least one size field.

31. The article of manufacture of claim 28, in which the trading command is submitted for execution at a best bid price where the trading command is submitted without a price.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 25, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the offer size;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the offer size in the at least one size field.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 25, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the bid price;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the bid price in the at least one price field.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 25, in which the variable that is selected in the first interface comprises the first variable, and in which the first variable is the offer price;

and

in which generating the second interface further comprises;

automatically posting the offer price in the at least one price field.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 25, in which the selection of the first variable in the first interface corresponds to a first trading command;

in which the plurality of variables comprises a second variable; and

in which a selection of the second variable in the first interface corresponds to a second trading command.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 35, in which the first trading command and the second trading command are different.