Abstract:
A method of settling trades includes the steps of obtaining an authenticated delivery instrument, wherein the authenticated delivery instrument is authenticated by a first exchange and may be used to settle a trade undertaken on the first exchange. An electronic proxy is issued for the delivery instrument, wherein the electronic proxy may be exchanged for the authenticated delivery instrument and where the electronic proxy is used to settle a trade undertaken on a second exchange.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/879,185, filed Jul. 16, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     SEQUENTIAL LISTING 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to authenticated delivery instruments and more particularly to a system and method that enables traders to settle trades using an electronic proxy for delivery. 
     2. Description of the Background of the Invention 
     Exchanges enable buyers and sellers to trade financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, options, cash, agricultural products, commodities, and futures, etc. A futures contract is a financial instrument that represents a potential legal obligation for delivery or acceptance of another financial instrument or an underlying commodity at a specified time in the future. The financial instrument that underlies a futures contract may include a quantity of grains, metals, oils, bonds, securities, or cash. The exchange establishes a futures contract specification that defines at least the underlying product, a quantity of the underlying product represented by one futures contract, and a contract month (the month in which the delivery may take place). The specification defines the expiry month for a futures contract in terms of a month and a year and the futures contract may not be traded after a predetermined day of the defined month and year. The potential legal obligation represented by the futures contract to deliver the underlying product becomes a real legal obligation for the seller of the futures contract when the futures contract expires. Similarly, the potential legal obligation represented by the futures contract to accept delivery of the underlying product becomes a real legal obligation when the seller of the futures contract declares an intention to deliver. Additionally, exchanges facilitate buying and selling of other types of contracts including cash contracts and cash forward contracts, which may involve delivery of a commodity in the future. 
     A futures contract may be traded in a physical exchange where buyers and sellers meet. A buyer and a seller use an open outcry auction process among other buyers and sellers to negotiate a price at which to buy and sell, respectively, a quantity of the futures contracts. After the buyer and seller agree upon the quantity and the price, the buyer and the seller each report his/her portion of the trade to the exchange. The information reported by the buyer comprises identification information about the buyer, who the buyer believes is the seller, the quantity the buyer believes has been purchased, and the price to be paid thereby. Similarly, the seller reports information comprising identification information thereof, who the seller believes is the buyer, and the quantity the seller believes has been sold and the price to be received thereby. In some cases, the exchange encodes and transmits to a clearinghouse the information reported by the buyer and the seller separately as two sets of trade data. Alternately, the exchange creates and transmits to the clearinghouse matched trade data that comprises the information reported by both the buyer and the seller. 
     A futures contract may also be traded in an electronic exchange where a trader submits an order to a trading host. The order is either a bid or an offer that indicates a desire to purchase or sell, respectively, the futures contract. The order identifies, at least, the futures contract, the quantity of the futures contract the trader wishes to buy or sell, the price at which the trader wishes to buy or sell the futures contract, and a direction of the order (i.e., whether the order is a bid or an offer). The trading host monitors orders that are received thereby to identify a bid for the futures contract at a particular price with an offer for the same futures contract at the same or lower price. Similarly, the trading host monitors orders that are received thereby to identify an offer for the futures contract at a particular price with a bid for the same futures contract at the same or higher price. Upon identification of the bid and the offer, a quantity associated therewith is matched and the quantity, price, and identification information regarding the buyer and seller are transmitted to the clearinghouse as matched trade data. 
     The clearinghouse settles the accounts of the members, clears trades, collects and maintains margin funds, and reports trade data. Each trading firm that holds membership in the clearinghouse becomes liable to the clearinghouse for all trades made on the behalf of the trading firm or a customer of the trading firm. The trading firm with which the trader is associated guarantees delivery or receipt obligations of the trader. Furthermore, the clearinghouse oversees and insures that obligations made by the trader are carried out in a timely fashion. 
     At the end of every trading session, the clearinghouse reconciles trading data received thereby from an exchange and transmits cleared trade data to a clearing firm associated with each trader. Thereafter, each clearing firm “marks to market” the account of each trader associated therewith. That is, the clearing firm records the net position of each trader in accordance with any changes in the prices of the futures contracts in which the trader has an open position. The trading firm also confirms that the trader has sufficient margin funds on deposit to support the net position thereof. 
     The specification of a futures contract that requires delivery of an underlying product defines the characteristics (e.g., grade, purity, weight, etc.) of the underlying product that is to be delivered. Typically, the delivery or acceptance obligations associated with the futures contract may begin at anytime during the delivery month and must be fulfilled within a predetermined number of business days after the last trading day of the delivery month. 
     During the expiry month, a trader holding an open long position a particular futures contract may have to take delivery when the trader holding a short position in that futures contract decides to make delivery. Furthermore, the specification of the futures contract defines the last day by which the seller must complete delivery. The clearing firm representing the seller notifies the clearinghouse that the seller wants to deliver on a futures contract. The clearinghouse notifies both the seller and the clearing firm representing the buyer. The clearing firm representing the seller forwards an invoice to the clearinghouse, which in turn forwards the invoice to clearing firm representing the buyer. On the day when delivery is to take place, the clearing firm representing the buyer presents a certified check or other payment instrument (including electronic transfers of funds) for the amount due to the clearing firm representing the seller. After the clearing firm representing the seller receives payment for the amount due, the clearing firm representing the seller transfers a paper delivery instrument (normally a warehouse receipt or a vault receipt) to the clearing firm representing the buyer. 
     The paper delivery instrument is issued by a warehouse (if the underlying product is a grain or other agricultural product) or a vault (if the underlying product is a metal) where the underlying product is stored. The buyer can then present the paper delivery instrument to the issuer (either warehouse or vault) to redeem the underlying product. 
     The exchange authenticates the paper delivery instrument as representing a quantity of product that meets specification defined by the exchange and denotes the authentication by marking the paper delivery instrument with an indicium corresponding to the exchange. For example, the exchange may specify the weight and fineness of a bar of gold that may be used to deliver on a contract acquired at the exchange. The paper delivery instrument bearing the indicium corresponding to the exchange provides assurance that the bar of gold meets the standards that the exchange has set forth. Typically, a paper delivery instrument is marked with an indicium corresponding to a particular exchange. Additionally, some exchanges require that delivery of underlying futures contracts traded at such exchanges must be accomplished using paper delivery instruments bearing the indicium corresponding to the exchange. 
     In some cases, typically involving agricultural products, the exchange, the clearing firms, and the clearinghouse use electronic receipts instead of paper receipts to facilitate delivery. Specifically, an electronic receipt is an entry in a database record associated with a clearing firm that indicates that a trader associated with the clearing firm owns a quantity of a product. The electronic receipt typically includes information generated by the exchange that indicates that the electronic receipt is authentic and that the exchange has verified that the underlying product meets the specifications set the exchange. 
     In some instances, the database entry for the electronic receipt is associated with an account the clearing firm has at a clearinghouse. In other instances, the database entry is associated with an account at the exchange. Typically, clearing firms maintain records that associate a trader who owns a product and the electronic receipt that represents the product. Such records are typically associated with an account the trader has at the clearing firm and are notations in a database record corresponding to the account. In order to deliver a product, the seller authorizes the clearing firm associated therewith to transfer an electronic receipt to an account associated with the buyer. As with paper receipts, electronic receipts are bearer receipts in that the holder of the electronic receipt may request physical delivery of the product represented by the electronic receipt. Typically, the holder of the electronic receipt notifies the clearing firm that delivery is desired, and the clearing firm subsequently notifies the warehouse or vault to provide delivery to the holder. In some cases, the holder of the electronic receipt notifies the exchange that delivery is desired and the exchange notifies the warehouse or vault to provide delivery to the holder. Upon notification, the warehouse or vault provides the underlying good to holder and notifies the clearing firm or exchange that the good has been delivered. Typically, the notifications described above are communications that are sent between systems operated by entities (i.e., the clearing firm, the exchange, the clearinghouse, and the issuer) that participate in the delivery. In some cases, a staff member at one of the entities may communicate with a staff member at another entity to facilitate the delivery process. The clearing firm or the exchange thereafter voids the electronic receipt. 
     There are risks to both the buyer and seller associated with the handling and transportation of the paper delivery instrument. The paper delivery instruments can be lost or damaged and typically, the paper delivery instruments are bearer instruments so anyone presenting the instrument can take delivery of the underlying product. In addition, the vault or warehouse may be in a location remote from the exchange and/or the buyer and, in such cases, the buyer may have to arrange for transportation of the physical delivery instrument to an agent for the buyer where the vault or warehouse is located. 
     Furthermore, if a trader wishes to use a delivery instrument authenticated by a first exchange to deliver on trades made at a second exchange, the second exchange may have to verify that the product represented by the delivery instrument at least meets the requirements for products specified by the second exchange. In such cases, either the trader or the second exchange may incur costs and delays associated with the verification process. The second exchange may undertake such costs if the market provided by the second exchange alternative to an established market in the product provided by the first exchange. However, such expenditures add to the cost of operating the market. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a method for settling a trade for a product that has a physical delivery obligation associated therewith includes the step of recording in a database ownership by a first trader of an authenticated delivery instrument, wherein the delivery instrument is authenticated by a first exchange and the authenticated delivery instrument can be used to redeem the product. The method also includes the step of electronically receiving an electronic proxy for the authenticated delivery instrument from a second exchange, wherein the electronic proxy may be exchanged for the authenticated delivery instrument. Further, the method includes the steps of receiving a notification that the first trader wishes to settle a trade undertaken on the second exchange and electronically transferring the electronic proxy to an entity associated with a second trader, whereby ownership of the authenticated delivery instrument is transferred from the first trader to the second trader. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented system for tracking ownership of a product includes a first exchange interface that electronically communicates with a system operated at a first exchange, wherein the first exchange interface receives an electronic authenticated delivery instrument authenticated by the first exchange and that can be used to redeem the product. The computer-implemented system also includes a second exchange interface that electronically communicates with a system operated at a second exchange, wherein the second exchange interface receives an electronic proxy for the electronic authenticated delivery instrument and the electronic proxy may be exchanged for the electronic authenticated delivery instrument. In addition, the computer-implemented system includes a trader interface that receives a message from a first trader to make delivery of the product to a second trader, wherein the delivery is associated with a trade undertaken at the second exchange and a clearing firm interface that communicates with a clearing firm associated with the second trader, wherein the clearing firm interface transmits the electronic proxy to the clearing firm, whereby ownership of the authenticated delivery instrument is transferred from the first trader to the second trader. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a logical block diagram of obtaining a delivery instrument and a proxy therefor. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a logical block diagram of a system and method of settling trades using the delivery instrument and proxy obtained in the manner depicted by  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts logical block diagram of another system and method of settling trades using the deliver instrument and proxy obtained in the manner depicted by  FIG. 1   
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates how a first trader  90 , who is authorized to trade at a first exchange  102  and a second exchange  104 , obtains a delivery instrument and a proxy therefor. In particular, the first trader  90  deposits (shown by arrow  1 ) a quantity of a product at an issuer  106 , wherein the deposited product underlies futures contracts that are traded at the first exchange  102  and the second exchange  104 . The issuer  106  verifies that the deposited product meets the requirements for the product underlying the futures contract as specified by the first exchange  102 . The issuer  106  thereafter notifies the first exchange  102  of the deposit (arrow  2 ) and issues a delivery instrument to a first clearing firm  100  (arrow  3 ) where the first trader  90  has an account. In some cases, the issuer  106  provides the delivery instrument to the first trader  90  who thereafter provides it to the first clearing firm  100 . The delivery instrument may be a physical bearer receipt or an electronic receipt. If the delivery instrument is an electronic receipt, the first exchange  102  makes an entry in a database record associated with an account associated with the clearing firm  100  that indicates that the first trader  90  has deposited the quantity of product at the issuer  106 . The first clearing firm  100  also makes an entry noting the deposit in an account associated with the first trader  90 . If the first trader  90  wishes to use the delivery instrument to fulfill delivery obligations associated with trade conducted at the first exchange  102 , the first clearing firm  100  presents the delivery instrument to the first exchange  102  for authentication (arrow  5 ). The first exchange  102  verifies that the product represented by the delivery instrument meets the requirements defined in specifications established thereby and, typically, affixes an indicium to the delivery instrument that indicates an authenticated delivery instrument. The first exchange  102  returns the authenticated delivery instrument to the first clearing firm  100  (arrow  6 ). The first trader  90  may use the delivery instrument to fulfill delivery obligations associated with a sale of a futures contract at the first exchange  102 . 
     In some cases, the first trader  90  may also be an issuer  106 . For example, a grain facility or an energy producer may trade futures contracts and also provide physical delivery of products for fulfilling delivery obligations. In such cases, referring once again to  FIG. 1 , the first trader  90  provides the first clearing firm  100  with collateral as a guarantee that the first trader  90  is able to provide delivery of a quantity of a product (arrow  3 ). The first clearing firm  100  thereafter requests authenticated delivery instruments from the first exchange  102  (arrow  5 ) for the quantity of product guaranteed by the first trader  90 . The first clearing firm  100  may maintain the collateral provided by the issuer  106  or send the collateral to the first exchange  102 . The first exchange  102  issues authenticated delivery instruments (arrow  6 ). The first clearing firm  100  thereafter provides the authenticated delivery instruments to the second exchange  104  (arrow  7 ), which issues proxies therefor (arrow  8 ). The collateral provided by the issuer  106  (that is also the first trader  90 ) may be a letter of credit, an inventory report, or another indication that the issuer  106  is able to deliver product when necessary. 
     If the first trader  90  seeks to use the product deposited at the issuer  106  to fulfill delivery obligations associated with trades of futures contracts on either the first exchange  102  or the second exchanges  104 , the first clearing firm  100  provides the delivery instrument to the second exchange  104  (arrow  7 ). Thereafter, the second exchange  104  verifies the authenticity of the delivery instrument and issues a proxy for the delivery instrument to the first clearing firm  100  (arrow  8 ). Typically, the proxy is an entry in a database record that is used to track an account associated with the first clearing firm  100  at the second exchange  104  or at a clearinghouse. The database notation for the proxy typically comprises a digital signature or other authentication data that an exchange uses to authenticate the notation. In some cases, the first trader  90  may wish to make deliveries on trades conducted at the first exchange  102  and at the second exchange  104  using the product previously deposited at the issuer  106 . In such cases, the first trader  90  provides the receipt associated with the previously deposited product to the first clearing firm  100 , which then undertakes authenticating the receipt and obtaining a proxy described in the foregoing. 
       FIG. 2  shows how a delivery obligation for the first trader  90  associated with a sale of a futures contract on the second exchange  104  is fulfilled. Specifically, suppose that the first trader  90  has sold a futures contract to a second trader  202  on the second exchange  104 , for example, by using an electronic platform provided by the second exchange  104  or by participating in an open outcry auction. The first trader  90  notifies the first clearing firm  100  associated therewith of a desire to initiate delivery (arrow  1 ). The first clearing firm  100  notifies a clearinghouse  206  (arrow  2 ) that the first trader  90  seeks to initiate delivery. The clearinghouse  206  notifies the first clearing firm  100  and a clearing firm  208  that is associated with the second trader  202  (i.e., the buyer) with pertinent details regarding the delivery (arrows  4   a  and  4   b ). Such pertinent details include the identities of the first and second clearing firms,  100  and  208  respectively, the quantity of the underlying product to be delivered, and the amount of money to be paid for the product. Typically, the amount of money that is paid for the product is the settlement price of the futures contract established on the day the first trader  90  declares the intent to deliver. The pertinent details may also include the location where the delivery is to occur and a time by when delivery must be completed, The second clearing firm  208  notifies the second trader  202  (arrow  5 ) that the first trader  90  intends to deliver (arrow  5 ). The first clearing firm  100  thereafter forwards an invoice to the second clearing firm  208  (arrow  6 ) based on the details provided by the clearinghouse  206 . The second clearing firm  208  sends payment for the amount due per the invoice to the first clearing firm  100  (arrow  7 ). The payment may be in the form of a bank draft, a certified check, an electronic transfer of funds, or another payment instrument the first clearing firm  100  is able to accept. After receiving the payment, the first clearing firm  100  sends a request to the second exchange  104  that the proxy for the delivery instrument be transferred to the second clearing firm  208  (arrow  8 ). Specifically, the first clearing firm  100  generates a message that includes the proxy data and information identifying the trade being settled and sends the message to the second exchange  104 . The first clearing firm  100  thereafter adjusts the account of the first trader  90  to indicate the transfer of the product represented by the proxy. The second exchange  104  validates the messages sent by the first clearing firm  100  and deletes the entry associated with the proxy in an account associated with the first clearing firm  100  and creates an entry for the proxy in an account associated with the second clearing firm  208 . The second exchange  104  then sends a message to the second clearing firm  208  notifying the second clearing firm  208  that ownership of the proxy has been transferred (arrow  9 ) and that delivery obligations of the first trader  90  and the second trader  202  have been fulfilled. In some embodiments, the first clearing firm  100  does not wait for the payment to be received from the second clearing firm  208  before sending the request to the second exchange  104  that the proxy be transferred to the second clearing firm  208 . In some cases, the first clearing firm  100  sends the message to the second exchange  104  requesting the transfer of the proxy before the second firm  208  provides payment. In other cases, the first clearing firm  100  sends the request for the transfer of the proxy and the second clearing firm  208  provides payment concurrently. In some embodiments, a system at the second exchange  104  monitors the activity between the clearinghouse  206  and the first and second clearing houses,  100  and  208 , respectively, and automatically initiates the transfer of the proxy. As noted above, typically, the communications between the entities that participate in the delivery process are transmissions of messages between systems operated between such entities. In some cases, a staff member at one entity may communicate directly with a staff member at another entity to facilitate the delivery process. In addition, a staff member at an entity may instruct a system at the entity to send a message to a system at another entity. 
     Upon receiving the message from the second exchange  104  that the proxy has been transferred, the second clearing firm  208  creates, in a database thereof, an entry in a record that is associated with the second trader  202  that indicates that the second trader  202  owns the underlying product associated with the proxy. Typically, the clearinghouse  206  operates systems that track the accounts of clearing firms and clearing firms operate system that track accounts of traders associated therewith. Further, a clearing firm communicates with other clearing firms, exchanges, and clearinghouses on behalf of traders associated with the clearing firm. 
     Once the entry for the proxy has been made to the account of the second trader  202 , the second trader may use the proxy to effectuate delivery on an obligation due to another trade made by the second trader  202 . If the second trader  202  seeks to obtain possession of the good represented by the electronic proxy, the second trader  202  notifies the second clearing firm  208  (arrow  11 ) of the need for physical delivery. The second clearing firm generates and sends a message to the second exchange  104  (arrow  12 ) notifying the second exchange  104  that the second trader  202  seeks physical delivery. The second exchange  104  sends a message to the issuer  106  to provide physical delivery to the second trader  202  (arrow  13 ). Thereafter second trader  202 , or a representative thereof, may claim the physically delivery from the issuer  106  of the product represented by the proxy (arrow  14 ). The issuer notifies the second exchange  104  that the underlying good has been transferred to the second trader (arrow  15 ), and the second exchange  104  nullifies the proxy associated with the underlying good and the delivery instrument represented by the proxy. 
       FIG. 3  shows how the first trader  90  may use the proxy obtained from the second exchange  104  to deliver on an obligation associated with a trade made with the second trader  202  on the first exchange  102 . In particular, the first trader  90  notifies the first clearing firm  100  of a desire to initiate delivery (arrow  1 ). The first clearing firm  100  notifies the clearinghouse  206  (arrow  2 ) that the first trader  90  seeks to initiate delivery. The clearinghouse  206  notifies the first clearing firm  100  and the clearing firm  208  with pertinent details regarding the delivery (arrows  4   a  and  4   b ) as described hereinabove. The second clearing firm  208  notifies the second trader  202  (arrow  5 ) that the first trader  90  intends to deliver. The first clearing firm  100  thereafter forwards an invoice to the second clearing firm  208  (arrow  6 ) based on the amount to be paid as provided by the clearinghouse  206 . The second clearing firm  208  then pays the amount due per the invoice to the first clearing firm  100  (arrow  7 ). Upon receiving payment, the first clearing firm  100  sends a request to the second exchange  104  that the proxy for the underlying product be converted into a delivery instrument (arrow  8 ). The second exchange  104  provides the delivery instrument associated with the proxy to the first clearing firm  100  (arrow  9 ). In some embodiments, the delivery instrument is the delivery instrument that the first clearing firm  100  provided to the second exchange  104  (at arrow  7  of  FIG. 1 ) to obtain the proxy (at arrow  8  of  FIG. 1 ). In other embodiments, the delivery instrument is equivalent to or fungible with the delivery instrument that the first clearing firm  100  provided to the second exchange  104  (at arrow  7  of  FIG. 1 ) to obtain the proxy (at arrow  8  of  FIG. 1 ). Referring once again to  FIG. 3 , the second exchange  104  adjusts the account of the first clearing firm  100  to indicate that the proxy has been replaced by the delivery instrument and nullifies the proxy. The first clearing firm  100  provides the delivery instrument to the second clearing firm  208  (arrow  10 ). If the delivery instrument is an electronic delivery instrument then the first clearing firm  100  generates and transmits a message to the second clearing firm  208  that requests the transfer of the electronic delivery instrument. If the delivery instrument is a paper bearer receipt or another physical delivery instrument, the first clearing firm  100  typically couriers the delivery instrument to the second clearing firm  208 . The second clearing firm makes an entry in the account of the second trader  202  that the second trader  202  owns the underlying product associated with the delivery instrument. 
     If the second trader  202  wishes to take physical possession of the product associated with the delivery instrument and if the delivery instrument is a paper bearer receipt or equivalent, the second clearing firm  208  sends the delivery instrument to the second trader  202  (arrow  11 ). The second trader  202  thereafter surrenders the delivery instrument to the issuer  106  (arrow  12 ) and, in exchange, the issuer  106  provides the underlying product to the second trader  202  (arrow  13 ). In some embodiments, the second clearing firm  208  sends either a physical delivery instrument or an electronic delivery instrument to the issuer  106  (arrow  14 ) directly with identifying information about the second trader  202 . The second trader  202 , or a representative thereof, may thereafter appear at the issuer  106  to take possession of the product represented by the delivery instrument. 
     Referring once again to  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, the first trader  90  sends the delivery instrument to a registrar (not shown) instead of the second exchange  104  and the registrar issues the proxy. In such embodiments, the registrar, instead of an exchange, validates the proxy and exchanges the proxy with a delivery instrument as described in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Typically, the registrar is affiliated with the second exchange  104 , the issuer  106 , and/or the clearinghouse  206 . 
     When the registrar receives the original delivery instrument and issues the electronic proxy, notations are made on the appropriate clearing firm&#39;s account. When a clearing firm wishes to receive either an electronic or paper delivery instrument in exchange for the electronic proxy, the clearing firm returns the electronic proxy to the registrar. The registrar issues the delivery instrument, cancels the proxy, and makes the appropriate notations within the clearing firm&#39;s account. The registrar maintains the original delivery instruments that are deposited, and exchanges the original delivery instruments for electronic proxies, and redistributes the delivery instruments when the electronic proxies are turned in. 
     Although the use of a delivery instrument and a proxy therefor are described in connection with delivery obligations associated with a futures contract, it should be apparent such delivery instruments and proxies may be used for deliveries associated with any other type of contractual obligation including over-the-counter (cash) trades, currency, foreign exchange, securities, equities, energy, general commodities, etc. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims are reserved.