Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20070240053?dq=patent:4807115
Timestamp: 2017-04-27 10:26:48
Document Index: 381721258

Matched Legal Cases: ['application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', 'application No. 60', '§ 1', '§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 112', '§ 112']

Patent US20070240053 - Systems and methods for providing dynamic price axes - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsThe invention relates to systems and methods that provide a user interface for use with an electronic trading system. The interface displays a bid price axis and an ask price axis, as well as corresponding sizes, and an indication of the inside market. When the inside market changes in response to changing...http://www.google.com/patents/US20070240053?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20070240053 - Systems and methods for providing dynamic price axesAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS20070240053 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 11/608,303Publication dateOct 11, 2007Filing dateDec 8, 2006Priority dateJul 29, 2004Also published asCA2574979A1, EP1782378A2, EP1782378A4, US8671044, US20070271171, WO2006015336A2, WO2006015336A3, WO2006015336A9Publication number11608303, 608303, US 2007/0240053 A1, US 2007/240053 A1, US 20070240053 A1, US 20070240053A1, US 2007240053 A1, US 2007240053A1, US-A1-20070240053, US-A1-2007240053, US2007/0240053A1, US2007/240053A1, US20070240053 A1, US20070240053A1, US2007240053 A1, US2007240053A1InventorsHoward Lutnick, Kevin Foley, Joseph Noviello, Michael SweetingOriginal AssigneeLutnick Howard W, Foley Kevin M, Noviello Joseph C, Michael SweetingExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (27), Referenced by (19), Classifications (4), Legal Events (1) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystems and methods for providing dynamic price axes
US 20070240053 A1Abstract
The invention relates to systems and methods that provide a user interface for use with an electronic trading system. The interface displays a bid price axis and an ask price axis, as well as corresponding sizes, and an indication of the inside market. When the inside market changes in response to changing market conditions, the indication of the inside market changes locations before being restored to its original location by shifting the bid and ask prices in a direction parallel to the bid or ask price axis. The user may enter trade commands at different price levels using an input device. In order to help prevent such trade commands from being entered at erroneous price levels, the system locks a pointer associated with the input device to a price the user points to during the shifting process, unless the pointer is moved away from that price. Images(9) Claims(29)
1. A method for displaying market information for an item, the method comprising: displaying on a user interface a plurality of bid prices along a first axis and a plurality of ask prices along a second axis; displaying on the user interface an indication of an inside market in a first location along the first and second axes; when the inside market changes from a first bid price and a first ask price to at least one of a second bid price and a second ask price, displaying the indication of the inside market in a second location along the first and second axes; and shifting the plurality of bid prices along the first axis and the plurality of ask prices along the second axis to restore the indication of the inside market to the first location. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second axis is parallel to the first axis. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second axis are the same axis. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second axes are curved axes. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when the inside market changes from a first bid price and a first ask price to at least one of a second bid price and a second ask price, displaying at least one additional price along the first or second axis, the at least one additional price comprising the second bid or ask price. 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, when shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices, displaying along the first and second axes one or more bid and ask prices that were not previously displayed on the user interface. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices comprises shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices on a pixel by pixel basis within the user interface. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the plurality of bid and ask prices comprises: displaying the plurality of bid prices in a first plurality of cells that are aligned along the first axis; and displaying the plurality of ask prices in a second plurality of cells that are aligned along the second axis. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices comprises transitioning the plurality of bid and ask prices on a cell by cell basis. 10. The method of claim 8 wherein shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices on a cell by cell basis comprises transitioning the plurality of cells substantially simultaneously. 11. The method of claim 8 wherein shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices on a cell by cell basis comprises transitioning the first and second plurality of prices substantially simultaneously from one cell to another. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices occurs at a particular speed. 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said speed is set by a user of an electronic trading system that comprises the user interface. 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said speed is based on market activity. 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said speed decreases when a user of the user interface enters a command to trade the item. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices occurs at a slower speed when a pointer associated with an input device is pointing to one of the plurality of bid and ask prices than when the pointer is not pointing to any of the plurality of bid and ask prices. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein, when the inside market changes, at least one of the plurality of prices displayed changes locations between the first and the second axes within the user interface. 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a command to trade the item from a user. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the command comprises a selection of at least one of the plurality of prices displayed in the first and second axes. 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the command relates to a particular size of the item at a selected price. 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the command comprises an order selected from the group consisting of a bid, an ask, a buy and a sell. 22. The method of claim 18 wherein the command is received through an input device selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a trackball, a game controller, a touch pad and a keyboard. 23. The method of claim 1 further comprising, substantially at the same time as shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices, repositioning a pointer associated with an input device on the user interface such that the pointer is pointing to a price previously pointed to prior to the change in the inside market. 24. The method of claim 23 further comprising ceasing to reposition the pointer when the pointer is moved away from the price pointed to. 25. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on the user interface a plurality of sizes along a third axis that is parallel to the first axis, wherein at least one of the plurality of sizes corresponds to at least one order on the item for a price displayed in a location along the first axis that is aligned with a location of the at least one of the plurality of sizes. 26. The method of claim 25 further comprising displaying on the user interface a second plurality of sizes along a fourth axis that is parallel to the second axis, wherein at least one of the second plurality of sizes corresponds to at least one order on the item for a price displayed in a location along the second axis that is aligned with a location of the at least one of the second plurality of sizes. 27. A method for displaying market information for an item, the method comprising: displaying on a user interface a plurality of bid prices along a first axis and a plurality of ask prices along a second axis; displaying on the user interface an indication of an inside market in a first location along the first and second axes; when the inside market changes from a first bid price and a first ask price to at least one of a second bid price and a second ask price, displaying the indication of the inside market in a second location along the first and second axes; following the displaying of the indication of the inside market in the second location, shifting the plurality of bid prices along the first axis and the plurality of ask prices along the second axis; and substantially at the same time as shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices, repositioning a pointer associated with an input device on the user interface such that the pointer is pointing to a price previously pointed to prior to the change in the inside market. 28. A system for displaying market information for an item, the system comprising a server adapted to distribute a plurality of bid and ask prices associated with the item to a plurality of workstations that are coupled to the server, each of the plurality of workstations displaying a user interface and being adapted to: display on the user interface a plurality of bid prices along a first axis and a plurality of ask prices along a second axis; display on the user interface an indication of the inside market in a first location along the first and second axes; when the inside market changes from a first bid price and a first ask price to at least one of a second bid price and a second ask price, display the indication of the inside market in a second location along the first and second axes; and shift the plurality of bid prices along the first axis and the plurality of ask prices along the second axis to restore the indication of the inside market to the first location. 29. A system for displaying market information for an item, the system comprising a server adapted to distribute a plurality of bid and ask prices associated with the item to a plurality of workstations that are coupled to the server, each of the plurality of workstations displaying a user interface, having an input device and being adapted to: display on the user interface a plurality of bid prices along a first axis and a plurality of ask prices along a second axis; display on the user interface an indication of the inside market in a first location along the first and second axes; when the inside market changes from a first bid price and a first ask price to at least one of a second bid price and a second ask price, display the indication of the inside market in a second location along the first and second axes; following the displaying of the indication of the inside market in the second location, shift the plurality of bid prices along the first axis and the plurality of ask prices along the second axis; and substantially at the same time as shifting the plurality of bid and ask prices, reposition a pointer associated with the input device on the user interface such that the pointer is pointing to a price previously pointed to prior to the change in the inside market. Description
[0001] The present application is continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US05/27320, filed Jul. 29, 2005; which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/592,415, filed Jul. 29, 2004; and U.S. provisional application No. 60/629,696, filed Nov. 19, 2004; and U.S. provisional application No. 60/653,056, filed Feb. 14, 2005; and U.S. provisional application No. 60/654,350, filed Feb. 18, 2005; and U.S. provisional application No. 60/678,383, filed May 5, 2005. [0002] Each of the above-referenced applications are incorporated by reference herein as part of the present disclosure for purposes of written descriptions and enablements only.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to electronic trading systems. More particularly, this invention relates to user interfaces and methods of use of user interfaces with electronic trading systems. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Much trading today involves some computer support, from simple information delivery to sophisticated trading systems that automate transactions of goods and services. Electronic trading systems and methods have gained widespread acceptance for trading of a wide variety of items ranging from financial instruments (such as stocks, bonds, currency, futures, options, etc.) to household goods (such as old records, antiques, wines, etc.). [0005] As electronic trading becomes more popular, an increasing number of traders are in need of new systems and methods to enter trade commands in a quick, efficient and accurate manner. In one method of electronic trading, bids and asks are submitted by traders to a trading system. Those bids and asks are then displayed by the trading system to other traders, and the other traders may then respond to the bids and asks by submitting sell (or hit) or buy (or lift) commands to the system. [0006] Some implementations of such systems and methods of electronic trading show a bid column, an ask column and a single price axis. Bid and ask quantities are associated with their respective prices which are displayed in standard increments. While straightforward, this approach fails to unambiguously convey the inside market to a user, especially when a trading interface displays static price axes. This is because the user's attention is drawn to changes in quantity rather than changes in price. Moreover, this approach fails to show trade activity that was occurring in real-time. [0007] Furthermore, market conditions change quickly as trades are executed at a fast pace. Price positions may therefore change rapidly and sometimes almost instantaneously. Users of such systems therefore face the risk of entering trade commands at erroneous price levels by, for example, using a mouse pointer to select a price that may have changed by the time the command is registered by the system. Such erroneous entries can lead to highly undesirable results in a rapidly changing market. Many such users are traders that track more than one active market by typically looking at multiple windows, interfaces or screens simultaneously, thereby increasing the likelihood that such erroneous entries occur. [0008] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods that clearly represent price fluctuations while ensuring quick, accurate and efficient execution of trades. [0009] It would also be desirable to provide a user interface for electronic trading that is intuitive whereby the inside market is represented to the user by a dynamic display of the bid/ask prices and their associated quantities. [0010] It would also be desirable to smoothly adjust the display of the bid/ask prices and their associated quantities while maintaining accurate and accessible axes for order entry at desired price levels. [0011] It would also be desirable to enable users to manipulate the user interface using any suitable input device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide systems and methods that clearly represent price fluctuations while ensuring quick, accurate and efficient execution of trades. [0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a user interface for electronic trading that is intuitive whereby the inside market is represented to the user by a dynamic display of the bid/ask prices and their associated quantities. [0014] It is yet another object of the invention to smoothly adjust the display of the bid/ask prices and their associated quantities while maintaining accurate and accessible axes for order entry at desired price levels. [0015] It is yet another object of the invention to enable users to manipulate the user interface using any suitable input device. [0016] These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with the principles of the invention by providing systems and methods for displaying market information for, and allowing for electronic trading in, items through a user interface. More specifically, some embodiments of the invention provide an interface for use with an electronic trading system that displays bid prices and ask prices, preferably along different axes that may or may not be parallel to one another. Alternatively, the bid and ask prices may be displayed along a single axis. Each bid or ask price level may be displayed in a particular cell along one such axis. The cells may be consecutively ordered according to the price levels displayed therein. The interface may display at least one additional axis that is parallel to one of the price axes for displaying size information alongside each corresponding price. In some embodiments of the invention, the interface may provide a bid size axis and an ask size axis. The interface may also provide an indication of the inside market—i.e., the best (highest) bid and best (lowest) ask prices for which size exists—which may be centered within the interface. Preferably, each price axis includes vertically aligned cells, each displaying a distinct price level, wherein the inside market is displayed relatively midway between the lowest bid price and the highest ask price. In order to facilitate viewing the inside market, the cell displaying the best bid price for which size exists is preferably displayed alongside or adjacent to the cell displaying the best ask price for which size exists. Accordingly, the inside market may be displayed along an axis that is parallel to the price axes. Preferably, the price and size axes are vertical axes whereas the axis along which the inside market is displayed is a horizontal axis. Alternatively, the price and size axes may be curved parallel or intersecting lines. For example, each axis may be in the shape of a substantially circular arc such that the trading interface represents at least a portion of, or a full, a circle or an ellipse. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the inside market is not displayed along a single axis. [0017] When the inside market changes in response to changing market conditions, its indication changes locations from a first location, preferably centered within the interface to a second location along the price axes. Preferably, when the inside market changes in response to changing market conditions, a first cell that was populated with the previous best price in one of the price axes (a first axis) remains populated with that price whereas a second cell that was unpopulated in the first axis is populated with the new best bid or ask price. Cells along the first axis that are located between the first and second cells may also be populated with prices that lie between the previous and new best prices. The first and second cells may be separated by any number N of cells that are populated with prices lying between the previous and new best prices in the first axis. A third cell in the other price axis (a second axis) that is adjacent to the first cell and that displayed the other best price is depopulated as well as N cells along the second axis that are adjacent to the cells that were recently populated in the first axis. The second cell in the first axis and a fourth cell adjacent to it in the second axis may display the new best prices, thereby indicating the new inside market, which will have been displaced from the center of the interface by N+1 cells along a direction that is parallel to the price axes. [0018] After the inside market changes and the indication of the new inside market is displayed in a location other than the center of the interface, the indication of the inside market may be restored to the center of the interface. This is accomplished by shifting the bid and ask prices in a direction parallel to the price axes in which they are displayed. More specifically, the shifting may be made on a cell by cell basis whereby all cells transition substantially simultaneously. Such shifting may therefore take place one row at a time whereby all rows transition substantially simultaneously. With each such transition, the number of populated cells in the first price axis may decrease whereas the number of populated cells in the other price axis may increase. In other embodiments of the present invention, the shifting may be made whereby the bid and ask prices transition substantially simultaneously from one cell to another. In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the shifting may occur at a rate that is greater than one row at a time. For example, the transitions may occur at a rate of two or more rows at a time. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the shifting may be substantially continuous—e.g., pixel by pixel—such that it is displayed in a manner that is relatively seamless. [0019] The speed at which the shifting occurs may be increased or decreased to the point of pausing or temporarily stopping the shifting process. Such speed may be defined by a user or may depend on user or market activity. During the shifting process, an appropriate method—e.g., highlighting, bolding, or any other suitable method—may be used to identify the inside market. If the inside market changes during the shifting process, the indication of the inside market may change substantially immediately—i.e., without transitioning through any intermediate rows—or at a predetermined rate to the price levels associated with the new inside market. The position of the inside market may be automatically recentered at any time or for any appropriate reason, such as through a user-entered command. [0020] Moreover, when the inside market changes in response to changing market conditions, at least one of the prices may change locations between the bid price axis and the ask price axis. The sizes of orders that were submitted before they are accepted (or rejected), the sizes of completed trades and/or the user's share of the total size may also be displayed. [0021] The user may use an input device to enter bid, ask, buy and sell orders and modify them before submission. Order entry regions may be displayed to the user to facilitate order submission. In some embodiments of the present invention, when a user moves a pointer to a cell that includes or is adjacent to a particular price, the system may lock the pointer to that price. That is, when the indication of the inside market shifts, the pointer may be repositioned such that it is pointing to the cell that includes or is adjacent to the same price, unless the user moves the pointer away from that cell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0022] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: [0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system that may be used to implement the processes and functions of certain embodiments of the present invention; [0024] FIGS. 2A-2E are illustrations of exemplary interactive displays that may be displayed to users in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; [0025] FIGS. 3A-3B are illustrations of alternative embodiments of exemplary interactive displays that may be displayed to users in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; [0026] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of exemplary interactive displays that may be displayed to users in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; and [0027] FIG. 5 is an illustration of another alternative embodiment of exemplary interactive displays that may be displayed to users in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0000] The following sections I-X provide a guide to interpreting the present application. [0028] I. Terms [0029] The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition of matter, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0030] The term “process” means any process, algorithm, method or the like, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0031] Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise) inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a “step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in the mere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficient antecedent basis. [0032] The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0033] The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “another embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0034] The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of the invention, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0035] A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise. [0036] The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0037] The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0038] The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0039] The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anything which may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0040] The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination of one or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” means either (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and a wheel. The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things does not mean “one of each of” the plurality of things. [0041] Numerical terms such as “one”, “two”, etc. when used as cardinal numbers to indicate quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), mean the quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at least the quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase “one widget” does not mean “at least one widget”, and therefore the phrase “one widget” does not cover, e.g., two widgets. [0042] The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describes both “based only on” and “based at least on”. The phrase “based at least on” is equivalent to the phrase “based at least in part on”. [0043] The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” do not mean “represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” describes both “the data represents only a credit card number” and “the data represents a credit card number and the data also represents something else”. [0044] The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other set of words that express only the intended result, objective or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when the term “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other words that the term “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim. [0045] The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus does not limit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over the Internet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are an example of “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and also explains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that the computer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “a data structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides “instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”. [0046] The term “respective” and like terms mean “taken individually”. Thus if two or more things have “respective” characteristics, then each such thing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can be different from each other but need not be. For example, the phrase “each of two machines has a respective function” means that the first such machine has a function and the second such machine has a function as well. The function of the first machine may or may not be the same as the function of the second machine. [0047] The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sends data (i.e., instructions) over the Internet”, the term “i.e.” explains that “instructions” are the “data” that the computer sends over the Internet. [0048] Any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numbers within the range. For example, the range “1 to 10” shall be interpreted to specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 9) and non-whole numbers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9). [0049] Where two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (e.g., because of an explicit statement that the terms or phrases are synonymous), instances of one such term/phrase does not mean instances of another such term/phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where a statement renders the meaning of “including” to be synonymous with “including but not limited to”, the mere usage of the phrase “including but not limited to” does not mean that the term “including” means something other than “including but not limited to”. [0050] II. Determining [0051] The term “determining” and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., to determine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meets a certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense. The term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like. [0052] The term “determining” does not imply certainty or absolute precision, and therefore “determining” can include estimating, extrapolating, predicting, guessing and the like. [0053] The term “determining” does not imply that mathematical processing must be performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be used, and does not imply that an algorithm or process is used. [0054] The term “determining” does not imply that any particular device must be used. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform the determining. [0055] III. Forms of Sentences [0056] Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as well as more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least one widget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where in a second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses a definite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”), this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature, and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of the feature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than one widget). [0057] When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unless expressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a “first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a “second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in importance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit to the features identified with the ordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate that there must be no more than two widgets. [0058] When a single device, article or other product is described herein, more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device/article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate). [0059] Similarly, where more than one device, article or other product is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described as being possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device/article. [0060] The functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality/features. [0061] IV. Disclosed Examples and Terminology Are Not Limiting [0062] Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of the present application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of the present application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). An Abstract has been included in this application merely because an Abstract of not more than 150 words is required under 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b). [0063] The title of the present application and headings of sections provided in the present application are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way. [0064] Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise. [0065] No embodiment of method steps or product elements described in the present application constitutes the invention claimed herein, or is essential to the invention claimed herein, or is coextensive with the invention claimed herein, except where it is either expressly stated to be so in this specification or expressly recited in a claim. [0066] All words in every claim have the broadest scope of meaning they would have been given by a person of ordinary skill in the art as of the priority date. No term used in any claim is specially defined or limited by this application except where expressly so stated either in this specification or in a claim. [0067] The preambles of the claims that follow recite purposes, benefits and possible uses of the claimed invention only and do not limit the claimed invention. [0068] The present disclosure is not a literal description of all embodiments of the invention(s). Also, the present disclosure is not a listing of features of the invention(s) which must be present in all embodiments. [0069] Devices that are described as in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine in communication with another machine via the Internet may not transmit data to the other machine for long period of time (e.g. weeks at a time). In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. [0070] A description of an embodiment with several components or features does not imply that all or even any of such components/features are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no component/feature is essential or required. [0071] Although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described or claimed in a particular sequential order, such processes may be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be explicitly described or claimed does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order possible. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention(s), and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred. [0072] Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred, essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required. [0073] Although a process may be described singly or without reference to other products or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact with other products or methods. For example, such interaction may include linking one business model to another business model. Such interaction may be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of the process. [0074] Although a product may be described as including a plurality of components, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, that does not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred, essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality. [0075] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, a PDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are mutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are comprehensive of any category. [0076] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are equivalent to each other or readily substituted for each other. [0077] All embodiments are illustrative, and do not imply that the invention or any embodiments were made or performed, as the case may be. [0078] V. Computing [0079] It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various processes described herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmed general purpose computers, special purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digital signal processors) will receive instructions (e.g., from a memory or like device), and execute those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes defined by those instructions. Instructions may be embodied in, e.g., one or more computer programs, one or more scripts. [0080] A “processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or like devices or any combination thereof, regardless of the architecture (e.g., chip-level multiprocessing/multi-core, RISC, CISC, Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages, pipelining configuration, simultaneous multithreading). [0081] Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of an apparatus for performing the process. The apparatus that performs the process can include, e.g., a processor and those input devices and output devices that are appropriate to perform the process. [0082] Further, programs that implement such methods (as well as other types of data) may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g., computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments, hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or in combination with, some or all of the software instructions that can implement the processes of various embodiments. Thus, various combinations of hardware and software may be used instead of software only. [0083] The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium, a plurality of the same, or a combination of different media, that participate in providing data (e.g., instructions, data structures) which may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read. [0084] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying data (e.g. sequences of instructions) to a processor. For example, data may be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over a wireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmitted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth□, and TCP/IP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G; and/or (iv) encrypted to ensure privacy or prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art. [0085] Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of a computer-readable medium storing a program for performing the process. The computer-readable medium can store (in any appropriate format) those program elements which are appropriate to perform the method. [0086] Just as the description of various steps in a process does not indicate that all the described steps are required, embodiments of an apparatus include a computer/computing device operable to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process. [0087] Likewise, just as the description of various steps in a process does not indicate that all the described steps are required, embodiments of a computer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include a computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, can cause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process. [0088] Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to those described may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations or descriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrative arrangements for stored representations of information. Any number of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g., tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content of the entries can be different from those described herein. Further, despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributed databases) could be used to store and manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implement various processes, such as the described herein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from a device which accesses data in such a database. [0089] Various embodiments can be configured to work in a network environment including a computer that is in communication (e.g., via a communications network) with one or more devices. The computer may communicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via any wired or wireless medium (e.g. the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, a telephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communications line, commercial on-line service providers, bulletin board systems, a satellite communications link, a combination of any of the above). Each of the devices may themselves comprise computers or other computing devices, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or Centrino™ processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any number and type of devices may be in communication with the computer. [0090] In an embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may not be necessary or desirable. For example, the present invention may, in an embodiment, be practiced on one or more devices without a central authority. In such an embodiment, any functions described herein as performed by the server computer or data described as stored on the server computer may instead be performed by or stored on one or more such devices. [0091] Where a process is described, in an embodiment the process may operate without any user intervention. In another embodiment, the process includes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or with the assistance of a human). [0092] VI. Continuing Applications [0093] The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, an enabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some of these embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the present application, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuing applications that claim the benefit of priority of the present application. [0094] Applicants intend to file additional applications to pursue patents for subject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but not claimed in the present application. [0095] VII. 35 U.S.C. § 112 paragrah 6 [0096] In a claim, a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, applies to that limitation. [0097] In a claim, a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase “means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whether that limitation recites a function without recitation of structure, material or acts for performing that function. For example, in a claim, the mere use of the phrase “step of” or the phrase “steps of” in referring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does not mean that 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s). [0098] With respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, the corresponding structure, material or acts described in the specification, and equivalents thereof, may perform additional functions as well as the specified function. [0099] Computers, processors, computing devices and like products are structures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such products can be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or more programs, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product or in a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expressly specified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particular algorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed in the present application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art that a specified function may be implemented via different algorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a mere design choice for carrying out the specified function. [0100] Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6, structure corresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed to perform the specified function. Such structure includes programmed products which perform the function, regardless of whether such product is programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing the function, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or (iii) a different algorithm for performing the function. [0101] Where there is recited a means for performing a function hat is a method, one structure for performing this method includes a computing device (e.g., a general purpose computer) that is programmed and/or configured with appropriate hardware to perform that function. [0000] Also includes a computing device (e.g., a general purpose computer) that is programmed and/or configured with appropriate hardware to perform that function via other algorithms as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. [0102] VIII. Disclaimer [0103] Numerous references to a particular embodiment does not indicate a disclaimer or disavowal of additional, different embodiments, and similarly references to the description of embodiments which all include a particular feature does not indicate a disclaimer or disavowal of embodiments which do not include that particular feature. A clear disclaimer or disavowal in the present application shall be prefaced by the phrase “does not include” or by the phrase “cannot perform”. [0104] IX. Incorporation By Reference [0105] Any patent, patent application or other document referred to herein is incorporated by reference into this patent application as part of the present disclosure, but only for purposes of written description in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 1 and enablement in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 1, and should in no way be used to limit, define, or otherwise construe any term of the present application where the present application, without such incorporation by reference, would not have failed to provide an ascertainable meaning, but rather would have allowed an ascertainable meaning for such term to be provided. Thus, the person of ordinary skill in the art need not have been in any way limited by any embodiments provided in the reference [0106] Any incorporation by reference does not, in and of itself, imply any endorsement of, ratification of or acquiescence in any statements, opinions, arguments or characterizations contained in any incorporated patent, patent application or other document, unless explicitly specified otherwise in this patent application. [0107] X. Prosecution History [0108] In interpreting the present application (which includes the claims), one of ordinary skill in the art shall refer to the prosecution history of the present application, but not to the prosecution history of any other patent or patent application, regardless of whether there are other patent applications that are considered related to the present application, and regardless of whether there are other patent applications that share a claim of priority with the present application. [0109] The invention is directed to systems and methods that provide a trading interface that displays market information showing greater levels of movement and trade activity than prior art systems and methods, and that have added functionality, are easier to use and more intuitive compared to prior art systems and methods. The invention is also directed to user input devices for receiving user input. More particularly, the invention relates to customizable interfaces and input devices having arrangements, labels, colorization, programmed functionalities, and the like, that allows any user—e.g., a broker, a trader or any other market participant—to view market activity such as bids and asks or offers placed on particular items, and enter, execute and view trades intuitively, quickly and accurately. A bid (or buy command) may include a bid price—i.e., a dollar amount proposed to buy an issue or item—and a bid size—i.e., the volume of the particular bid. Similarly, an ask or offer may include an ask or offer price—i.e., a dollar amount proposed to sell an issue or item—and an ask or offer size—i.e., the volume of the particular ask or offer. [0110] Further details of the invention are described below in relation to FIGS. 1-5. [0111] Referring to FIG. 1, exemplary system 100 for implementing the invention is shown. As illustrated, system 100 may include one or more workstations 110. Workstations 110 may be local or remote, and are connected by one or more communications links 102 to computer network 103 that is linked via communications link 105 to server 120. Server 120 may be linked to back office clearing center 130 via communications link 107. [0112] Server 120 may be any suitable server, processor, computer, data processing device, or combination of the same. Server 120 may be used to implement the governing logic that processes and executes orders and trades, and distributes trade and market information, including price and size information, to workstations 110. Computer network 103 preferably includes the Internet but may consist of any suitable computer network such as an intranet, a wide-area network (WAN), a local-area network (LAN), a wireless network, a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, a frame relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, a virtual private network (VPN), or any combination of the same. Communications links 102 and 105 may be any communications links suitable for communicating data between workstations 110 and server 120, such as network links, dial-up links, wireless links, hard-wired links, etc. [0113] Workstations 110 may be personal computers, laptop computers, mainframe computers, dumb terminals, data displays, Internet browsers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), two-way pagers, wireless terminals, portable telephones, etc., or any combination of the same. Workstations 110 may be used by participants to enter bid, ask, buy and sell orders for the items being traded and view market activity corresponding to these items. [0114] A typical workstation 110 may include processor 111, display 112, input device 113, and memory 114, which may be interconnected. In a preferred embodiment, memory 114 includes a storage device for storing a workstation program for controlling processor 111. Memory 114 may also store user configuration files, as described below, and other data on the storage device. The workstation program may include a trading application for running the trading interfaces shown in FIGS. 2-5 and displayed on display 112. Input device 113 may be used in conjunction with display 112 by users to enter bids/asks on desired items and to execute and monitor trades. Processor 111 may use the workstation program to receive trade information relating to the items being traded by multiple users of system 100, or other users, and display such information on display 112 or communicate such information to display 112. [0115] Server 120 may include processor 121, display 122, input device 123, and memory 124, which may be interconnected. In a preferred embodiment, memory 124 includes a storage device for storing a server program that provides the governing logic for controlling processor 121. Processor 121 may use the server program to process orders and execute trades communicated from various workstations that are operated by multiple users of system 100, or other users, and communicate trade information, as well as bid and ask information, to workstations 110 and back office clearing center 130. More specifically, processor 121 may use the server program to process orders placed by users in response to users entering commands using input device(s) 113, and execute trades based on such orders, whenever applicable. [0116] Back office clearing center 130 may be any suitable equipment, such as a computer, a laptop computer, a mainframe computer, etc., or any combination of the same, for causing trades to be settled and/or verifying that trades are settled. Communications link 107 may be any communications links suitable for communicating data between server 120 and back office clearing center 130, such as network links, dial-up links, wireless links, hard-wired links, etc. [0117] FIGS. 2-5 illustrate user interfaces that may be implemented by and displayed on system 100 of FIG. 1, in accordance with the principles of the invention. For example, FIGS. 2-5 illustrate interactive displays and portions thereof that may be shown on display 112 and manipulated using input device 113. [0118] FIGS. 2A-2E show a trading interface according to the invention that may be associated with electronic trading of financial instruments, such as interest-rate-related instruments, derivates thereof, or any other instruments and/or items. More specifically, FIGS. 2A-2E show interactive display 200 of a market at different times. While interactive display 200 shows multiple vertical axes or columns, it should be noted that the scope of the invention includes horizontal axes, curved axes and any other suitable axes or display regions. Moreover, the multiple axes discussed may be combined in a single axes that displays at least bid and ask prices. The same axis, or alternatively other axes, may display additional information such as sizes associated with these prices. [0119] Interactive display 200 preferably includes a bid size column 210 on a first axis, an ask size column 220 on a second axis, a bid price column 230 on a third axis and an ask price column 240 on a fourth axis. Bid price column 230 and bid size column 210 represent the bid side of interface 200 while ask price column 240 and ask size column 220 represent the ask side of interface 200. Each of price columns 230 and 240 may include several cells, each of which displaying a particular price level. The cells may be consecutively ordered according to the price levels displayed therein. Each cell may or may not have a displayed border, including horizontal and/or vertical edges. Bid size column 210 preferably includes cells that display the sizes of bids available at the corresponding prices shown in bid price column 230. Similarly, ask size column 220 preferably includes cells that display the sizes of asks available at the corresponding prices shown in ask price column 240. A size corresponding to a particular price may be displayed in a cell that is adjacent to the cell displaying that price. A visual indicator may be used to accentuate the difference between columns associated with bids and asks. For example, bid size column 210 and/or bid price column 230 may be colored differently than ask size column 220 and/or ask price column 240. [0120] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, each size cell may display at least two numbers: one denoting the size that was already accepted by the system, and one denoting the sizes of orders that were submitted before they are accepted (or rejected) by the system. The latter may represent the size in which the user participates or is interested. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention, the at least two numbers may be combined and a visual indicator may be used to indicate that the total size displayed includes both sizes mentioned above. [0121] In some embodiments of the present invention, at least two columns may be displayed: one associated with the bid prices and another associated with the ask prices. The bid column may additionally display bid sizes associated with the bid prices, whereas the ask column may display sizes that are associated with the ask prices. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, a third column including sizes may be displayed such that the size associated with a bid price is displayed adjacent to that bid price and, similarly, such that the size associated with an ask price is displayed adjacent to that ask price. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate such embodiments. [0122] FIGS. 3A and 3B show alternative trading interfaces according to the invention. More specifically, FIGS. 3A and 3B show interactive displays 300A and 300B, respectively, that preferably each include a bid price column 330 on a first axis and an ask price column 340 on a second axis. Each of these interactive displays may additionally include a size column that displays sizes corresponding to the prices in the bid and ask columns. For example, the cells in size column 315 of FIG. 3A that are adjacent to and horizontally aligned with—i.e., along the same horizontal level as—the cells in ask price column 340 display ask sizes that correspond to these prices, and the sizes displayed therein may be vertically aligned and offset to a particular side of column 315. The cells that are horizontally aligned with the cells in bid price column 330 display bid sizes that correspond to these prices, and the sizes displayed therein may be vertically aligned and offset to the opposite side of column 315. Alternatively, the bid and ask sizes may all be vertically aligned along the size column, as shown in size column 325 of interactive display 300B of FIG. 3B. [0123] An indication of the inside market is shown by area 306 in each of FIGS. 3A and 3B. Area 306 may include a box that surrounds the cells displaying the inside market, thereby emphasizing the best bid and best ask in each of interactive displays 330A and 300B. Area 306 may be highlighted or its edges colored. While area 306 is indicated by a box, the indication may be provided using a reverse highlighting of the inside market or other suitable visual indicator or method, such as displaying the best prices and corresponding sizes in an underlined, italicized and/or bold fashion and/or using a unique or different font or font size. Alternatively, that no higher bids or lower asks are displayed may be a sufficient indication of the inside market instead of a physical visual indicator. [0124] Preferably, the bid and ask price cells, as well as corresponding size cells, displaying the inside market are displayed along an axis that is parallel to price columns 330 and 340. Accordingly, the best bid and ask prices for which sizes exist may be displayed along the same horizontal level as the cell displaying the corresponding sizes to facilitate viewing the inside market. Therefore, the inside market may be displayed along a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axes along which prices and sizes are displayed. If the bid price column is displayed to the right of the ask price column, then the size that is offset to the right in the size column may correspond to a bid size whereas the size that is offset to the left may correspond to an ask size. [0125] Referring back to FIG. 2A-2E, an indication of the inside market is shown by areas 206A, 206B, 206C, 206D and 206E at different stages that occur pursuant to a change in the inside market. For example, each of areas 206A, 206B, 206C, 206D and 206E may include a box that surrounds the cells displaying the inside market on interactive display 200, thereby emphasizing the best bid and best ask in interactive display 200. Areas 206A, 206B, 206C, 206D and 206E may be highlighted or their edges colored. While each one of areas 206A, 206B, 206C, 206D and 206E is indicated by a box, the indication may be provided using a reverse highlighting of the inside market or other suitable visual indicator or method, such as displaying the best prices and corresponding sizes in an underlined, italicized and/or bold fashion and/or using a unique or different font or font size. [0126] Alternatively, the fact that the highest displayed bid price is 14 and the lowest displayed ask price is 15 is an indication of an inside market having best bid-ask prices 14-15. It should be noted that there could be a difference of more than one increment between the highest displayed bid price and the lowest displayed ask price. This may be because the best bid price for which size exist is significantly lower than the best ask price for which size exists. For example, if all sizes entered at prices 13, 14 and 15 were canceled, the inside market would be 12-16. In such a situation, the best bid of 12 could be displayed on the same horizontal level as the best ask of 16. Alternatively, the best bid of 12 could be shown at a different horizontal level than the best ask of 16 whereby the horizontal levels corresponding to prices 13-15 are between the best bid and the best offer, yet show no size associated therewith. [0127] The bid and ask price cells, as well as corresponding size cells, displaying the inside market may be displayed along an axis that is not parallel to price and size columns 210, 220, 230 and 240. Accordingly, the best bid price for which size exist is preferably displayed alongside or adjacent to the cell displaying the best ask price for which size exists to facilitate viewing the inside market. Accordingly, the inside market may be displayed along a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axes along which prices and sizes are displayed. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the inside market is not displayed along an axis that is perpendicular to the price axes. For example, the inside market may be displayed along a single price axis, as shown in FIG. 4, or not, as shown in FIG. 5. [0128] The inside market may initially include bid size 5, available at best bid price 14, and ask size 37, available at best ask price 15, as shown in area 206A of FIG. 2A. The inside market in area 206A is preferably displayed relatively midway between the lowest bid price and the highest ask price shown in interactive display 200. Accordingly, the inside market may be initially centered within interactive display 200, as shown in FIG. 2A. As market conditions and the inside market change, the location of the inside market may change along the price and size columns before shifting back to the center of interactive display 200 along with the rest of the displayed bid and ask prices and sizes. [0129] FIG. 2B shows a change in the inside market shown in interactive display 200 as follows. As the inside market changes from best bid-ask prices of 14-15 to 17-18 and displayed in area 206B, the cells between areas 207B and 206B that are associated with bid prices and/or sizes may be populated while adjacent cells that are associated with ask prices and/or sizes may be depopulated. Moreover, the cells on the bid side of area 207B may remain populated with the same prices displayed on the buy side of area 206A of FIG. 2A, while the cells on the ask side of area 207B may be depopulated. The new inside market may include bid size 13, available at best bid price 17, and ask size 56, available at best ask price 18, as shown in area 206B of FIG. 2E. Such a change in the inside market may be due to a higher bid being entered and accepted at price 17 through system 100 of FIG. 1. [0130] Generally, when the inside market changes in response to changing market conditions, it changes locations from a first location—e.g., along the center of the interface—to a second location along the price columns. Preferably, a first cell that was populated with the previous best price in the first price column remains populated with that price whereas a second cell that was unpopulated in the first price column is populated with the new best price. Cells along the first price column that are located between the first and second cell may also be populated with prices that lie between the previous and new best prices that pertain to that column. A third cell in the second price column that is adjacent to the first cell and that displayed the other previous best price is depopulated as well as other cells along that price column that are adjacent to the cells that were recently populated in the first price column. The second cell in the first price column and a fourth cell adjacent to it in the second price column may display the new best bid and ask prices, thereby indicating the new inside market, which will have been displaced from the center by at least one row of cells. The indication of the inside market may or may not initially transition from a first location to a second location one row at a time. [0131] After the inside market changes and the new inside market is displayed in the second location—e.g., other than the center of interactive display 200—the inside market may shift back to the center of interactive display 200. Such a shifting process may be in the form of a transition in the location of the prices and sizes pertaining to the inside market. FIGS. 2C-2E show such a shifting process according to some embodiments of the present invention as follows. After the inside market 17-18 is displayed in area 206B as shown in FIG. 2B, the location of the inside market may transition to area 206C as shown in FIG. 2C, then to area 206D as shown in FIG. 2D, before transitioning back to, and being recentered at, area 206E as shown in FIG. 2E, which has a location that corresponds to that of area 206A of FIG. 2A. [0132] At each step of the transitioning process, an appropriate method—e.g., highlighting, bolding, or any other suitable method—may be used to identify the inside market. Such a transitioning process may occur one row at a time at a speed that may be suitable for, e.g., a trader using a system that displays such a trading screen. The speed at which the transition may occur may be increased or, alternatively, decreased to the point of pausing or temporarily stopping the transitioning process. Such speed may be defined by a user or may depend on user or market activity. For example, as the user places an order during the shifting process, the transitioning process may slow down or temporarily pause (or proceed in a discernibly stepped fashion). This may occur for any order placed by the user or any other user during the shifting process or may occur when orders are entered at specific price levels. The shifting process may be accompanied by a corresponding shift in the location of all other prices and sizes in the price and size columns through transitions similar to the ones described above. With each such transition, the number of populated cells in the corresponding price and size columns may decrease. For example, columns 210 and 230 of FIG. 2B may include a larger number of populated cells than they previously included in FIG. 2A. Also, columns 210 and 230 of FIG. 2B may include a larger number of populated cells than they may subsequently include in each of FIGS. 2C, 2D and 2E. At the conclusion of the shifting process, columns 210 and 230 of FIG. 2E may include the same number of populated cells that they included in FIG. 2A. [0133] The shifting process may be made in a direction parallel to the price and size columns. More specifically, each transition may be made on a cell by cell basis whereby all cells transition substantially simultaneously such that the location of each cell is replaced by another. Such a shifting process may therefore take place one row at a time whereby all rows transition substantially simultaneously. With each such transition, the number of populated cells in the first price column may decrease whereas the number of populated cells in the second price column may increase. In other embodiments of the present invention, the shifting may be made whereby the bid and ask prices transition substantially simultaneously from one cell to another. In such a situation, the cells shown in FIGS. 2A-2E may remain in the same location whereas the prices displayed therein may change locations or transition from one cell to another. In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the shifting process may occur at a rate that is greater than one row at a time. For example, the transitions may occur at a rate of two or more rows at a time. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the shifting process may be substantially continuous—e.g., pixel by If the inside market changes during the shifting process, the indication of the inside market may be shifted substantially immediately—i.e., without transitioning through any intermediate rows—or may transition at a predetermined rate to the price levels associated with the new inside market. [0134] Alternatively, a user may take a particular action, such as clicking on area 206A (or 207B or 207C or 207D or 206E) in order to recenter the location of the inside market. The position of the inside market may be automatically recentered at any time or for any appropriate reason. [0135] In yet another alternative embodiment of the recentering function according to the invention, recentering may be implemented according to a ratio. In this embodiment, the position of the inside market is not recentered to the center of the screen but rather offset from the center of the screen by some proportion to the change of the inside market. For example, the center line of the display, and consequently the display of the inside market, preferably shifts up a ¼ of a cell's height or other suitable amount for every tick that the inside market moves from the original—i.e., at the time the participant's trading session started, or other [0136] Thus, in the examples discussed above, columns 230 and 240 of FIGS. 2A-2E, as well as columns 330 and 340 of FIGS. 3A and 3B may be dynamic in that they may change based on changing market conditions. For example, both price columns 230 and 240 change based on a change in the inside market. The changes in the price columns may be characterized by a change in the location of a displayed price from one column to the other, or within the same column. The changes may also be characterized by a decrease in the number of populated cells that are displayed in one column and a corresponding increase in the number of populated cells that are displayed in the other column. Moreover, the position on the display may also change based on such changes in market conditions. Thus, it can be seen that, unlike other systems that use a common static price axis, some embodiments of the current systems use dual dynamic price axes. [0137] Typically, in conventional trading systems, users enter their respective commands by typing the price and size in particular fields on an interactive display. Interactive trading according to the invention may be implemented by using input device 113 of FIG. 1 to enter an order as follows. Input device 113 of FIG. 1 may be a mouse, a trackball, a game controller, a touch pad, a keyboard, any combination of the same or any suitable input device(s) that the user may use to enter orders. Preferably, a user may for example enter a buy at price 8 (as illustrated in bid price column 230) by at least moving a pointer to cell 208 and clicking on that cell. Such an order may be entered as an additional bid at price 8, and the size displayed in the adjacent cell pertaining to bid size column 210 may be adjusted to take into account the size entered by the user. [0138] Alternatively, a user may hit the bid—i.e., enter a sell—at price 8 by at least moving the pointer to and clicking on cell 209. Similarly, a user may enter a sell at price 18 (as illustrated in ask price column 240) by at least moving the pointer to and clicking on cell 211. Such an order may be entered as an additional ask at price 18, and the size displayed in the adjacent cell pertaining to ask size column 220 may be adjusted to take into account the size entered by the user. A user may lift the ask—i.e., enter a buy—at price 18 by at least moving the pointer to and clicking on cell 212. [0139] The user may set a default size that he or she may subsequently modify using any appropriate method, such that each time the user enters an order at a selected price, the order is entered for the default size unless the user changes it. Alternatively, if a user is utilizing an input device having at least two buttons—e.g., a left click button and a right click button—the user may use one of the buttons to enter an order for a default size or use the other button to enter another size—e.g., a different default size—or choose a size, price, order type, or any combination of the same from a display window, dialog box, popup menu, toolbar, pane, command line or any other suitable trading interface. Moreover, if the user is utilizing an input device having scrolling capabilities, such as a wheel, the user may increase or decrease the default size by desired increments using the wheel. In some embodiments of the invention, whether the user clicks on a cell in a bid column or an ask column may determine whether the user is bidding, asking, buying or selling. In alternative embodiments of the invention, a right click may be associated with an order to hit (sell) or ask (place an order to sell) whereas a left click may be associated with an order to lift (buy) or bid (place an order to buy), and vice versa. [0140] With respect to other implementations of scrolling, it should be noted that in systems and methods according to the invention, one can preferably use a scroll input to scroll up or down on a particular display. Preferably, the scrolling will not interrupt the regular functions of the program. Alternatively, the scrolling may momentarily pause the other operations that are being displayed at the time of the scrolling. [0141] In some embodiments of the invention, a single click may actuate a trade at the displayed price and size. In other embodiments of the invention, a double click may actuate a trade. In the latter embodiments, a single click may cause an overlay window, a popup menu, a toolbar or a similar or different display or interface to be displayed. In these situations, following the first click, the pointer may warp to a button displaying the default selection in order to confirm the trade. In some embodiments of the invention, the pointer may warp to a button displaying the word “yes” or the like in order to confirm the trade following a first click. In other embodiments of the invention, a first or subsequent step in the order entry process, such as a first click by the user, may cause another display showing the price and size selected (or the default size). In yet other embodiments of the invention, a first click may cause another display window to be displayed. The display window may contain a set of alternative sizes from which the user may choose before confirming the order through a second click. [0142] It should be noted that a single click may serve as an alternative to a double click whenever possible and appropriate, whereby a downclick may perform the same function as a first click, and a release or an upclick may perform the same function as a second click. [0143] The unpopulated cells in the bid price, bid size, ask price and/or ask size columns may alternatively be used to implement and display a suitable order of any type at the corresponding price displayed on the same row in which the cell is located. Examples of suitable orders include a hit/lift all order, a stop order and/or a market if touched order. [0144] In order to help prevent trade commands from being entered at erroneous price levels, the system may lock a pointer to a price the user points to according to some embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, when a user moves a pointer to a cell that includes or is adjacent to a particular price, the system may lock the pointer to that price. That is, when the indication of the inside market shifts, the pointer may be repositioned such that it is pointing to the cell that includes or is adjacent to the same price, unless the user moves the pointer away from that cell. Unless the user moves the pointer away from that cell, a command is entered for the price desired by the user when the user clicks to enter the command. In case the pointer is moved away from that cell, the pointer ceases to be repositioned to point to the same price. That a particular price is locked may be indicated by displaying a visual indicator, such as lightning bolt 222 of FIGS. 2A-2E and/or highlighting the appropriate cell. For example, after a transition of the position of the inside market to cells 206C, 206D and 206E, the pointer may be repositioned such that it points to cells 213, 214 and 215, respectively. The order entry process described above may be used in connection with, or adapted to, all interfaces shown in FIGS. 3-5. [0145] As described above, the speed at which the shifting occurs may be increased or decreased to the point of pausing or temporarily stopping the shifting process based on user activity. Such speed may vary based on whether the pointer is used by the user to point or lock to a specific price level or whether the user moves the pointer away from the interactive interface. For example, the transitioning process may be slower when the pointer is pointing to a price or cell within the interface as compared to when the pointer is not located within the boundaries of the interface. Moreover, the closer the pointer is brought to the inside market, the slower the transitioning process may be. [0146] The present invention may be practiced in embodiments that include any layout techniques, shapes or forms other than ones described above. For example, prices and sizes may be displayed along substantially circular arcs such that the resulting interactive interface represents a full circle or ellipse or at least a portion of a circle or ellipse, as shown in FIG. 4. Interactive interface 400 of FIG. 4 may include one or more arcs, such as arc 410, for displaying bid and ask prices, along with corresponding sizes thereto. Alternatively, semicircular area 420 may include pies, such as portion 433, that are selectively colored, filled or sized to convey corresponding indications of sizes that are associated with the prices shown in arc 410. In such embodiments, an indication of the inside market may be implemented through radial axis 405 which separates the best bid and ask prices for which sizes exist. Arc 410 and/or additional arcs may also display the sizes of orders that were submitted before they are accepted (or rejected), the sizes of completed trades and/or the user's share of the total size. [0147] As another example, interactive interface 500 of FIG. 5 may include arcs 530 and 540 for displaying bid and ask prices, respectively. Interactive interface 500 may also include arcs 510 and 520 for displaying corresponding bid and ask sizes, respectively. Alternatively, interactive interface may include pies, such as portion 533, for conveying indications of sizes, whereas arcs 510 and 520 may display the user's share of the total bid and ask sizes, respectively, the sizes of orders that were submitted before they are accepted (or rejected) and/or the sizes of completed trades. The information displayed in arcs 510 and 520 may instead be displayed in a single arc. Alternatively, such information may be included in each of arcs 530 and 540. [0148] An indication of the inside market may be implemented through radial axis 505 which separates the best bid and ask prices for which sizes exist. Similar to the discussion of FIG. 2, the inside market may initially include bid size 5, available at best bid price 14, and ask size 37, available at best ask price 15. As market conditions and the inside market change, the location of the inside market may change along arcs 530 and 540 before shifting back to its original location along with the rest of the displayed bid and ask prices and sizes. The indication of the inside market may be set to default to any location including one that lies at the center of the interface. [0149] The interactive displays described herein may be used in any kind of trading application, system or exchange such as auction trading systems, interactive matching systems, automated matching systems, price improvement systems, FIFO (First In, First Out) systems, RFQ (Request for Quote) systems, etc., and may be applied to the trading of any types of items. This includes cases where users are or are not granted exclusive rights to trade, cases where users are or are not provided with a share of a trade based on their status or market role, the stage during which they start or join a trade and/or their degree or extent of participation, cases where users are or are not provided with shares of a trade on a pro-rata basis based on existing agreements or distribution algorithms, or any combination of the same. [0150] Moreover, the trading application described herein may be any suitable, software, hardware, or both configured to implement the features of the invention. The trading application may be located at a central location (e.g., a central server such as server 120 of FIG. 1) and instances thereof may be stored on workstations connected thereto (e.g., workstations 101 of FIG. 1). In another suitable approach, the trading application may reside among different locations (e.g., a network such as computer network 103 of FIG. 1). [0151] The trading systems and methods described above, or variation thereof, may be implemented in conjunction with the interactive displays discussed or shown herein, or in conjunction with variations on those displays. [0152] One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the invention may be practiced in embodiments other than those described herein. For example, it will be understood that the size, shape, arrangement, color, and label of various portions of the interactive displays discussed or shown are examples shown for purposes of illustration only. It will be understood that modifications of any or all of the foregoing characteristics of these portions are within the scope of the invention. Embodiments discussed or shown herein may be applied to trading interfaces that use single static price axis, dual dynamic price axis, or any other suitable display. [0153] It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the invention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and the invention is limited only by the claims that follow. Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5809483 *Nov 14, 1997Sep 15, 1998Broka; S. WilliamOnline transaction processing system for bond tradingUS6134535 *Mar 3, 1995Oct 17, 2000Belzberg Financial Markets & News International Inc.Computerized stock exchange trading system automatically formatting orders from a spreadsheet to an order entry systemUS6211880 *Apr 13, 1998Apr 3, 2001Albert Joseph Impink, Jr.Display apparatusUS6272474 *Feb 8, 1999Aug 7, 2001Crisostomo B. GarciaMethod for monitoring and trading stocks via the internet displaying bid/ask trade barsUS6408282 *Apr 15, 1999Jun 18, 2002Wit Capital Corp.System and method for conducting securities transactions over a computer networkUS6766304 *Jun 27, 2001Jul 20, 2004Trading Technologies International, Inc.Click based trading with intuitive grid display of market depthUS6938011 *Jun 9, 2000Aug 30, 2005Trading Technologies International, Inc.Click based trading with market depth displayUS7389268 *Apr 19, 2002Jun 17, 2008Trading Technologies International, Inc.Trading tools for electronic tradingUS7505932 *Feb 18, 2005Mar 17, 2009Trading Technologies International, Inc.Click based trading with market depth displayUS7562038 *Mar 31, 2003Jul 14, 2009Trading Technologies International, Inc.System and method for group positioning of market information in a graphical user interfaceUS20020059129 *Jun 27, 2001May 16, 2002Kemp Gary AllanClick based trading with intuitive grid display of market depthUS20020099644 *Oct 5, 2001Jul 25, 2002Kemp Gary AllanClick based trading with intuitive grid display of market depth and price consolidationUS20020143690 *Apr 2, 2001Oct 3, 2002Umesh MahajanApparatus, methods and articles of manufacture for computerized transaction execution and processingUS20030004853 *Jun 28, 2001Jan 2, 2003Pranil RamGraphical front end system for real time security tradingUS20030023536 *Jul 25, 2001Jan 30, 2003Chicago Board Options ExchangeSystem and method for displaying option market informationUS20030023542 *Sep 9, 2002Jan 30, 2003Trading Technologies International, Inc.Click based trading with intuitive grid display of market depthUS20030065608 *Jul 24, 2001Apr 3, 2003Stephen CutlerSecurities market and market maker activity tracking system and methodUS20030069834 *Jun 12, 2002Apr 10, 2003Stephen CutlerSecurities market and market maker activity tracking system and methodUS20040070624 *Sep 29, 2003Apr 15, 2004Fijitsu LimitedProgram and method for displaying a radar chartUS20040103054 *Nov 26, 2002May 27, 2004Trading Technologies International, Inc.Method and interface for consolidating price levels on a trading screenUS20040117292 *Feb 28, 2003Jun 17, 2004Harris BrumfieldSystem and method for trading and displaying market information in an electronic trading environmentUS20050125328 *Dec 5, 2003Jun 9, 2005Trading Technologies International, Inc.Method and system for displaying a cursor on a trading screenUS20050149429 *Feb 18, 2005Jul 7, 2005Trading Technologies International, Inc.Click based trading with market depth displayUS20050187854 *Feb 20, 2004Aug 25, 2005Stephen CutlerSecurities market and market maker activity tracking system and methodUS20050283415 *Jun 22, 2004Dec 22, 2005Chicago Mercantile ExchangeSystem and method for displaying market data including last trade dataUS20060195289 *Feb 15, 2006Aug 31, 2006Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Temperature sensor instruction signal generator and semiconductor memory device having the sameUS20060259382 *May 3, 2006Nov 16, 2006Trading Technologies International, Inc.Trading tools for electronic trading* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7580883 *Mar 29, 2007Aug 25, 2009Trading Technologies International, Inc.System and method for chart based order entryUS8019674 *Jul 23, 2009Sep 13, 2011Trading Technologies International Inc.System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS8027908Aug 24, 2009Sep 27, 2011Trading Technologies International, Inc.System and method for chart based order entryUS8099348 *Jul 1, 2011Jan 17, 2012Trading Technologies International, Inc.System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS8160954 *Jul 1, 2011Apr 17, 2012Trading Technologies International Inc.System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS8271377 *Mar 7, 2012Sep 18, 2012Trading Technologies International Inc.System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS8438103 *Jul 26, 2012May 7, 2013Trading Technologies International, Inc.System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS8560433 *Mar 24, 2013Oct 15, 2013Trading Technologies International, IncSystem and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS8620794Aug 25, 2011Dec 31, 2013Trading Technologies International, IncSystem and method for chart based order entryUS8713478Sep 6, 2011Apr 29, 2014Trading Technologies International, IncSystem and method for displaying a constant time selection context menu interfaceUS20080243710 *Mar 29, 2007Oct 2, 2008Trading Technologies International, Inc.System and Method for Chart Based Order EntryUS20090319950 *Aug 24, 2009Dec 24, 2009Trading Technologies International, Inc.System And Method For Chart Based Order EntryUS20110270729 *Jul 1, 2011Nov 3, 2011Trading Technologies International Inc.System and Method for Creating a Market Map in an Electronic Trading EnvironmentUS20120166329 *Mar 7, 2012Jun 28, 2012Trading Technologies International Inc.System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS20120290465 *Jul 26, 2012Nov 15, 2012Trading Technologies International Inc.System and method for creating a market map in an electronic trading environmentUS20140222640 *Sep 5, 2013Aug 7, 2014Trading Technologies International, Inc.System and Method For Creating A Market Map In An Electronic Trading EnvironmentUS20140340423 *Mar 15, 2014Nov 20, 2014Nexref Technologies, LlcMarker-based augmented reality (AR) display with inventory managementCN103282857A *Oct 26, 2011Sep 4, 2013贸易技术国际公司Repositioning a value axisWO2012058319A1 *Oct 26, 2011May 3, 2012Trading Technologies International, Inc.Repositioning a value axis* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification715/700International ClassificationG06F3/00Cooperative ClassificationG06Q40/04European ClassificationG06Q40/04Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionFeb 5, 2014ASAssignmentOwner name: BGC PARTNERS, INC., NEW YORKFree format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:ESPEED, INC.;REEL/FRAME:032147/0503Effective date: 20080401Owner name: ESPEED, INC., NEW YORKFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LUTNICK, HOWARD W.;NOVIELLO, JOSEPH;FOLEY, KEVIN;SIGNINGDATES FROM 20050608 TO 20051103;REEL/FRAME:032147/0457RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services