Patent ID: 7130824

Claim:
A method of balancing data communications loads among data communications ports in systems for automated trading of securities, the systems including at least one broker-dealer system coupled through at least one data communications system to more than one market system, the method comprising: sending electronically a first order from a broker-dealer system to a market via a first port connected to said market, there being at least said first port and a second port connected between said broker-dealer and said market; receiving through said first port from said market to which the first port is coupled an acknowledgment of said first order; sending the acknowledgment from said first port to the broker-dealer system; determining that the first port is not overloaded, the determination being dependent upon at least the first order, and the acknowledgment; and sending a second order through the first port to the market, the sending of the second order being dependent upon the determination that the first port is not overloaded.