Patent ID: 7461026

Claim:
A method of equalizing a time at which client devices receive market data from a host exchange through a plurality of network devices, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a first travel time from the host exchange to a first network device over a network, wherein the first network device is coupled to a first client device; establishing a second travel time from the host exchange to a second network device over a network, wherein the second network device is coupled to a second client device, wherein the second travel time is shorter than the first travel time; generating a first market data for a tradeable object, the first market data comprising a current best bid price and a current lowest ask price available for the tradeable object; sending the first market data from the host exchange to the first network device at a first time over the network; sending the first market data from the host exchange to the second network device at a second time that is different from the first time, wherein the second time is determined based on the first time and a difference between the first travel time and the second travel time such that the arrival times of the first market data at the first client device and the second client device are equalized; upon receiving the first market data at the first network device, releasing the first market data from the plurality of first network devices device to the first client device; and upon receiving the first market data at the second network device, releasing the first market data from the second network device to the second client device.