Patent ID: 7716120

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and memory electronically coupled to the at least one processor, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to: receive a data signal from a first computer system, wherein the data signal comprises a first indicator and a first order for an instrument, wherein the first indicator indicates that the first order is one of a real order or a test order, wherein the first order is a test order, and wherein the first order specifies a first quantity of the instrument and a first price; receive a second order for the instrument from a second computer system, wherein the second order is a real order, and wherein the second order specifies a second quantity of the instrument and a second price; wherein a test order cannot bind an originator of the test order to tender money or the instrument as specified in the test order; match the first order with at least the second order based at least in part on the first price of the first order and the second price of the second order; determine, based at least in part on the first indicator, whether the first order is a test order or a real order, wherein determining whether the first order is a test order or a real order comprises: determining that the first order is a test order; determine whether the second order is a test order or a real order, wherein determining whether the second order is a test order or a real order comprises: determining that the second order is a real order; and based at least in part on matching the first order with the second order, execute the first order, wherein executing the first order comprises: reducing the first quantity of the instrument associated with the first order; and wherein even though the first order and the second order are matched, the first order and the second order are not transacted such that an originator of the first order and an originator of the second order are not bound to tender money or the instrument.