Patent ID: 8738487

Claim:
Apparatus for processing data, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of entry systems for receiving from each of a plurality of contributors a respective plurality of communications relating to trading of financial instruments, wherein said plurality of contributors each trade financial instruments independently of each other, a data normalizer for normalizing said communications received from each of said plurality of contributors in order to obtain a respective plurality of normalized communications for each of said contributors, wherein said normalized communications for said plurality of contributors has a common format, a tracking system for a) measuring, over a common period of time and using a microprocessor, respective gains associated with buying and selling said financial instruments based on said normalized communications for each respective one of said contributors, b) providing a comparison of 1) said respective gains over said common period of time for said one of said contributors based on said normalized communications from said one of said contributors, with 2) said respective gains over said common period of time for others of said contributors based on said normalized communications for said others of said contributors over said common period of time.