Patent ID: 7769680

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and a 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 first data signal from a first computer system, wherein the first data signal comprises a first order for an instrument and comprises a first indicator, wherein the first indicator of the first data signal indicates that the first order of the first data signal 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 data signal from a second computer system, wherein the second data signal comprises a second order for the instrument and comprises a second indicator, wherein the second indicator of the second data signal indicates that the second order of the second data signal is one of a real order or a test order, 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, based at least in part on the second indicator, 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 execute the first order, wherein executing the first order comprises: reducing the first quantity of the instrument.