EP1461755A2 - Systeme informatique destine au commerce de valeurs boursieres, avec devise virtuelle et specialiste virtuel - Google Patents

Systeme informatique destine au commerce de valeurs boursieres, avec devise virtuelle et specialiste virtuel

Info

Publication number
EP1461755A2
EP1461755A2 EP99965746A EP99965746A EP1461755A2 EP 1461755 A2 EP1461755 A2 EP 1461755A2 EP 99965746 A EP99965746 A EP 99965746A EP 99965746 A EP99965746 A EP 99965746A EP 1461755 A2 EP1461755 A2 EP 1461755A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
buy
price
orders
sell
trader
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99965746A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1461755A4 (fr
Inventor
Timothy M. Keiser
Michael R. Burns
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HSX Inc
Original Assignee
HSX Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/184,571 external-priority patent/US6505174B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/382,907 external-priority patent/US7487123B1/en
Application filed by HSX Inc filed Critical HSX Inc
Publication of EP1461755A4 publication Critical patent/EP1461755A4/fr
Publication of EP1461755A2 publication Critical patent/EP1461755A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q40/00—Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
    • G06Q40/04—Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Definitions

  • This invention relates in general to computer-implemented financial systems, and in particular to an improved automated securities trading system.
  • Another object of the present invention is to lessen the price volatility of derivative financial instruments traded in narrower markets.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an on-line virtual trading system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a virtual specialist program that engages in trading in the market to offset the price volatility and to provide liquidity to the market.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a security instrument pricing system which depends from buy-sell trade imbalances.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a security instrument price control system which controls volatility of a security.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a security instrument trade halting system to prevent extreme price volatility for a security instrument.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a ghost trader for a security in order to generate trading activity so that adjusted market control factors take effect.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a virtual reserve bank program to control money market interest rates and global volatility for the virtual market.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an on-line market research tool which researchers can access to obtain statistical information based on trading behavior.
  • the present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer-implemented financial management system that permits the trading of securities via a network.
  • a server computer receives buy and sell orders for derivative financial instruments from a plurality of client computers.
  • the server computer matches the buy orders to the sell orders and then generates a market price through the use of a virtual specialist program executed by the server computer.
  • the virtual specialist program responds to an imbalance in the matching of the buy and sell orders.
  • a database of securities is provided for trading in an open, computerized, exchange. Securities are listed which relate to movies, actors, products or service companies.
  • An exemplary system comprises a Web server with an SQL compliant back-end database, with a standardized Web browser interface.
  • the user may register for the on-line trading system over a network, providing demographic information, such as age, sex, location, occupation, income, hobby interest, and the like. Once registered, the user is given the option of choosing a unique userlD which will be used for logging in after registration.
  • the user also provides an e-mail address to which a randomly assigned password and other instructional information can be forwarded.
  • the user may freely log in and out of the system over the Web by selecting a start button present on a Web home page for the system. However, while the password is being forwarded to the new user, the new user is given temporary access to the system so that trading can begin instantaneously.
  • V$ virtual currency in virtual dollars
  • the user's portfolio summary page is displayed which displays the user's current cash balance, amount held in stocks, bonds, and other types of securities.
  • the cash value of the user's portfolio is represented solely in cash, or in a money market account.
  • the cash in the user's portfolio accrues at an interest rate set by a virtual reserve bank program.
  • the user may trade security instruments by typing in the symbol for the instrument for which a purchase is desired in a buy-sell area of the page. A quantity is also specified in the buy sell area. If the user does not know the symbol for a particular instrument, a lookup or search function is provided in another area of the screen using standard graphical user interface (GUI) features such as drop-down list boxes, text search boxes, or slider bar lists. Alternatively, a ticker tape style updating menu at the bottom of the screen displays available instruments with the corresponding instrument prices.
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a buy button may be pressed in the buy-sell area of the page. If the user has enough cash on account, and if the instrument is available for trading, then a confirmation screen appears before execution of the transaction. Upon confirmation, the trade is executed, and the cash is debited from the user' s account.
  • the system includes a virtual specialist program which, among other things, handles fulfillment of buy and sell orders.
  • the virtual specialist program controls the economy, and provides it with liquidity.
  • the virtual specialist program provides instantaneous liquidity by fulfilling all orders, whether or not there are equal and matching sell orders to offset buy orders, and vice versa.
  • the system keeps a running net movement balance for the quantity of buy or sell trades which the virtual specialist program had to fulfill without offsetting sell or buy trades.
  • the imbalance is stored as a positive number if the buy-sell imbalance represents more buy trade orders executed than sell orders, or a negative number if the buy-sell imbalance represents more sell orders executed than buy orders.
  • the virtual specialist program of the embodiment does not control the economy by setting prices of shares based on last executed buy order price offered. Rather, the virtual specialist program determines the price of an instrument after each trade by computing and effecting an outstanding buy-sell imbalance.
  • the buy-sell imbalance also referred to herein as the net movement balance (NMB) controls security prices by incrementing or decrementing security prices using a combination of a security price increment (SPI) constant, and a pair of security price threshold constants.
  • SPI security price increment
  • SPI security price increment
  • NTM net trade movement
  • a net trade movement (NTM) variable for a trade order is set to the positive quantity of shares in the trade order if the trade order is a buy, and to the negative quantity of shares in the trade order if the trade order is a sell.
  • a new NMB is calculated by adding the NMB before the trade, retrieved from a net price movement table 2008 (NMB (old)), to the NTM.
  • a security price increment (SPI) constant for the security which is the subject of the trade order is retrieved from the security constant table 2002.
  • the NMB is then compared to the PSPT. If the NMB is greater than the PSPT, then the price for the security (SP) is calculated by adding the SPI to the SP before the trade which was retrieved from a security price table 2006. The NMB is then reduced by the PSPT and stored back to the net price movement table.
  • SPI security price increment
  • the SP is calculated by subtracting the SPI from the SP (old). The NMB is then incremented by the NSPT.
  • the SP is stored in a security price table 2006, which keeps track of all security prices.
  • the NMB is updated in the net movement balance database.
  • Each record of the net movement balance database further contains an increment tracking field for keeping track of the number of consecutive increments for the security instrument, up or down.
  • a price history tracking table 2010 is updated after each trade, performing a write SQL statement which adds a record comprising the SP, NMB, UserlD, and other information relating to the trade. This information is used by a marketing tool, explained below, which provides statistical information to market researchers.
  • the security will realize wild fluctuations in price. This is especially true in a market in which virtual currency is used in a virtual market. Given the special circumstances of the virtual market, the system provides an artificial price control , or braking, mechanism.
  • the braking mechanism of the present invention monitors each price increment the virtual specialist performs.
  • the increment tracking field of the net movement balance table 2012 is retrieved for the security.
  • a security brake threshold (SBT) constant, and a security brake increment (SBI) constant is retrieved from the security constant table 2002. If the total consecutive number of price increments (TCPI) is greater than the SBT, then the PSPT is increased by the security brake increment, and then stored back to the security constant table 2002. If the total consecutive number of price decrements (a negative value) is less than the SBT, the NSPT is decreased by the security brake increment, and then stored back to the security constant table 2002. In this way, for securities which have experienced price movement greater than the set thresholds, the price movement will be slowed.
  • the braking mechanism may not be effective enough in either an extreme bear or bull market for the security, or the market as a whole.
  • a halting mechanism is provided by the system.
  • the halting mechanism acts much in the same way as the braking mechanism.
  • the exception is that a security halt threshold (SHT) constant is compared to the TCPI/TCPD field. If the absolute value of the TCPI/TCPD field value exceeds the SBT, trading is halted for that particular security. A notice appears on screen for a trader who tries to trade the security, informing the user that trading has been halted by the system.
  • Trading for the security may be resumed after an administratively set period of time, or manually through an administration module.
  • SHT security halt threshold
  • the virtual economy may have a finite amount of capital with which to close arbitrage situations that might arise if the policy of the exchange is different than what is reflected by the prices on the market.
  • the virtual economy is unlike non-virtual economies, which may have an infinite amount of capital.
  • a system administrator is provided a separate control screen where changes to global constants, such as the PSPT, NSPT, SBT, SBI, etc., can be adjusted to affect the market.
  • the password protected control screen serves as a volatility control module.
  • the volatility control, or ghost trade, module is used to implement and enhance monetary regulations, and the market as a whole.
  • the desired effect is implemented by causing the system to issue buy and sell programs which comprise coordinated, across the board, buying and selling timer intervals.
  • a timer periodically queries the ghost trading table 2014.
  • Each security instrument record in the ghost trading table 2014 is set to cause a trade for an administratively set number of times per trading day. If the timer detects that the time interval between trades for a security has ended, the ghost trading mechanism retrieves a ghost buy probability (GBT) from the ghost trade table 2014.
  • a random trade constant (RTC) is generated by the system.
  • a ghost security buy/sell quantity (GBQ) is retrieved from the ghost trade table 2014. If the GBT is greater than or equal to the RTC. a buy order is placed by the system for the number of shares specified by the GBQ. Otherwise, a sell order is placed for the number of shares specified by the GBQ.
  • the system of the present invention includes a virtual reserve bank program.
  • the reserve bank program regulates the economy with monetary tools which are provided within the reserve bank program module. With these tools, certain system global constants, such as total money supply and interest rates can be adjusted.
  • certain system global constants such as total money supply and interest rates can be adjusted.
  • adjustable global constants are built into the administration table 2016 for the virtual trading system. By raising or lowering rates, the amount of interest paid on the virtual dollars not tied up in securities is adjusted for the users. In this way, the unused money in users' accounts act as a money market accounts for which interest is adjusted accordingly.
  • a virtual reserve bank program chairman can determine interest rate and security threshold constants by using global interest threshold constants (GITCs) which monitor inflationary and deflationary pressures in the system.
  • GITCs global interest threshold constants
  • Inflationary and deflationary pressure may be defined as the size of the system economy, i.e., number of shares of securities which obtain a certain defined price.
  • the total outstanding shares may have a combined par value of V$8 billion, and the total market price for the shares outstanding may be V$80 billion with about V$5 billion average daily trading volume.
  • the virtual specialist program for the majority of securities in the system, may have set price movement thresholds to 10,000 positive and 10,000 negative.
  • the money market rate may be set to 7% under these market conditions by the reserve bank program. However, if prices on the exchange were to inflate to a value of V$200 billion, for example, price movement thresholds might be reset to 20,000 and 20,000 positive and negative respectively, and the money market interest rate reset to 15%.
  • the system of the present invention further provides extremely useful information for entities such as market research firms, movie and television studios, phonorecord companies, radio stations and movie rental companies. Accordingly, for select market research users, an on-line market research tool is provided which allows the market research users to access statistical information about trader demographics and artistic tastes.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary hardware environment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the general logic of a first embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the logic of the pricing/trading program of the first embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the logic of the generate market price program of the first embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of the virtual specialist program of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of the stop trading program of the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 is block diagram of a system component overview
  • Fig. 8 A shows an exemplary interface for the second embodiment of the present invention with a new user registration screen
  • Fig. 8B shows the interface screen of Fig. 8 A with a new user welcome screen displayed
  • Fig. 9 shows the interface screen of Fig. 8 A with a system home page displayed
  • Fig. 10 shows the interface screen of Fig. 8 A with a user portfolio page displayed
  • Fig. 1 1 shows the interface screen of Fig. 8A with a trade confirmation screen displayed
  • Fig. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of an initial security pricing program for the second embodiment of the system
  • Fig. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of a security trade fulfillment and security price setting program of the second embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of a trade braking program of the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 15 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of a trade halting program of the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of a ghost trading program of the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of a research market tool of the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 18 shows an exemplary administration module screen;
  • Fig. 19 shows a flowchart for using virtual currency in e-commerce in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 20 shows a flowchart for using the virtual currency in e-commerce in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 21 shows a flowchart for using the virtual currency in e-commerce in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 22 shows a flowchart for using the virtual currency in e-commerce in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Overview Of Virtual Trading System The present invention comprises a computer-implemented trading system for derivative financial instruments.
  • the present invention accepts buy and sell orders from traders for the derivative financial instruments, sets a market price based on the supply and demand, and participates in the market as a trader in order to minimize price volatility.
  • a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is a computer-implemented HOLLYWOOD STOCK EXCHANGE, which may be implemented as a simulation (i.e., game) or as an actual trading system for derivative financial instruments representing movies, talent, CDs, and television programs. These derivatives could be purchased with dollars or with a virtual currency known as HOLLYWOOD DOLLARS which are controlled by a virtual reserve bank program.
  • the derivative financial instruments are identified by a Current Trading List displayed for the traders that comprises a list of movies in various stages of production, talent, and other entertainment-oriented assets.
  • the list contains: name of the derivative financial instrument; genre of the movie (action-adventure, mystery, western, comedy, etc.); production status (scripting, pre-production, filming, editing, release, home-video, etc.); number of shares in circulation; last trading price (printed every 15 minutes) price movement (i.e. +/- HOLLYWOOD DOLLARS) since the previous midnight
  • PST price movement since the previous mid-day; price movement year to date; Traders are able to view the list sorted by: name, alphabetically; genre, alphabetically; productions status, alphabetically; most active (number of shares traded yesterday); biggest gainers; biggest losers; and fastest movers today (e.g., fastest 20 movers up and fastest 20 movers down). Similar information would be provided for other derivative financial instruments offered on the HOLLYWOOD STOCK EXCHANGE.
  • Each trader's portfolio is identified by a Portfolio data structure that comprises the trader's account status. This information includes: the amount of cash in the trader's account (paid interest at the system discount rate plus some increment, compounded daily); current percentage rate paid to cash; the total value of held stocks at the last selling price; the total value of held bonds at the last selling price; total portfolio value (TPV) (cash + bonds + stocks); percentage of TPV in cash; percentage of TPV in bonds; and percentage of TPV in stocks.
  • TPV total portfolio value
  • FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrates an exemplary hardware environment for the preferred embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, a typical distributed computer system is illustrated, which uses the Internet 10 to connect client computers 12 executing for example, Web browsers, to server computers 14 executing a computer program embodying the present invention.
  • a typical combination of resources may include client computers 12 that are personal computers or work stations connected via the Internet 10 to server computers 14 that are personal computers, work stations, minicomputers, or mainframes.
  • client computers 12 and the server computers 14 are comprised of one or more CPUs 16, various amounts of RAM storing computer programs 20 and other data, and other components typically found in computers.
  • both the client computers 12 and the server computers 14 may include one or more monitors, and fixed or removable data storage devices 20 such as hard disk drives, floppy disk drives, and/or CD-ROM drives.
  • input devices such as mouse pointing devices and keyboards, may be included.
  • Both the client computers 12 and the server computers 14 operate under the control of an operating system, such as Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, etc. Further, both the client computers 12 and the server computers 14 each execute one or more computer programs 18 under the control of their respective operating systems.
  • the present invention is preferably implemented as one or more computer programs 18 executed by the server computer 14, although in alternative embodiments these computer programs 18 may also be executed on the client computer 12.
  • the computer programs 18 implementing the present invention are tangibly embodied in a computer-readable medium, e.g., one or more of the fixed and/or removable data storage devices 20 attached to the computer. Under control of the operating system, the computer programs 18 may be loaded from the data storage devices 20 into the RAM of the computer for subsequent execution by the CPU 16.
  • the computer programs 18 comprise instructions which, when read and executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform the steps necessary to execute the steps or elements of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 is not intended to limit the present invention. Indeed, those skilled in the art will recognize that other alternative hardware environments may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. I. GENERAL LOGIC OF A FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE TRADING SYSTEM
  • FIG. 2 a flowchart illustrating the general logic of a first embodiment of the present invention is shown.
  • Block 200 represents the server computer 14 waiting for the next event to occur. Once the event occurs, control is transferred to blocks 202-224 to identify the event and respond accordingly.
  • Block 202 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether it received a request to display data from the client computer 12. If so, block 204 represents the server computer 14 transmitting data to the client computer 12 for subsequent display.
  • the data transmitted for display preferably includes at least three types of data: the current list of trading derivative financial instruments, the trader's portfolio, and other reports generated by the server computer 14.
  • Block 206 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether it received a request to submit a buy order from the client computer 12 for a particular derivative financial instrument, e.g., stock or bond. If so, block 208 represents the server computer 14 processing the buy order by placing it in a queue in the memory of the server computer 14.
  • the buy order is a data structure comprising: trader's account number trader's name; the time and date of the order; the stock or bond to buy; the cash balance in the trader ' s account; and a text-field where the trader may enter the total number to buy (generally in multiples of 100).
  • the buy order waits in the queue for the expiration of a predetermined "sweep pricing cycle.”
  • the sweep pricing cycle occurs periodically, such as every 15 minutes, or during another specified time interval.
  • the marked price the trader actually pays for the derivative financial instrument is determined by the aggregate supply/demand for the derivative financial instrument at the end of the sweep pricing cycle during which the order was placed.
  • the market price is set by the pricing/trading program executed by the server computer, which is described below in FIG. 3.
  • the trader's account is then charged the market price for the derivative financial instrument. If the purchase uses up all available cash in the trader's account, the trader is "loaned" enough money to pay for the purchase, and their account is charged interest at a predetermined rate, e.g., 18% a year compounded daily, on the negative account balance. The interest is charged against the trader's account until they accumulate more cash to zero out the balance, either by selling stocks or buying dollars.
  • Block 210 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether it received a request to submit a sell order from the client computer 12. If so, block 212 represents the server computer 14 processing the sell order by placing it in queue in the memory of the server computer 14.
  • the sell order is a data structure comprising: trader's account number; trader's name; the time and date of the order; the stock or bond to sell; the amount of the stock or bond in the trader's account; and a text-field where the trader may enter the total number to sell (generally in multiples of 100).
  • the sell order waits in the queue for the expiration of the predetermined sweep pricing cycle.
  • the market price at which the trader actually sells the derivative financial instrument is determined by the aggregate supply/demand for the derivative financial instrument at the end of the sweep pricing cycle during which the order was placed.
  • the market price is set by the pricing/trading program executed by the server computer, which is described below in Fig. 3.
  • the trader's account is then credited with the market price for the derivative financial instrument.
  • the sell order can be either produced by a trader or generated by the server computer 14, as will be explained in more detail below.
  • the trader views a list of stocks or bonds owned by the trader on a monitor attached to the client computer and chooses to sell a quantity at the market price.
  • the server computer 14 transmits certain information to the client computer 12 for display, including, for each stock owned, the last trading price (LTP), the quantity of stocks, the purchase price, and the date purchased, Similarly, when viewing the list of bonds, the server computer 14 transmits certain information to the client computer 12 for display, including, for each bond owned, the last trading price (LTP), the interest rate being earned for each kind of bond, the quantity of bonds, the purchase price, and the date purchased.
  • LTP last trading price
  • the server computer 14 transmits certain information to the client computer 12 for display, including, for each bond owned, the last trading price (LTP), the interest rate being earned for each kind of bond, the quantity of bonds, the purchase price, and the date purchased.
  • Block 214 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether 5 an internal timer for the sweep pricing cycle has expired. If so, block 216 represents the server computer 14 processing the timer executing a pricing/trading program as described in Fig. 3.
  • Block 218 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether it received a request to change the discount rate. If so, block 220 represents the server computer 14 executing a discount rate program. In order to add or subtract liquidity, the server computer
  • the 10 14 occasionally steps in to act as a virtual reserve bank program and adjust the discount rate.
  • the discount rate is adjusted based on the performance of the specific industry of the market. For the HOLLYWOOD STOCK EXCHANGE, the discount rate is adjusted to add or subtract liquidity to affect the growth of the entertainment industry.
  • the server computer 14 lowers the discount, all the bonds seem to be a better deal, because the bonds are paying a fixed rate
  • the server computer 14 relaxes the buying pressures or demands for bonds, which should result in additional sell orders, or at least slow the buying of bonds, thus decreasing their prices as they trade in the market.
  • stocks seem less attractive, since traders could make more money by keeping cash in their accounts and getting interest on it.
  • Block 222 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether
  • block 224 represents the server computer 14 executing a listing program.
  • the server computer 14 determines whether the list of derivatives trading in the system should be revised. The list could be revised to reflect new derivative offerings, expired derivatives, and delisted derivatives.
  • the price is based on the derivative's potential value.
  • the initial price of the stock could be based on the movie's potential box office revenue.
  • the price of the bond could be based on the Hollywood Reporter's Star Power Index.
  • a bond representing a talent with a low Star Power Index of 15 would be issued with a higher yield than a bond representing a talent with a high Star Power Index rating.
  • a warrant with a strike price is attached to the new derivative when it is offered.
  • the warrant is of no value until the strike price is reached.
  • the strike price could be reached after the movie has grossed a certain level of revenue.
  • a derivative is delisted from the exchange, a stock due to the movie ending its production run or a talent due to retirement or death, for example, the warrants are called and the traders are paid the value of the warrants, thus providing off-balance sheet financing for studios.
  • Block 300 represents the server computer 14 retrieving the buy and sell orders that have accumulated in the queue during the period since the prior sweep pricing cycle.
  • Block 302 represents the server computer 14 matching the buy orders with the sell orders, although it is likely than an identical number of buy and sell orders would not have accumulated in the queue during the period.
  • Block 304 represents the server computer 14 executing the generate market price program described in Fig. 4 to determine the market price for the derivative financial instruments.
  • block 306 represents the server computer 14 updating the traders' portfolios to reflect the buy and sell orders in the queue being processed at the market price.
  • Block 308 represents the end of the pricing/trading program.
  • Block 400 represents the server computer 14 measuring the imbalance between the buy and sell orders during the period since the prior sweep pricing cycle.
  • Block 402 represents the server computer 14 determining the price movement of a derivative financial instrument caused by the imbalance in buy and sell orders.
  • Block 404 represents the server computer 14 executing a virtual specialist program as described in Fig. 5 to provide stability and liquidity to the market.
  • Block 406 represents the server computer 14 executing the stop trade program, as described in Fig.
  • Block 408 represents the server computer 14 setting the market price, which becomes the price the pricing/trading program uses to update the traders' portfolios.
  • Block 410 represents the end of the generate market price program.
  • the absolute difference between the number of sells and the number of buys is defined as the net movement in sweep (NMS).
  • a sweep increment variable (SIV) is defined as the increase or decrease in price caused by an incremental imbalance in the number of buy orders and sell orders.
  • a lot movement variable (LMV) represents the incremental lot size that will result in a price increase or decrease of one SIV.
  • SIV $0.25 and LMV - 5000
  • the market price of the particular stock will be $0.50 greater than the last trading price.
  • a virtual specialist program is executed by the server computer, as represented by block 404 in Fig. 4.
  • the server computer 14 regulates the trading by actively trading in the market out of a virtual specialist portfolio (VSP).
  • VSP virtual specialist portfolio
  • the virtual specialist program portfolio initially contains half of all the issued shares of each derivative financial instrument.
  • Block 500 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether or not the price movement during the sweep pricing cycle is greater or equal to an adjusted price movement threshold (APT).
  • APT is a constant in the memory of the server computer 14. If the APT is greater than the price movement, then the server computer 14 does not trade in the market. If the price movement is greater than or equal to the APT, then the server computer 14 trades out of a virtual specialist program portfolio. The level of trading by the server computer 14 is determined by the amount that the price movement exceeded the APT. The greater the price movement, the more shares the server computer 14 trades to offset the price movement.
  • Block 502 represents the server computer 14 generating a buy or a sell order to offset the price movement. The buy or sell order generated by the server computer 14 is placed in the queue with the trader buy and sell orders to be processed during the next sweep cycle.
  • the server computer 14 could eventually deplete the virtual specialist program portfolio or cause the virtual specialist program portfolio to own all the shares of a stock.
  • the server computer 14 In order to maintain a balanced virtual specialist program portfolio, and provide some liquidity to the market, the server computer 14 generates additional buy and sell orders to offset orders generated in response to the price movement exceeding the APT.
  • Block 504 represents the server computer 14 generating timed buy and sell orders.
  • the server computer 14 assess each stock and each bond in the virtual specialist program portfolio. The server computer 14 determines the deficit or surplus in the item, and then place 1/288* of the deficit as a "timed recovery order" into each successive 15 minute segment for the next 3 days.
  • the pricing/trading program 255 matches buy and sell orders as represented by block 320, the pricing/trading program 255 includes any "timed recovery orders" outstanding for the last 3 days in the sweep. These orders are matched with the traders' buy and sell orders.
  • Block 506 represents the end of the virtual specialist program.
  • FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating the logic of the stop trading program of the present invention.
  • Block 600 represents the server computer 14 determining the price movement of a stock caused by the imbalance in buy and sell orders.
  • Block 602 represents the server computer 14 measuring the price movement on the day, not just during the sweep cycle period.
  • Block 604 is a decision block that represents the server computer 14 determining whether the net price movement (NPM) within one "trading day" (i.e., midnight-midnight) is greater than 50% up or down.
  • NPM net price movement
  • the buy and sell orders are removed from the queue if the net price movement is greater than 50% for a stock trading above $20. At that point, the trading in that issue is stopped within the 15 minute period until further notice.
  • Block 608 represents the STOP TRADE order that issues regarding the particular stock. Traders who issued a buy or sell order for the stock are notified that the order
  • block 610 represents the end of the stop trading program.
  • a second embodiment of the system of the present invention includes a database of securities provided for trading in an open, computerized,
  • a plurality of tables including a global constant table 2022, development stage table 2024, price history table, 2020, net price movement table, 2008, security price table 2006, security constant table 2002, trade history tracking table 2010, net price movement balance table, 2012, ghost trading table 2014, administration table, 2016, and a user database table 2026, which are used as explained below.
  • Interfacing with these tables are the virtual specialist program, 2028, which passes economic and price control data between all of the tables, a reserve bank program, 2030, which passes economic control data between all of the tables, and the user interface, 700. which passes trade and portfolio information between itself and the user database as explained below.
  • a marketing tool 2040, as described below.
  • the system includes an administration module which is used, as explained below, to adjust constants and variables in the system.
  • the administration module is password protected and implemented with browser interface 700, also described below.
  • a standardized Web browser interface 700 may be used by the user to register with the on-line trading system over Internet 10, providing demographic information, such as first name, last name, age, sex, location, occupation, income, hobby interest, and the like. Once registered, the user is given the option of choosing a unique userlD which will be used for logging in after registration. In providing the demographic information, the user also provides an e-mail address to which a randomly assigned password and other instructional information can be forwarded.
  • the first time user's default portfolio may be accessed using a temporary password free login by selecting the View Portfolio button 802 in the upper left hand corner of a Welcome Web page 804.
  • the system can be accessed over Internet 10 (Fig. 1) using Internet browser 700 by selecting a start button 902 present on a Web home page 804 for the system.
  • the user is presented with their portfolio on Web page 700.
  • the new user is provided with a fixed quantity of virtual currency 1002 in virtual dollars (V$) from a reserve bank program, described below, to begin trading with.
  • V$ virtual dollars
  • This quantity can either be considered a loan from the reserve bank program, for which interest is charged, or a gift-
  • the user ' s portfolio summary 1004 is displayed at the top of the page, which displays the user ' s current cash balance 1002, amount held in stocks 1006, bonds 1008, and other types of securities.
  • the cash value of the user's portfolio is usually represented solely in cash 1002, or in a money market account. However, sometimes the system may award new users a free security holding up front, for example comprising bond securities 1008.
  • the cash in the user's portfolio accrues at an interest rate set by a virtual reserve bank program.
  • the user may trade security instruments by typing in the symbol 1012 for the instrument for which a purchase is desired in a buy-sell area of page 1010. A quantity 1014 is also specified in buy sell area 1010. If the user does not know the symbol for a particular instrument, a lookup or search function is provided in a symbol search area 1016 of the screen using standard graphical user interface (GUI) features such as drop-down list boxes, text search boxes, or slider bar lists. Alternatively, a ticker tape style updating menu 1018 at the bottom of the screen displays available instruments with the corresponding instrument prices.
  • GUI graphical user interface
  • a buy button 1020 may be pressed in buy-sell area 1010.
  • a confirmation screen 1 102 appears before execution of the transaction.
  • the trade is executed, and the cash is debited from the user's cash account 1002 (Fig. 10).
  • a sell button 1022 is clicked on in buy-sell area 1010 of the portfolio page 1004.
  • the market price for the shares sold is added to the user's cash account 1008, and the shares are made available in the system for fulfilling purchase orders.
  • the system includes a virtual specialist program which, among other things, handles fulfillment of buy and sell orders.
  • the virtual specialist program controls the economy, and provides it with liquidity.
  • the virtual specialist program provides instantaneous liquidity by fulfilling all orders, whether or not there are equal and matching sell orders to offset buy orders, and vice versa.
  • a flow chart is shown illustrating the calculations performed by the virtual specialist program for determining an initial security price.
  • the virtual specialist program calculates the initial price in a public offering for a new security to be listed on the exchange based on administrator entered values.
  • a system administrator through a password protected administration module, is able to set up a new security for listing on the exchange.
  • one way to determine price is by stage of production of the movie.
  • Each movie has an associated estimated gross box office performance.
  • An administrator is allowed to enter the estimated gross box office performance (EGBO) for the security, step 1202, in the administration screen.
  • the administrator enters a quantity for the number initial of shares (NIS) issued for the security, step 1204.
  • the number of shares issued is a hypothetical number since the virtual specialist program of the second embodiment does not actually keep any shares in reserve.
  • the user also enters a code for the stage of production for the movie (described below), step 1205.
  • the virtual specialist program takes the EGBO, and divides it by the NIS to determine a raw initial share price (RIS), step 1206.
  • RIS raw initial share price
  • the initial share price (ISP) is then adjusted by a stage of production factor.
  • the following is a description of the different stages of production for a movie, with the code format entered by the administrator:
  • C Concept: During a movie's concept stage, there is not active production yet. Rumors are heard about a 'new' project; maybe a sequel to an existing movie or a book adaptation.
  • D Development: During a movie's development stage, the project has attracted interest, and funds are spent on developing the idea further. The final script premise is being perfected. Pre-conceptual design work is taking place. More crew and actors are dedicating themselves to the project in this stage.
  • P Production: The project has moved to active production. All of the crew and stars have been selected, and principal photography is scheduled or commenced. The release date starts to become fixed.
  • W Wrap: The movie has been completed in its entirety, and is awaiting release. The release date may have been pushed back a short time, maybe a number of weeks or months, to an unscheduled future date, awaiting a more favorable window of opportunity for commercial success.
  • R Release: The movie is playing in theaters. When a movie is in the concept stage, it is much more difficult to determine the likelihood of success for the movie than when the movie is in the production, wrap, or release stage.
  • the production cycle relates to a continuum of success, begging with the concept stage, where it is more difficult to judge potential success, and ending with the release stage, where actual box office receipts can be observed to more accurately determine the potential success of a movie.
  • the RIS should be reduced accordingly.
  • the virtual specialist program checks to see if the movie is in the concept stage. If so, then the price of the security is multiplied by an administratively set concept factor for movies in the concept stage, step 1210.
  • the virtual specialist program checks to see if the movie is in the development stage, step 5 1212. If so, then the price of the security is multiplied by an administratively set development factor for movies in the development stage, step 1214.
  • the virtual specialist program checks to see if the movie is in the production stage, step 1216. If so, then the price of the security is multiplied by an administratively set production factor for movies in the production stage, step 1218. 0 The virtual specialist program checks to see if the movie is in the release stage, step 1224.
  • the above described factors are not the only factors which could be used in adjusting the RIS.
  • the RIS could be adjusted by such factors as an industry box office index of the movie's cast, an industry 5 popularity index for the cast, an estimated budget, actual budget, or the release season for the movie. Further, it should be recognized that different factors will be used for product, actor, or service company securities to determine initial price.
  • the calculated initial price for a movie is not statically tied to the above formula. Regardless of the estimated price determined by the above factors, in the system of the second 0 embodiment, the price is further adjusted after release of the movie. On the morning following a movie's release date, trading for the movie stock is halted. Trading is allowed to continue at the end of its opening weekend at an adjusted price that is based on the following formula:
  • the initial price for a bond in the market is determined in a similar way as with stocks.
  • one way to determine price is by historical performance of movies the star has starred in.
  • individual actors are available for investors in the form of star bonds.
  • Star bonds pay interest depending on a star's rating. Ratings are determined by a star's 36 month trailing average gross (TAG).
  • TAG is the trailing average box-office gross of the movies a star has been in during the preceding 3 years.
  • TAG values and ratings correspond to one of 1 1 classes: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C, U, and D.
  • Each one of the 11 star bond ratings classes corresponds to a virtual dollar interest rate or coupon rate (see chart below).
  • the rating and coupon for an individual actor in the second embodiment of the system of the present invention is determined according their TAG value as follows:
  • a star bond with a U rating means that the bond is un-rated and a rating of D means that the bonds is in default.
  • the system administrator updates TAG values, and thus, class ratings, as box office results are reported.
  • the virtual specialist program sweeps the star bond market, looking for bond ratings which need to be updated. Because a star bond's value is based on the cumulative performance of a movie, the virtual specialist program uses a 1.24 multiplier of the gross to date to estimate the movie's total gross after four weekends.
  • the price for bonds may be determined in a number of ways.
  • One way a bond price may be determined is by assigning a box office index to the bond, which is based on the bond rating, and multiplying the index by a constant to obtain the price.
  • the bond rating can be adjusted by other factors, such as the number of films the bond's associated star has appeared in, the length of the star's career, the relative billing the star receives for the individual films that the star has appeared in, and the public's morality perception of the star. All of these factors are administratively set by the system administrator, and are then multiplied together with the box office index to obtain an adjusted box office index. The bond rating is then determined using the adjusted box office index.
  • Another way of determining an initial bond price is to determine the initial value in the same way the other security prices are determined as described above; namely by using a number of market factors, while determining future prices for bonds in the same way that other security prices are adjusted by the virtual specialist program as described below instead of using tradition fixed bond par values.
  • the virtual specialist program stores a running net movement balance (NMB) representing the quantity of securities for orders that the virtual specialist program fulfills which do not have any offsetting orders.
  • NMB running net movement balance
  • the imbalance is stored as a positive number if the buy-sell imbalance represents more buy trade orders executed than sell orders, or a negative number if the buy-sell imbalance represents more sell orders executed than buy orders.
  • a flowchart illustrating the calculations for determining price movement of a security is shown.
  • the virtual specialist program of the second embodiment does not control the economy by setting prices of shares based on last executed buy order price. Rather, the virtual specialist program determines the price of an instrument after each trade by computing an outstanding buy-sell imbalance.
  • the system scans or sweeps a trade queue containing the data for buy and sell orders placed by users for price adjustment, step 1202.
  • the buy-sell imbalance for the security also referred to herein as the net movement balance (NMB) is read from a net movement balance database where net movement balances for all securities are tracked, step 1304.
  • the virtual specialist program controls security prices by incrementing or decrementing security prices based on the NMB using a combination of a security price increment (SPI) constant, and a pair of security price threshold constants.
  • SPI security price increment
  • PSPT positive security price threshold
  • NSPT negative security price threshold
  • a record is added to the trade queue.
  • a net trade movement (NTM) variable for a trade order is set to the positive quantity of shares if the trade order is a buy order, and to the negative quantity of shares if the trade order is a sell order, step 1306.
  • a new NMB is calculated by adding the pre-trade NMB, as retrieved from a net price movement table 2008 (NMB (old)), to the NTM, step 1308.
  • the NSPT and PSPT constants for the securities are retrieved the security constant table
  • a security price increment (SPI) constant for the security which is the subject of the trade order is retrieved from the security constant table 2002, 1312.
  • the NMB is then compared to the PSPT, step 1314. If the NMB is greater than the PSPT, then the price for the security (SP) is calculated by adding the SPI to the SP before the trade which was retrieved from a security price table 2002, step 1316.
  • the NMB is then reduced by the PSPT and stored back to the net price movement table 2008, step 1318.
  • step 1320 Conversely, if the NMB is less than the NSPT (a negative value), step 1320, then the SP (new) is calculated by subtracting the SPI from the SP (old), step 1322. The NMB is then incremented by the NMB (which is also negative in this case), step 1324. After the above calculations are made, the SP is stored in a security price table 2006. step
  • a price history tracking table 2020 is updated, performing a write SQL statement which adds a record comprising the SP, NMB, UserlD, and other information relating to the trade, step 1328.
  • the NMB is updated in the net movement balance table 2008 for the security that was the subject of the trade order, step 1330.
  • Each record of the net movement balance database further contains an increment tracking field for keeping track of the number of consecutive increments for the security instrument, up or down.
  • the stored information is used by a marketing tool, explained below, which provides statistical information to market researchers.
  • the last steps for processing a trade record are to call the security brake check routine, step 1332, and the security halt check routine, step 1334, both explained in detail below.
  • a security may realize wild fluctuations in price. This is especially true in a market in which virtual currency is used in a virtual market. Given the special circumstances of the virtual market, the system provides an artificial price control, or braking, mechanism.
  • the braking mechanism of the present invention monitors each price increment the virtual specialist program performs.
  • the increment tracking field of the net movement balance table 2008 is retrieved for the security, step 1402.
  • a security brake threshold (SBT) constant, and a security brake increment (SBI) constant is retrieved from the security constant table 2002, steps 1404-1406.
  • SBT security brake threshold
  • SBI security brake increment
  • a halting mechanism is provided by the system.
  • Fig. 15 a flowchart illustrating a process for preempting trading for certain securities with out of control price movements is shown.
  • the halting mechanism acts much in the same way as the braking mechanism.
  • the TCPI or TCPD is retrieved for the security which was the subject of the trade order above from the price tracking history table 2020, step 1502.
  • the exception is that a security halt threshold (SHT) constant is compared to the value from TCPI/TCPD field, step 1504. If the TCPI/TCPD field value exceeds the SHT, steps 1506 or 1508, then trading is halted for that particular security, step 1510.
  • SHT security halt threshold
  • Trading for the security may be resumed after an administratively set period of time, or manually through an administration module.
  • the ghost trading system of the second embodiment is used as both a tool to bolster the trading level of some securities which would otherwise have low trading levels and, more importantly, as a means for the system administrator to take control of the economy after changing thresholds, constants and global variables.
  • the ghost trading system is used to speed up the actions of the economy by creating volume that, when processed with new variables changes the direction of the market quickly.
  • a ghost trading mechanism randomly creates automatic or ghost trades.
  • a ghost trading table 2014 is provided with a timer, which reads the system clock and determines daily time intervals, is included. The system periodically queries the ghost trading table 2014, step 1602. Each security instrument record in the ghost trading table 2014 is set to cause a trade for an administrative set number of times per trading day. If the timer detects that the time interval between trades for a security has ended, step 1604, the ghost trading mechanism retrieves a ghost buy probability (GBT) from the ghost trade table 2014, step 1606. A random trade constant (RTC) is generated by the system, 1608. Next, a ghost security buy/sell quantity (GBQ) is retrieved from the ghost trade table 2014, step 1610.
  • GBT ghost buy probability
  • RTC random trade constant
  • step 1612 a buy order is placed by the system for the number of shares specified by the GBQ, step 1614. Otherwise, a sell order is placed for the number of shares specified by the GBQ, step 1616.
  • the term trade or the term trade order also includes stop limit orders and short sells.
  • stop limit orders and short sells.
  • the only difference in these types of trades is when the actual trade is posted.
  • the stop limit order placed by a user, for example, when the user specifies the condition in which the trade should take place, the stop limit order is stored in a stop limit order queue.
  • the stop limit queue is checked by the virtual specialist program to see if any stop limit conditions are met. If so, the normal trade queue is updated with the stop limit order, and the virtual specialist program performs the trade as with a normal trade.
  • the system of the present invention includes a virtual reserve bank program.
  • the reserve bank program regulates the economy with monetary tools which are provided within a reserve bank program module. With these tools, certain system global constants, such as total money supply and interest rates can be adjusted.
  • certain system global constants such as total money supply and interest rates can be adjusted.
  • adjustable global constants are built into the an administration table 2016 for the virtual trading system. By raising or lowering rates, the amount of interest paid on the virtual dollars not tied up in securities is adjusted for the users. In this way, the unused money in users " accounts act as money market accounts for which interest is adjusted accordingly.
  • a virtual reserve bank program chairman can determine interest rates and security threshold constants by using global interest threshold constants (GITCs), and acts as a monitor of inflationary and deflationary pressures in the system.
  • GITCs global interest threshold constants
  • Inflationary and deflationary pressure may be defined as the size of the system economy, i.e., number of shares of securities which obtain a certain defined price.
  • the total outstanding shares may have a combined par value of V$8 billion, and the total market price for the shares outstanding may be V$80 billion with about V$5 billion average daily trading volume.
  • the virtual specialist program for the majority of securities in the system, may have PSPTs set to 10,000 and NSPTs set to -10,000.
  • the money market rate may be set to 7% under these market conditions by the reserve bank program. However, if prices on the exchange were to inflate to a value of V$200 billion, for example, the PSPT might be increased by 10,000 and the NSPTs decreased by 10.000, and the money market interest rate reset to 15%.
  • the system's virtual reserve bank program program and/or the virtual specialist program may monitor certain inflationary thresholds and trigger a drain of the system if those thresholds are met.
  • a system drain users are offered the opportunity to exchange virtual dollars into U.S. Dollars for exchange of goods and/or services.
  • the drain will have the effect of taking virtual currency out of the system, thus helping to control inflation.
  • Executing the drain comprises comparing the overall currency and/or security holdings to a drain constant administratively set in the global constant table 2022. When the global constant has been reached or exceeded, users are offered the opportunity to purchase products, such as software or mail order products, with their virtual dollars.
  • the cost of the products are debited from their accounts and orders are added to a product fulfillment database designating that the offered products need to be sent to the user.
  • the orders are stored in a drain history database so that statistical information can be drawn in the marketing research tool explained below.
  • a market research tool is also implemented in the client server environment over Internet 10.
  • Computer 12 is used as a front end for a market research user who wishes to access the system of the present invention to view and download statistical research data which has been compiled and stored on servers 14 from the users " demographic data and trading history.
  • the market research user accesses the market research tool by logging into the system, step 1702.
  • Each market research user may establish an account, by either subscribing on-line or by telephone before using the system.
  • the market research user is prompted for a user identification code and password for entry into the system.
  • the market research user Upon successful login into the system, the market research user is presented with a list of securities in the system database, step 1704.
  • the market research user may, by use of a mouse or arrow keys, highlight securities for which the user wishes to view or download statistics, step 1706.
  • the market research user may use a combination of the mouse, arrow keys and shift key. If the shift key is held down during selection, the prior selections made by the user are retained as highlighted selections in combination with the new selection. Selection criteria may also be selected to choose a certain class of securities, or securities which meet, for example, a minimal trading volume threshold over a specified period of time.
  • the market research user is given options, on screen, for categories of information which may be obtained, step 1708. Exemplary categories which may be obtained regarding a security or group of securities include: trade volume information, buy vs. sell volume information, timing of volume information, total volume held information, investment concentration information, price information, stop limit order volume information, short sell volume information, and aggregate index information.
  • the market research user may assess public awareness of the security.
  • a very high trade volume over a period of time indicates a high degree of awareness for the security.
  • minimal volume indicates very little awareness.
  • a query is performed on a trade history tracking table 2010 maintained by the virtual specialist program which contains a mirror image of all trades fulfilled by the virtual specialist program.
  • a trade volume query answer table is created which contains, for each requested security, overall trade volume figures, yearly trade volume figures, monthly trade volume figures, and daily trade figures.
  • buy vs. sell volume information if the volume for a security is predominantly buy-side volume, or volume generated by traders buying the security, it is generally due to a positive awareness.
  • a predominantly sell-side volume for a security indicates that traders believe the security to be overvalued.
  • the market research tool performs a query on the trade history tracking table 2010 and the price history tracking table 2020 described with respect to the virtual specialist program above.
  • the query creates a temporary buy-sell volume answer table for all securities requested.
  • the buy-sell volume answer table contains, for each security, overall buy volume figures, overall sell volume figures, yearly buy volume figures, yearly sell volume figures, monthly buy volume figures, monthly sell volume figures, daily buy volume figures, and daily sell volume figures.
  • the trade volume for a security may be evaluated with respect to the stage of development that a project, for example a movie or actor's career, is in.
  • a film that has just entered production for example, hasn't been marketed by the studio to the public yet.
  • High trading volume for the related movie stock may represent great public awareness for the movie or positive reaction by traders to the combination of actors who star in the movie.
  • a non A-list actor that has high trade volume has a relatively high awareness.
  • the market research tool performs a query on the trade history tracking table 2010 and related development stage history table 2024, which keeps track of start and completion times of stages of development.
  • the query creates a temporary timing volume answer table for all securities requested.
  • the timing volume answer table contains, for each security, timing volume figures for each stage of production or project.
  • the market research tool performs a query on the trade history tracking table 2010 which calculates the average number of shares held for each trader for the requested securities for each trader.
  • the query creates a temporary total volume held answer table for all securities requested.
  • the total volume held answer table contains, for each security, the time that each trader held each security they purchased, along with the volume held.
  • the market research tool performs a query on the trade history tracking table 2010 to retrieve figures for the average volume per share for all requested securities held at any time by all traders.
  • the query creates a temporary investment concentration answer table for all securities requested.
  • the total investment concentration answer table contains, for each security, the average volume that each trader held for each requested security.
  • security prices are tied to perceived sales performance for the product or person which the security is tied to.
  • movie stock prices are tied to perceived box office performance. If a movie stock is priced at $30, and a trader thinks that the movie will gross more than $30 million at the box office, the trader will most probably buy the movie stock.
  • the system of the present invention has the ability to find out what films, actors, phonorecordings or products consumers perceive will be successful.
  • the market research tool performs a query on the price history tracking table 2020, described with respect to the virtual specialist program above, to retrieve price per share for all requested securities held by traders. The query creates a temporary price answer table for all securities requested.
  • the price answer table contains, for each security, the price for each requested security.
  • stop limit order information the system of the present invention tracks traders who set the price a security must obtain before a trade order is filled. Stop limit orders are not filled in the event that the market doesn't hit the specified price before the time that the order expires. This functionality gauges traders' sensitivity to a price. For example, if a trader will only buy a movie stock below $30, that may indicate that the trader only perceives a limited upside for the security, and thus believes that the movie will not be an industry blockbuster.
  • the market research tool When the market research user directs the system to obtain stop limit order information, the market research tool performs a query on the trade history tracking table 2010 to retrieve price per share and volume figures for all requested securities held at any time by all traders which were stop limit orders, whether the limit for such orders were met or not.
  • the query creates a stop limit order answer table for all securities requested.
  • the stop limit order answer table contains, for each security, price per share and volume figures for every stop limit order requested by traders for the requested securities.
  • short sell information if a trader thinks that the value of a security is going to decline, the trader can short sell the security. Analysis of short sell volume on a security can gauge if there is negative sentiment towards the security.
  • the market research tool performs a query on the trade history tracking table 2010 to retrieve short sell volume figures. The query creates a short sell answer table for all securities requested.
  • the short sell answer table contains, for each security requested, the short sale trades orders by all traders.
  • index performance information by aggregating market information into indices, insights can be drawn about the market as a whole.
  • a movie studio security index can be generated by calculating the sum of a studio's ten highest priced movie stocks over time. The performance of such an index tends to measure the potential strength of a studio's distribution, or the potential box office potential of the studio's upcoming films.
  • the market research tool performs a query on the price history tracking table table 2020 to retrieve price change figures for the securities in all requested indices.
  • the query creates a temporary index performance answer table for all securities requested.
  • the index performance answer table contains, for each requested index, price change over time figures.
  • the market research user may choose any number of the above categories of information for display or download for the securities selected in step 1706 by an on-screen selection or check list.
  • the market research user may then select an on-screen Ok button to execute the research.
  • the system then compiles and executes a selection of SQL query calls according to all selections made by the user, step 1710.
  • the query results are compiled and prepared for display, step 1712.
  • pre-programmed graph, trend line and textual templates are used to display the query results on the GUI client display for all chosen securities and information categories described above, step 1714.
  • the user After display, the user is given the option, by selection button, to download the displayed results and underlying query data, step 1716.
  • the market research user is allowed to select from a variety of download formats, such as ASCII, xbase, dbf, HTML, tif, gif, bmp, or the like, step 1718.
  • the market research user is allowed to choose a download location on the local client, step 1720.
  • the system then proceeds to compile the data into the chosen format, step, 1722.
  • the data is then transferred, using any one of a variety of protocols such as zmodem, xmodem, ftp, or any one of the OSI industry standard protocols, step 1724.
  • a TCP/IP socket is used.
  • step 1726 After transfer, the market research user is prompted for whether another query is desired, step 1726. If another query is desired, execution is passed back to step 1704 for another research iteration. Otherwise, time and/or transaction charges, which are tracked from login time at step 1702, are compiled and displayed on client 12. step 1728. The charges are simultaneously stored in a billing database for the next billing cycle, step 1730. The user is then logged out of the system, step 1732.
  • derivative securities are traded in electronic or virtual currency known as Hollywood dollars (H$) on the exchange.
  • H$ Hollywood dollars
  • the initial trading portfolio may include cash in the amount of H$2 Million for the registered HSX account holders.
  • the issuance of money to the newly registered HSX account holders is controlled by the virtual reserve bank program.
  • the HSX account holder By trading in derivative securities (stock, bonds, options, etc.), the HSX account holder either increases or decreases the total value of his portfolio measured in Hollywood dollars and comprised of various securities (debt and equity) and cash (money market funds).
  • trading on margin results in negative amounts debited to his portfolio, and any proceeds from selling activities are swept into the money market fund to add to the cash portion.
  • the HSX account holder may significantly increase the value of his portfolio.
  • the HSX account holder may sell some or all of the securities and accumulate vast amount of Hollywood dollars.
  • the HSX account holder's cash portion of the portfolio may be quite large by itself, without the need to sell his securities.
  • the HSX account holder may access a vendor's web site for currency exchange to convert the cash portion of his portfolio to "real" currency.
  • the HSX account holder logs onto the web site dealing in currency exchange and requests the conversion rate for Hollywood dollars.
  • the HSX account holder obtains the exchange rate and decides, in block 1904, whether to proceed with the transaction by exchanging his accumulated virtual currency (H$) for a desired type of "real" currency, such as U.S. Dollars, Euros, Yens, Rubles, etc. If he decides to exchange his Hollywood dollars for U.S. dollars, for example, the HSX account holder accesses his trading portfolio with HSX, Inc. over secure Internet communications link in block 1906.
  • the HSX account holder is presented a menu using a graphical user interface for facilitating the transfer from his account to the currency exchange web site. The HSX account holder then completes the required fields in the menu and sends this information to the currency exchange web site along with the authorization to verify the HSX account holder's identity and availability of funds in his account.
  • the operator of the currency exchange web site verifies, via a secure communication session, the information provided by the HSX account holder. If the information is accurate as decided in block 1910, the HSX account holder's Hollywood dollars are converted to the requested "real" currency in block 1912. And in block 1914, the HSX account holder requests that the funds be delivered in the requested "real" currency by mail, courier, etc.
  • Fig. 20 shows a flowchart for using the virtual currency in e-commerce in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
  • an HSX account holder accesses a vendor's web site for selling goods and/or services that may be desired by the HSX account holder.
  • the HSX account holder selects the desired product and/or service on the vendor's web site. If the desired product and/or service is sold in the virtual currency (H$), as decided in block 2004, then the HSX account holder accesses his trading portfolio with HSX, Inc. over secure Internet communications link in block 2006.
  • H$ virtual currency
  • the HSX account holder is presented a menu using a graphical user interface for facilitating the transfer from his account to the currency exchange web site, as explained above.
  • the HSX account holder then completes the required fields in the menu and sends this information to the vendor's web site along with the authorization to verify the HSX account holder's identity and availability of funds in the account.
  • the vendor then verifies, via a secure communication session, the information provided by the HSX account holder. If the information is accurate as determined in block 2010, the cost of the desired product and/or service is debited to the HSX account or, alternatively, is transferred to the vendor's web site in block 2012. And in block 2014, the HSX account holder receives an electronic confirmation of the transaction.
  • Fig. 21 shows a flowchart for using the virtual currency in e-commerce in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • an HSX account holder accesses a vendor's web site for selling goods and/or services.
  • a predetermined amount of H$ is transferred by the HSX account holder to the vendor's web site via secure communications lines as described above with reference to Figs. 19 and 20.
  • the HSX account may be debited for that predetermined amount in response to the request from the HSX account holder.
  • the vendor issues a credit to the HSX account holder toward the purchase of goods and/or services on the vendor's web site in block 2104.
  • the amount of credit is based on the exchange rate established by the vendor.
  • Fig. 22 shows a flowchart for using the virtual currency in the HSX account in e-commerce.
  • an official representative of HSX, Inc. logs on the Web to access a vendor's site for selling goods and/or services.
  • the HSX, Inc. representative offers the virtual currency in H$ for redemption by the vendor.
  • HSX, Inc. receives "real" currency at the exchange rate provided by the vendor at his web site.
  • an HSX account holder is informed of a promotion run by the vendor through the vendor's web site. The HSX account holder may then visit the vendor's web site to purchase goods and/or services on-line in block 2206.
  • HSX, Inc. mails a check to the HSX account holder in a predetermined amount.
  • the check is in "real" currency and is a portion of the virtual currency exchange between HSX, Inc. and the vendor.
  • the converted currency may be retained in the HSX holder's account as a deposit or credit towards future purchases on the Internet.

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Development Economics (AREA)
  • Economics (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Strategic Management (AREA)
  • Technology Law (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Financial Or Insurance-Related Operations Such As Payment And Settlement (AREA)

Abstract

Système informatique de gestion financière pour le commerce de valeurs boursières par l'intermédiaire d'un réseau utilisant une devise virtuelle. Un ordinateur serveur reçoit les ordres d'achat et de vente d'instruments financiers dérivés à partir d'une pluralité d'ordinateurs clients. L'ordinateur serveur tâche d'apparier les ordres d'achat et de vente, puis il génère un prix de marché grâce à un spécialiste virtuel, logiciel exécuté par l'ordinateur serveur. Le logiciel du spécialiste virtuel répond à un déséquilibre dans la concordance des ordres d'achat et de vente. Le montant accumulé en devise virtuelle par les titulaires d'un compte HSX (Hollywood Stock Exchange) grâce à leurs opérations commerciales réussies pourra être changé en une autre devise, utilisé pour l'achat de marchandises à partir d'un site Web, etc.
EP99965746A 1998-11-02 1999-11-02 Systeme informatique destine au commerce de valeurs boursieres, avec devise virtuelle et specialiste virtuel Withdrawn EP1461755A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/184,571 US6505174B1 (en) 1996-03-25 1998-11-02 Computer-implemented securities trading system with a virtual specialist function
US184571 1998-11-02
US382907 1999-08-25
US09/382,907 US7487123B1 (en) 1996-03-25 1999-08-25 Computer-implemented securities trading system with virtual currency and virtual specialist
PCT/US1999/025793 WO2000026745A2 (fr) 1998-11-02 1999-11-02 Systeme informatique destine au commerce de valeurs boursieres, avec devise virtuelle et specialiste virtuel

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1461755A4 EP1461755A4 (fr) 2004-09-29
EP1461755A2 true EP1461755A2 (fr) 2004-09-29

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EP (1) EP1461755A2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000026745A2 (fr)

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Also Published As

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WO2000026745A3 (fr) 2004-05-21
WO2000026745A9 (fr) 2002-08-22
WO2000026745A2 (fr) 2000-05-11
EP1461755A4 (fr) 2004-09-29

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