Trader station user interface

Abstract

A variety of user interfaces, systems and methods are provided for traders of commodities, futures contracts, derivatives, stocks, etc. A user interface may have two display modes, locked and unlocked. In the locked mode, some or all of the data fields (price, bids, offers—optionally bids and offers not exposed to the market) are locked. In the unlocked mode, all the data fields, including the price column, are dynamically updated. In a second embodiment, a price column is divided such that prices above the market are in a first column and prices below the market are in a second column to reduce the number of columns required to show bids, offers and prices. Optionally, the trader's bids and offers not exposed to the market can be shown in columns adjacent to the market bids and offers. In a third embodiment of the invention orders are cancelled if the market changes within a short period of time before the order is placed and the change does not benefit the user.

1 . In a computer device having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method of entering orders for financial instruments, the method comprising:
 (a) dynamically displaying on the display market depth information for a financial instrument;   (b) receiving from the user interface selection device a lock command; and   (c) in response to (b) processing the lock command at a processor and temporarily halting updates to the market depth information until a user enters an order for the financial instrument.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including displaying a lock command icon; and
 wherein (b) comprises receiving a signal indicative of a user selecting the icon.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 (d) receiving from the user interface selection device an order command; and   (e) in response to (d) transmitting an order to a match engine.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the market depth information includes bids and asks oriented horizontally. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the market depth information includes bids and asks displayed in different colors. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the market depth information includes entered and working orders in alignment with the prices corresponding thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (a) comprises:
 (i) dynamically displaying on the display in a first column ask prices and market bid quantities; and   (ii) dynamically displaying on the display in a second column bid prices and market ask quantities.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer device comprises a handheld mobile terminal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the financial instrument comprises an options contract. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the financial instrument comprises a futures contract. 
     
     
         11 . A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for causing a computer device to perform the steps comprising:
 (a) dynamically displaying on a display market depth information for a product in an unlocked state;   (b) halting updates to at least a portion of the market depth information in response to a request from the user;   (c) receiving an order for the product; and   (d) returning to the unlocked state after receiving the order.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further including computer-executable instructions for causing the computer device to return to the unlocked state in response to a request from the user. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the market depth information includes bids and asks oriented horizontally. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the market depth information includes bids and asks displayed in different colors. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the market depth information includes entered and working orders in alignment with the prices corresponding thereto. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein (a) comprises:
 (i) dynamically displaying on the display in a first column ask prices and market bid quantities; and   (ii) dynamically displaying on the display in a second column bid prices and market ask quantities.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further including computer-executable instructions for causing the computer device to transmit the order to a match engine. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further including computer-executable instructions for causing the computer device to display a lock command icon;
 and wherein (b) comprises receiving a signal indicative of a user selecting the icon.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the computer device comprises a handheld mobile terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the financial instrument comprises an options contract.