Methods and systems for retrieving data stored in a database

Abstract

A computer-implemented, transaction-making, municipal bond trading system having a capability to conduct a private electronic auction of bid wanteds between a central brokers' broker and multiple prospective remote bidders and to maintain a reference database of accurate individual bond lot descriptions and identifications, including CUSIP (trademark) numbers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving by at least one computer a bid wanted from first user, the bid wanted comprising information for soliciting bids to sell at least one item and a deadline for receiving bids;   transmitting by the at least one computer the bid-wanted to a plurality of other users;   receiving by the at least one computer a bid from at least one of the plurality of other users responding to the bid wanted; and   transmitting by the at least one computer at least one message to the at least one of the plurality of other users to alert the at least one other user of the deadline.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one message is transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of other users a period of time prior to an expiration of the deadline, the at least one message comprising a warning of the approaching deadline. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising transmitting at least one interim advisory message to the at least one of the plurality of other users. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one message comprises an option that when selected causes the bid wanted to be displayed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one message comprises at least an abbreviated description of the item. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deadline for the bid wanted is specified by the first user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising transmitting a message to the first user indicating whether a bid has been received for the bid wanted. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one message is transmitted to the at least one other user based on a filter set by the at least one other user that allows alerts to be communicated to the at least one other user. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bid wanted is set up by the first user prior to communicating the bid wanted to the at least one other user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising receiving an indication from the first user to place the bid wanted on hold and an indication from the first user to activate the bid wanted. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bid wanted is put on hold and activated before the bid wanted is transmitted to the plurality of other users. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising marking a record of the bid wanted indicating therewith that at least one bid has been received. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the bid wanted comprises receiving a marked up version of a previous bid wanted. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bid wanted is a reoffering or a duplicate of a previous bid wanted. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising at least one computer connected over a computer network to at least one selling user computer and a plurality of bidding user computers, the at least one computer configured to:
 receive a bid wanted from a selling user, the bid wanted comprising information for soliciting bids to sell at least one item and a deadline for receiving bids;   transmit the bid-wanted to a plurality of other users;   receive a bid from at least one of the plurality of other users responding to the bid wanted; and   transmit at least one message to the at least one of the plurality of other users to alert the at least one other user of the deadline.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one message is transmitted to the at least one of the plurality of other users a period of time prior to an expiration of the deadline, the at least one message comprising a warning of the approaching deadline. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further configured to transmit at least one interim advisory message to the at least one of the plurality of other users. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one message comprises an option that when selected causes the bid wanted to be displayed. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one message comprises at least an abbreviated description of the item. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the deadline for the bid wanted is specified by the selling user. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , further configured to transmit a message to the selling user indicating whether a bid has been received for the bid wanted. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one message is transmitted to the at least one other user based on a filter set by the at least one other user that allows alerts to be communicated to the at least one other user. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the bid wanted is set up by the selling user prior to communicating the bid wanted to the at least one other user. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15 , further configured to receive an indication from the selling user to place the bid wanted on hold and an indication from the selling user to activate the bid wanted. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the bid wanted is put on hold and activated before the bid wanted is transmitted to the plurality of other users. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 15 , further configured to mark a record of the bid wanted indicating therewith that at least one bid has been received. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 15 , further configured to receive a marked up version of a previous bid wanted. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the bid wanted is a reoffering or a duplicate of a previous bid wanted.