Abstract: In accordance with the method of the present invention, a local subscriber defines its own filter sets and/or local templates which are used to create new updateable local trading instrument displayable data records from a common remotely transmitted data stream of trading instrument data records, which are user created reconstituted data records different from the transmitted trading instrument data records. A common one of the defined filter sets and/or local templates may be used for a plurality of different data records having a common desired set of information categories. The transmitted data may be in a logical data format or a page display format, in which instance it is converted to a logical data format.

Abstract: A method and system (28) are provided for dynamically controlling the content of a local receiver data base (24, 26) from a transmitter data base (20) in an information retrieval communication network (28) in which a message transmitter transmitting the transmitter data base (20) dynamically provides data base messages over a message distribution network (22) to local receivers receiving the local receiver data bases (24, 26). The transmitter data base (20) messages are used to incrementally increase and decrease the content of the local receiver data base (24, 26) on a record-by-record basis. In addition, non-data base messages may also be provided. The data base messages consist of displayable data as well as file maintenance messages. Storage templates (42) are retrievably stored at the local receiver data base (24, 26). These storage templates (42) are locally retrieved based on receipt of a unique identifier.

Abstract: A video communication network (20) capable of providing a plurality of simultaneous textual data video frames to a plurality of keystations (22, 24) from a plurality of computer systems comprising at least two different data bases having incompatible keyboard protocols or character codes (40, 47, 46a, 46b) employs a single keyboard (28, 38) at the keystation (22, 24) to both selectively communicate with various different data base computer systems (40, 47, 46a, 46b) and enable keyboard generated dynamic selection of a textual data video display from a multiplexed plurality of simultaneously provided composite video signals corresponding to the plurality of video frames. Each keyboard (28, 38) may control anywhere from one VDU (26) up to four such VDUs (30, 32, 34, 36), by way of example.

Abstract: A video conversational data communication network (30) in which subscribers (34, 35) may conduct conversational video textual data communications with one or more keystations (70, 602, 98) the network (30). Each keystation (70, 602, 98) is associated with a keystation terminal controller interface (68, 96, 600) which is in turn connected to a message switching node (32) for routing calls throughout the network (30). The keystation controller interface (68, 96, 600) locally stores (304, 306) video conversational textual data for its associated keystations (70, 82, 84, 98, 100, 602) and enables two different designated keystations to conduct two different video conversations with a common keystation in a split screen display (76). The split screen display (76) may also be used to display retrievable data from a data base (50, 52) for simultaneous display (76) along with a video conversation.

Abstract: A communication network (20) capable of providing a subscriber originated alert message to other designated subscribers (80B, 162, 164, 80C, 166, 168) in the network (20) which have been selected by the message originator (80A, 82). Both the content of the alert message and the designated recipients may be readily varied at will by the subscriber via a keyboard (82A) which is associated with a video display device (82B). The telephone type distribution network (20) includes a plurality of switch nodes (22-38) at different geographic locations which are interfaced with the various subscriber keystations (82, 160, 164, 166, 168) through keystation or terminal controllers (80). Each terminal controller has display control logic (304) including local display storage (310-318) for locally storing retrievable data displays (310-316) and alert message displays, (318) directed to that controller (80).