Abstract: The present invention provides a unique icon-driven interface to a database that enables the construction and submission of a database query completely via icon display and selection. The invention involves displaying a plurality of icons to the user. The icons represent some database object such as a table, row, column or psuedo-structure. In constructing a database query, the user is spared the task of having to construct the query via typing or even selecting columns from table displays and operators such as “equals”, “not equals”, “greater than”, or “less than”. Rather, the user simply selects icons of interest to the user, then submits the constructed query. The user accomplishes this construction and submission without having to understand the database structures and/or data relations of the database. The benefits of the invention include enhanced user performance and more accurate database queries.

Abstract: A novel system and method for generating investment signals for investment items in a given set of investment items is described herein. One aspect of the present invention involves defining a set of rules that generate investment signals such as to “buy” or “sell”. These investment signals can be further scored with respect to a time period. Additional aspects of the present invention include further analyzing scoring the investment signals with the investment item's past price behavior and/or capitalization. Investment items identified in accordance with the present invention can be compared with other investment item scores and a portfolio may also be generated. These investment items may then be displayed in a manner helpful to the investment trader.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel analysis method whereby investment item from any market or index can be grouped into novel price pattern groups depending upon the investment item's price history over the course of a user-selected period of time. The unique manner in which these groups are formulated offers the user, or investment trader, a much fuller view of the performance of the investment item than the typical raw historical information regarding price for an investment item. Furthermore, since it is possible to apply this technique to many investment items, it allows the investment trader to view pricing trends outside of the traditional boundaries of markets, i.e., NYSE, NASDAQ, etc., or indexes, i.e., DOW JONES, S&P 500, etc. Rather, this technique allows the investment trader to view price trending patterns for any collection of investment items across any market, including global or foreign markets, for any desired period of time.