Abstract: A system for auctioning financial products over a distributed, networked computer system includes a plurality of workstations for entering orders for financial products into the distributed, networked computer system. The orders specify a price for the financial product, a quantity of the financial product and exposure time which the order can remain active. The system also includes a plurality of workstations for entering predefined relative indication and responses to orders for the product. The predefined relative indications specify a willingness to trade. The responses specify a price and quantity.

Abstract: A platform supports multiple processes, including market processes having respective market methodologies, trading processes having trading methodologies, platform processes providing services to the market processes and trading processes, and representation processes for coupling the market processes to external markets. The trading processes interact with each other and with external markets through the market processes.

Abstract: An RFID tag includes a plastic container having at least one particle that is disposed therein and that is formed from metal or metal coated and/or fabricated from a plurality of different metals. A receiver unit detects RF pulses which are generated by the Triboelectric effect of the particles.

Abstract: A platform enables a business to learn about a user based on characteristics of the user and without knowing the identity of the user. The business specifies characteristics of users of interest to the business. When a platform user begins a session, a process representing the platform user interacts with the business's specification so that the business obtains the characteristics of the user without knowing the identity of the user. If the user's characteristics match the business's specification, then the platform takes an action specified by the business, such as sending an offer or advertisement to the user.

Abstract: A trading process represents an order that it is handling at multiple market processes simultaneously. Each of the market processes and the trading process follow a two-phase commit protocol, wherein permission to execute the order is obtained from the process controlling the order, and then the order is executed. Accordingly, multiple executions of an order are prevented. The control process is typically the trading process that originated the order. However, in some market methodologies, the market process may assume control over the order. Permission to execute the order is explicitly given by a trading process. Permission to execute the order may be inferred after a market process determines that no other market processes have control over the order.

Abstract: Trading processes and market processes interact with each other on a platform. Each of the trading processes has a trading strategy embodied in a decision table. Each of the market processes has a market methodology that may employ a decision table in like manner as the trading processes. Accordingly, the trading processes and market processes are easy to configure. The decision table comprises rules having conditions and actions that are to be performed when the conditions are true.

Abstract: A trading process having a trading methodology selected by a user is operative to interact with market processes having respective market methodologies. The trading process and the market processes are supported on a platform that also supports platform processes for providing services to the trading processes and market processes. The trading processes interact with each other and with external markets through the market processes.

Abstract: A market process operates according to a market methodology that enables crowd price improvement relative to the prices in a stored order file during both price discovery and execution. The market process operates on a platform that also supports trading processes. The trading processes either are actively inquiring about market prices, have posted orders with the market process to be executed in due course, or have registered to be in the crowd of the market process and receive price improvement opportunities from the market process. During price discovery, an actively inquiring trading process can request crowd price improvement, and if the crowd provides an improved price, the active trading process must execute at the crowd provided price.

Abstract: Trading processes are operative to route orders from order rooms to market processes, which process the orders according to respective market methodologies. The order routing strategy can be embodied in a decision table having rules with conditions and actions to be taken when the conditions are true. Accordingly, order rooms can readily configure and reconfigure trading processes.

Abstract: A trading process automatically requests a short term option having a term of less than a minute, and sometimes less than a second, from a market process. The trading process and the market process both operate on a platform. The market process requests a platform service to set a timer to measure the expiration time of the short term option, and to notify the market process and the trading process at the expiration of the short term option. The short term option is particularly useful for a list of orders that must be executed, if at all, at a guaranteed price; in which case, the platform may adjust the expiration time of the short term options associated with the orders in the list to ensure that the orders in the list can be executed at particular respective prices.

Abstract: A system for auctioning financial products over a distributed, networked computer system includes a plurality of workstations for entering orders for financial products into the distributed, networked computer system. The orders specify a price for the financial product, a quantity of the financial product and exposure time which the order can remain active. The system also includes a plurality of workstations for entering predefined relative indication and responses to orders for the product. The predefined relative indications specify a willingness to trade. The responses specify a price and quantity.

Abstract: A database of personal information is built and controlled by the individual users creating it. This database can then be used to enhance the functionality and user experience associated with multi-participant online communities. By collecting information from users themselves, and by allowing users to maintain such data, the data can have significant added value both to the users and to any commercial services that wish to use it. Appropriate precautions are taken to ensure that users maintain control over the data they choose to share. Data is owned by the user that provided it, and any application or release of such data is only performed at user direction and under user control. The users are also given incentives to provide such data, in the form of promised rewards. These mechanisms improve the amount and quality of collected data, so that comprehensive databases describing users can be built more easily and effectively.

Abstract: A procedure is a template that specifies trigger conditions and what to do when the trigger conditions occur, or do not occur within a specified time. Generally, a procedure corresponds to an order handling strategy used by a trader. A menu of standard procedures exist, and custom procedures are accommodated after being qualified for use in the present system. An interest represents an intent to trade. In contrast, an order is a definite commitment to buy or sell a certain amount. Generally, an institution or professional trader will know that they wish to trade when conditions are right, but will not be quite ready to submit an order. The institution or trader thus represents untapped market liquidity. By representing such liquidity as interests, the liquidity can be more efficient coupled to markets.

Abstract: Price setting for a security occurs by automatically engaging in a price discovery procedure before responding to a request for a current buy or sell price of the security to provide an automatically discovered price that is better than a book price. The book price is the best price in an order book including orders to buy or sell specified quantities of the security at respective prices, the lowest sell order price of the booked orders being the book sell price, the highest buy order price of the booked orders being the book buy order price. The price discovery procedure includes providing the book buy or sell price to at least one entity registered to participate in the price discovery procedure. The entity automatically provides an improved price relative to the book price based on a predetermined strategy that is determined independently of the strategies for other entities.

Abstract: Price setting for a security occurs by automatically engaging in a price discovery procedure before responding to a request for a current buy or sell price of the security to provide an automatically discovered price that is better than a book price. The book price is the best price in an order book including orders to buy or sell specified quantities of the security at respective prices, the lowest sell order price of the booked orders being the book sell price, the highest buy order price of the booked orders being the book buy order price. The price discovery procedure includes providing the book buy or sell price to at least one entity registered to participate in the price discovery procedure. The entity automatically provides an improved price relative to the book price based on a predetermined strategy that is determined independently of the strategies for other entities.

Abstract: A system for auctioning financial products over a distributed, networked computer system includes a plurality of workstations for entering orders for financial products into the distributed, networked computer system. The orders specify a price for the financial product, a quantity of the financial product and exposure time which the order can remain active. The system also includes a plurality of workstations for entering predefined relative indication and responses to orders for the product. The predefined relative indications specify a willingness to trade. The responses specify a price and quantity.

Abstract: A method for detecting a tracking error in a process of tracking a groove track on a recording medium includes the steps of: irradiating a first light spot onto a groove track on a recording medium as a focused light beam for carrying out recording, reproducing, or erasing of information on the groove track of the recording medium; and irradiating a second and a third light spots onto an area around the groove track on the recording medium as focused light beams simultaneously with the irradiation of the first light spot, the second and third light spots are irradiated onto an area around the groove track on one side of the first light spot in a manner such that each of the second and third light spots covers both an inside and outside of the groove track.