Patents by Inventor Ian Kenneth Shepherd

Ian Kenneth Shepherd has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8401954
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed. ‘Sponsor’ stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes. ‘Ordering’ stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-off) at the future time of maturity for “each outcome,” and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a ‘counter-party’ stakeholder. Independently of the offered contracts, the ‘counter-party’ stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Alice Corporation Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 8229817
    Abstract: A system to enable the formulation of multi-party investments contracts. The system allows an ordering party to input contract data relating to at least one phenomenon that has a range of future outcomes and a future time of maturity. The contract data further includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range and a consideration due to a counterparty at or after the time of maturity. One or more counterparties can input registering data including a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range. The system prices and matches a contract by applying at least one template of entitlement as a function of outcome to each counterparty's set of probabilities to give one or more individual counterparty prices each equal to the ordering party's consideration, and further, applying the ordering party's set of probabilities to each template to derive an implied entitlement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Alice Corporation Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20110093377
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed. ‘Sponsor’ stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes. ‘Ordering’ stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-off) at the future time of maturity for “each outcome,” and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a ‘counter-party’ stakeholder. Independently of the offered contracts, the ‘counter-party’ stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: Alice Corporation Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 7822676
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed. ‘Sponsor’ stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes. ‘Ordering’ stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-off) at the future time of maturity for each outcome, and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a ‘counter-party’ stakeholder. Independently of the offered contracts, the ‘counter-party’ stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Alice Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 7725375
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed. ‘Sponsor’ stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes. ‘Ordering’ stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-off) at the future time of maturity for each outcome, and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a ‘counter-party’ stakeholder. Independently of the offered contracts, the ‘counter-party’ stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Alice Corporation Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20100049649
    Abstract: A data processing system to enable the formulation of multi-party investments contracts is disclosed. The system comprises input means by which an ordering party can input contract data relating to at least one phenomenon, the phenomenon having a range of future outcomes and a future time of maturity. The contract data further includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range and a consideration due to a counterparty at or after the time of maturity. One or more counterparties can input registering data including a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range. The system further includes a data processor that is operable to price and match a contract from the contract data and the registering data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: Alice Corporation PTY Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 7617147
    Abstract: A data processing system to enable the formulation of multi-party investments contracts is disclosed. The system comprises input means by which an ordering party can input contract data relating to at least one phenomenon, the phenomenon having a range of future outcomes and a future time of maturity. The contract data further includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range and a consideration due to a counterparty at or after the time of maturity. One or more counterparties can input registering data including a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range. The system further includes a data processor that is operable to price and match a contract from the contract data and the registering data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Alice Corporation Pty, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20080120222
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed. ‘Sponsor’ stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes. ‘Ordering’ stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-oft) at the future time of maturity for “each outcome,” and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a ‘counter-party’ stakeholder. Independently of the offered contracts, the ‘counter-party’ stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 6912510
    Abstract: A method of exchanging an obligation between parties where the exchange is administered by a supervisory institution that ensures real-time settling of obligations between parties by updating shadow records in real-time and instructing one or more exchange institutions to effect, from time to time, the exchange of obligations in accounts maintained external to the supervisory institution. Updates to the exchange institution accounts may reflect the net obligations of parties over a nominated period of time. The role of the supervisory institution is to ensure that obligations are only settled where parties have sufficient balance in their shadow records to complete the transaction. Obligations that can be exchanged include, but are not limited to: shares in financial or physical assets, participation rights in wagers, national or synthetic currencies, exchange settlement account deposits, taxation account deposits, and deposits of financial instruments or precious metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Alice Corporation PTY LTD
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20040059667
    Abstract: A data processing system to enable the formulation of multi-party investments contracts is disclosed. The system comprises input means by which an ordering party can input contract data relating to at least one phenomenon, the phenomenon having a range of future outcomes and a future time of maturity. The contract data further includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range and a consideration due to a counterparty at or after the time of maturity. One or more counterparties can input registering data including a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range. The system further includes a data processor that is operable to price and match a contract from the contract data and the registering data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20030191707
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 6622130
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to the formulation and trading of investment contracts are described. An ordering party inputs contract data relating to a phenomenon. The phenomenon has a range of future outcomes and a future time of maturity. The contract data includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome within the range, and a consideration due a counterparty at or after the time of matching. At least one counterparty inputs registering data that includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range. A data processing means prices and matches a contract for the phenomenon from the contract data and registering data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Alice Corporation Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Publication number: 20030023546
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 6157918
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to the formulation and trading of investment contracts are described. An ordering party inputs contract data relating to a phenomenon. The phenomenon has a range of future outcomes and a future time of maturity. The contract data includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome within the range, and a consideration due a counterparty at or after the time of matching. At least one counterparty inputs registering data that includes a set of probabilities of occurrence for each outcome in the range. A data processing means prices and matches a contract for the phenomenon from the contract data and registering data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Swychco Infrastructure Services PTY Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd
  • Patent number: 6134536
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus which deal with the management of risk relating to specified, yet unknown, future events are disclosed.`Sponsor` stakeholders specify a particular product relating to an event or phenomenon for which there is a range of possible future outcomes.`Ordering` stakeholders then offer contracts relating to the predetermined phenomenon and corresponding range of outcomes. The offered contracts specify an entitlement or (pay-off) at the future time of maturity for each outcome, and a consideration (or premium) payable, in exchange, to a `counter-party` stakeholder.Independently of the offered contracts, the `counter-party` stakeholders input data as to their view of the likelihood of occurrence of each outcome in the predetermined range into the future, or specifically at the predetermined date of maturity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Swychco Infrastructure Services Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Kenneth Shepherd