Reuters Limited

John M Richards

David G Ure

Christopher J Ordish

Jack G Wigan

Clifford A Mackenzie

Jack S Wigan

An improved matching system for trading instruments in which the occurrence of automatically confirmed trades is dependent on receipt of match acknowledgement messages by the host computer (200) from all counterparties (KS A, KS B) to the matching trade. The host computer (200) matches like bids and offers provided thereto by the various keystations (KS A, KS B) in accordance with a predetermined matching criteria. Each of the keystations (KS A, KS B) includes a trade status timer (300, 302) and a display (310, 312) for timing receipt of a confirmed trade and/or ticket generation message from the host (200) after the keystation (KS A, KS B) has sent a match acknowledgement message and for displaying an 'unconfirmed trade' status message awaiting receipt of the 'confirmed trade' indication from the host (200). An alarm and a display message is provided at the keystation (KS A, KS B) when the 'confirmed trade' indication is not timely received. The host (200) receives match acknowledgement messages from all of the counterparties (KS A, KS B) to the match before confirming a trade. A ticket is not generated at the keystation (KS A, KS B) until the trade has been confirmed by the host (200).

Offer matching system having timed match acknowledgment

A video conversational data communication network (30) in which subscribers (34, 36) may conduct conversational video textual data communications with one or more keystations (70, 602, 98) in 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. The video conversational textual data is transmitted between connected keystation controller interfaces (96, 602) in packets which contain less than the total displayable data content of the conversational video textual data message input via the keyboard (72). The keystation controller interface (96, 602) also enables preparation of responses prior to transmission to the other party and while receiving a transmission from that party. Each keystation may create a unique CONTACT LIST as well as a unique INHIBIT LIST to accelerate and screen contacts to be made throughout the network (30).

Conversational video system having contact selection control

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. The video conversational textual data is transmitted between connected keystation controller interfaces (96, 602) in packets which contain less than the total displayable data content of the conversational video textural data message input via the keyboard (72). The keystation controller interface (96, 602) also enables preparation of responses prior to transmission to the other party and while receiving a transmission from that party. Prior to completion of a call, the keystation controller interface (96, 602) provides an incoming calls queue video display (76) at the connected keystations (96, 602). This video display (76) may contain a unique identifier for each keystation initiating a call as well as an interest message. The receiving keystation may then randomly select any of the displayed incoming calls irrespective of position in the queue and the video conversation may then take place using the associated keyboards (72) and video displays (76). A hard copy print out of the video conversation may then be obtained on a printer (102, 604).

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Blewbury, United Kingdom

John M Richards