US Patent 6963856 Automated price improvement protocol processor

Data processing systems and methods for managing transactions in auction-based trading of specialized items such as fixed income instruments are presented. The data processing system provides a highly structured trading protocol implemented through a sequence of trading paradigms. The system employs a distributed computer processing network linking together a plurality of commonly configured program-controlled workstations. The protocol and its program-controlling logic improves trading efficiency, rewards market Makers, and fairly distributes market opportunity to system users.