초록 ▼

Apparatus for use by a broker including a memory for holding a number of market prices each corresponding to a security or a commodity. A speech synthesizer provides that prices may be quoted to customers in a synthesized human voice. A telephone interface connects outside calls to a DTMF transceive

Apparatus for use by a broker including a memory for holding a number of market prices each corresponding to a security or a commodity. A speech synthesizer provides that prices may be quoted to customers in a synthesized human voice. A telephone interface connects outside calls to a DTMF transceiver which is in turn connected to a programmed microprocessor unit so that a caller may key in instructions or information. Instructions for price quotations result in the price for the selected security or commodity being reported to the caller in a synthesized human voice. The apparatus is also capable of monitoring price triggers and reporting violations of price triggers by calling a predetermined telephone number and reporting the violation in a synthesized human voice. Also, price requests are logged and the unit is responsive to an instruction keyed in by a broker through his telephone to report the contents of the log over the telephone in a synthesized human voice.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for use by a broker at a broker\s workstation in his or her office to assist in quoting the prices of tradable instruments such as securities or commodities to customers, said prices available from a data link to an exchange where the tradable instruments are traded, said system comprising:

A system for use by a broker at a broker\s workstation in his or her office to assist in quoting the prices of tradable instruments such as securities or commodities to customers, said prices available from a data link to an exchange where the tradable instruments are traded, said system comprising: an outside telephone line servicing said office; desk telephone handset means at said workstation; quote retrieval means connected to said data link for obtaining prices of tradable instruments traded on said exchange; telephone interface means connected to said telephone line for answering calls on said telephone line and for converting incoming signals on said telephone line to digital codes, said incoming signals inputted on the remote end of said telephone line; signal generating means connected to said telephone line through said telephone interface means for generating communication signals on said telephone line; indicator means located at said workstation and perceivable by said broker at said workstation for conveying information to said broker while said broker is at said workstation; control means connected to receive said digital codes from said telephone interface means and for controlling said signal generating means, said indicator means and said quote retrieval means, whereby a caller can convey requests and information to said control means using said incoming signals, said control means including: (i) price quoting means responsive to a particular sequence of said digital codes representing a request for a quote of the price of particular tradable instrument traded on said exchange for obtaining the price of said particular tradable instrument from said quote retrieval means and for causing said signal generating means to quote the requested tradable instrument price using said communication signals over said telephone line; (ii) caller identifying means for obtaining the identification of a caller on said telephone line, said identification obtained from a sequence of said digital codes, and for causing an identification of said caller to be indicated by said indicator means so that it is perceivable by said broker while the caller is on said telephone line obtaining a quote of a price; and (iii) switching means operable by said broker from said broker\s workstation for selectively connecting said telephone line to said desk telephone handset means whereby a broker can interrupt a call from a caller and speak with the caller in person.