Anonymous price and progressive display execution apparatus, system and method

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method for buying, selling, and/or trading certain items in certain markets (such as, by way of non-limiting example, trading financial instruments) which offers a balance between complete multi-lateral anonymity amongst trading participants while retaining key information, and only making needed information involving historic and linked counter-party data available in a manner which discloses relevant information to the appropriate parties at the appropriate time is disclosed. The apparatus, system and method may comprise a electronic and/or computerized system for buying and selling of products, services, financial instruments including, but not limited to, securities, derivatives, commodities, liabilities, and/or other items which may be bought, sold and/or traded while maintaining the integrity of the markets in which such items are bought, sold and/or traded. The apparatus, system and method may allow for the progressive disclosure of information related the potential execution of product by establishing an anonymous alias and registering an interest in a proposed transaction based upon information that is both constructed by the alias and combined with information that is maintained and linked within a central facility wherein some or all such information within the central facility may be disclosed at an appropriate or desired time as the warranted by the situation related to a transaction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for negotiating a sales transaction between two or more users of said apparatus, said two or more users comprising at least a first user and a second user, and said sales transaction comprising a sales offering, said apparatus comprising:
 a central processing device; and   two or more user interface devices in operative communication with said central processing device,   wherein said central processing device progressively disseminates information related to said sales offering from said first user through at least one of said user interfaces to said second user and any other users designated by said first user; and   wherein said central processing device progressively disseminates information related to said sales offering from at least said second user through at least one of said user interfaces to said first user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said information related to said sales offering disseminated from said first user maintains the anonymity of the identity of said first user. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said information related to said sales offering disseminated from at least said second user maintains the anonymity of the identity of at least said second user. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said information related to said sales offering disseminated from said first user comprises an offering price associated with said sales offering. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said information related to said sales offering disseminated from at least said second user comprises a price counter offer to said offering price offered by said first user. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said first user's offering price is made available for a limited time for acceptance by said second user and any other users designated by said first user. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said second user's counter offer price is made available for a limited time for acceptance by said first user and any other users designated by said second user. 
     
     
         8 . A method for executing a single financial product that combines financial elements into a single financial element and links said single financial element to an alias and other information through a computer-based management processor, said method comprising the steps of:
 selecting at least one characteristic of a proposed transaction;   selecting at least one alias from a first group of one or more aliases to link to said proposed transaction;   selecting a link between said aliases selected from said first group and other information associated with said aliases;   communicating, through said management processor, between said aliases selected from said first group with at least one other alias, and disclosing at least one element of said information to said additional alias;   receiving through a user interface in operative communication with said management processor a disclosure of at least one element of said information from said at least one other alias; and   responding to said disclosure by said at least one of said other aliases with a disclosure of at least one element of said information from said first alias, or agreement to purchase of sell said product based upon said disclosure by said at least one of said other aliases.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of said aliases selected from said first group each are associated with an identity of one or more first counterparties to said proposed transaction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of said identities of said at one or more first counterparties are anonymous. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one other alias each are associated with an identity of one or more second counterparties to said proposed transaction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , one or more of said identities of said one or more second counterparties are anonymous. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of said aliases selected from said first group each are associated with an anonymous identity of one or more first counterparties to said proposed transaction, and wherein said at least one other alias each are associated with an anonymous identity of one or more second counterparties to said proposed transaction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said disclosure of said at least one element of said information associated with said one or more first counterparties is disclosed to said one or more second counterparties while maintaining the anonymity of said one or more first counterparties, and wherein said responsive disclosure associated with said one or more second counterparties is disclosed to said one or more first counterparties while maintaining the anonymity of said one or more second counterparties. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said disclosure associated with one or more first counterparties, and said responsive disclosure associated with said one or more second counterparties each may be disclosed in one or more separate disclosures of information. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more separate disclosures of information between said one or more first counterparties and said one or more second counterparties results in an agreement between said counterparties to transact or not to transact. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said information associated with a counterparty may be disclosed in a systematic manner. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said method anonymously assesses relative interest levels of prospective parties to said proposed transaction. 
     
     
         19 . A computerized system for executing a single financial product that combines financial elements into a single financial element and links said single financial element to an alias, an entity and other information, said system comprising:
 a user interface for selecting at least one characteristic of a proposed transaction, at least one alias selected from a group of one or more aliases to link to said proposed transaction, and a link between said alias and other information associated with said alias; and   a computer-based management processor in operative communication with said user interface, wherein said computer-based management processor provides for operative communication between said aliases selected from said first group with at least one other alias, disclosing at least one element of said information to said one other alias, responding with a disclosure of at least one element of the information from said one other alias, and establishing a mechanism wherein said aliases selected from said first group and said at least one other alias agree or do not agree to execute a transaction regarding a sale or purchase of said product.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said aliases provide anonymity as to the identities of each party associated with each alias, and wherein a set time period is established for a party to either provide additional information regarding said transaction or to agree or not to agree to execute a transaction regarding said sale or purchase of said product.