1. A method of facilitating trading among a set of processes having respective owners, comprising:
automatically, via a computer, operating at least one of the processes according to an order processing methodology by
retrieving a decision table having at least two rules specifying at least one of a discovery strategy and an order handling strategy, each rule having at least one condition and at least one action to be taken when the condition is satisfied, wherein the decision table further includes a holding tank storing a plurality of unrelated orders that have been generated but not yet submitted for execution at a market, and
automatically evaluating whether the at least one condition for each of the rules is satisfied, and
for each of the rules having a satisfied condition, automatically, via a computer, configuring the at least one process to act on the at least one action,
wherein at least one action of at least one rule in the decision table is to store an order in the holding tank, the holding tank having one or more market-related conditions associated therewith that are applicable to the holding tank as a whole, the method further comprising monitoring the one or more conditions of the holding tank and when the one or more conditions are met, removing all of the plurality of unrelated orders from the holding tank and taking at least one specified trading-related action with respect to each of the removed orders.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one process is a trading process.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one process is a market process.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is based on order characteristics.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition is based on market characteristics.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one action that the at least one process is configured to act upon includes assigning a value to a parameter.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one action that the at least one process is configured to act upon includes transferring to another rule.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the rules also specifies a time for acting on its at least one action.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one action in at least one of the rules is a wait operation.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of processes includes at least two market processes and at least two trading processes and is operative on a platform that enables the trading processes to communicate in a standardized manner.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one action is selected by the owner of the process from the group comprising (i) generating an order, (ii) obtaining more information, and (iii) evaluating another rule in the decision table.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the decision table includes a plurality of holding tanks.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more market-related conditions associated with each holding tank are separate from the one or more market-related conditions associated with other holding tanks in the plurality of holding tanks.
14. A method of facilitating trading, comprising:
automatically, via a computer, retrieving, at an order handling process operated on behalf of a process owner that is one of a plurality of process owners, a decision table representing an order processing methodology, the decision table having at least two rules specifying at least one of a discovery strategy and an order handling strategy, each rule having at least one condition and at least one action to be taken when the condition is satisfied, wherein the decision table further includes a holding tank storing a plurality of unrelated orders that have been generated but not yet submitted for execution at a market, and
automatically, via a computer, applying, at the order handling process, the decision table to process an order when a specified event occurs,
wherein at least one action of at least one rule in the decision table is to store an order in the holding tank, the holding tank having one or more market-related conditions associated therewith that are applicable to the holding tank as a whole, the method further comprising monitoring the one or more conditions of the holding tank and when the one or more conditions are met, removing all of the plurality of unrelated orders from the holding tank and taking at least one specified trading-related action with respect to each of the removed orders.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the order handling process is a trading process.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the order handling process is a market process.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one condition is based on order characteristics.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one condition is based on market characteristics.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the decision table includes, in at least one of a condition and an action of at least one of the rules, a nested decision table.
20. The method of claim 14, wherein the rules define a sequence of actions to be taken using explicit control instructions.
21. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one action is to request information from an order room.
22. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one action is to transfer to another rule.
23. The method of claim 14, wherein the specified event is receiving of an order.
24. The method of claim 14, wherein the specified event is completing price discovery.
25. The method of claim 14, wherein the specified event is receiving a bid or offer relating to an order handled by the order handling process.
26. The method of claim 14, wherein the specified event is receiving notice of a price improvement opportunity.
27. The method of claim 14, wherein the specified event is reporting execution of an order.
28. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one action is selected by the owner of the process from the group comprising (i) generating an order, (ii) obtaining more information, and (iii) evaluating another rule in the decision table.
29. The method of claim 14, wherein the decision table includes a plurality of holding tanks.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more market-related conditions associated with each holding tank are separate from the one or more market-related conditions associated with other holding tanks in the plurality of holding tanks.
31. A system for facilitating trading, comprising:
a computer having a processing component, wherein the processing component is configured to process an order by retrieving a decision table having rules that specify at least one condition and at least one action to be taken when the at least one condition is satisfied, wherein the decision table further includes a holding tank storing a plurality of unrelated orders that have been generated but not yet submitted for execution at a market, and
wherein at least one action of at least one rule in the decision table is to store an order in the holding tank, the holding tank having one or more market-related conditions associated therewith that are applicable to the holding tank as a whole, the processing component being further configured to monitor the one or more conditions of the holding tank and when the one or more conditions are met, to remove all of the plurality of unrelated orders from the holding tank and take at least one specified trading-related action with respect to each of the removed orders.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein the one or more conditions of the holding tank further includes a period of time, and wherein the holding tank is configured to store the orders until the period of time has elapsed.
33. The system of claim 31, wherein the processing component provides a market for trading between two or more processes operating via the computer, and the one or more conditions of the holding tank is a condition internal to the market.
34. The system of claim 31, wherein the processing component provides a market for trading between two or more processes operating via the computer, and the one or more conditions of the holding tank is a condition external to the market.
35. The system of claim 31, wherein the decision table includes a plurality of holding tanks.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the one or more market-related conditions associated with each holding tank are separate from the one or more market-related conditions associated with other holding tanks in the plurality of holding tanks.
37. A computer-accessible medium having executable instructions stored thereon for facilitating trading, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause a computer to:
process an order in accordance with a decision table, wherein the decision table has rules that specify at least one condition and at least one action to be taken when the at least one condition is satisfied, wherein the decision table further includes a holding tank storing a plurality of unrelated orders that have been generated but not yet submitted for execution at a market, and wherein at least one action of at least one rule in the decision table is to store an order in the holding tank, and
wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the computer to monitor one or more market-related conditions associated with the holding tank as a whole and when the one or more market-related conditions are met, to remove all of the plurality of unrelated orders from the holding tank and take at least one specified trading-related action with respect to each of the removed orders.
38. The computer-accessible medium of claim 37, wherein the one or more conditions of the holding tank further includes a period of time, and wherein the instructions cause the computer to store the orders in the holding tank until the period of time has elapsed.
39. The computer-accessible medium of claim 37, wherein the instructions cause the computer to provide a market for trading between two or more processes, and wherein the one or more conditions of the holding tank is a condition internal to the market.
40. The computer-accessible medium of claim 37, wherein the instructions cause the computer to provide a market for trading between two or more processes, and the one or more conditions of the holding tank is a condition external to the market.
41. The computer-accessible medium of claim 37, wherein the decision table includes a plurality of holding tanks.
42. The computer-accessible medium of claim 41, wherein the one or more market-related conditions associated with each holding tank are separate from the one or more market-related conditions associated with other holding tanks in the plurality of holding tanks.
43. A computer system for facilitating trading, comprising:
means for retrieving a decision table having at least two rules specifying at least one of a discovery strategy and an order handling strategy, each rule having at least one condition and at least one action to be taken when the condition is satisfied, wherein the decision table further includes a holding tank storing a plurality of unrelated orders that have been generated but not yet submitted for execution at a market,
means for evaluating whether the at least one condition for each of the rules is satisfied, and for each of the rules having a satisfied condition, acting on the at least one action, wherein at least one action of at least one rule in the decision table is to store an order in the holding tank, the holding tank having one or more market-related conditions associated therewith that are applicable to the holding tank as a whole, and
means for monitoring the one or more conditions of the holding tank and when the one or more conditions are met, removing all of the plurality of unrelated orders from the holding tank and taking at least one specified trading-related action with respect to each of the removed orders.
44. A method of trading, comprising:
using a computer to operate an order handling process which retrieves from a memory a decision table representing an order processing methodology, the decision table having at least two rules specifying at least one of a discovery strategy and an order handling strategy, each rule having at least one condition and at least one action to be taken when the condition is satisfied, wherein the decision table further includes a holding tank storing a plurality of unrelated orders that have been generated but not yet submitted for execution at a market,
applying, at the order handling process, the decision table to process an order when a specified event occurs, wherein at least one action of at least one rule in the decision table is to store an order in the holding tank, the holding tank having one or more market-related conditions associated therewith that are applicable to the holding tank as a whole, and
using the computer to monitor the one or more conditions of the holding tank and when the one or more conditions are met, removing all of the plurality of unrelated orders from the holding tank and taking at least one specified trading-related action with respect to each of the removed orders.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An optical assembly, comprising:
a photosensor array, comprising a plurality of photosensors;
a spacing layer, comprising a solid optically transmissive material, adjoining the photosensor array; and
a plenoptic microlens array adjoining the spacing layer, configured to direct incoming light through the spacing layer and toward the photosensor array, the plenoptic microlens array having a top surface and a bottom surface;
wherein the spacing layer is situated between the photosensor array and the plenoptic microlens array and is configured to separate the photosensor array from the plenoptic microlens array.
2. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the plenoptic microlens array is created using photolithography.
3. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the plenoptic microlens array is created by stamping and curing.
4. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created as successive photolithographically deposited layers.
5. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created from the same material.
6. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created from the same photolithographically deposited layer.
7. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the plenoptic microlens array comprises a plurality of plano-convex microlenses, each plano-convex microlens comprising:
a flat surface abutting the spacing layer; and
a convex surface.
8. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created using photoresist.
9. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the plenoptic microlens array comprises a plurality of layers of microlenses.
10. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the plenoptic microlens array comprises a plurality of microlenses, wherein each microlens corresponds to an integral number of photosensors of the photosensor array.
11. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the plenoptic microlens array comprises a plurality of microlenses, wherein each microlens corresponds to a square comprising an integral number of photosensors of the photosensor array.
12. The optical assembly of claim 1, wherein the spacing layer adjoins the bottom surface of the plenoptic microlens array.
13. An optical assembly, comprising:
a photosensor array, comprising a plurality of photosensors;
a planarization layer adjoining the photosensor array, the planarization layer having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a spacing layer, comprising a solid optically transmissive material, adjoining the top surface of the planarization layer; and
a plenoptic microlens array adjoining the spacing layer, configured to direct incoming light through the spacing layer and toward the photosensor array, the plenoptic microlens array having a top surface and a bottom surface;
wherein the spacing layer is situated between the planarization layer and the plenoptic microlens array and is configured to separate the planarization layer from the plenoptic microlens array.
14. The optical assembly of claim 13, wherein:
the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created from a material having a first index of refraction; and
the planarization layer is created from a material having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction.
15. The optical assembly of claim 13, wherein:
the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created using photoresist; and
the planarization layer is created using silicon dioxide.
16. The optical assembly of claim 13, wherein the spacing layer adjoins the bottom surface of the plenoptic microlens array.
17. A method for manufacturing an optical assembly, comprising:
adding a spacing layer to a photosensor array comprising a plurality of photosensors, the spacing layer comprising a solid optically transmissive material, adjoining the photosensor array; and
adding a plenoptic microlens array adjoining the spacing layer, configured to direct incoming light through the spacing layer and toward the photosensor array, the plenoptic microlens array having a top surface and a bottom surface;
wherein the spacing layer is added in such a manner as to be situated between the photosensor array and the plenoptic microlens array and configured to separate the photosensor array from the plenoptic microlens array.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plenoptic microlens array is added using photolithography.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the plenoptic microlens array comprises:
stamping the plenoptic microlens array; and
curing the plenoptic microlens array.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein:
stamping the plenoptic microlens array comprises stamping the plenoptic microlens array using a light-transmissive stamp; and
curing the plenoptic microlens array comprises curing the plenoptic microlens array through the light-transmissive stamp.
21. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the spacing layer and adding the plenoptic microlens array comprise adding successive photolithographically deposited layers.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created from the same material.
23. The method of claim 17, wherein the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array are created from the same photolithographically deposited layer.
24. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the plenoptic microlens array comprises adding a plurality of plano-convex microlenses, each plano-convex microlens comprising:
a flat surface abutting the spacing layer; and
a convex surface.
25. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array comprise creating the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array using photoresist.
26. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the plenoptic microlens array comprises adding a plurality of layers of microlenses.
27. The method of claim 17, wherein the spacing layer adjoins the bottom surface of the plenoptic microlens array.
28. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the plenoptic microlens array comprises adding a plurality of microlenses, wherein each microlens corresponds to an integral number of photosensors of the photosensor array.
29. The method of claim 17, wherein adding the plenoptic microlens array comprises adding a plurality of microlenses, wherein each microlens corresponds to a square comprising an integral number of photosensors of the photosensor array.
30. A method for manufacturing an optical assembly, comprising:
adding a planarization layer to a photosensor array comprising a plurality of photosensors, the planarization layer adjoining the photosensor array, the planarization layer having a top surface and a bottom surface;
adding a spacing layer, comprising a solid optically transmissive material, adjoining the top surface of the planarization layer; and
adding a plenoptic microlens array adjoining the spacing layer, configured to direct incoming light through the spacing layer and toward the photosensor array, the plenoptic microlens array having a top surface and a bottom surface;
wherein the spacing layer is situated between the planarization layer and the plenoptic microlens array and is configured to separate the planarization layer from the plenoptic microlens array.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein:
adding the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array comprise creating the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens from a material having a first index of refraction; and
adding the planarization layer comprises creating the planarization layer from a material having a second index of refraction different from the first index of refraction.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein:
adding the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array comprise creating the spacing layer and the plenoptic microlens array using photoresist; and
adding the planarization layer comprises creating the planarization layer using silicon dioxide.
33. The method of claim 30, wherein the spacing layer adjoins the bottom surface of the plenoptic microlens array.
34. An optical assembly, comprising:
a photosensor array, comprising a plurality of photosensors;
a spacing layer, comprising a solid optically transmissive material; and
a plenoptic microlens array, configured to direct incoming light through the spacing layer and toward the photosensor array, the plenoptic microlens array having a top surface and a bottom surface;
wherein the spacing layer is situated between the photosensor array and the plenoptic microlens array, and is configured to separate the photosensor array from the plenoptic microlens array with no air gap between the spacing layer, the top surface of the photosensor array, and the bottom surface of the plenoptic microlens array.
35. A method for manufacturing an optical assembly, comprising:
adding a spacing layer to a photosensor array comprising a plurality of photosensors, the spacing layer comprising a solid optically transmissive material; and
adding a plenoptic microlens array, configured to direct incoming light through the spacing layer and toward the photosensor array, the plenoptic microlens array having a top surface and a bottom surface;
wherein the spacing layer is added in such a manner as to be situated between the photosensor array and the plenoptic microlens array and configured to separate the photosensor array from the plenoptic microlens array with no air gap between the spacing layer, the photosensor array, and the bottom surface of the plenoptic microlens array.