Patents by Inventor Robert Wayne Coffen

Robert Wayne Coffen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7222294
    Abstract: Formats are extended automatically to cells in an electronic spreadsheet. Previously blank, newly edited cell(s) are determined to be an extension or within a list of cells based on having a consistent data type, and the like. Next, formatting of the list of cells is examined for consistency. If consistent formatting exists, it is applied to the previously blank, newly edited cell(s). List of cells may include rows, columns, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Coffen, Kent Rogers Lowry, Eric Lawrence Matteson, Mark S. Igra
  • Patent number: 7127672
    Abstract: An electronic spreadsheet is provided for automatically creating, expanding, and validating lists of cells. A list is created by receiving a user request for selecting a cell range, identifying a list range for the selected cell range, determining a header row for the list range, and generating a border for surrounding the list range. A list is expanded by determining that one or more cells are adjacent to the list and automatically expanding the list to include the new cells. A list is validated by determining a data type of data entered into the list and comparing the data type of the data entered into the list to a list data type. If, as a result of the comparison, the data type of the data entered into the list does not match the list data type, then the data type of the data entered into the list is invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Eric W. Patterson, Robert Wayne Coffen, Su-Piao Bill Wu, Michael J. McCormack
  • Publication number: 20040060001
    Abstract: Methods for automatically, without user instruction, extending a format and/or a formula to include a cell in an electronic spreadsheet. A previously blank newly edited cell may be determined to be an extension to or within a list of cells. A list of cells may be defined as a number of previous cells having a consistent data type. If a list of cells exists and the previously blank newly edited cell also includes the consistent data type, the previously blank newly edited cell is considered to be an extension of or within a list. The cells in the list are then examined for consistent formatting. If consistent formatting exists in the list, the consistent formatting is applied to the previously blank newly edited cell. Also, the cells in the list are examined for consistent formulas. The rows containing the cells in the list are each examined for a consistent formula having all supporting cells populated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Coffen, Kent Rogers Lowry, Eric Lawrence Matteson, Mark S. Igra
  • Patent number: 6640234
    Abstract: Methods for automatically, without user instruction, extending a format and/or a formula to include a cell in an electronic spreadsheet. A previously blank newly edited cell may be determined to be an extension to or within a list of cells. A list of cells may be defined as a number of previous cells having a consistent data type. If a list of cells exists and the previously blank newly edited cell also includes the consistent data type, the previously blank newly edited cell is considered to be an extension of or within a list. The cells in the list are then examined for consistent formatting. If consistent formatting exists in the list, the consistent formatting is applied to the previously blank newly edited cell. Also, the cells in the list are examined for consistent formulas. The rows containing the cells in the list are each examined for a consistent formula having all supporting cells populated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Wayne Coffen, Kent Rogers Lowry, Eric Lawrence Matteson, Mark S. Igra