Cell Format Patents (Class 715/217)
  • Patent number: 7634717
    Abstract: Generally described, embodiments of the present invention relate to applying and evaluating an unlimited number of conditional formatting rules to a given range of cells. Additionally, multiple conditional formatting rules may be evaluated to TRUE for the same cell contained in a user interface and multiple formats applied to that cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin C Chamberlain, Bruce Cordell Jones, Christopher M Street, Eric B Vigesaa
  • Patent number: 7627812
    Abstract: Variable formatting for cells in computer spreadsheets, tables, and other documents is provided. For a selected range of cells, cell formats vary with the value in each cell (or an associated value). Formats can include color-scale backgrounds, in-cell elements (e.g., icons and data bars), and other cell formats that can be varied with a value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Chamberlain, Bruce C. Jones, Christopher M. Street, David F. Gainer, Eric B. Vigesaa
  • Patent number: 7624339
    Abstract: A method of displaying data on a multilevel screen display is disclosed. The method comprises assigning screen designation codes to respective groups of data, and determining the physical screen on which each group of data is displayed. The screens may comprise layered liquid crystal displays. The method is suitable for use with spreadsheet software, where a user is able to see overlaying spreadsheets simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Puredepth Limited
    Inventors: Gabriel Daemon Engel, Pita Witehira
  • Publication number: 20090287347
    Abstract: A pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a frame having first and second opposed sides, a plurality of cells configured to house pharmaceutical pills, a first touch screen display on the frame first side, and a second touch screen display on the frame second side. The pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a processor and memory coupled thereto. A computer program resides in the memory and is executable by the processor for displaying a cell inventory graphical user interface (GUI) within the first touch screen display, and a prescription order processing GUI within the second touch screen display that include status information about a prescription order at a respective stage of completion by the pharmaceutical dispensing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Matthew Johnson, Harold Lindsey, Megan Dunigan, Justin Lallinger, John Kirk Hammond, JR.
  • Publication number: 20090282325
    Abstract: A sparkline is associated with a location in a document to provide a visual representation of one or more data values included in the document. The sparkline is associated with a data source within the document including the one or more data values. The sparkline is generated by generating the visual representation based on the one or more data values with a matrix of points to be presented at the associated location in the document. The sparkline is presented at the associated location in the document. The sparkline is configured to be regenerated when one or more of the data values in the data source change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Chow Radakovitz, Adam Michael Buerman, Anupam Garg, Matthew John Androski, Matthew Kevin Becker, Brian S. Ruble
  • Patent number: 7617444
    Abstract: File formats, methods, and computer program products are provided for representing a workbook in a modular content framework. The modular content framework may include a file format container associated with modular parts. A file format includes logically separate modular parts that are associated with each other by one or more relationships where each modular part is associated with a relationship type. The modular parts include a workbook part operative as a guide for properties of the workbook and a worksheet part associated with the workbook part and operative to specify a definition of cells within a worksheet associated with the worksheet part. The modular parts may also include a document properties part containing built-in properties associated with the file format and a thumbnail part containing associated thumbnails. Each modular part is capable of being interrogated separately, extracted from the workbook, and/or reused in a different workbook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Chad B. Rothschillwe, Su-Piao B. Wu
  • Patent number: 7617443
    Abstract: A method of consolidating data from multiple spreadsheets includes selecting multiple spreadsheets (52). Portions of data from files corresponding to each of the spreadsheets (52) are also selected. Automated consolidation of said portions of data is executed. The consolidation includes retrieval of the portions of data, generation of a final report spreadsheet (124), and appendage of the portions of data to the final report spreadsheet (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott H. Mills, Kurt M. Joseph, Melissa L. Oldenburg, Mark A. Nixon
  • Publication number: 20090276691
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of accessing a data set. The data set includes a set of data elements. The method collects the data elements of the data set. The method receives a lens item. The lens item provides a set of parameters for searching the data set. The method searches the data set by using the lens item to identify a data subset. The method sorts a list of data elements based on the data subset. The sorting generates an ordered list. The method filters the data subset. Filtering the data subset comprises excluding the data elements that are not relevant to the lens item. The method presents the ordered list in a first column of a matrix. The matrix has several cells. The cells of the matrix are based on the data subset. The method selects column headings for the matrix and populates the cells of the matrix. Some embodiments provide a system for providing access to a data set. The system has a set of data elements that comprises a first data source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicants: SONY CORPORATION, SONY ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Albhy GALUTEN
  • Patent number: 7581165
    Abstract: A method and system for facilitating information exchange between individuals and entities interacting on a shared project are provided, and more particularly to a method and system for horizontal. i.e., non-hierarchical, participation in and/or contribution to a spreadsheet-based project. The method and system is Web-based and utilizes conventional browser and spreadsheet technology to achieve collaborative exchanges of information on an enterprise-wide basis. The method and system also facilitate efficacious remote information access and exchange, e.g., over a computer network such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, through a caching function that combines individual queries initiated by a spreadsheet program before transmitting across a network to a server for consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: OutlookSoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Cho, Perlie E. Voshell
  • Publication number: 20090183062
    Abstract: Provided herein are computer-implemented methods, computer program products and a recursive computer system adapted to display and activate one or more activatable tables. The activatable tables have one or more cells therewithin, including cells comprising a recursive 3-D calculation engine with an HTML interface (CALCI) that is activatable and deactivatable within ZSpace, and are contained within webpage segments comprising one or more ZCubes in a recursive web browser on a client computer. Calculational and/or behavioral functions are applied to the cell(s) thereby activating the tables. The process is client driven whereby the webpage segments on the client computer contain the logic necessary to trigger animation of the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Joseph Pally
  • Patent number: 7549117
    Abstract: A worldwide number format for use with a spreadsheet program module is disclosed. The worldwide number format includes a locale specifier comprising a number shape, a calendar type and a locale identification (LCID). The worldwide number format also includes a base number format and a value. The LCID is used to categorize different parts of the world. Primarily, the LCID categorizes different parts of the world by language such as English, German, French, Thai, Arabic, etc. The LCID is used to determine what language to display month names, month abbreviations, weekday names, weekday abbreviations, time designations such as AM/PM, etc. The calendar type supports both Gregorian and non-Gregorian calendars. Calendar type is a value to indicate which calendar should be used to calculate the date from the value. The number shape is a value that indicates what shape in which to represent the number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Marise Chan, Barry C. McCord, Kenneth E. Schmidt, James Sukhabut, Christopher C. Yu
  • Patent number: 7549115
    Abstract: An architecture integrates spreadsheet functionality into tables commonly used in word processing programs and HTML documents. The architecture presents a table user interface (UI) that resembles a table when not being edited and adds spreadsheet elements to the table when being edited. Underlying the table UI, the architecture separates data handling functions from, presentation functions. The architecture includes a table appearance manager to manage how the table appears in a document including such characteristics as table resizing, selection, cut, copy, paste, split, merge, table formatting and so on. The architecture also has a spreadsheet functionality manager to manage the spreadsheet functions for the table, such as recalculation, formula handling, sorting, referencing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Vinod Anantharaman, Christopher Matthew Franklin, Oliver G. Fisher, Alexander G. Gounares, Matthew D. Morgan, Richard J. Wolf
  • Patent number: 7546523
    Abstract: In an electronic multidimensional spreadsheet, a method for displaying and/or hiding on a user interface including (A) detecting a command for hiding at least one element in a selected range of cells, the command identifying a display focus level selected among a plurality of ordered display focus levels defined for the selected range of cells; (B) identifying the selected range of cells comprising the element to hide; (C) identifying the selected display focus level; (D) identifying a table associated with the selected range of cells, the table associating each defined display focus level with at least one cell content criteria to apply to the content of the at least one cell; and (E) selectively displaying the element on the user interface based on the relationship of the selected display focus level with the display focus level associated with the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Aureglia, Frederic Bauchot
  • Patent number: 7523390
    Abstract: A system architecture integrates spreadsheet functionality into text. The architecture allows insertion of discrete individual fields, referred to as “free floating fields”, inline with normal textual sentences. In an HTML document, for example, the free floating fields are elements constructed along with text elements and rendered together as an integrated document. Once rendered, the free floating fields present contents that resemble normal text consistent with the surrounding text. The free floating fields offer spreadsheet functionality, including the ability to handle complex formulas, reference values in a separate free floating field or table, and automatically recalculate the formulas when a source value changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Alexander G. Gounares, Oliver G. Fisher, Matthew D. Morgan, Christopher Matthew Franklin
  • Publication number: 20090083614
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for reducing the size of a tabular display, such as a spreadsheet or dynamically formatted table. Global optimization techniques, for example, simulated annealing, are used to identify an optimal or near-optimal set of column widths whereby the width of columns having cells containing greater amounts of text are increased while the width of columns having cells containing smaller amounts of text are correspondingly decreased, thus reducing overall table height without changing net table width. Use of global optimization avoids converging upon local minimum solutions in favor of solutions which are optimal or near-optimal. By reducing table height, readability is enhanced, and efficiencies are realized which result in reduced costs and reduced consumption of resources. Reductions in table width, as well as conformance of table size to a target aspect ratio are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventor: Gerald A. Wedekind
  • Patent number: 7506243
    Abstract: An architecture integrates spreadsheet functionality into tables commonly used in word processing programs and HTML documents. The architecture presents a table user interface (UI) that resembles a table when not being edited and adds spreadsheet elements to the table when being edited. Underlying the table UI, the architecture separates data handling functions from presentation functions. The architecture includes a table appearance manager to manage how the table appears in a document including such characteristics as table resizing, selection, cut, copy, paste, split, merge, table formatting and so on. The architecture also has a spreadsheet functionality manager to manage the spreadsheet functions for the table, such as recalculation, formula handling, sorting, referencing, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Kotler, Alexander G. Gounares, Oliver G. Fisher, Richard J. Wolf, Vinod G. Anantharaman, Matthew D. Morgan, Christopher Matthew Franklin
  • Publication number: 20090031205
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method, system and program for exporting-importing the content of input cells from a source scalable template instance in a source multi-dimensional spreadsheet to a destination scalable template instance in a destination multi-dimensional spreadsheet; a multi-dimensional spreadsheet comprising a plurality of cells identified by a cell address along each dimension; a scalable template instance comprising a variable number of contiguous elements of same size ordered and aligned along a given spreadsheet dimension and structured according to information defined in an associated scalable template; an element being defined as a range of cells; a range of cells comprising one or a plurality of cells; said scalable template comprising an element profile; an element profile defining a cell content and a cell destination for each cell within each element; said cell destination specifying whether the cell is an input cell for receiving an entry or an output cell for producing a r
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Aureglia, Frederic Bauchot
  • Publication number: 20090031206
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method, system and program for exporting-importing the content of input cells from a source scalable template instance in a source multi-dimensional spreadsheet to a destination scalable template instance in a destination multi-dimensional spreadsheet; a multi-dimensional spreadsheet comprising a plurality of cells identified by a cell address along each dimension; a scalable template instance comprising a variable number of contiguous elements of same size ordered and aligned along a given spreadsheet dimension and structured according to information defined in an associated scalable template; an element being defined as a range of cells; a range of cells comprising one or a plurality of cells; said scalable template comprising an element profile; an element profile defining a cell content and a cell destination for each cell within each element; said cell destination specifying whether the cell is an input cell for receiving an entry or an output cell for producing a r
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Aureglia, Frederic Bauchot
  • Patent number: 7480854
    Abstract: A data conversion system and method are provided. Specifically, under the present invention, a collection of data records is received from a first application. The data records include data fields for storing data entries, with at least one of the data fields including multiple data entries. Each data entry is tagged with a corresponding data header (meta data) and individually arranged, along with a corresponding record identifier, into a separate row of a table. This eliminates any multiple value data fields so that the data can be more accurately manipulated and reported by a second application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Debra L. Zeggert
  • Publication number: 20090006939
    Abstract: A computer-readable medium having computer-executable modules is provided. The medium includes a computer spreadsheet application including a worksheet defining a series of cells arranged in addressable rows and columns. In addition, a sheet definition is provided. The sheet definition includes a set of constraints applied to the worksheet based on a task-specific function defined for the spreadsheet. Users may select a task-specific worksheet in the application which is limited by the set of constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart N. DeSpain, Andrew Ely Ryder, Joseph F. E. Jones, Jim Kee Chan, Matthew E. David
  • Patent number: 7467350
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for copying and pasting, in an electronic multi-dimensional spreadsheet, displayed elements of a source range of cells onto a destination range of cells, the source range of cells including one or more elements displayed on a user interface and one or more hidden elements, the elements being contiguous and aligned along a given spreadsheet dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Aureglia, Frederic Bauchot
  • Patent number: 7451397
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically completing a formula of a spreadsheet application, calculator application, accounting application, business application or banking application. One aspect of the present invention is a computer-implemented method for automatically completing formulaic cell data. The computer-implemented method includes a step for substantiating an autocomplete process in response to a user input of formulaic cell data and aggregating autocomplete options based on the user input. Another aspect of the present invention includes displaying a dynamic list of autocomplete options when the user input is a trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon G. Weber, Charles David Ellis
  • Patent number: 7447987
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically positioning a data string in a column on an electronic display where a first distinguishable position is identified in the data string and the first distinguishable position in the data string is displayed within the visible area of the column on the electronic display. The automatic positioning occurring as a result of a change in or the initial presentation of information on the electronic display or as a result of a user interface action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Volker Sauermann
  • Patent number: 7430709
    Abstract: A method and system for facilitating information exchange between individuals and entities interacting on a shared project are provided, and more particularly to a method and system for horizontal, i.e., non-hierarchical, participation in and/or contribution to a spreadsheet-based project. The method and system is Web-based and utilizes conventional browser and spreadsheet technology to achieve collaborative exchanges of information on an enterprise-wide basis. The method and system also facilitate efficacious remote information access and exchange, e.g., over a computer network such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, through a caching function that combines individual queries initiated by a spreadsheet program before transmitting across a network to a server for consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: OutlookSoft Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Cho, Perlie E. Voshell
  • Patent number: 7415664
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method, system and program for exporting-importing the content of input cells from a source scalable template instance in a source multi-dimensional spreadsheet to a destination scalable template instance in a destination multi-dimensional spreadsheet; a multi-dimensional spreadsheet comprising a plurality of cells identified by a cell address along each dimension; a scalable template instance comprising a variable number of contiguous elements of same size ordered and aligned along a given spreadsheet dimension and structured according to information defined in an associated scalable template; an element being defined as a range of cells; a range of cells comprising one or a plurality of cells; said scalable template comprising an element profile; an element profile defining a cell content and a cell destination for each cell within each element; said cell destination specifying whether the cell is an input cell for receiving an entry or an output cell for producing a r
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Aureglia, Frederic Bauchot
  • Publication number: 20080163042
    Abstract: The invention refers to a system of recording the activities carried out by an individual person during specific time intervals. This system will normally be on an electronic device, but the initial method of recording may be paper-based. This system involves recording activity and associated attributes as a function of time on a grid, using lines to define the activity recorded in each grid interval. The invention is an intuitive data entry system, principally but not exclusively via touchscreen. The system will preferably be deployed on a handheld digital device with touchscreen entry capability. The activity recording system may also record values, attributes or files associated with specific time intervals. It may generate charts, tables, alerts and reminders. It may synchronize with other devices and applications and may import or export data from them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Katrina Delargy