Patents by Inventor Dean Anthony Ritz

Dean Anthony Ritz 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: 11100276
    Abstract: One or more computing devices carry out a method for generating markup language to represent a calculation relationship among facts, wherein each fact is described by metadata whose characteristics are defined in an extensible business reporting language (XBRL) taxonomy document. In various implementations, the method includes: searching the document for a data item that contains an arithmetic formula, determining which other data items of the document are referenced by the arithmetic formula, determining which of the plurality of facts correspond to the referenced data items, based on the arithmetic formula, generating markup language that represents an arithmetic relationship among the facts corresponding to the referenced data items, and modifying the XBRL taxonomy document with the generated markup language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: WORKIVA INC.
    Inventors: Andrew Perkins, Susan Yount, Herman Fischer, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Patent number: 10796078
    Abstract: A method of performing XBRL extension taxonomy concept replacement includes analyzing, by a processor, an XBRL document having XBRL tags to identify an XBRL extension taxonomy concept of an XBRL extension taxonomy that is superfluous in comparison with an XBRL base taxonomy concept for an XBRL base taxonomy upon which the XBRL extension taxonomy is based. The processor is configured to identify an extension extended linkrole in the XBRL extension taxonomy that includes the identified XBRL extension taxonomy concept, determine a base extended linkrole in the XBRL base taxonomy that matches the extension extended linkrole, determine an XBRL base taxonomy concept in the base extended linkrole that matches the identified XBRL extension taxonomy concept, and replace the identified XBRL extension taxonomy concept with the XBRL base taxonomy concept in the base extended linkrole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: WORKIVA INC.
    Inventors: Susan Yount, Dean Anthony Ritz, Andrew Perkins, Jason Carl Jones, Justin Olson, David Andrew Haila
  • Patent number: 10528229
    Abstract: A system includes a mandatory comment in a software productivity tool. In various implementations, the system includes a computer that carries out actions including: opening in the software productivity tool a document stored in a non-volatile hardware data storage device; receiving a definition of an actionable data item of the document; receiving a request for an action associated with the item; determining if the action triggers a predefined comment rule; if triggered, then: requiring a mandatory comment; storing the accepted entered comment in the non-volatile hardware data storage device; and performing the requested action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Anthony Ritz, Willie Eide, Ephie Risho
  • Patent number: 10261663
    Abstract: A method requires a mandatory comment in a software productivity tool, comprising: opening in the software productivity tool a document stored in a non-volatile hardware data storage device; receiving a definition of an actionable data item of the document; receiving a request for an action associated with the item; determining if the action triggers a predefined comment rule; if triggered, then: requiring a mandatory comment; storing the accepted entered comment in the non-volatile hardware data storage device; and performing the requested action. A method specifies a mandatory comment, comprising: receiving a definition of an actionable data item of the document; receiving a definition of a comment rule related to an action on the item; receiving a definition of a comment criteria associated with the comment rule; and storing the actionable data item, the triggering criteria, and the comment criteria in a non-volatile storage device of a hardware device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Anthony Ritz, Willie Eide, Ephie Risho
  • Publication number: 20190042550
    Abstract: One or more computing devices carry out a method for generating markup language to represent a calculation relationship among facts, wherein each fact is described by metadata whose characteristics are defined in an extensible business reporting language (XBRL) taxonomy document. In various implementations, the method includes: searching the document for a data item that contains an arithmetic formula, determining which other data items of the document are referenced by the arithmetic formula, determining which of the plurality of facts correspond to the referenced data items, based on the arithmetic formula, generating markup language that represents an arithmetic relationship among the facts corresponding to the referenced data items, and modifying the XBRL taxonomy document with the generated markup language.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew Perkins, Susan Yount, Herman Fischer, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Patent number: 10180975
    Abstract: According to an implementation, a host computing device receives, from a first computing device, a data collection request of a first user. The data collection request indicates a data point (whose characteristics are defined in a mark-up language schema) that is to be the subject of the data collection and identifies a second user as provider of a value for the data point. The host computing device notifies the second user of the data collection request and receives, from a second computing device, a request of the second user for the data point to be assigned a plurality of categories. In response to the request of the second user, the host computing device extends the mark-up language schema to characterize the plurality of categories within the mark-up language schema.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew James Heying, Matthew Keller, Dean Anthony Ritz, Christian Plazas, Jacob Joshua Caban-Tomski, Matthew Sanders
  • Patent number: 10127205
    Abstract: A computing device parses markup language of an instance document (e.g., an XBRL instance document) that contains a plurality of facts, in which each fact comprises a value that is tagged according to at least one concept of a plurality of concepts. A taxonomy document contains markup language that defines one or more relationships among the plurality of concepts. Based on the parsing of the markup language of the instance document, the computing device determines that at least two of the plurality of facts are in a calculation relationship with one another. The computing device then generates markup language representing the calculation relationships (e.g., XLink) and modifies the taxonomy document (e.g., modifies or extends a linkbase contained in the taxonomy document) with the generated markup language.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Perkins, Susan Yount, Herman Fischer, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Patent number: 10019433
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for maintaining dependencies among multiple reference elements (e.g., formulas of a table or spreadsheet). In various embodiments, prior to a reevaluation operation carried out on the reference elements, a computing device receives an input of a reference element via a user interface (e.g., receives a user's input of a formula), assigns the reference element to a group based on the dependency between the reference element and one or more other reference elements, and assigns the reference element to a location within a dependency graph to which the other reference elements are assigned. In response to an event that requires at least one of the reference elements to be reevaluated, the computing device reevaluates each group of reference elements in sequence a group at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Hiatt, Alexander Campbell, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Publication number: 20180121042
    Abstract: A system includes a mandatory comment in a software productivity tool. In various implementations, the system includes a computer that carries out actions including: opening in the software productivity tool a document stored in a non-volatile hardware data storage device; receiving a definition of an actionable data item of the document; receiving a request for an action associated with the item; determining if the action triggers a predefined comment rule; if triggered, then: requiring a mandatory comment; storing the accepted entered comment in the non-volatile hardware data storage device; and performing the requested action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Dean Anthony Ritz, Willie Eide, Ephie Risho
  • Publication number: 20170344524
    Abstract: A computing device parses markup language of an instance document (e.g., an XBRL instance document) that contains a plurality of facts, in which each fact comprises a value that is tagged according to at least one concept of a plurality of concepts. A taxonomy document contains markup language that defines one or more relationships among the plurality of concepts. Based on the parsing of the markup language of the instance document, the computing device determines that at least two of the plurality of facts are in a calculation relationship with one another. The computing device then generates markup language representing the calculation relationships (e.g., XLink) and modifies the taxonomy document (e.g., modifies or extends a linkbase contained in the taxonomy document) with the generated markup language.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Andrew Perkins, Susan Yount, Herman Fischer, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Publication number: 20170083500
    Abstract: A method requires a mandatory comment in a software productivity tool, comprising: opening in the software productivity tool a document stored in a non-volatile hardware data storage device; receiving a definition of an actionable data item of the document; receiving a request for an action associated with the item; determining if the action triggers a predefined comment rule; if triggered, then: requiring a mandatory comment; storing the accepted entered comment in the non-volatile hardware data storage device; and performing the requested action. A method specifies a mandatory comment, comprising: receiving a definition of an actionable data item of the document; receiving a definition of a comment rule related to an action on the item; receiving a definition of a comment criteria associated with the comment rule; and storing the actionable data item, the triggering criteria, and the comment criteria in a non-volatile storage device of a hardware device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Dean Anthony Ritz, Willie Eide, Ephie Risho
  • Publication number: 20170052931
    Abstract: A method of performing XBRL extension taxonomy concept replacement includes analyzing, by a processor, an XBRL document having XBRL tags to identify an XBRL extension taxonomy concept of an XBRL extension taxonomy that is superfluous in comparison with an XBRL base taxonomy concept for an XBRL base taxonomy upon which the XBRL extension taxonomy is based. The processor is configured to identify an extension extended linkrole in the XBRL extension taxonomy that includes the identified XBRL extension taxonomy concept, determine a base extended linkrole in the XBRL base taxonomy that matches the extension extended linkrole, determine an XBRL base taxonomy concept in the base extended linkrole that matches the identified XBRL extension taxonomy concept, and replace the identified XBRL extension taxonomy concept with the XBRL base taxonomy concept in the base extended linkrole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Susan Yount, Dean Anthony Ritz, Andrew Perkins, Jason Carl Jones, Justin Olson, David Andrew Haila
  • Publication number: 20160342582
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for maintaining dependencies among multiple reference elements (e.g., formulas of a table or spreadsheet). In various embodiments, prior to a reevaluation operation carried out on the reference elements, a computing device receives an input of a reference element via a user interface (e.g., receives a user's input of a formula), assigns the reference element to a group based on the dependency between the reference element and one or more other reference elements, and assigns the reference element to a location within a dependency graph to which the other reference elements are assigned. In response to an event that requires at least one of the reference elements to be reevaluated, the computing device reevaluates each group of reference elements in sequence a group at a time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Dustin Hiatt, Alexander Campbell, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Publication number: 20160292259
    Abstract: According to an implementation, a host computing device receives, from a first computing device, a data collection request of a first user. The data collection request indicates a data point (whose characteristics are defined in a mark-up language schema) that is to be the subject of the data collection and identifies a second user as provider of a value for the data point. The host computing device notifies the second user of the data collection request and receives, from a second computing device, a request of the second user for the data point to be assigned a plurality of categories. In response to the request of the second user, the host computing device extends the mark-up language schema to characterize the plurality of categories within the mark-up language schema.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew James Heying, Matthew Keller, Dean Anthony Ritz, Christian Plazas, Jacob Joshua Caban-Tomski, Matthew Sanders
  • Patent number: 9378269
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for maintaining dependencies among multiple reference elements (e.g., formulas of a table or spreadsheet). In various embodiments, prior to a reevaluation operation carried out on the reference elements, a computing device receives an input of a reference element via a user interface (e.g., receives a user's input of a formula), assigns the reference element to a group based on the dependency between the reference element and one or more other reference elements, and assigns the reference element to a location within a dependency graph to which the other reference elements are assigned. In response to an event that requires at least one of the reference elements to be reevaluated, the computing device reevaluates each group of reference elements in sequence a group at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Hiatt, Alexander Campbell, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Patent number: 9367854
    Abstract: According to an implementation, a host computing device receives, from a first computing device, a data collection request of a first user. The data collection request indicates a data point (whose characteristics are defined in a mark-up language schema) that is to be the subject of the data collection and identifies a second user as provider of a value for the data point. The host computing device notifies the second user of the data collection request and receives, from a second computing device, a request of the second user for the data point to be assigned a plurality of categories. In response to the request of the second user, the host computing device extends the mark-up language schema to characterize the plurality of categories within the mark-up language schema.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Dean Anthony Ritz, Christian Plazas, Jacob Caban-Tomski, Matthew Sanders, Matthew Keller
  • Patent number: 9158832
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to a method and computing device for maintaining dependencies among multiple reference elements (e.g., formulas of a table or spreadsheet). In various embodiments, prior to a reevaluation operation carried out on the reference elements, a computing device receives an input of a reference element via a user interface (e.g., receives a user's input of a formula), assigns the reference element to a group based on the dependency between the reference element and one or more other reference elements, and assigns the reference element to a location within a dependency graph to which the other reference elements are assigned. In response to an event that requires at least one of the reference elements to be reevaluated, the computing device reevaluates each group of reference elements in sequence a group at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Workiva Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Hiatt, Alexander Campbell, Dean Anthony Ritz
  • Patent number: 8601367
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for the preparation, validation, and dissemination of XBRL based documents and reports. An embodiment system includes a user input device, an editing system, a data store, a validation system, and a publishing system. The user input device is configured to accept numerical and textual input from existing spreadsheet and word processing systems. The editing system provides functionality to generate a first XBRL based document including numerical and textual data, and, based on user input, to generate one or more additional XBRL based documents from the first document. The data store is configured to store source files associated with the corresponding XBRL based documents. The validation system is configured to validate, identify, and correct errors in XBRL based documents. The publishing system is configured to provide access to XBRL based documents over the internet and generate a reference locator to be used to access the documents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: WebFilings LLC
    Inventor: Dean Anthony Ritz