Particular Cell Content Modification Patents (Class 715/220)
  • Patent number: 8656272
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for persisting instance-level report customizations. Input is received from a user to run an original report. An original query associated with the original report is executed against a data store. The original report is displayed to the user. At least one instance-level customization is received from the user to customize an instance of the original report. The instance-level customizations that the user makes to the customized report are tracked in a manner that allows a history of changes from the original report to the customized report to be determined. The customized report is generated in subsequent executions of the report. The instance-level changes the user made to the report can be audited to allow users to see the changes made to the original report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Meyers
  • Patent number: 8656271
    Abstract: A method for use with a spreadsheet includes storing a cell object, where the cell object includes a location in the spreadsheet of a cell to which the cell object relates and a process associated with the cell, and performing the process on a complex object to produce a result, where the complex object includes a construct comprised of data and code. A display is generated for the cell that is based on the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Julien Jean-Pierre Vayssiere, Regis Francois Bernard Saint-Paul, Boualem Benatallah
  • Patent number: 8656348
    Abstract: A system including spreadsheet sheets, makes calculations and data transformations, which is available through a programming interface, and conforms to the grammar and syntax of a target software development language is presented. The system includes an Object Model with Data Structures representing entities involved in spreadsheets. The system includes a Parser and Code Generator that extracts data from a body of spreadsheet data, instantiates instances of Data Structures of the Object Model to represent the spreadsheet data, parses the data and formulas contained in the cells of the spreadsheets, iterates through the instantiated instances of the Data Structures, and generates source code that performs the calculations and data transformations embodied in the spreadsheet data. The system includes a Calculation Engine with software base classes that implement the common structural and data access features of spreadsheet data, and further implement the operations of common spreadsheet functions and operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Knowledge Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smialek, Michael H. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8614833
    Abstract: A printer driver for holding the setting of various parameters for a printer and effecting conversion of print data from an application, the printer driver includes: a specific character string detecting unit which detects from the print data a specific character string designated by a user; a code converting unit which converts the specific character string detected by the specific character string detecting unit to a code; and a code imparting unit which imparts the code converted by the code converting unit to the print data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Oda, Koei Hoshino, Hideyuki Kobayashi, Hiroo Yoshida, Takashi Tomizuka
  • Publication number: 20130339833
    Abstract: Methods, program products, and systems for layout synchronization are described. A first device can share with a second device a layout designed according to display properties of the first device, even if display properties of the second device differ from those of the first device. The layout can be synchronized between the devices, where each device can adapt the layout in a manner specific to the display properties of the device. Two-dimensional views of same data can have a consistent appearance on multiple devices each having distinct display properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Ben Chen, Ryan Christopher Griggs, Yifeng Gui, Jonathan Sigler, Kevin Iversen Smith
  • Patent number: 8601360
    Abstract: Methods and computerized apparatus for shared business modeling involving multiple spreadsheet-based business models in a network of computers, report generation involving consolidation from at least two different spreadsheet-based business models as well as report generation involving multiple different spreadsheet-based business models are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Morgan Stanley
    Inventors: Milliken Fernandes, Robert I. Lee, Jr., Dragan Masnikosa, Supriya Samanta
  • Publication number: 20130311865
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a table graphics management method and apparatus. The table graphics management method includes: displaying a table on a display apparatus; detecting a control track for the table input by an input device; determining a moving direction of the control track according to the detected control track; and along the moving direction of the control track, transposing original information in the frames of the row that are sequentially arranged along the first dimension into the frames of the column that are sequentially arranged along the second dimension, and transposing original information in the frames of the column that are sequentially arranged along the second dimension into the frames of the row that are sequentially arranged along the first dimension, so as to acquire a transposed table; and displaying a transposed table on the display apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wenfang TANG
  • Publication number: 20130298002
    Abstract: Methods for structuring electronic documents having an ordered set of cells (e.g., spreadsheets or web documents) are provided. In general, the methods provide for multidimensionality by allowing cells to be split by splitting operators, thus allowing cells to contain additional groups of cells, and recursively so. Disclosed are tools and operations for building and modifying various multi-dimensional structures and for interacting with them. Splitting operators provide a two-dimensional equivalent of lexical scopes and iterators in programming languages and allow a direct mapping to external data structures. With these features, the disclosed methods are able to combine the flexibility and unstructured nature of traditional spreadsheet with the structuring capabilities of online analytic processing (OLAP)-based tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventor: Patrick Viry
  • Publication number: 20130262975
    Abstract: A distributed spreadsheet application executes at a server and a client in a network. The networked spreadsheet application can generally be used without requiring a user to install any specific spreadsheet software prior to using the application. In one implementation, the spreadsheet application may include a client engine that executes within browser programs of a plurality of client computing devices and server logic. The server logic may be configured to distribute the client engines to the plurality of client computing devices of the spreadsheet application when requested through the browser programs of each of the plurality of client computing devices. The server logic synchronizes a single spreadsheet document that is simultaneously open at the plurality of client computing devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan ROCHELLE, Micah Lemonik, Farzad Khosrowshahi, John Stephen Danaher
  • Patent number: 8533583
    Abstract: Disclosed is an application software generation device to generate an application software for a data collection device having a reading unit to read discrimination information to carry out collection of data based on the discrimination information including a table data generation unit to generate table data for defining arbitrary items, an application software generation unit to generate an application software which is executed by the data collection device in order to collect the data based on the item which is defined in the table data and a transfer unit to transfer the generated application software to the data collection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Miyahara, Koji Nishitani, Hideki Takamura, Noriyoshi Katsumura
  • Patent number: 8516389
    Abstract: An application is executed which provides a grid display and which includes: a spreadsheet generator for generating a screen comprising a group of display elements; a scroll controller for accepting a scroll operation of a screen displayed on a display device and for controlling the scrolling of the screen. If a cell is excluded from and a cell is newly included in a visible region displayed on the display device as a result of a scrolling operation, the scroll controller causes the cell included in the visible region to be displayed on the display device by modifying a content of an attribute, including location information, of a display element used to display the cell excluded from the visible region to a content for displaying the cell included in the visible region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Fujimoto, Ken Kumagai, Kinichi Mitsui, Yuhki Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8484549
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method facilitates optimization analysis and sensitivity analysis of a data model. The method comprises a computer: receiving first data identifying a value function, a plurality of parameters for the value function, and one or more specific parameter values for one or more of the parameters; storing a data model based on the value function and the specific parameter values; determining which parameters of the data model are capable of taking variable values; receiving second data identifying one or more selected parameters; receiving third data specifying a value selection approach for each of the selected parameters; determining a plurality of result values by substituting, based on the value selection approach, a plurality of input values for each of the selected parameters and evaluating the value function using the selected parameters and the substituted values; generating and causing displaying a table of the result values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Palantir Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon Burr, Derek Cicerone, Kevin Simler
  • Publication number: 20130174005
    Abstract: A system may include reception, from a planning application, of a spreadsheet including a plurality of values, presentation of the plurality of values, reception of a first instruction to change a first value of the plurality of values to a second value, presentation, in response to the instruction, of a visual indication in association with the second value, the visual indication indicating that the second value is a fixed value, reception of a second instruction to refresh the spreadsheet, and in response to the second instruction, determination of one or more of the plurality of values of the spreadsheet, each of the determined one or more of the plurality of values presented in association with a visual indication indicating that the value is a fixed value, and transmission of the determined one or more of the plurality of values and a request to refresh the spreadsheet to the planning application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Christian Baeck, Peter Tillert, Tahar El Idrissi-Lamghari, Henrik Arndt, Jan Matthes
  • Publication number: 20130159832
    Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating trading and trading analyses are presented herein. Aspects of the present invention include systems and methods for receiving real-time and historic data, caching and updating the data for access by an embedded spreadsheet engine with a spreadsheet user interface, processing the data using spreadsheet logic and functions, and generating electronic trading message orders. Embodiments of the present invention also support the publishing of and subscribing to data and trading messages. Embodiments of the present invention also support backtesting analyses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: BLACK POINT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: BLACK POINT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Patent number: 8468166
    Abstract: A method for processing queries is provided. A database server receives and executes a query to generate a relation. The query comprises first one or more clauses and a model clause. The model clause comprises a rule that has a left-side expression and a right-side expression. In one embodiment, the right-side expression of the rule includes a window function, which specifies one or more partition columns. In an embodiment, the left-side expression comprises a for-loop predicate. The for-loop predicate is unfolded after the database server compiles the query. In one embodiment, the left-side expression of the rule comprises one or more existential predicates, where each existential predicate evaluates to a Boolean value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Tolga Bozkaya, Andrew Witkowski
  • Publication number: 20130132812
    Abstract: A spreadsheet is repurposed to save paper and ink. An indication that a printout of a spreadsheet from a printer has been requested is received. The spreadsheet has content with a format that would result in a first quantity of pages being printed. Further, a printable range for the spreadsheet is determined. In addition, an overlap analysis of the spreadsheet is performed to determine if any of the plurality of shapes in the spreadsheet overlap one another. Each print zone is isolated in the spreadsheet. The print zone includes a group of cells. Each print zone is transformed into a transformed print zone. Further, a green spreadsheet is generated, without falling below a predetermined readability threshold, based on each transformed print zone such that the green spreadsheet has a second quantity of pages that is less than the first quantity of pages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Naveen Goel, Mayur Hemani, Himanshu Jindal
  • Publication number: 20130124960
    Abstract: Technologies are described herein for generating field sets of a data summary table. Multiple fields in a spreadsheet document are identified. Multiple field scores for each field of the plurality of fields are determined. A field set incorporating two or more of the plurality of fields is generated based on the plurality of field scores. The field set is inserted into the data summary table, thereby transforming the data summary table without the field set to the data summary table with the field set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amit Velingkar, Weng Keong Peter Anthony Leong, Allan Folting, Carl Brenn Sutter, IV, Diego M. Oppenheimer, Stephen Van de Walker Handy
  • Publication number: 20130117651
    Abstract: Gadgets integrate with spreadsheets and the spreadsheet calculation engine. A gadget is bound to a range of cells (one or more) within a sheet. When one or more of the cells of the bound range is accessed (e.g. selected, hovered over, edited, deleted, added), the gadget is notified. The gadget may use this information for updating a display rendered by the gadget and/or performing some other action. The gadget uses an Application Programming Interface (API) to create the binding, communicate with the spreadsheet, and perform actions in the spreadsheet. The gadget is a Named Item object within the spreadsheet such that the gadget may be viewed/displayed differently from other objects. Out of date requests from the gadget are attempted to be detected and prevented from being processed such that the gadget is not acting on the latest data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence Waldman, Keyur Rahul Patel, Shahar Prish, Eoin James Burke, Daniel Battagin, Jon Garrett Simmons
  • Patent number: 8436871
    Abstract: A sortable and space efficient graphical user interface and a system for the efficient display of sortable data are disclosed herein. The graphical user interface may include at least one column, at least one row and a data cell defined by the intersection of at least one column and at least one row. First and second data may be displayed in the data cell. A first header is associated with the first column and identifies the first data. A second header is associated with the first column and identifies the second data. In the system for displaying sortable data, a graphical user interface is displayed upon a graphical display. A table is displayed as at least a portion of the graphical user interface, the table having a column with a plurality of rows, each row displaying first and second data and a first header associated with a first data and a second header associated with the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert Joseph Alberte
  • Publication number: 20130104021
    Abstract: Techniques for facilitating navigation in a web-based data entry grid. In one set of embodiments, when a user navigates into a cell of the data entry grid, the user's web browser can wait for a predetermined time period before accessing an application server to retrieve input control information for the cell. If the user enters a command to navigate away from the cell before the predetermined time period has passed, the server access can be avoided, and thus the navigation event can be processed immediately. If no navigation command is received from the user before the predetermined time period has passed, the input control information can be retrieved from the application server and rendered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Hendrik van den Broek, Chadwick Chow
  • Patent number: 8429554
    Abstract: Displaying graphical indicators, instead of data, based on user-defined conditions. The user can specify conditions for displaying graphical indicators instead of actual data by specifying a test, values, and an image. The graphical indicators can be pre-assigned images that are dynamically applied based on the underlying text or numeric data values. Graphical indicators allow the user to visually represent data types or categories with graphics, based on the user's conditions. Different conditions can be specified for a given data field and each condition can be associated with a particular graphical indicator. Prioritized processing of data conditions allow for complex control of which indicator will be displayed to visually represent the data. When the underlying data in a field changes, the criteria can be reapplied and the field dynamically updated to the appropriate indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Aamodt, David E. Levin, Darius Snapkauskas, Brett A. Bentsen
  • Patent number: 8423909
    Abstract: A system applies an interactive filter. The system includes a data storage device, a display device, a user interface input device, and a processor. The data storage device stores data. The display device displays an initial representation of the data. The user interface input device facilitates a localized selection of a portion of the initial representation displayed on the display device. The localized selection is determined by hovering a navigation icon in alignment with a selection area corresponding to the portion of the initial representation. The processor dynamically applies a filter parameter to the portion of the initial representation based on the localized selection from the user interface input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Robert S Zabielski
  • Patent number: 8407580
    Abstract: In a method for presenting information, an interactive document, for example, may be created that includes both an input expression and a result generated by evaluating the input expression, and where the input expression can be selectively hidden. This may permit “decluttering” of the document so that it may be easier to follow. At the same time, user interface mechanisms allow a viewer to reveal the input expression if the viewer desires to see the input expression. In this method, an input expression and a result corresponding to an evaluation of the input expression are presented on a workspace associated with a computational software application. Additionally, a first user interface mechanism associated with the input expression is presented on the workspace. In response to an activation of the first user interface mechanism, the input expression may be hidden on the workspace, while the result is presented on the workspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Wolfram Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore W. Gray, Stephen Wolfram
  • Patent number: 8407579
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a spreadsheet are disclosed. The method may include determining a portion of a digital image of a data statement, determining data of the data statement based on the portion of the digital image, and mapping a data cell of a standardized spreadsheet to the portion of the digital image based on the data of the data statement. The data of the data statement may be determined by applying an optical character recognition process to the digital image. The data cell may be mapped to the portion of the digital image based on a label or key included in the data of the data statement, a set of coordinate values, a mathematical equation, and/or the like. The method may further include determining a location of a second data statement based on the mapping data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Balenz Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramkumar N. Raja, Christopher A. Pomerantz, Murali Ramachandran, Jeffrey R. Duke
  • Publication number: 20130073940
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to import data into a range of cells in a spreadsheet application directly from data sources. In one example approach, a method comprises: during execution of a spreadsheet application on a computing device: importing data from a data source based on notation input, the notation input associated with an initial cell in the spreadsheet application; and associating the imported data with at least one other cell in the spreadsheet application, the at least one other cell different from the initial cell. For example, associating the imported data with at least one other cell in the spreadsheet application includes copying the data into the at least one other cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey Dean Honsowetz
  • Patent number: 8402361
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums are disclosed for viewing multiply-dimensioned data. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed which comprises displaying multiply-dimensioned data in a table format, the table format having a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of cells displaying data, a first column of the plurality of columns including data having at least two hierarchical levels. Data for at least a first set of the plurality of cells is displayed in a graphical format, the first set including cells in the first column, the graphical format of the cells in the first set in the first column indicating a hierarchical level associated with the cell data and a mechanism is displayed for a first one of the rows to display at least one additional row having data in the first column associated with a lower hierarchical level of the first row data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph H. Goldberg
  • Publication number: 20130067306
    Abstract: A formula bar is used for receiving user input for entry/editing of formulas using touch input and/or a Soft Input Panel (SIP) designed for formula input. In response to a user initiating entry of a formula, a list of formulas is displayed based on the user's input. A formula may be selected and displayed within the formula bar with a parameter highlighted. The user may then enter the value for the parameter (e.g. a single value, a range, another formula, and the like) using touch input and/or SIP input. As the user enters the value for each parameter, the next parameter for the formula is automatically highlighted. The formula may be validated to determine if the parameters for the formula have been entered correctly. Tips may also be displayed in/near the display of the formula bar to provide assistance to the user entering the formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rajat Bhargav, Manish Sethi, Raghvendra Maloo, Siddhartha Agrawal
  • Publication number: 20130061123
    Abstract: A spreadsheet user interface accepts a request for at least one fact, the request comprising a user-selected identifier for the desired fact. Responsive to the entry of the request, a fact repository containing information derived from unstructured documents is accessed. The fact or facts corresponding to the request, if any, are retrieved from the repository, and the results are displayed at the location of the spreadsheet that is associated with the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jonathan Rochelle, Micah G. Lemonik, David J. Vespc
  • Publication number: 20130055059
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modifying the content of one or a plurality of cells of a spread sheet or a report which is associated with a spread sheet having a number of cells which are displayed in rows and columns, comprising: detecting a user request to modify the content of one or a plurality of cells, when a user request has been recognized, retrieving and processing a predetermined entry from a storage medium, wherein the storage medium includes a number of different entries, which are processed consecutively, wherein, each time a user request has been recognized, a predetermined next entry is processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: CAN DO GMBH
    Inventor: Thomas Schlereth
  • Patent number: 8375288
    Abstract: User input can be organized and presented using a multi-dimensional board comprising a plurality of cells where unique messages are displayed in individual cells in the board. In some cases the messages may be accompanied by path indicators indicating which messages on the board are responsive to which other messages. The messages can include text, video, audio, and/or various types of interactive media such as games or applets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventors: Neal Mayerson, Deb Pinger
  • Patent number: 8365089
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are presented for intercepting data entry by a proxy server to automatically define data entry fields in a webpage. The proxy server counts a number of instances in which a particular type of data is entered into each field in the webpage. If the number of instances exceeds a predetermined number for a specific field, then subsequent users are prompted to enter data of that particular type in that specific field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Ori Pomerantz
  • Publication number: 20120311422
    Abstract: An electronic device displays at least a portion of an electronic document with a predefined page layout at a first magnification level on a display; detects a first input indicating a first insertion point in the document, where the first insertion point is proximate to a first portion of text in the document; and in response to detecting the first input: selects a second magnification level different from the first magnification level, where the second magnification level is selected so as to display the first portion of text at a target text display size, and, while maintaining the predefined page layout of the document, displays, at the second magnification level, a portion of the document that includes the first portion of text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher Douglas Weeldreyer, Martin J. Murrett, Matthew Todd Schomer, Kevin Raemon Glyn Smyth, Ian Joseph Elseth
  • Publication number: 20120297282
    Abstract: The present invention is an assessment document generation method and system whereby users generate assessment feedback documents by selecting appropriate indicator fields. Each indicator field and its accompanying indicator field label correspond to blocks of pre-written and fully editable text. After users move through the tabbed interface and select appropriate indicator fields, the software compiles the corresponding pre-written blocks of text into a final assessment document that can be stored, viewed, printed, transmitted electronically, and/or exported to a computer readable storage medium from within the software interface. The software is an assessment tool whereby users can quickly evaluate the work, products, and/or performances of others by selecting indicator fields to create a detailed, targeted, and comprehensive assessment feedback document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Colin Shanafelt
  • Publication number: 20120260153
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for persistently self-replicating multiple ranges of cells through a copy-paste operation, in a multi dimensional spreadsheet. A set of ranges of cells is defined, wherein each range of cells has the same size. Each time the content of a range of cells belonging to this set is changed, a self-replication operation is performed automatically. The self-replication operation includes the steps of copying the changed range of cells onto a buffer; determining the set of ranges of cells to which the changed range of cells belongs; identifying the ranges of cells belonging to the set; and pasting the content of the buffer in each of the identified range of cells belonging to the set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Frederic Bauchot
  • Publication number: 20120204090
    Abstract: Example systems, methods, and data structures are directed at synchronizing documents. One example data structure includes receiving a request from a first client to edit a document, and sending short-term check out metadata to the first client to begin an editing session. The data structure includes a plurality of cells and a plurality of data objects defining content of the document. Each data object is associated with one of the cells and has an object identifier that uniquely identifies the data object within the associated cell, and is configured to communicate with other cells and with objects within the associated cell. In addition, each of the cells is defined so that each other cell remains unaffected by changes to data objects of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Simon P. Clarke, Miko Arnab Sakhya Singha Bose, Peter P. Baer, Hani Saliba, Xuelei Sun
  • Patent number: 8239751
    Abstract: A spreadsheet user interface accepts a request for at least one fact, the request comprising a user-selected identifier for the desired fact. Responsive to the entry of the request, a fact repository containing information derived from unstructured documents is accessed. The fact or facts corresponding to the request, if any, are retrieved from the repository, and the results are displayed at the location of the spreadsheet that is associated with the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Rochelle, Micah G. Lemonik, David J. Vespe
  • Patent number: 8229943
    Abstract: There is provided a computer-implemented method of modifying a query executing in a database management system. The method comprises sending a no-wait message for the query to a control broker. The method also comprises receiving a reply to the no-wait message from the control broker. The reply to the no-wait message specifies a modification to the query. Additionally, the method comprises performing the modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael J. Hanlon, Anoop Sharma, Subbarao Kakarlamudi, Selvaganesan Govindarajan
  • Patent number: 8209661
    Abstract: A system including spreadsheet sheets, makes calculations and data transformations, which is available through a programming interface, and conforms to the grammar and syntax of a target software development language is presented. The system includes an Object Model with Data Structures representing entities involved in spreadsheets. The system includes a Parser and Code Generator that extracts data from a body of spreadsheet data, instantiates instances of Data Structures of the Object Model to represent the spreadsheet data, parses the data and formulas contained in the cells of the spreadsheets, iterates through the instantiated instances of the Data Structures, and generates source code that performs the calculations and data transformations embodied in the spreadsheet data. The system includes a Calculation Engine with software base classes that implement the common structural and data access features of spreadsheet data, and further implement the operations of common spreadsheet functions and operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Knowledge Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smialek, Michael H. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8185817
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for utilizing spreadsheet references with grouped aggregate views. A grouped aggregate view feature enables a user to create a grouped aggregate view of data. A calculation feature enables the user to calculations for the grouped aggregate view of data that are based upon relative or absolute references to data in the grouped aggregate view. Input is received from a user to write a calculation within a first cell in a grouped aggregate view. Input is received from the user to select a second cell to reference when writing the calculation. The user is presented with available references that are relevant to data contained in the second cell. Input is received from the user to select one of the available references that are relevant for the second cell. The selected one of the available references is placed into the first cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Collie, Amir Netz, Paul J. Sanders, Cristian Petculescu
  • Patent number: 8166385
    Abstract: A spreadsheet system stores objects and formulas in the cells of the spreadsheet, along with metadata tags. Each cell may contain multiple objects (such as a group of photos). Drag-and-drop user actions automatically change tags associated with the moved objects based on a formula stored in the target cell if a forcing semantics mode is active, or automatically change a formula stored in the target cell if a non-forcing semantics mode is active. A formula in a cell selects a set of objects and may include set operators such as union, intersection, and minus. The formula may also filter sets to select a subset based on specified tag attributes of objects. The display of the spreadsheet adaptively selects a subset of objects to render in a cell and appropriately scales photos for optimal viewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Hector Garcia-Molina, Sean Kandel, Andreas Paepcke, Martin Theobald, Eric S. Abelson
  • Patent number: 8156145
    Abstract: A method for processing queries is provided. A database server receives and executes a query to generate a relation. The query comprises first one or more clauses and a model clause. The model clause comprises a rule that has a left-side expression and a right-side expression. In one embodiment, the right-side expression of the rule includes a window function, which specifies one or more partition columns. In an embodiment, the left-side expression comprises a for-loop predicate. The for-loop predicate is unfolded after the database server compiles the query. In one embodiment, the left-side expression of the rule comprises one or more existential predicates, where each existential predicate evaluates to a Boolean value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Tolga Bozkaya, Andrew Witkowski
  • Patent number: 8145990
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system, method, means, and/or computer program code are provided to facilitate use of a spreadsheet application to access information stored in a multi-dimensional data source. Some embodiments include receiving, at an analyzer module, a change indication from the spreadsheet application, the change indication being associated with an identifier entered by a user into a spreadsheet cell. In response to the change indication, a member associated with the identifier in a multi-dimensional data source may be dynamically determined. Information in the spreadsheet may then be replaced with a formula based at least in part on the determined member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: SAP France
    Inventors: Pierre Jean Le Brazidec, Florent Migeon
  • Patent number: 8140958
    Abstract: A system, method and program product for synchronizing spreadsheet data. A system is provided having: a scheduling system for scheduling a first import time, a second import time, a first export time and a second export time; an import system for obtaining a first spreadsheet from a first entity at the first import time, and for obtaining a second spreadsheet from a second entity at the second import time; a synchronization system for synchronizing the first spreadsheet and the second spreadsheet to obtain a first revised spreadsheet and a second revised spreadsheet; and an export system for providing the first revised spreadsheet to the first entity at the first export time, and for providing the second revised spreadsheet to the second entity at the second export time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew J. Garrett, James A. Martin, Jr., Jeffrey E. Prince
  • Publication number: 20120054591
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises: providing an electronic spreadsheet having a plurality of cells arranged in an array having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; receiving information defining a plurality of items, each of the plurality of items representing a respective set of data usable in populating at least a portion of the plurality of cells of the electronic spreadsheet, at least one of the plurality of items including a table having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; associating each of the plurality of items with a respective location in the electronic spreadsheet; associating each of the plurality of items with a respective position in a stack, each of the plurality of items being able to be associated with any position in the stack; and rendering the electronic spreadsheet in accordance with the information defining the plurality of items, the respective location associated with each item and the respective stack position associated with each item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Thorsten Ueberschaer, Gilbert Karbach
  • Patent number: 8081189
    Abstract: In accordance with a size of a drawing area and a character size, the number of characters arrangeable in the drawing area is calculated. Based on the calculated number of characters, whether a character string in the obtained character size is arranged in the drawing area or the character string in a character size different from the obtained character size is arranged in the drawing area is selected, and the character string is arranged in the drawing area by using the determined character size. The arranged character string is displayed on the display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Hal Laboratory Inc.
    Inventors: Daiji Imai, Ryoichiro Atono, Fumihiro Narita
  • Publication number: 20110307773
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing project planning functions within a spreadsheet application program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Nenad Grmusa, Dejan Mircevski
  • Patent number: 8078955
    Abstract: A system that facilitates a grid-based approach to defining styles for a table. During operation, the system allows a user to define a new table style by specifying styles for cells in a two-dimensional grid of table cells, wherein a style for a given cell specifies one or more attributes for the given cell. The system then applies the new table style to a target table, wherein applying the new table style involves repeating or tiling a pattern of cell styles defined in the two-dimensional grid across the target table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorportaed
    Inventor: Rahul Gupta
  • Patent number: 8069190
    Abstract: A system and methodology for parallel processing of continuous data streams. In one embodiment, a system for parallel processing of data streams comprises: a converter receiving input streams of data in a plurality of formats and transforming the streams into a standardized data stream format comprising rows and columns in which values in a given column are of a homogeneous type; a storage system that continuously maintains a finite interval of each stream subject to specified space limits for the stream; an interface enabling a user to construct parallel stream programs for processing streams in the standardized data stream format, wherein a parallel stream program comprises a linear sequence of program building blocks for performing operations on a data stream; and a runtime computing system running multiple parallel stream programs continuously on the streams as they flow through the storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Cloudscale, Inc.
    Inventors: William Finlay McColl, Wijnand Johannes Suijlen
  • Patent number: 8060817
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine readable mediums are disclosed for viewing multidimensional data. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed which comprises displaying multidimensional data in a table format, the table format having a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of cells displaying data, a first column of the plurality of columns including data having at least two hierarchical levels. Data for at least a first set of the plurality of cells is displayed in a graphical format, the first set including cells in the first column, the graphical format of the cells in the first set in the first column indicating a hierarchical level associated with the cell data and a mechanism is displayed for a first one of the rows to display at least one additional row having data in the first column associated with a lower hierarchical level of the first row data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph H. Goldberg, Luke Kowalski
  • Patent number: 8055995
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of information processing involving digital computers, embedded devices and more particularly, to a method and system for defining hierarchical data model and related computation and instructions rules using electronic spreadsheet like interface. The system and method of the invention are directed to user friendly, fast, development of multi-user, workflow enabled applications using spreadsheet as a tool for application modeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: OrangeScape Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Suresh Sambandam, Manivanna Karthikeyan, Prasanna Babu Jaganathan, Rajesh Manickadas, Dinesh Varadharajan