Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090089653 | AUTO-GENERATION AND SYNDICATION OF TABLES AS FORMS - Techniques for automatically generating a form associated with a spreadsheet table are disclosed herein. Such a form may have data entry fields that correspond to data attributes listed on the spreadsheet table. The form may be associated with the spreadsheet table by means of a user interface, such as an icon or other object oriented user interface. In this way, a command to display the form may be provided with one click of a pointing device. The form may be generally associated with each entry in the spreadsheet table so that the data from a selected entry is displayed. Besides entering new data or revising existing data, browsing of existing data in the spreadsheet table may also be performed through navigation mechanisms contained on the form. Techniques for syndicating a form associated with a spreadsheet table or workbook into a web page are also disclosed herein. | 04-02-2009 |
20110145689 | NAMED OBJECT VIEW OVER MULTIPLE FILES - A named object view report is generated from different electronic object sources. The object sources may be associated with different users and have different access rights. The different object sources from which the objects are obtained may be determined using a variety of methods. A user at a client is presented with the named object view report such that the user's attention is focused on the different objects that are obtained from the different object sources as if the objects were obtained from a single object source. The user may be used to cycle through the objects that are obtained from the different object sources. When an object is edited within the report by a user that is not associated with the user for editing, that object is copied to an object source that is owned by the user. | 06-16-2011 |
20120151314 | LOCATION AWARE SPREADSHEET ACTIONS - Location information is integrated with spreadsheet formulas and operations. Location information may be used in filtering data, detecting data sources, performing calculations, and the like. The data may be filtered by location, individuals, places, and other location based information. The location information may be integrated into native spreadsheet formulas to perform calculations, trigger alerts, or drive other spreadsheet business logic. The location information may also be used to detect and use nearby data sources that are published near the spreadsheet user. | 06-14-2012 |
20120151315 | USING TEXT MESSAGES TO INTERACT WITH SPREADSHEETS - Text messages are used to interact with objects in a spreadsheet. For example, text messages may be used to enter/receive data in the spreadsheet. One or more text messages may be associated with a spreadsheet. Text messages may be associated with cells, tables, charts and other objects of the spreadsheet. When the spreadsheet receives a text message, the text message is parsed and information that is contained within the text message is used to interact with one or more objects within the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet may also generate and send text messages that provide information about the spreadsheet and/or request information to be entered within the spreadsheet. For example, the spreadsheet may send out an update of one or more values/objects within a spreadsheet and/or send a request within a text message requesting information to update a table. | 06-14-2012 |
20120180002 | NATURAL INPUT FOR SPREADSHEET ACTIONS - Different gestures and actions are used to interact with spreadsheets. The gestures are used in manipulating the spreadsheet and performing other actions in the spreadsheet. For example, gestures may be used to move within the spreadsheet, select data, filter, sort, drill down/up, zoom, split rows/columns, perform undo/redo actions, and the like. Sensors that are associated with a device may also be used in interacting with spreadsheets. For example, an accelerometer may be used for moving and performing operations within the spreadsheet. | 07-12-2012 |
20120189203 | ASSOCIATING CAPTURED IMAGE DATA WITH A SPREADSHEET - A spreadsheet application associates data obtained from a captured image with a spreadsheet. For example, one or more images of physical data may be captured and translated into electronic data that is automatically associated with one or more spreadsheets. The formatting and underlying formulas of the data included within the captured image may be represented within a spreadsheet (e.g. highlighted data remains highlighted within the electronic spreadsheet). The data may also be compared with existing electronic data. For example, differences between the data in the captured image with the data in an existing spreadsheet may be used to update the existing spreadsheet. A display of a captured image may be also be augmented using data that is obtained from the captured image. For example, a chart may be created and displayed using data that is obtained from the captured image. | 07-26-2012 |
20120192050 | REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE IN A SPREADSHEET - A spreadsheet includes a native spreadsheet object that represents a person. The person object may be used within a spreadsheet just as any other spreadsheet objects are utilized. For example, the person object may be integrated with spreadsheet formulas and other spreadsheet objects such as charts, tables, pivot tables, sheets, and the like. Spreadsheet formulas may perform operations specific to a person object (e.g. send message, get contact information, get status, get other person specific information, sort, and the like). Common actions may be associated with the person object, such as initiating communication with the person represented by the person object (e.g. phone call, email, text message, collaboration invite, and the like). Social networking information may also be associated with a person object. For example, social networking posts may be included within a spreadsheet, a user may post to a social network from the spreadsheet, and the like. | 07-26-2012 |
20140372850 | Telling Interactive, Self-Directed Stories with Spreadsheets - A spreadsheet storytelling engine is provided. The spreadsheet storytelling engine may run in the context of a spreadsheet application on any device, service, or general endpoint capable of running the spreadsheet application. The spreadsheet storytelling engine allows for the authoring and telling of a story. The story is a collection of operations that guide the consumer through a spreadsheet. The story allows the spreadsheet to be used to convey visualizations, data, calculations, or other objects in a spreadsheet in a way that may be simple, pleasant to look at, and/or visually engaging to help a consumer understand the information and internalize it in a way that is actionable without requiring the real time availability of the spreadsheet author. The spreadsheet storytelling engine is useful for purposes including, but not limited to, making presentations, creating tutorials, validating data, explaining how a model works, and generating interactive business intelligence dashboards. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372851 | Conversion of Data Ranges to Table Objects - Conversion of data ranges to table objects in an electronic spreadsheet document is provided. When an electronic spreadsheet document is being utilized, data ranges may be automatically converted to tables to allow the user to enjoy the full benefits of the table properties and functionalities. When a data range is automatically converted to a table object, a user will be given an opportunity to revert the table object back to the data range from which it was converted. Instead of automatic conversion, a suggestion may be provided to a user before a data range is converted to a table object. If the user accepts the suggestion, then the data range may be automatically converted to a table object. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372854 | Smart Selection Engine - A smart selection engine is provided. The smart selection engine may run in the context of a spreadsheet application on any device, service, or general endpoint capable of running the spreadsheet application. The smart selection engine reduces the cognitive load and complexity for performing spreadsheet operations by clearly presenting the user with easy to use and understand options that are big, simple, and lend themselves nicely to natural user interfaces, touch enabled devices, and devices with small displays as well as with graphical user interfaces, larger displays, and traditional input devices. By making contextually based suggestions, the smart selection engine reduces or eliminates the need for the user to be aware of the available operations or how to perform the operations. Further, the smart selection engine improves the consistency and efficiency of working with a spreadsheet. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372856 | Natural Quick Functions Gestures - Natural gestures for interacting with spreadsheet documents are provided. A user may interact with a spreadsheet document using a variety of touch-based gestures. Gestures applied to a spreadsheet document may be used for making structural and display changes to the document. For example, gestures may be used on the spreadsheet document for inserting new columns and rows; for revealing hidden columns and rows; for deleting columns and rows; for extending functionalities across columns and rows; for moving objects displayed in a spreadsheet document; and for navigating various parts of a spreadsheet document. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372857 | Smart Fill - A smart fill feature is provided, which may be utilized to provide suggestions to a user and to prepopulate fill results in a spreadsheet. Characteristics associated with a set of data may be recognized and used to help determine fill results Suggestions may be determined from internal and or/external data sources, and may use contextual information in a data set to determine what a user may be trying to accomplish. External data sources may include one or more Internet data sources or internal corporate databases, providing a large amount of data from which to search for potential fill results. A split column command may be used to split a column into two or more columns. Data may be split between columns or combined by various methods, which may include, by example, by direct manipulation via tokens, or via a slider UI. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372858 | Seamless Grid and Canvas Integration in a Spreadsheet Application - Seamless grid and canvas integration in a spreadsheet application is provided. One or more data items may be pulled from a grid-structured spreadsheet and may be allowed to “float” on the grid-structure spreadsheet without regard to the underlying grid. The floating object may be pushed or inserted back into the grid of the same or different spreadsheet at any location. A pulled data object also may be dropped onto a grid-less canvas user interface object and may be moved about on the canvas object in a free form manner. References between data and computations in the moved data object are structured and maintained so that the data object may be manipulated and increased/decreased without adversely affecting the underlying grid and such that both data and computational references between the data object and the underlying grid are maintained. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372906 | Application/Document Collaboration in a Multi-Device Environment - Application/document collaboration in a multi-device environment is provided. An application and associated document or other content, for example, a spreadsheet application and associated spreadsheet documents and content may be displayed on one or more endpoint display devices. A presenter may control the application/document from another device, for example, a smartphone, tablet-style computer, laptop computer, desktop computer, and the like. User interactions on the presenter control device may be reflected on the display device, including, document navigation, document editing, document entry, and the like. Document content may be previewed on the control device before it is sent to the display device. Document metadata and/or presenter notes/comments, etc., may be displayed only on the control device, but not on the display device, as desired by the presenter/user. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372932 | Filtering Data with Slicer-Style Filtering User Interface - A slicer-style filtering user interface is provided that allows for advanced filtering and sorting of data and that may be utilized with a touch or gesture based computing device. The slicer-style filtering user interface may be invoked on a spreadsheet data range for filtering and sorting data according to desired properties. A slicer-style filtering user interface may be moved about on a displayed spreadsheet document for ease of use in proximity to one or more data items. If a theme or style is applied to a given spreadsheet document, the invoked slicer-style filtering user interface may be automatically themed or styled to match the document. The slicer-style filtering user interface may be operable for advanced filtering, and the user interface may be efficiently changed from one filtering type to another filtering type. | 12-18-2014 |
20140372952 | Simplified Data Input in Electronic Documents - Simplified data and/or syntax entry in electronic documents is provided. Custom user interface components and selectable controls may be provided that may float on a displayed document and allow for easier data or syntax input. Electronic inking gestures may be used for entry of data and/or programming syntax in an electronic scratch pad and/or directly on top of a displayed electronic document. Gestures (e.g., screen touches) may be used for selecting document components (e.g., spreadsheet ranges) followed by an interpretation by the associated application of the user's gestures. A variety of disambiguation displays, interactions and/or hints may be provided to help a user clarify ambiguous UI selections. | 12-18-2014 |