US5768158A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Computer-based system and method for data processing
Assignee: INVENTURE TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-08
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Granted: 1998-06-16
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Expires: 2015-12-08
Abstract
Abstract An electronic spreadsheet, formed in accordance with the present invention, providing a user with improved data processing capability, includes displaying a visual presentation to the user, the visual presentation including a matrix, the matrix including columns, rows and cells, the cells being formed at intersections of the columns and the rows. The electronic spreadsheet associates objects and formulas with the cells, each object having an object type, each formula receiving an object as an argument, each formula having an operator for operating on the object received as the argument. Further, the electronic spreadsheet evaluates each formula, which includes assigning to the operator in each formula an operative expression selected in accordance with the object type of the object received as the argument of each formula. Still further, the electronic spreadsheet associates a result, obtained during the evaluating procedure, with each cell associated with each formula operating on the object.
Inventors
- 👤 Dan Adler
- 👤 Roberto Salama
- 👤 Gerald Zaks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/177; G06F40/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
In a computer-based system for data processing having a digital processor and input means coupled to the digital processor, and a display unit responsive to the digital processor, the system being responsive to objects and formulas, the system comprising: at least one visual presentation displayable on the display unit by the digital processor, the at least one visual presentation including: a cell field, the cell field including cells, the cells being positioned in a column/row format, at least one cell representing a polymorphic object; and a text edit field, the text edit field receiving the objects and the formulas entered by the user through the input means, each object having an object type, each formula having at least one object as an argument and at least one operator for operating on the at least one object, at least one formula having a polymorphic object and a polymorphic operator; and computer processing means, the computer processing means correspondingly associating each object and each formula with each cell, the computer processing means correspondingly evaluating each formula and assigning to the at least one operator in each formula one of a plurality of operative expressions selected in accordance with the object type of the at least one object received as the argument of each formula, the computer processing means associating a result of each formula with each cell containing each formula operating on the at least one object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
In a computer-based system for data processing having a digital processor and input means coupled to the digital processor, and a display unit responsive to the digital processor, the system being responsive to objects and formulas, the system comprising: at least one visual presentation displayable on the display unit by the digital processor, the at least one visual presentation including: a cell field, the cell field including cells, the cells being positioned in a column/row format, at least one cell representing a polymorphic object; and a text edit field, the text edit field receiving the objects and the formulas entered by the user through the input means, each object having an object type, each formula having at least one object as an argument and at least one operator for operating on the at least one object, at least one formula having a polymorphic object and a polymorphic operator; and computer processing means, the computer processing means correspondingly associating each object and each formula with each cell, the computer processing means correspondingly evaluating each formula and assigning to the at least one operator in each formula one of a plurality of operative expressions selected in accordance with the object type of the at least one object received as the argument of each formula, the computer processing means associating a result of each formula with each cell containing each formula operating on the at least one object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer processing means includes means for re-evaluating each formula if a value within the at least one object changes and re-associating the result of each formula with each cell containing each formula operating on the at least one object whose value has changed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein each cell has a different visual appearance depending on the object type of each object associated therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 3, wherein the different visual appearance includes a difference in color.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein the visual presentation further includes: a query window, the query window receiving user-provided responses corresponding to English sentence-style pre-defined questions, the query window forming a formula in accordance therewith; and a user-selected cell, the computer processing means associating the formula formed by the query window with the user-selected cell, the computer processing means evaluating the formula and associating a result of the formula with the user-selected cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer processing means further includes means for storing each object and each formula associated with each cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer processing means further includes means for scanning each formula to ensure that each formula conforms to a preferred cell reference syntax and means for translating each formula, not in conformity, to the preferred cell reference syntax.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for instructing the system to recognize new objects and new operators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 8, wherein the instructing means is user-programmable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 9, wherein the user-programmable instructing means employs a C-programming language-type syntax.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 8, wherein the new objects are selected from an external object library.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein the computer processing means displays, within the visual presentation, at least one of each object and the result of each formula in one of a plurality of visual formats.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer-based system as defined in claim 12, wherein the plurality of visual formats are user-selectable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
The computer-based system as defined in claim 1, wherein the user identifies a user-selected cell through the input means and enters at least one character into the text edit field through the input means, the system further comprising: a memory storage unit, the memory storage unit being responsive to the computer processing means and containing data signals corresponding to data associated with the at least one object; and the computer processing means further includes means for correlating the at least one character with the data associated with the at least one object and thereby associating the data with the user-selected cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computer-based system for data processing, the system comprising: means for displaying a visual presentation to a user, the visual presentation including at least one matrix, the at least one matrix including columns, rows, and cells, the cells being formed at intersections of the columns and the rows at least one cell representing a polymorphic object; first associating means for associating objects and formulas with the cells, each object having an object type, at least one obiect having a polvmorphi object type, each fonnula receiving at least one object as an argument, each formula having at least one operator for operating on the at least one object received as the argument; means for evaluating each formula, the evaluating means assigning to the at least one operator in each fonnula one of a plurality of operative expressions selected in accordance with the object type of the at least one object received as the argument of each formula; and second associating means for associating a result, obtained from the evaluating means, with each cell associated with each formula operating on the at least one object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
183 words
A computer-based system for data processing, the system comprising: means for displaying a visual presentation to a user, the visual presentation including at least one matrix, the at least one matrix including columns, rows, and cells, the cells being formed at intersections of the columns and the rows at least one cell representing a polymorphic object; first associating means for associating objects and formulas with the cells, each object having an object type, at least one obiect having a polvmorphi object type, each fonnula receiving at least one object as an argument, each formula having at least one operator for operating on the at least one object received as the argument; means for evaluating each formula, the evaluating means assigning to the at least one operator in each fonnula one of a plurality of operative expressions selected in accordance with the object type of the at least one object received as the argument of each formula; and second associating means for associating a result, obtained from the evaluating means, with each cell associated with each formula operating on the at least one object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, wherein the evaluating means includes means for re-evaluating each formula if a value within the at least one object is changed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, wherein each cell has a different visual appearance depending on the object type of each object associated therewith.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 17, wherein the different visual appearance includes a difference in color.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, wherein the first associating means includes means for generating each formula from a user-interactive English sentence query window, the query window receiving user-provided responses corresponding to pre-defined questions, the query window processing the responses received in response to the questions, the query window generating a formula in accordance therewith.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, further comprising means for storing each object and each formula associated with each cell.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, further comprising means for scanning each formula to ensure that each formula conforms to a preferred cell reference syntax processable by the system, the scanning means also translating each formula, not in conformity with the preferred cell reference syntax, to the preferred cell reference syntax.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, further comprising means for instructing the system to recognize new objects and new operators.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 22, wherein the instructing means is user-programmable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 23, wherein the user-programmable instructing means employs a C-programming language-type syntax.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 22, wherein the new objects are selected from an external object library.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, further comprising means for displaying at least one of the objects and the result from the second associating means in one of a plurality of visual formats in the visual presentation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 26, wherein the plurality of visual formats are user-selectable.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A computer-based system for data processing as defined in claim 15, wherein the first associating means includes means for loading data from a memory storage unit, the data being associated with an object.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of data processing, utilizing a computer-based system for data processing, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a visual presentation to a user, the visual presentation including at least one matrix, the at least one matrix including columns, rows and cells, the cells being formed at intersections of the columns and the rows each cell representing an obiect, at least one cell representing a polvmorphic obiect; associating objects and formulas with the cells, each object having an object type, each formula receiving at least one object as an argument, each formula having at least one operator for operating on the at least one object received as the argument; evaluating each formula, the evaluating step including assigning to the at least one operator in each formula one of a plurality of operative expressions selected in accordance with the object type of the at least one object received as the argument of each formula; and associating a result, obtained during the evaluating step, with each cell associated with each formula operating on the at least one object.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of data processing, utilizing a computer-based system for data processing, the method comprising the steps of: displaying a visual presentation to a user, the visual presentation including at least one matrix, the at least one matrix including columns, rows and cells, the cells being formed at intersections of the columns and the rows each cell representing an obiect, at least one cell representing a polvmorphic obiect; associating objects and formulas with the cells, each object having an object type, each formula receiving at least one object as an argument, each formula having at least one operator for operating on the at least one object received as the argument; evaluating each formula, the evaluating step including assigning to the at least one operator in each formula one of a plurality of operative expressions selected in accordance with the object type of the at least one object received as the argument of each formula; and associating a result, obtained during the evaluating step, with each cell associated with each formula operating on the at least one object.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, wherein the evaluating step includes re-evaluating each formula if a value within the at least one object is changed.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, further comprising the step of distinguishing the cells by having each cell exhibit a different visual appearance depending on the object type of each object associated therewith.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 31, wherein the different visual appearance includes a difference in color.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, wherein the step of associating objects and formulas with the cells includes generating each formula from a user-interactive English sentence query window, the query window receiving user-provided responses corresponding to pre-defined questions, the query window processing the responses received in response to the questions, the query window generating a formula in accordance therewith.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, wherein the step of associating objects and formulas with cells includes loading data from a memory storage unit, the data being associated with an object.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, further comprising the step of storing each object and each formula associated with each cell.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, further comprising the step of scanning each formula to ensure that each formula conforms to a preferred cell reference syntax processable by the system, the scanning step also translating each formula, not in conformity with the preferred cell reference syntax, to the preferred cell reference syntax.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, further comprising the step of instructing the system to recognize new objects and new operators.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 37, wherein the instructing step is performed by user-programming.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 38, wherein the user-programming of the instructing step is performed using a C-programming language-type syntax.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 37, wherein the instructing step is further performed by instructing the system to recognize new objects selectable from an external object library.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 29, further comprising the step of displaying at least one of the objects and the result from the result associating step in one of a plurality of visual formats in the visual presentation.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of data processing as defined in claim 41, wherein the displaying step is further performed by the user selecting one of the plurality of visual formats.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |