Patent US6185582B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6185582B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spreadsheet view enhancement system
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1998-06-17
•
Granted: 2001-02-06
•
Expires: 2018-06-17
Abstract
Abstract An augmented spreadsheet presentation provides for selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, with two or more displayed cells of the array of cells being logically linked by a constraint graph. Color of two or more displayed cells can be dynamically adjusted in response to selected user focus with a mouse or other cursor, with each of the two or more displayed cells having a slightly different color to form a color gradient that shows constraint graph linkage of the cells. Additional annotations illustrating constraint graph relationships or formulas can also be activated by a transient mouse focus.
Inventors
- 👤 Polle T. Zellweger
- 👤 Jock D. Mackinlay
- 👤 Bay-Wei Chang
- 👤 Takeo Igarashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/177; G06F40/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, and dynamically adjusting color of two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to selected user focus, with each of the two or more displayed cells having a slightly different color that forms a color gradient for enhancing indication of constraint graph linkage of the two or more displayed cells of the array of cells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, and dynamically adjusting color of two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to selected user focus, with each of the two or more displayed cells having a slightly different color that forms a color gradient for enhancing indication of constraint graph linkage of the two or more displayed cells of the array of cells.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of transiently selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, and visibly linking two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to said transiently selected region of user focus, with the primary body of data being spatially morphed to accommodate visible linkages.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of transiently selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, and visibly linking two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to said transiently selected region of user focus, with the primary body of data being spatially morphed to accommodate visible linkages.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of transiently selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, negotiating between the primary body of data and a supporting body of data to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data, and visibly linking with said supporting body of data two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to said transiently selected region of user focus.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for augmenting a spreadsheet presentation on a display, the method comprising the steps of transiently selecting a region of user focus in a primary body of data displayed as an array of cells, wherein two or more displayed cells of the array of cells are logically linked by a constraint graph, negotiating between the primary body of data and a supporting body of data to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data, and visibly linking with said supporting body of data two or more displayed cells logically linked by the constraint graph in response to said transiently selected region of user focus.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for annotating a spreadsheet having spreadsheet data displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data relatable to an annotation tag present in the spreadsheet, the method comprising the steps of selecting an annotation tag having a predetermined size in the spreadsheet, negotiating between the spreadsheet and the supporting body of data to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data, with the negotiated space being sized larger than the predetermined size of the annotation tag, and positioning the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for annotating a spreadsheet having spreadsheet data displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data relatable to an annotation tag present in the spreadsheet, the method comprising the steps of selecting an annotation tag having a predetermined size in the spreadsheet, negotiating between the spreadsheet and the supporting body of data to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while substantially maintaining an unobstructed view of the primary body of data, with the negotiated space being sized larger than the predetermined size of the annotation tag, and positioning the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of animating an expansion of the annotation tag into the negotiated space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of animating a contraction of the supporting body of data positioned in the negotiated space back into the annotation tag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein spreadsheet data is decreased in size as the supporting body of data is increased in size in response to selecting the annotation tag.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the spreadsheet is spatially morphed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the annotation tag is at least a fragment of a constraint formula related to a spreadsheet cell.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4495491A
Cited
US4517660A
Cited
US4528561A
Cited
US4616336A
Cited
US5055998A
Cited
US5142669A
Cited
US5146592A
Cited
US5625833A
Cited
US5231578A
Cited
US5093907A
Cited
US5049862A
Cited
US5231577A
Cited
US5459488A
Cited
US5095429A
Cited
US5220649A
Cited
US5245702A
Cited
US5416895A
Cited
US5581681A
Cited
US5371675A
Cited
US5550964A
Cited
US5375201A
Cited
US5550563A
Cited
US5434965A
Cited
US5596700A
Cited
US5634095A
Cited
US5577188A
Cited
US5621871A
Cited
US5739824A
Cited
US5838938A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-02-06 | 2004-08-07 | 2005-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-02-06 | 2008-08-07 | 2009-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-02-06 | 2012-08-07 | 2013-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |