Images and additional data associated with cells in spreadsheets

• US 10,031,906 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Campbell, John, Otero, Carlos Augusto, Canton, Christian, Sully, John David, Radakovitz, Samuel C., Fichtner, Matthew Hart, Rampson, Benjamin Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): RIES, LAURIE ANNE
• Application Number:
  US15/199,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20170124042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/40 Document-oriented image-based pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/412 Layout analysis of documents structured with printed lines or input boxes, e.g. business forms or tables
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/414 Extracting the geometrical structure, e.g. layout tree; Block segmentation, e.g. bounding boxes for graphics or text
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/033 Voice editing, e.g. manipulating the voice of the synthesiser
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 : Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/00 : Editing; Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Monitoring; Measuring tape travel

Abstract

Systems and methods for associated one or more images with one or more cells of a spreadsheet are described. As described, a plurality of images may be associated with a single cell or a single image may be associated with a range of cells. Additionally, an image and additional data may be associated with the same cell. Upon associating an image with a cell, various parameters of the image may be displayed for viewing and/or customization by a user. Additionally, sort and/or filter operations may be performed on the spreadsheet based on the various parameters of associated images and/or operations (e.g., fit and/or resize operations) may be performed on various parameters of associated images. An associated image may move with a cell when the cell is reordered within the cell table, or an associated image may be allowed to float over the grid but may be referenced by a cell.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the system to perform a method, the method comprising;

receiving at least one image for association with a single cell of a spreadsheet;

receiving additional data for association with the single cell, wherein the additional data is independent data from the at least one image;

creating a compound data type including the at least one image and the additional data;

associating the compound data type with the single cell;

receiving a selection to perform an operation on the spreadsheet based at least in part on the additional data; and

in response to performing the operation, displaying the at least one image in a different orientation with respect to the additional data within the single cell.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the additional data comprises one or more of:

alphanumeric data, a video, an audio file, and a chart.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the image as background for the single cell; and

displaying the additional data over the image within the single cell.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

adjusting a contrast between the image and the additional data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the contrast is adjusted automatically.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the contrast is adjusted by a user.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the image is fit to a size of the single cell.

8. A method performed by a computing device, the computing device comprising at least one processing unit and at least one memory storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the computing device to perform the method, the method comprising:

receiving at least one image for association with a single cell of a spreadsheet;

receiving additional data for association with the single cell, wherein the additional data is independent data from the at least one image;

creating a compound data type including the at least one image and the additional data;

associating the compound data type with the single cell;

receiving a selection to perform an operation on the spreadsheet based at least in part on the additional data; and

in response to performing the operation, displaying the at least one image in a different orientation with respect to at least a portion of the additional data within the single cell.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the compound data type includes the at least one image and the additional data in a structured format comprising one or more of:

an array of raw data;

an array of record types; and

a table.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the compound data type comprises a plurality of fields, the method comprising:

dereferencing at least one field of the plurality of fields; and

acting on the at least one field.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the compound data type comprises a plurality of fields, the method comprising:

constructing a formula to get a value of at least one of the plurality of fields.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving layout attributes for displaying the at least one image and the portion of the additional data in the single cell.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein displaying the at least one image in a different orientation with respect to at least a portion of the additional data within the single cell comprises one of:

displaying the at least one image above the additional data;

displaying the at least one image below the additional data;

displaying the at least one image to the left of the additional data;

displaying the at least one image to the right of the additional data; and

wrapping the at least one image with the additional data.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

enlarging the single cell; and

displaying the at least one image and an increased portion of the additional data.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

reducing a size of the single cell; and

displaying the at least one image and a decreased portion of the additional data.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

dynamically displaying an increased portion of the additional data as the single cell is enlarged.

17. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processing unit, cause a computing device to:

receive at least one image;

receive additional data, wherein the additional data is independent data from the at least one image;

create a compound data type including the at least one image and the additional data;

associate the compound data type with a single cell of a spreadsheet;

receive a selection to perform an operation on the spreadsheet based at least in part on the additional data; and

in response to performing the operation, display the at least one image in a different orientation with respect to at least a portion of the additional data within the single cell.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the compound data type includes the at least one image and the additional data in a structured format comprising one or more of:

an array of raw data;

an array of record types; and

a table.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the computer executable instructions further causing the computing device to:

dynamically display an increased portion of the additional data as the singe cell is enlarged.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the computer executable instructions further causing the computing device to:

reduce a size of the single cell; and

display the at least one image and a decreased portion of the additional data.