Integrated data processing system with links
First Claim
1. An integrated data processing system comprising an application program for user interaction with stored data, comprising:
- (a) means for generating and editing data files, each data file comprising an array of data objects, each of the data objects having an object address associated therewith, and object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text, each object address in a data file being unique with respect to that data file;
(b) the means for editing comprising;
(i) means for selecting a source subset of the data objects of the data file, the object addresses thereof being source object addresses;
(ii) means for copying the source subset as target data objects to different object addresses;
(iii) means for selectively linking the target data objects to the corresponding source object addresses thereof;
(iv) means for modifying values and/or addresses of the source subset as reflective of further editing of the data file; and
(v) means for maintaining the linkages between the target data objects and the source object addresses following modification of the source object addresses; and
(c) means for refreshing the target data objects in response to and to reflect changes in the values and/or addresses of the source subset of the data objects, whereby the target data objects are automatically updated in accordance with the further editing of data files.
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Abstract
An integrated data processing system including an application program that has means for generating and editing data files, each data file including an array of data objects that each have an associated object address, and object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, or a text, each object address in a data file being unique with respect to that data file. The means for editing includes means for selecting a source subset of the data objects of the data file, the object addresses thereof being source object addresses, means for copying the source subset as target data objects to different object addresses, means for selectively linking the target data objects to their corresponding source object addresses, means for modifying values and/or addresses of the source subset as reflective of further editing of the data file, and means for maintaining the linkages between the target data objects and the source object addresses following modification of the source object addresses.
90 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An integrated data processing system comprising an application program for user interaction with stored data, comprising:
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(a) means for generating and editing data files, each data file comprising an array of data objects, each of the data objects having an object address associated therewith, and object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text, each object address in a data file being unique with respect to that data file;
(b) the means for editing comprising;
(i) means for selecting a source subset of the data objects of the data file, the object addresses thereof being source object addresses;
(ii) means for copying the source subset as target data objects to different object addresses;
(iii) means for selectively linking the target data objects to the corresponding source object addresses thereof;
(iv) means for modifying values and/or addresses of the source subset as reflective of further editing of the data file; and
(v) means for maintaining the linkages between the target data objects and the source object addresses following modification of the source object addresses; and
(c) means for refreshing the target data objects in response to and to reflect changes in the values and/or addresses of the source subset of the data objects, whereby the target data objects are automatically updated in accordance with the further editing of data files.
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2. The system of claim 1, wherein the media data in the means for generating and editing is at least one of a picture, a sound track, and a video clip.
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3. The system of claim 1, wherein the binary data in the means for generating and editing is at least one of a computer program, an address, and a macro.
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4. An integrated data processing system comprising an application program for user interaction with stored data, comprising:
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(a) means for generating and editing data files, each data file comprising an array of data objects, each of the data objects having an object address associated therewith, and object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text, each object address being unique with respect to object addresses addressable by the system;
(b) the means for editing comprising;
(i) means for selecting a source subset of the data objects having respective source object addresses;
(ii) means for copying the source subset as target data objects to different object addresses of one or more of the data files;
(iii) means for selectively linking the target data objects to the corresponding source object addresses thereof, (iv) means for modifying values and/or addresses of the source subset as reflective of further editing of data files; and
(v) means for maintaining the linkages between the target data objects and the source object addresses following modification of the source object addresses; and
(c) means for refreshing the target data objects in response to and to reflect changes in the values and/or addresses of the source subset of the data objects, whereby the target data objects are automatically updated in accordance with the further editing of data files.
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5. The system of claim 4, wherein the media data in the means for generating and editing is at least one of a picture, a sound track, and a video clip.
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6. The system of claim 4, wherein the binary data in the means for generating and editing is at least one of a computer program, an address, and a macro.
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7. The system of claim 4, wherein the automatic updating is periodically on a time basis.
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8. The system of claim 4, wherein the automatic updating is in response to a predetermined number of changes in values and/or addresses of source data objects.
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9. The system of claim 4, wherein the automatic updating is in response to one or more predetermined types of changes in values and/or addresses of source data objects.
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10. The system of claim 4, wherein the automatic updating is on demand by a user.
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11. An integrated data processing system comprising first and second computers connected through a communication network, a first data file saved in association with the first computer and a second data file saved in association with the second computer, each data file comprising an array of data objects, each of the data objects having an object address associated therewith, and object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text, each object address being unique with respect to object addresses addressable by the system, the system further comprising means for automatically updating the second file to reflect changes in the first data file, comprising one or more target data objects in the second data file, the one or more target data objects addressing a corresponding one or more source data objects in the first data file.
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12. The system of claim 11, wherein the media data in the means for generating and editing is at least one of a picture, a sound track, and a video clip.
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13. The system of claim 11, wherein the binary data in the means for generating and editing is at least one of a computer program, an address, and a macro.
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14. The system of claim 11, wherein the automatic updating is periodically on a time basis.
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15. The system of claim 11, wherein the automatic updating is in response to a predetermined number of changes in values and/or addresses of the one or more source data objects.
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16. The system of claim 11, wherein the automatic updating is in response to one or more predetermined types of changes in values and/or addresses of the one or more source data objects.
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17. The system of claim 11, wherein the automatic updating is on demand by a user.
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18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first computer has operational thereon a server application program for effecting the changes in the first data file and the second computer has a client application operational thereon for accessing the second data file.
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19. An integrated data processing system comprising an application program for user interaction with stored data, comprising:
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(a) means for accessing a database table having elements being fields of respective records of the database table;
(b) means for generating a data file comprising data objects, wherein at least some of the data objects form a two-dimensional array and correspond to selected elements of the database table, one of either rows or columns of the array corresponding to respective records of the database table, the other of the either rows or columns corresponding to respective fields of the database table;
(c) means for editing selected data objects of the array;
(d) means for indicating particular data objects in the array as being unedited counterparts of the database elements; and
(e) means for indicating particular data objects in the array as changed from being unedited counterparts of the database elements.
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20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:
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means for selecting a subset of the array as being prospectively deleted; and
means for indicating the subset of the data objects being prospectively deleted.
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21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:
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(a) means for linking the selected elements of the database table to the corresponding data objects of the array; and
(b) means for updating the selected elements of the database in correspondence to the changed ones of the particular data objects of the array.
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22. The system of claim 19, further comprising:
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(a) means for inserting a set of data objects into the array of the array;
(b) means for indicating the inserted data objects; and
(c) means for inserting elements into the database table in the correspondence with the inserted data objects of the array.
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23. The system of claim 19, further comprising:
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(a) means for detecting changes to the database table; and
(b) means for updating the array to reflect the changes in the database table.
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24. An integrated data processing system comprising an application program for user interaction with stored data, comprising:
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(a) means for accessing a web page;
(b) means for generating a data file comprising data objects, and object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text, wherein at least a subset of the data objects correspond to selected elements of the web page;
(c) means for detecting changes to the web page; and
(d) means for updating the subset to reflect the changes in the web page.
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25. A method for data processing using an application program, comprising:
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(a) steps for providing a data file comprising an array of data objects, and object content being any of a number, a formula, a date, a text, media data, and binary data other than a number, a formula, a date, and a text, wherein each data object includes a unique object address;
(b) selecting a source subset of the data objects of the data file, the object addresses thereof being source object addresses;
(c) copying the source subset as target data objects to different object addresses;
(d) selectively linking the target data objects to the corresponding source object addresses thereof;
(e) modifying values and/or addresses of the source subset as reflective of editing of the data file;
(f) maintaining the linkages between the target data objects and the source object addresses following modification of the source object addresses; and
(g) refreshing the target data objects in response to and to reflect changes in the values and/or addresses of the source subset of the data objects, whereby the target data objects are automatically updated in accordance with the editing of data files.
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26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data file is a first data file, the method further comprising providing a second data file, and wherein the source subset is of both the first data file and the second data file and the target data objects are of both the first data file and the second data file.
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27. The system of claim 1, wherein the user can establish the linkages between the source data objects and the target data addresses in a single operation after the source data objects and the target data addresses have been identified to the system.
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28. The system of claim 4, wherein the user can establish the linkages between the source data objects and the target data addresses in a single operation afer the source data objects and the target data addresses have been identified to the system
Specification