Embedded ad hoc browser web to spreadsheet conversion control

• US 20060156221A1
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Walker, Keith Raymond, Handy-Bosma, John Hans, Chen, Yen-Fu
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/209
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/154 Tree transformation for tree-structured or markup documents, e.g. XSLT, XSL-FO or stylesheets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

A table converter is disclosed that enables a user to convert any table, or portion of a table, displayed on a web page to a spreadsheet control embedded in the webpage. The table converter is a web browser plug-in or feature comprising a table analysis program (TAP); a table conversion program (TCP), a spreadsheet configuration program (SCP), a spreadsheet modificaton program (SMP), a configurable table engine (CTE), and a configurable table template (CTT). The CTE contains a rules database. The TAP interrogates the highlighted hypertext markup language (HTML) table structure <table>, <tr>, <th> and <td> tags, and text for delimiters. The TCP maps the table headings and data to a configurable table engine (CTE). The CTE inserts the headings and data into a configurable table template (CTT), and displays the CTT on the web page at a user configurable location. The SCP enables a user to automate the process, to add or subtract columns or rows from the table, and to add calculation functions. Automation options include both locating and converting a table displayed on a web page.

Claims

1. A computer implemented process for converting a table in a web page to a spreadsheet control embedded in the web page comprising:

receiving the web page at a computer connected to the Internet;

highlighting the table;

interrogating a hypertext markup language table structure for tags and a text for delimeters;

mapping a plurality of table headings and a plurality of data to a configurable table engine;

using the configurable table engine, inserting the plurality of table headings and the plurality of data into a configurable table template; and

displaying the configurable table template on the web page at a user configurable location.

2. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

automating the step of highlighting the table so that a computer selects a table for conversion according to a set of configurable rules.

3. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

automating the steps of locating and converting the table displayed on the web page.

4. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

using a drop down menu, selecting an option to convert a table.

5. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

using a drop down menu, selecting an option to modify a table template.

6. The computer implemented process of claim 1 further comprising:

using a drop down menu, selecting an option to configure a table template.

7. An apparatus for converting a table in a web page to a spreadsheet control embedded in the web page comprising:

a web server connected to the Internet;

a computer connected to the Internet;

a program in the memory of the computer having instructions to cause the computer to;

receive the web page at a computer connected to the Internet;

highlight the table;

interrogate a hypertext markup language table structure for tags and a text for delimeters;

map a plurality of table headings and a plurality of data to a configurable table engine;

using the configurable table engine, insert the plurality of table headings and the plurality of data into a configurable table template; and

display the configurable table template on the web page at a user configurable location.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the program further comprises instructions to cause the computer to convert the highlighted table according to a set of configurable rules.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the program further comprises instructions to cause the computer to locate and convert the table displayed on the web page.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a rules database.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the configurable table template may be modified in accordance with a spreadsheet configuration program.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising an option to automate location and conversion of a table displayed on a web page.

13. A computer program product containing instructions for a computer to convert a table in a web page to a spreadsheet control embedded in the web page comprising:

responsive to a user highlighting the table in the web page, instructions for interrogating the highlighted hypertext markup language table structure for tags and the text for delimeters;

responsive to a user activating a conversion control, mapping a plurality of table headings and a plurality of data to a configurable table engine;

using the configurable table engine, inserting the plurality of table headings and the plurality of data into a configurable table template; and

displaying the configurable table template on the web page at a user configurable location.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions for:

highlighting the table so that a computer selects a table for conversion according to a set of configurable rules.

15. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions for:

locating and converting the table displayed on the web page.

16. The computer program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions for:

displaying a drop down menu, and responsive to a user highlighting a table and selecting a convert option, converting a table.

17. The program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions for:

displaying a drop down menu, and responsive to a user selecting an option to modify a table template, presenting a table template for modification by the user.

18. The program product of claim 13 further comprising instructions for:

displaying a drop down menu, and responsive to a user selecting an option to configure a table template, presenting a table template for modification by the user.