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.
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 27)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 28)
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8. (canceled)
- 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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15. (canceled)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification