Private sheets in shared spreadsheets

• US 20080229184A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Prish, Shahar, Megiddo, Eran
• Application Number:
  US11/724,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20080229184A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

Private sheets are disclosed, in shared computer applications, such as spreadsheets. In one aspect, a public sheet is accessible to a first client and a second client; and, moreover, a private sheet is accessible only to the second client. The private sheet is configured to access content in the public sheet, but the public sheet can'"'"'t access content in the private sheet. In this way, users can use private sheets to perform calculations or modeling on the side, while collaborating on public sheets with other users. In another aspect, changes made to the public sheet can be reflected in the private sheet, if such changes are referenced by the private sheet to content in the public sheet. However, changes made to the private sheet are not reflected in the public sheet. Numerous other specific aspects are also disclosed, such as private sheets accessing values but not formulas from public sheets.

Claims

1. A system for providing private areas in shared computer applications, comprising:

a public sheet, wherein said public sheet is accessible to a first client and a second client; and

a private sheet, wherein said private sheet is accessible only to said second client of said first client and said second client, and wherein said private sheet is configured to access content in said public sheet but said public sheet is prevented from accessing content in said private sheet.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein changes made to said public sheet are reflected in said private sheet if such changes are referenced by said private sheet to content in said public sheet.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein changes made to said private sheet are not reflected in said public sheet.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said public sheet resides on a server configured to serve said first client and said second client.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said private sheet resides on said second client.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said first client and said second client are part of a peer-to-peer network.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said private sheet is invisible to said first client, in addition to being inaccessible to said first client.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said public sheet and said private sheet are part of the same spreadsheet application.

9. A method for providing private areas in shared computer applications, comprising:

maintaining a public sheet on a server, wherein said public sheet is accessible to a first client and a second client; and

maintaining a private sheet on said second client, wherein said private sheet is accessible only to said second client of said first client and said second client, and wherein said private sheet is configured to access content in said public sheet but said public sheet is prevented from accessing content in said private sheet.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising updating changes made to said public sheet in said private sheet if such changes are referenced by said private sheet to content in said public sheet.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising preventing the updating of any changes made to said private sheet in said public sheet.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising preventing said private sheet from being visible to said first client.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising hosting said public sheet and said private sheet as part of at least one spreadsheet application.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising configuring said private sheet to access values but not formulas from said public sheet.

15. A computer readable medium bearing computer executable instructions tangibly resident on a computing system, wherein said instructions provide private areas in shared computer applications, comprising:

a first instruction that maintains a public sheet on a server, wherein said public sheet is accessible to a first client and a second client; and

a second instruction that maintains a private sheet on said second client, wherein said private sheet is accessible only to said second client of said first client and said second client, and wherein said private sheet is configured to access content in said public sheet but said public sheet is prevented from accessing content in said private sheet.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising a third instruction that updates changes made to said public sheet in said private sheet if such changes are referenced by said private sheet to content in said public sheet.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising a fourth instruction that prevents the updating of any changes made to said private sheet in said public sheet.

18. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising a fifth instruction that prevents said private sheet from being visible to said first client.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising a sixth instruction that allows for hosting said public sheet and said private sheet as part of at least one spreadsheet application.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising a seventh instruction that configures said private sheet to access values but not formulas from said public sheet.