Data processing apparatus and method for a reformattable multidimensional spreadsheet
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a digital processor, input means coupled to the digital processor and a display unit for displaying a multidimensional spreadsheet from the digital processor, data processing apparatus comprising:
- a working screen view displayable on the display unit by the digital processor and having a) at least one dimension, each dimension being formed of a respective set of user defined category items that define a user desired category, and b) for each dimension, a corresponding icon for identifying the dimension, depending on screen view position of the corresponding icon each dimension of the working screen view is displayed on an axis selected from a horizontal axis, a vertical axis and an orthogonal axis in the screen view, a user through the input means effecting positioning of the corresponding icon in the screen view, there being a change in axis along which a dimension is displayed with a change in screen view position of the corresponding icon; and
computer means responsive to a user through the input means positioning each icon in the screen view and for displaying in the same screen view on the display unit a dimension along an axis based on position of the corresponding icon in the screen view.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Spreadsheet apparatus enables reformatting and renaming of items forming the spreadsheet. A series of items forms a dimension along an axis of the spreadsheet. A label icon or labelling entity is user nameable to describe the series of items of an axis. Repositioning of the label icons repositions respective series of items and thus redefines/rearranges the axes of the spreadsheet. Sub-axes to an axis are similarly formed by series of items associated with a respective label icon. Order of label icons in predefined areas of a working screen view determine hierarchy of main axis and sub-axes for the label icons. There is a different predefined area for the possible vertical axes, possible horizontal axes, and the possible orthogonal axes of the spreadsheet. A cell module holds spreadsheet data in a matrix of memory cells. A symbol table translates between current specified names of items in the spreadsheet and indexes to cells of the cell module. Thus, a user is able to rearrange and/or relabel icons in the spreadsheet screen view to reformat the spreadsheet, and the supporting computer members provide display of the spreadsheet rearranged according to position of the icons without losing data of the items as held in respective intersections of the spreadsheet.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a digital processor, input means coupled to the digital processor and a display unit for displaying a multidimensional spreadsheet from the digital processor, data processing apparatus comprising:
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a working screen view displayable on the display unit by the digital processor and having a) at least one dimension, each dimension being formed of a respective set of user defined category items that define a user desired category, and b) for each dimension, a corresponding icon for identifying the dimension, depending on screen view position of the corresponding icon each dimension of the working screen view is displayed on an axis selected from a horizontal axis, a vertical axis and an orthogonal axis in the screen view, a user through the input means effecting positioning of the corresponding icon in the screen view, there being a change in axis along which a dimension is displayed with a change in screen view position of the corresponding icon; and computer means responsive to a user through the input means positioning each icon in the screen view and for displaying in the same screen view on the display unit a dimension along an axis based on position of the corresponding icon in the screen view. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. In a computer system having a digital processor, input means coupled to the digital processor and a display unit for displaying a multidimensional spreadsheet from the digital processor, data processing apparatus comprising:
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a working screen view displayed on the display unit and having multiple axes and a plurality of regions, each region defining a reference position from which location in the screen view is determined, there being a different reference position for each axis of the screen view such that each reference position corresponds to one axis; a plurality of user defined indicators in the working screen view, each indicator being displayed in the working screen view and providing an indication of a series of items of a desired category, position of the indicators in the working screen view being changed by a user through the input means such that the indicators are user repositionable in the working screen view; and computer means responsive to positioning of the indicators in the working screen view with respect to the reference positions in the working screen view such that, in response to a user positioning an indicator in one of the reference positions in the working screen view, the computer means displays in the same working screen view the series of items indicated by the indicator along the axis corresponding to the reference position, different items in the series defining different positions on the axis, the series of items being displayed along a different axis in response to user changing position of the corresponding indicator to another of the reference positions. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. In a computer system, a method of displaying a multidimensional spreadsheet comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of user defined indicators in a working screen view, each indicator for indicating a series of category items displayable along an axis in the working screen view, axis along which a series of category items is displayed depending on position of the indicator in the working screen view, the series of items being displayed along a different axis in response to change of position of the corresponding indicator in the working screen view, and each item having a name which is user changeable; storing in memory user desired information for items of different indicators in the working screen view, information of each item being stored in the memory according to memory index; and in response to user positioning of indicators in the working screen view; (a) cross-referencing names of items displayed in the working screen view to respective memory index for accessing from memory corresponding information of said items; (b) accessing from memory, information for items of indicators in the working screen view; and (c) displaying in the same working screen view (i) a series of items along respective axes according to position of indicators in the working screen view, and (ii) information corresponding to the items in areas extending from respective axes according to position of items along respective axes. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification