Method and apparatus for entering and manipulating spreadsheet cell data
First Claim
1. A method for entering and manipulating data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:
- displaying a spreadsheet comprising said cell on a display;
entering a graphic element on said spreadsheet with an input device and a position indicator;
sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points;
generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change of position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled;
identifying positions of said descriptors;
automatically determining that said graphic element is associated with said cell based upon at least one of said positions of said descriptors; and
storing said descriptors of said graphic element in memory as data for said cell.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for entering and manipulating spreadsheet cell data is described. The present invention provides a method for determining the target cell for written information and for scaling the information to fit within the boundaries of the target cell. A multi-tiered character recognition scheme is used to improve the accuracy and speed of character recognition and translation of handwritten data. The original handwritten data is preserved so that either the translated data or original data may be displayed. The present invention also provides for improved editing of cell entries by allowing a plurality of editing tools to be selected. Manipulation of blocks of data can be accomplished with simple gestures. Arithmetic, statistical and logical functions can be invoked with a single command.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method for entering and manipulating data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:
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displaying a spreadsheet comprising said cell on a display; entering a graphic element on said spreadsheet with an input device and a position indicator; sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points; generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change of position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled; identifying positions of said descriptors; automatically determining that said graphic element is associated with said cell based upon at least one of said positions of said descriptors; and storing said descriptors of said graphic element in memory as data for said cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for treating a handwritten graphic element as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:
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sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points; creating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change of position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled; automatically identifying a cell from said spreadsheet as a target cell for said graphic element; and storing said descriptors for said graphic element in memory as data from said spreadsheet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for scaling a handwritten graphic element as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:
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sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points; creating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled; determining a first dimension of said graphic element; determining a first dimension of a display area of said cell; determining a first scale factor for scaling said descriptors of said graphic element; and creating a scaled copy of said graphic element using said first scale factor, said scaled copy having a first dimension equal to or less than said first dimension of said display area of said cell. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. With respect to a spreadsheet displayed on a display screen, a method for determining a target cell to which a handwritten graphic element, also displayed on said display screen, is directed, comprising the steps of:
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identifying a display reference point for said graphic element; determining a cell of said spreadsheet within which said display reference point is located; and designating said cell of said spreadsheet within which said display reference point is located as said target cell for said graphic element. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for processing and storing a handwritten graphic element generated on a display at a first level of magnification as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:
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sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points; generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled; determining a first reference measurement for said first magnification level; converting said descriptors to relative descriptors comprising relative units of measure based on said first reference measurement; and storing said relative descriptors as data representing said graphic element for said spreadsheet cell. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. A method for processing and storing a handwritten graphic element generated on a display at a first level of magnification as data for a spreadsheet cell comprising the steps of:
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sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points; generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled; determining a magnification level identifier for said first level of magnification; and storing said descriptors and said magnification level identifier as data representing said graphic element for said cell. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for displaying a handwritten graphic element generated on a display at a first level of magnification as data for a spreadsheet cell at a second level of magnification, comprising the steps of:
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sampling said graphic element at a plurality of points; generating descriptors for describing said graphic element in terms of relative change in position for each of said plurality of points at which said graphic element is sampled; determining a display factor representing a ratio of said second level of magnification to said first level of magnification; generating scaled descriptors by scaling said descriptors by said display factor; and displaying a scaled graphic element described by said scaled descriptors on said display at said second level of magnification. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65)
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Specification