Method and system for facilitating information exchange
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating information exchanges, the system comprising:
- a client computer that includes a spreadsheet-based application program and a browser program and that communicates with a server across a network, wherein the spreadsheet-based application program is programmed to;
render at least one spreadsheet having a plurality of data cells;
query the server to determine whether a collaborative group that includes a plurality of users is defined within the server;
when the collaborative group is defined within the server, provide each of the plurality of users of the collaborative group with access to the at least one spreadsheet; and
allow each of the plurality of users to link the at least one spreadsheet with at least one supporting document that is stored in the server and that is operatively associated with the at least one spreadsheet;
wherein the browser program is programmed to allow each of the plurality of users to view the at least one supporting document from a screen view of the spreadsheet; and
wherein data to be used in rendering a first spreadsheet by the spreadsheet-based application program is determined by a first set of user selections on a toolbar displayed on a screen associated with the client computer, the first set of user selections defining a current view, and wherein a second spreadsheet rendering by the spreadsheet-based application program is determined by user changes to the first set of user selections on the toolbar, wherein any unchanged user selections from the first set of user selections are automatically incorporated into a second current view determined by the user changes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for facilitating information exchange between individuals and entities interacting on a shared project are provided, and more particularly to a method and system for horizontal. i.e. non-hierarchical, participation in and/or contribution to a spreadsheet-based project. The method and system is Web-based and utilizes conventional browser and spreadsheet technology to achieve collaborative exchanges of information on an enterprise-wide basis. The method and system also facilitate efficacious remote information access and exchange, e.g., over a computer network such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, through a caching function that combines individual queries initiated by a spreadsheet program before transmitting across a network to a server for consideration.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating information exchanges, the system comprising:
a client computer that includes a spreadsheet-based application program and a browser program and that communicates with a server across a network, wherein the spreadsheet-based application program is programmed to; render at least one spreadsheet having a plurality of data cells; query the server to determine whether a collaborative group that includes a plurality of users is defined within the server; when the collaborative group is defined within the server, provide each of the plurality of users of the collaborative group with access to the at least one spreadsheet; and allow each of the plurality of users to link the at least one spreadsheet with at least one supporting document that is stored in the server and that is operatively associated with the at least one spreadsheet; wherein the browser program is programmed to allow each of the plurality of users to view the at least one supporting document from a screen view of the spreadsheet; and wherein data to be used in rendering a first spreadsheet by the spreadsheet-based application program is determined by a first set of user selections on a toolbar displayed on a screen associated with the client computer, the first set of user selections defining a current view, and wherein a second spreadsheet rendering by the spreadsheet-based application program is determined by user changes to the first set of user selections on the toolbar, wherein any unchanged user selections from the first set of user selections are automatically incorporated into a second current view determined by the user changes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for facilitating information exchanges across a network, the method comprising:
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providing a spreadsheet-based application program and a browser program at a client computer, wherein the client computer is in communication with a server across a network; rendering a spreadsheet having a plurality of data cells using the spreadsheet-based application program; querying the server to determine whether a collaborative group that includes a plurality of users is defined within the server; when the collaborative group is defined within the server, providing each of the plurality of users of the collaborative group with access to the spreadsheet; and allowing each of the plurality of users to link the spreadsheet with at least one supporting document that is stored in the server and that is operatively associated with the spreadsheet; wherein data to be used in rendering a first spreadsheet by the spreadsheet-based application program is determined by a first set of user selections on a toolbar displayed on a screen associated with the client computer, the first set of user selections defining a current view, and wherein a second spreadsheet rendering by the spreadsheet-based application program is determined by user changes to the first set of user selections on the toolbar, wherein any unchanged user selections from the first set of user selections are automatically incorporated into a second current view determined by the user changes. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification