Populating values in a spreadsheet using semantic cues

• US 10,621,281 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2018
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Vagell, Vance Julius, O'Banion, Colleen
• Primary Examiner(s): Baderman, Scott T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Velez-Lopez, Mario M
• Application Number:
  US15/939,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20180217972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/177 of tables; using ruled lines
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

A method includes obtaining a table having a first descriptor that is applicable to each cell from a plurality of cells, and a plurality of second descriptors each applicable to a respective cell from the plurality of cells, executing a search function using at least the first descriptor as an input, wherein the search function identifies at least a first data set that is potentially relevant to the plurality of cells, displaying a first candidate data value for a first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein the candidate value is based on the first data set and the respective second descriptor for the first cell, and in response to selection of the first candidate data value, populating the plurality of cells with information from the first data set.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

obtaining a table having a first descriptor that is applicable to each cell from a plurality of cells, and a plurality of second descriptors each applicable to a respective cell from the plurality of cells;

executing a search function using at least the first descriptor as an input, wherein the search function identifies at least a first data set that is potentially relevant to the plurality of cells;

displaying a first candidate data value for a first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein the first candidate data value is based on the first data set and the respective second descriptor for the first cell; and

in response to selection of the first candidate data value, populating the plurality of cells with information from the first data set.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a cell selection that identifies the first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein displaying the first candidate data value is performed in response to receiving the cell selection input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first candidate data value is displayed in an interface portion that includes information regarding the first data set.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the table includes intersecting rows and columns, and each cell from the plurality of cells is located in a first column.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first descriptor is a value of header cell for the plurality of cells and the header cell is located in the first column.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein each second descriptor from the plurality of second descriptors is located in a second column.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a second candidate data value for the first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein the second candidate data value is based on a second data set identified by the search function and the respective second descriptor for the first cell; and

in response to a data selection that identifies the second candidate data value, populating the plurality of cells with information from the second data set.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device including program instructions executable by one or more processors that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:

obtaining a table having a first descriptor that is applicable to each cell from a plurality of cells, and a plurality of second descriptors each applicable to a respective cell from the plurality of cells;

executing a search function using at least the first descriptor as an input, wherein the search function identifies at least a first data set that is potentially relevant to the plurality of cells;

displaying a first candidate data value for a first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein the first candidate data value is based on the first data set and the respective second descriptor for the first cell; and

in response to selection of the first candidate data value, populating the plurality of cells with information from the first data set.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a cell selection that identifies the first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein displaying the first candidate data value is performed in response to receiving the cell selection input.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the first candidate data value is displayed in an interface portion that includes information regarding the first data set.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the table includes intersecting rows and columns, and each cell from the plurality of cells is located in a first column.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 11, wherein the first descriptor is a value of header cell for the plurality of cells and the header cell is located in the first column.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein each second descriptor from the plurality of second descriptors is located in a second column.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:

displaying a second candidate data value for the first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein the second candidate data value is based on a second data set identified by the search function and the respective second descriptor for the first cell; and

in response to a data selection that identifies the second candidate data value, populating the plurality of cells with information from the second data set.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices for storing instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

obtain a table having a first descriptor that is applicable to each cell from a plurality of cells, and a plurality of second descriptors each applicable to a respective cell from the plurality of cells;

execute a search function using at least the first descriptor as an input, wherein the search function identifies at least a first data set that is potentially relevant to the plurality of cells;

display a first candidate data value for a first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein the first candidate data value is based on the first data set and the respective second descriptor for the first cell; and

in response to selection of the first candidate data value, populate the plurality of cells with information from the first data set.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive a cell selection that identifies the first cell from the plurality of cells, wherein displaying the first candidate data value is performed in response to receiving the cell selection input.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first candidate data value is displayed in an interface portion that includes information regarding the first data set.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the table includes intersecting rows and columns, and each cell from the plurality of cells is located in a first column.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first descriptor is a value of header cell for the plurality of cells and the header cell is located in the first column.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each second descriptor from the plurality of second descriptors is located in a second column.