SYSTEM FOR THE INTERACTION AMONG SPREADSHEETS OVER NETWORKS

• US 20140157098A1
• Filed: 12/02/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: M3S SRL
• Original Assignee: M3S SRL
• Inventors: Maresca, Massimo
• Application Number:
  US14/094,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20140157098A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services

Abstract

By means of this system, the interaction among spreadsheets is completely integrated within the Spreadsheet Management System whereas it does not require the usage of other tools supporting the communication over a network such as web browsers, mailers, and file transfer clients. The interaction is implemented by the Enabling Platform, integrated within the Spreadsheet Management System, and by the Service Platform, located on a computing system that can be reached over the Internet or on a different private network making the Service Platform'"'"'s intervention not visible to users.

Claims

1. System for the interaction among spreadsheets (1) connected to a network (R) and belonging to a plurality of users (A-F) which a Spreadsheet Management System (1). The system is characterized by the following:

an Enabling Platform (2), integrated in the Spreadsheet Management System (1) used by the users (A-F), and

a Service Platform (3), installed on a server (S1, S2, S3) connected to a network (R). The service platform interacts with the users (A-F) Enabling Platforms (2);

The Enabling Platforms (2) and the Service Platforms (3) interact and operate in such a way that the interactions among the spreadsheets (1) are activated and controlled by the users only through the Enabling Platform and not using other systems, such as a mailer, a browser or a file transfer system.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact the Enabling Platform (2) comprises the following subsystems:

a subsystem for the activation of data interchange functions, integrated in the spreadsheet application graphical interface;

a subsystem that interacts with the Spreadsheet Management System by means of the mechanisms provided by the Spreadsheet Management System;

a subsystem that interacts with the Service Platform (3) on the network (R) by means of standard communication protocols and services.

3. System according to claim 1, characterized by the fact the Service Platform (3) comprises the following subsystems:

a subsystem that interacts with the Enabling Platforms (2) by means of standard communication protocols and services;

a subsystem that supports data persistency, based on a Data Base Management System that is updated in real time by users through their Enabling Platforms (2);

a console for the management of functionalities and users.

4. System, according to claim 1, that allows to send/receive cells and/or tables from the spreadsheet of a user (A) to the spreadsheet of another user (B) or more than one user (B, C, D, . . . ) by means of a service integrated in the Enabling Platforms (2) of the users.

5. System, according to claim 1, that allows a user (A) to enable the access to cells, tables or sheets of a spreadsheet to other users (B, C, D, . . . ), without the need for these latter (B, C, D, . . . ) users to belong to the same administrative domain as user A and without the need for the spreadsheet files to belong the same file management system or network file system.

6. System, according to claim 1, that allows a user (A) to create a unidirectional link that originates in a cell, a table, or a sheet of a spreadsheet, to a cell, table or sheet of another spreadsheet, such as every modification in the cell, in a cell of the table, or in a cell of the sheet induces the same modification in the value of the corresponding cell, the corresponding cell of the table, or the corresponding cell of the sheet to which the link is directed. The modification can be propagated directly or after an explicit user command.

7. System, according to claim 1, that allows a user (A) to make available to more than on user (B, C, . . . ) tables created by him/her and partially filled (i.e., including empty cells and non-empty cells, with non-empty cells containing either values or formulas). Recipient users (B, C, . . . ) can receive the partially filled tables, fill the empty cells and grant the access to the resulting table to user (A). Such a functionality supports the distribution/filling of forms in spreadsheet applications.

8. System, according to claim 1, that allows a user (A) to create a link originating from a row in a table to which the same user (A) was granted the access to a target row in a spreadsheet, such that every modification of a cell of such a row induces the same modification on the target row. The originating row is characterized by having a value defined by A in a specific column.

9. System, according to claim 1, that allows a spreadsheet user (A) to make calculation models implemented by means of spreadsheet available to other spreadsheet users (B, C, . . . ) in such a way to:

allow users (B, C, . . . ) to use the calculation models contained and executed in the spreadsheet of user (A) by means of the Spreadsheet Management System, by configuring the model parameters and linking the results of the calculation to spreadsheet cells/tables in a local file, and

allow the users who have created the model not to disclose the model internal structure.