Block Data Worksheets for Overlapping Spreadsheet Ranges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spreadsheets are inadequate for handling complex data scenarios, particularly when data ranges overlap, as they struggle to efficiently manage and visualize overlapping data, requiring extensive code changes and resource-intensive computations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of block-data worksheets (BDWs) that utilize object-oriented data representation, integer linear algebra, and a calculation/visualization/data (CVD) format to organize and visualize data, allowing for automatic adjustment to data structure and size changes, shared views, and intuitive user interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional spreadsheets are used to handle overlapping data ranges, then basic data organization is possible, but the system becomes resource-intensive and computationally inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into discrete blocks with defined ranges, allowing efficient identification and processing of overlapping regions. Each data block is independently managed with metadata specifying its range, enabling selective computation only where overlaps occur rather than processing entire datasets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure layer between raw data and visualization that pre-processes and indexes data blocks. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of overlapping ranges through structured metadata, reducing the computational burden on the rendering system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional spreadsheets attempt to manage complex overlapping data scenarios, then data organization is attempted, but extensive code changes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic data block structures that automatically adapt to overlapping scenarios. The system dynamically identifies overlap regions and adjusts processing accordingly, eliminating the need for static code changes to handle different data complexity levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of data representation by introducing range metadata and block structures. This parameter change enables the system to handle complex overlapping data through structural modifications rather than computational algorithm changes.
3Quantity of substance
If traditional spreadsheets process large amounts of data for visualization, then data can be displayed, but the processing time and computational resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary organization of data into blocks with defined ranges and metadata before visualization processing. This pre-processing step indexes data spatially and logically, enabling rapid retrieval and processing during visualization without reprocessing entire datasets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary data blocks required for the current view and visualization requirements, rather than processing all available data. This selective extraction based on range metadata significantly reduces processing time while maintaining data completeness for the displayed view.
Data Source
AI summary
A display structure that includes data items mapped based on relationships among the data items is visually presented on a user interface. The displayed data includes blocks of data received over a block data interface. The display structure may include a first portion indicative of availability of multiple 2-dimensional views of the data items and a second portion for the user to select one of the multiple 2-dimensional views to become an active view that is viewable by the user.