Compound Data Objects for Spreadsheet Enrichment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Spreadsheet applications become cumbersome and complex due to the need to store multiple related values across numerous cells, making data organization and comprehension difficult, especially when importing data from external sources.
Innovation Solution
Implementing compound objects that store multiple values in a single cell, allowing for structured organization and enrichment of data through integration with third-party services and databases, using field selection interfaces to import and manage data efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple related values are stored in adjacent or nearby cells, then data can be organized in a traditional spreadsheet format, but the spreadsheet becomes extensive and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple related values into a single cell by implementing compound data types. Instead of storing related values across multiple adjacent cells, the system allows a single cell to contain a compound object that encapsulates multiple values and their relationships, thereby reducing spreadsheet complexity while maintaining data organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested data structures where compound objects can contain other compound objects or simple values. This nesting approach allows hierarchical organization of related data within a single cell, enabling complex data relationships to be represented without expanding the spreadsheet structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If imported data is stored in multiple cells across several rows or columns, then data can be imported from external sources, but the data must be manually moved, formatted, or deleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic data enrichment functionality that detects values in cells and automatically imports related information from external data sources. When a user enters a value, the system automatically determines whether the value is related to information provided by a service, selects the appropriate service, displays field selection options, and enriches the compound object with additional data without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting and enriching data before the user needs to use it. The system proactively identifies values that can be enriched, retrieves related information from external sources, and prepares the compound object with complete data sets, eliminating the need for subsequent manual data processing.
3Device complexity
If a single cell stores only a single value, then data storage is simple, but related data must be分散 across multiple cells making comprehension difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite data structures by combining multiple values and their relationships into a single compound object type. This composite approach allows a cell to contain not just simple values but structured compounds that preserve relationships between data elements, maintaining both storage simplicity and information integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to enriching a compound object with data provided by a third party service, database, or local database. In some embodiments, this is performed by receiving an entry of a value in a cell of a spreadsheet; determining whether the value is related to information provided by a service; based on a determination that the value is related to information provided by the service, selecting the service; displaying a field selection user interface; receiving a selection of one or more fields from the field selection user interface; receiving one or more values associated with the selected one or more fields; and enriching a compound object based on the selected one or more fields and associated one or more values.