Grid Server Cache for Spreadsheet Data Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing approaches to generating reports in spreadsheet applications using individual data requests for each cell lead to slow processing, excessive resource usage, and limited scalability, especially for large reports and multiple users, due to inefficient data handling and processing.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that caches calculations and only imports data changes, using a relational database with a cache and an import manager to store historical values, allowing for efficient data processing and synchronization, and offloading processing from client devices to a grid server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If individual data requests are used for each grid cell, then data can be retrieved and displayed in cells, but report generation becomes extremely slow and resource consumption increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data processing architecture into multiple components: client devices that generate data requests, a cache layer that stores previously calculated results, and a server that processes new requests. This segmentation allows the system to handle individual cell requests efficiently by serving cached results when available, rather than recalculating every request.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by caching calculation results from previous data requests. When the same or similar requests are made, the cached results are returned without reprocessing, effectively performing the calculation work in advance and avoiding redundant computations.
2Reliability
If individual data requests are processed for each cell, then complete reports can be generated, but the underlying computer systems become encumbered by excessive processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates copies of calculation results and stores them in a cache. Instead of repeatedly performing the same expensive calculations, the system copies and returns cached results for identical or similar data requests, dramatically reducing the processing load on the underlying computer systems while maintaining complete and accurate reports.
3Ease of operation
If data is imported into a proprietary database, then the spreadsheet application can access the data, but data access delays increase and resource drain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cache as an intermediary layer between the data sources and the spreadsheet application. This cache stores previously imported data and serves it quickly to the application, eliminating the need for repeated data imports and reducing both access delays and resource consumption.
4Quantity of substance
If thousands of notations are processed for a large report, then comprehensive data can be presented, but the user's computer session becomes unusable during long calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically serving cached results for repeated data requests without requiring the user to wait for recalculation. The cache autonomously handles the retrieval of previously computed data, allowing the user session to remain responsive and usable even when dealing with large reports containing thousands of data points.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided to improve the efficiency and productivity of using a remote server to display data in a grid. In one embodiment, a method for managing data in a grid displayed on a client device comprises, responsive to receiving a data request from the client device, returning to a cell or cells in the grid a cached calculation result corresponding to the data request if the data request is stored in a cache, and otherwise processing a calculation corresponding to the data request. In this way, a relational database may efficiently handle numerous data requests that would normally be handled by an online analytic processing server.