Heuristic Chart Generation From Document Tables Without App Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing process of adding charts to electronic documents is time-consuming and cumbersome, requiring authors to switch between word processing and spreadsheet applications, with the data used to create charts not being accessible within the word processing application.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows for automatic creation of charts within electronic documents by accessing tabular data and using a heuristic model to select and generate chart types without user input, enabling charts to be added directly to the document without leaving the document generation application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If charts are generated using a separate spreadsheet application and then imported into the word processing application, then the chart generation functionality is available, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires switching between applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the chart generation functionality directly into the word processing application by integrating a chart engine that can access tabular data within the document and generate charts without requiring a separate spreadsheet application. This merging eliminates the need to switch between applications and reduces the time required to create charts.
Solution Approach 2:
The word processing application is enhanced to perform multiple functions including both document creation and chart generation. The application provides a unified interface that allows users to generate, modify, and update charts directly within the document context, making the application versatile enough to handle both text processing and data visualization tasks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If charts are generated in a separate spreadsheet application, then chart types and data presentation options are available, but the data used to create the chart is not accessible by the word processing application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component within the word processing application that acts as a bridge between the tabular data stored in the document and the chart generation engine. This intermediary allows the application to access and utilize the same tabular data that is already part of the document, enabling chart generation without losing data accessibility or requiring external spreadsheet files.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications are used for document creation and chart generation, then specialized functionality is available in each application, but computing, network, and memory resources are consumed by multiple applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the chart generation engine into the word processing application, eliminating the need to run separate spreadsheet and word processing applications simultaneously. This consolidation reduces computing resource consumption, memory usage, and network resources by utilizing a single application instance that provides both document creation and chart generation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for generating charts within a document generation application is provided. The method comprises, within a document generation application, tabular data; associating, for each column and each row of the tabular data, the labels and the numerical data contained therein with one of a plurality of data types; determining, without user input, that the tabular data is one of column-oriented or row-oriented; selecting the first column or the first row as corresponding to an x-axis, respectively; applying a heuristic model resulting in a selection of a chart type of a plurality of chart types, the selection made without user input; automatically generating a chart of the selected chart type depicting a graphical representation of the labels and the numerical data.