Online Data Management Preview Mode for Isolated Change Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current online spreadsheet management applications do not allow users to make changes to shared data without immediately updating the data for all collaborating users, nor do they provide a mechanism for users to preview and test changes without affecting the main data set.
Innovation Solution
The system enables users to access a preview mode where changes can be made to a separate data set that is only visible to the user making the changes, allowing them to test and edit without affecting the main data set, and only applies those changes to the main data set when explicitly selected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If changes are made to shared spreadsheet data in real-time collaboration, then all collaborating users can see the changes immediately, but users cannot test changes without affecting the main data set
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data set into multiple versions: a main shared data set accessible to all users and a preview data set for individual user testing. This segmentation allows users to work on changes in isolation without affecting the integrity of the main data set, while still enabling collaboration when changes are ready to be shared.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by allowing users to make changes to a preview data set before applying them to the main shared data set. Users can test and validate their changes in the preview environment first, ensuring data integrity is maintained in the main data set until changes are deliberately applied.
2Reliability
If a preview mode is implemented allowing users to test changes independently, then users can test changes without affecting the main data set, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by creating a preview data set that is a copy of the main shared data set. This copy allows users to test changes independently while the original main data set remains intact. The copying approach is simpler than implementing complex version control systems while still achieving the goal of protecting data integrity.
3Ease of operation
If multiple users access the same data set simultaneously, then collaboration is enabled, but individual users cannot make private changes without immediate visibility to others
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments access permissions by creating different data set versions with different visibility rules. The preview data set is visible only to the user making changes, while the main shared data set is visible to all collaborators. This segmentation enables both collaboration on the main data set and private change testing in the preview data set.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by giving different visibility properties to different portions of the data system. Changes in the preview data set have local visibility (only to the creating user), while changes in the main shared data set have global visibility (to all users). This allows simultaneous collaboration and private experimentation.
Data Source
AI summary
Access to first data is provided to a first user and to a second user. A specified change is received from the first user. Access to second data generated based on the first user's specified change is provided only to the first user. The first data is updated based on the specified change, in response to a selection by the first user of an option to apply the specified change to the first data. Simultaneous access to the updated first data is provided to the first user and to the second user.