Presenter Device for Selective Spreadsheet Content Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spreadsheet applications do not allow for efficient collaborative work sessions across multiple devices, as users cannot control what content is shared, leading to inefficiencies and unsatisfactory collaborative experiences.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a presenter device can control application functionality and document content in a multi-device environment, allowing for selective sharing of content and hiding metadata and notes from other users, while enabling any device to switch between presenter control and endpoint display roles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a user presents spreadsheet content to other users in a collaborative work session, then the content can be shared with other users, but the underlying calculations, metadata, and presenter notes are also displayed to other users which is not desired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spreadsheet content into different layers: visible content layer and hidden metadata layer. The presenter device can selectively share only the visible content while keeping calculations, metadata, and presenter notes hidden. This segmentation allows precise control over what information is shared in collaborative work sessions.
Solution Approach 2:
The presenter device acts as an intermediary between the spreadsheet data and the other users' devices. It controls what information is transmitted to other users, filtering out unwanted metadata and calculations while sharing only the desired content. This intermediary role enables selective information sharing without requiring changes to other users' devices.
2Ease of operation
If full spreadsheet functionality is provided to all users in a collaborative session, then all users can independently edit and modify the spreadsheet, but it becomes difficult to maintain document integrity and control changes
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of giving all users full editing rights and then trying to maintain integrity, the patent inverts the approach: only the presenter device has editing capability, while other users are in view-only mode. This reversal naturally maintains document integrity while still enabling collaboration through the presenter's controlled edits.
Solution Approach 2:
The presenter device automatically manages the collaborative editing process by controlling what changes are made and what is shared with other users. The system self-regulates the editing workflow without requiring complex permission management or conflict resolution mechanisms among multiple editors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices can independently run spreadsheet applications, then each device has full functionality, but coordinating changes and maintaining synchronization between devices becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic role assignment where devices can switch between presenter and viewer roles. The presenter device has full functionality while viewer devices are restricted. This dynamic configuration allows multiple devices to run the application simultaneously with different capability levels, simplifying coordination compared to giving all devices equal full functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Application/document collaboration in a multi-device environment is provided. An application and associated document or other content, for example, a spreadsheet application and associated spreadsheet documents and content may be displayed on one or more endpoint display devices. A presenter may control the application/document from another device, for example, a smartphone, tablet-style computer, laptop computer, desktop computer, and the like. User interactions on the presenter control device may be reflected on the display device, including, document navigation, document editing, document entry, and the like. Document content may be previewed on the control device before it is sent to the display device. Document metadata and/or presenter notes/comments, etc., may be displayed only on the control device, but not on the display device, as desired by the presenter/user.