RSSd Structured Data Syndication for Spreadsheets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Really Simple Syndication (RSS) technologies are inefficient for handling and updating structured data, such as tables, as users must manually copy and paste content, which is time-consuming and requires repetitive updates.

Innovation Solution

Really Simple Syndication for data (RSSd) extends RSS to syndicate structured data, maintaining data structure and type, allowing direct integration into applications like spreadsheets and enabling automatic updates, using standardized metadata and XML formatted code to provide live, refreshable data feeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If standard RSS is used to syndicate web page content, then content aggregation is enabled, but structured data (tables, numbers) cannot be directly integrated into applications like spreadsheets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integration capabilityVSAvoidmanual copy and paste requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments data into structured elements within RSS feeds by introducing specialized XML tags (e.g., <rss:data>, <rss:table>, <rss:column>) that delineate tabular data, numerical data, and other structured content from general web page content. This segmentation enables applications to selectively extract and integrate specific data types directly, eliminating manual copy-paste operations while maintaining RSS's broad content compatibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If RSS content is updated periodically, then content freshness is maintained, but users must manually copy and paste updates each time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent update freshnessVSAvoidtime for manual updates

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables self-service data updates by providing structured data in machine-readable RSS format that applications can automatically parse, extract, and integrate. Applications equipped with appropriate data binding capabilities can automatically refresh spreadsheets, databases, or other target systems from RSS feeds without human intervention, eliminating the time-consuming manual update process while maintaining content freshness through periodic feed updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If static content is syndicated via RSS, then content delivery is simple, but the content cannot be dynamically updated in applications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent delivery simplicityVSAvoidlive data integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static RSS content into dynamic data sources by introducing structured data parameters and types through XML schema definitions. The structured data elements include metadata about data types (numerical, textual, tabular), update frequencies, and integration targets, enabling applications to dynamically interpret and update their data displays based on the syndicated content while maintaining the simplicity of RSS delivery mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10311136B2Really simple syndication for data

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) is extended to syndicate structured data as well as general content via Really Simple Syndication for data (RSSd). RSSd provides a mechanism by which tables of data can easily be made available to users and across applications. RSSd provides the ability to syndicate data directly into applications, such as spread sheet applications. RSSd is backwards compatible with RSS. Standardized metadata is utilized in each element of RSSd to enable typing of data.