Cross-Application Spreadsheet Content Ingestion and Restructuring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inefficiencies when transferring and updating content across different content generation applications, requiring manual copying, pasting, and formatting, and there is no automated solution to maintain synchronization of changes in source documents.

Innovation Solution

A content generation computing system with content ingestion and transformation logic that automatically identifies, restructures, and updates content from a source document, maintaining a link to the source for real-time refreshes across different applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users manually copy and paste content from source documents to new documents, then content can be transferred between applications, but the process requires significant manual effort and time for copying, pasting, and formatting adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent transfer efficiencyVSAvoidtime for manual copying and formatting

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates intelligent copies of content from source documents that maintain dynamic links to the original data. Instead of static pasting, the system generates reference-based copies that automatically update when source data changes, eliminating the need for manual re-copying and reducing time loss significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary content extraction and transformation before the user needs it. By pre-processing the content and establishing link structures in advance, the system prepares everything needed for seamless integration into new documents, eliminating time-consuming manual formatting adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If users manually update content in new documents when source documents change, then content synchronization can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent synchronization accuracyVSAvoidtime for manual updates

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic feedback mechanisms that monitor source document changes and trigger corresponding updates in new documents. When source data is modified, the system detects the change, retrieves the updated content, and propagates it to all linked documents automatically, ensuring synchronization accuracy without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service content synchronization where the documents automatically manage their own updates. The link structures allow new documents to self-update by pulling fresh data from source documents when changes occur, eliminating the need for users to manually refresh or synchronize content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If users rewrite content from scratch into new documents, then complete control over content can be achieved, but the process is extremely time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent creation simplicityVSAvoidtime for rewriting content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides intelligent copying that combines the benefits of reuse with ease of operation. Users can insert pre-formatted, link-based content copies that maintain connection to source documents, allowing rapid content creation without rewriting while preserving operational simplicity through automatic link management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Extent of automation

If automated content ingestion and transformation is implemented, then content can be automatically restructured and linked between applications, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent ingestion automationVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces intermediary link structures that act as mediators between source and target documents. These link objects serve as standardized interfaces that handle the complexity of automated ingestion and transformation, allowing the system to maintain high automation levels while managing complexity through uniform intermediary components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11295073B2Cross-application ingestion and restructuring of spreadsheet content

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A content generation computing system includes content generating application logic. The content generating application logic runs a content generation application to generate content. Content ingestion and transformation logic allows a user to identify spreadsheet content from a source spreadsheet document for ingestion into a different document that is being generated. The system automatically restructures the ingested spreadsheet content based upon the content generation application into which it is being ingested, and maintains a link from the ingested content to the source spreadsheet document and automatically refreshes the ingested content when the content in the source document, that is ingested, changes.