Spreadsheet Data Visualizer Join Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spreadsheet technologies face complexity in creating charts from external data, requiring multi-step processes involving data import, manipulation, and calculation, especially when dealing with large datasets or complex calculations.

Innovation Solution

The technology provides a range of manual to automated methods for setting up and verifying correct data set joins for use in spreadsheet data visualizers, handling pairing and chaining of data sets, and presenting qualified joinable fields in selection lists to simplify data visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual data manipulation and calculation steps are used to create charts from external data, then data processing accuracy can be maintained, but the complexity of the process increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing accuracyVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (the chart creation system with automated data joining capabilities) that mediates between the user's chart creation request and the complex data processing requirements. This intermediary automatically handles data joining, manipulation, and calculation, shielding users from complexity while maintaining processing accuracy through systematic automated procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If automated data joining methods are implemented, then ease of operation improves, but reliability may be compromised without proper verification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of data joiningVSAvoidjoin correctness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system automatically verifies join correctness by checking data types, key existence, and join results. The system provides feedback to users about join status and correctness, allowing automated operation while maintaining reliability through continuous verification and error detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary verification actions before finalizing data joins, including checking data type compatibility, verifying key existence in both datasets, and validating join conditions. This preliminary action ensures reliability is established before the automated join process completes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple data sets are joined manually, then control over the joining process is maintained, but the time required for data preparation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata preparation speedVSAvoidtime for manual manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables self-service automated data joining where the system automatically identifies joinable datasets, determines appropriate join keys, executes joins, and prepares data for visualization without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability dramatically reduces data preparation time while maintaining control through automated decision-making algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If data joining verification is performed, then reliability of joins improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoin verification accuracyVSAvoidverification system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the verification process into distinct modular components: data type verification, key existence verification, join result validation, and error detection. Each verification function is implemented as a separate module, making the overall verification system more manageable and less complex while maintaining comprehensive reliability checks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250036862A1Methods and systems for specifying and using joins between data sets in a spreadsheet data visualizer

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 ADAPTAM INC

AI summary

The disclosed technology creates a range of manual to automated ways of setting up and verifying the correct joining of data sets for use generating charts within a spreadsheet visualizer. Handling pairing of data sets and then chaining/sequencing of joins resulting in joins of three or more data sets. Limiting joins, as desired, to data value matching criteria and data modelling cardinality requirements. Allowing the qualification of the data sets for joining to be done within or before spreadsheet visualizer input panel. Making the qualified joinable data sets available in situationally intelligent data field/column selection lists for use populating the data visualizer inputs. Availing those joined data fields/columns to be used to generate spreadsheet visualizer charts.