Interactive Information Highlighting in Online Spreadsheets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interactive information notification methods require users to manually locate interactive information in online spreadsheets, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

An interactive information notification method and apparatus that receives position information of interactive information, acquires it from the online spreadsheet, and displays it in a highlighted manner, allowing users to quickly identify and process the information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If notification information is sent to users through traditional notification centers or preset regions, then users can be informed of interactive information timely, but users need to manually locate the interactive information in the spreadsheet which is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for locating interactive informationVSAvoidease of locating interactive information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automatic location mechanism as an intermediary between the notification system and the user. The system automatically identifies and locates interactive information in the spreadsheet based on position information, eliminating the need for users to manually search. This intermediary process resolves the contradiction by automating the location task while maintaining timely notification delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual searching process with an automated computational system. Instead of users manually scanning through spreadsheet cells to find interactive information, the system uses automated position-based retrieval to locate and present the information. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming manual operation while preserving the notification function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If users manually search for interactive information in the spreadsheet, then they can find the information, but the process is labor-intensive and reduces handling efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling efficiency of spreadsheetVSAvoidease of finding interactive information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically locating interactive information using position information without requiring user intervention. The notification mechanism itself takes responsibility for finding and presenting the relevant information, rather than relying on users to manually search. This self-service approach improves productivity by eliminating manual searching while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-locating interactive information based on stored position information before the user needs to access it. When a notification is sent, the system has already identified the location of the interactive information, so the user receives both the notification and the location simultaneously. This preliminary positioning action improves handling efficiency while maintaining ease of access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If interactive information is displayed without highlighting, then it blends with other information in the spreadsheet, but users cannot quickly distinguish it from other data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of identifying interactive informationVSAvoidcomplexity of information display
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes or visual highlighting to distinguish interactive information from other spreadsheet data. By changing the visual appearance (color, background, or formatting) of cells containing interactive information, the system enables users to quickly identify these elements without adding complex functionality. This visual differentiation improves identification speed while maintaining simple display mechanics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by modifying only the specific visual properties of cells containing interactive information rather than changing the entire spreadsheet display. The highlighting or color change is applied locally to relevant cells, allowing users to quickly distinguish interactive information without adding overall complexity to the display system. This localized modification improves productivity while keeping the solution simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3965396B1Interactive information notification method, apparatus and device, and computer readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 DOUYIN VISION CO LTD
  • EP3965396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3965396B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3965396B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an interactive information notification method and apparatus, a device, and a computer-readable storage medium. The method includes receiving an interactive information viewing instruction sent by a first user, the viewing instruction including position information of the interactive information in an online spreadsheet; acquiring the interactive information from the online spreadsheet according to the position information; and displaying the interactive information in a highlighted manner in the online spreadsheet so that the interactive information is distinguished from other information in the online spreadsheet. Therefore, the user can quickly and intuitively determine the position of the interactive information and correspondingly process the interactive information, so that the user's editing efficiency for the online spreadsheet is improved.