Real-Time Spreadsheet Collaboration via Revision Manager
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spreadsheet applications do not allow multiple users to collaborate on a single spreadsheet file simultaneously, as opening a file locks it for editing, preventing real-time collaboration between different types of clients, including rich and thin clients.
Innovation Solution
A revision manager module on a host machine receives updates from client computers, processes them, and applies them to the spreadsheet file, ensuring all clients have a current version, with the ability to merge transformable updates and apply non-transformable updates only after confirming all clients have received previous updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spreadsheet file is locked for editing when opened by one user, then data consistency is maintained, but multiple users cannot collaborate simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spreadsheet file into multiple independent workspaces or regions that can be simultaneously edited by different users. Each user receives a portion of the spreadsheet data that they can modify independently, while the system manages the segmentation and recombination of these portions to maintain overall data consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary server or coordination mechanism that manages multiple user connections to the spreadsheet file. This intermediary receives updates from multiple users, resolves conflicts, and distributes synchronized versions to all users, enabling simultaneous collaboration while maintaining data integrity.
2Speed
If a rich client performs local data processing operations, then processing speed is improved, but compatibility with thin clients becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal client architecture that can operate in multiple modes. The same client interface can function as a rich client with local processing capabilities when resources are available, or as a thin client relying on server processing when resources are constrained. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different client capabilities while maintaining consistent user experience and collaboration features.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques for collaborating on a spreadsheet file by client computers in real time are disclosed herein. In particular, a revision manager module is preferably provided with a host machine which receives updates from the client computers, processes such updates, and then applies them to the spreadsheet file. Additionally, a technique is described for handling updates sent to the revision manager by clients simultaneously or near simultaneously. In this case, the revision manager determines whether the updates to the spreadsheet file are transformable or able to be merged. If so, the updates are combined into the spreadsheet file and applied thereto. If the updates are not transformable, the revision manager confirms that all clients have received all previous updates before applying the non-transformable update to the spreadsheet file.