Collaborative Table Cell Expansion for Conflict-Free Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing table editors face complications in real-time collaborative models due to direct dependencies between merging and covering cells, leading to conflicts and errors when users make simultaneous edits, especially when cells expand or merge in non-rectangular tables.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that identify the states of cells in a table, allowing or denying expansions based on adjacent cell states, ensuring that expansions do not result in errors by converting cells to normal or merged states accordingly, and prioritizing edits to resolve conflicts in a collaborative document editing environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cells are allowed to expand freely to merge in table editors, then table editing flexibility is improved, but controller complexity and error potential increase due to lack of association between merged and expanding cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the table model into distinct cell state types (normal, merged, spanning) with clear boundaries and transition rules. Each cell's state is independently trackable through state identifiers, allowing the controller to manage expansions without complex inter-cell dependencies. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing flexibility through state transitions while maintaining simplicity through discrete state management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by introducing state identifiers that track cell states (normal, merged, spanning) and span dimensions (row_span, col_span). When a cell expands, its state parameter changes from 'normal' to 'spanning' or 'merged', and span parameters are updated. This parameter-based approach enables flexible editing while keeping the controller simple through deterministic state transitions rather than complex cell association logic.
2Ease of operation
If no limits are placed on cell expansion, then editing freedom is improved, but model complexity increases due to unbounded expansion possibilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic cell states that automatically adjust based on expansion operations. Cells transition between 'normal', 'spanning', and 'merged' states depending on their expansion status. The model dynamically recalculates span dimensions and adjacent cell states, providing unlimited editing freedom while maintaining manageable complexity through automated state management rather than rigid constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The cell model performs self-service by automatically determining its own state and span parameters based on expansion operations. When a cell expands, the model autonomously updates the cell's state identifier and span dimensions, and adjusts adjacent cells' states accordingly. This self-managing approach eliminates the need for complex external control logic, providing editing freedom without proportional increases in model complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If explicit marking of covering and covered cells is required, then merge accuracy is improved, but real-time collaborative editing performance deteriorates due to direct dependencies between cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the explicit covering/covered cell marking from the model by using a different approach: cells are marked as 'spanning' or 'merged' based on their state identifier rather than through pairwise covering relationships. This extraction eliminates direct dependencies between covering and covered cells, allowing independent cell operations in real-time collaboration while maintaining merge accuracy through state-based tracking of span dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces state identifiers as an intermediary between cell expansion operations and the underlying table model. Instead of directly managing covering/covered cell relationships, the system uses state identifiers to mediate cell states, abstracting the complexity of inter-cell dependencies. This intermediary layer maintains merge accuracy while enabling independent cell modifications, thus improving real-time collaborative editing performance.
4Speed
If cell expansion is allowed without state verification, then editing speed is improved, but error rate increases due to potential conflicts with adjacent cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary state verification before allowing cell expansion by checking the state identifier and span parameters of the expanding cell and its adjacent cells. This preliminary check determines whether expansion is valid without requiring complex post-expansion conflict resolution. The state-based verification system enables fast editing by pre-validating expansions against the current table state, maintaining high speed while reducing error rates through deterministic state transitions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for resolving a change to a table. A processing circuitry receives, from a user in a collaborative document editing environment, the change to the table, wherein the change comprises an expansion of a first cell in the table. A first state of the first cell is identified, wherein the state is indicative of a number of columns and a number of rows over which the first cell spans, and at least one of the number of columns and the number of rows is greater than one. A second state of a second cell that is adjacent to the first cell is identified, and the processing circuitry selects whether to allow the expansion of the first cell based on the second state of the second cell.