Referencing Worksheet Parameter Exposure With Hidden Functions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern businesses face challenges in accessing and manipulating complex data stored in cloud-based databases due to the limitations of user abilities with database query languages like SQL, necessitating a solution to expose parameters in referencing worksheets without revealing underlying functions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for generating referencing worksheets that expose exposable parameters from data source worksheets, allowing users to adjust these parameters without accessing the underlying functions, using a linking module and metadata repository to manage data access and presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If complex database queries are used to access data, then data access capability is improved, but user operation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access capabilityVSAvoiduser operation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the system with modules 102, 104, 106) that mediates between the user and the complex database query language. Users interact with simplified interfaces while the system automatically generates and executes complex SQL queries, thus improving data access capability without increasing user operation difficulty

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified copy or representation of the database interaction interface. Instead of requiring users to directly write complex SQL queries, the system provides a user-friendly interface that copies the essential functionality while hiding the complexity of the underlying query language

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If underlying functions are exposed in referencing worksheets, then user flexibility is improved, but data security deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser flexibilityVSAvoiddata security

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the worksheet functionality into two distinct parts: exposable parameters (which users can access and modify) and underlying functions (which remain hidden). This segmentation allows users to have flexibility in adjusting parameters while maintaining security by preventing access to the sensitive underlying functions that contain business logic or sensitive data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts only the necessary interactive elements (parameters) from the complete function and makes them available to users, while taking out or removing access to the rest of the function. This allows user flexibility with parameters while protecting the security of the underlying function code and any sensitive data it contains

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12430325B1Exposing parameters in referencing worksheets

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 SIGMA COMPUTING INC

AI summary

Exposing parameters in referencing worksheets including receiving a request for a referencing worksheet linked from a data source worksheet, wherein the data source worksheet is a presentation of a data set from a database, and wherein the data source worksheet comprises a function utilizing an exposable parameter; generating the referencing worksheet from the data source worksheet, wherein the referencing worksheet exposes the exposable parameter without exposing the function utilizing the exposable parameter; and presenting the referencing worksheet with the exposable parameter without allowing access to the function utilizing the exposable parameter.