SPREADSHEET WITH DYNAMIC DATABASE QUERIES

Smart overview of the Invention

The patent application introduces a spreadsheet system capable of dynamically querying databases through formulas embedded in its cells. This approach allows the spreadsheet to execute database queries whose parameters are contingent on the values of other cells. As a result, query outcomes can be dynamically integrated into the spreadsheet, further influencing additional calculations and queries. This dynamic querying capability facilitates automatic updates across a hierarchy of calculations whenever a single cell value is modified, thereby enhancing both data management and analytical efficiency.

Technical Background

Traditional spreadsheets offer an intuitive interface for data manipulation but struggle with scalability and performance as data complexity grows. Conversely, relational databases are efficient in handling large datasets but lack the user-friendly interface and computational flexibility of spreadsheets. This innovation aims to bridge these gaps by combining the ease of spreadsheets with the robust data handling capabilities of databases, allowing for dynamic data analysis and manipulation.

Functionality

The spreadsheet system enables users to update a cell with new values or formulas, which can trigger cascading updates across dependent cells. These dependencies are managed through a hierarchy that ensures all related cells are updated according to their relationships. When a cell's formula includes a database query, it uses current values from other cells to define its parameters, thereby integrating real-time data retrieval into the spreadsheet's calculations.

System Architecture

The networked computing environment consists of a server managing spreadsheets and client devices accessing them via a network. The server stores the data, formulas, and dependency graphs necessary for automatic updates. Client devices, which can range from desktops to smartphones, interact with spreadsheets through web interfaces or dedicated applications. This setup allows users to view, edit, and formulate queries within spreadsheets seamlessly.

Implementation Details

A server component includes modules for processing requests, performing calculations, executing queries, and storing spreadsheets. The request processing module handles user interactions from client devices, while the calculation module manages updates across dependent cells. The query module constructs and executes database queries based on current cell values, integrating results back into the spreadsheet for further analysis.