EP0569133A2 — System and methods for computer interfaces

Claim 1

Independent Claim 111 words

A computer system providing a user interface between an operator and the system, the system comprising: a computer (100) having a processor (101) and a memory (102); means (152) for defining addressable cells stored in the memory for entering and processing data and formulas; and means (106, 153) for displaying the cells as a two-dimensional spread, characterised by: means (153) for presenting the cells as a plurality of two-dimensional spreads; and the means (106, 153) for displaying being arranged to display the two-dimensional spreads in a notebook format, each spread being represented as a page in a notebook, and each spread including a tab identifier for identifying and accessing the spread.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 111 words

A computer system providing a user interface between an operator and the system, the system comprising: a computer (100) having a processor (101) and a memory (102); means (152) for defining addressable cells stored in the memory for entering and processing data and formulas; and means (106, 153) for displaying the cells as a two-dimensional spread, characterised by: means (153) for presenting the cells as a plurality of two-dimensional spreads; and the means (106, 153) for displaying being arranged to display the two-dimensional spreads in a notebook format, each spread being represented as a page in a notebook, and each spread including a tab identifier for identifying and accessing the spread.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system according to claim 1, and arranged to display the tab identifiers along one side of the displayed notebook.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

A system according to claim 1 or 2, and arranged to display a desired spread upon selection of its tab identifier by a user.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each tab identifier includes a label uniquely identifying its spread.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

A system according to claim 4, wherein cells in a first spread may be referenced in a formula of a second spread by including the label for the first spread.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein information in cell(s) of a source spread is referenced in a target spread by a general format of: <source spread label>:<information cell address(es)>.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system according to claim 4, 5 or6, wherein the label includes user-supplied alphanumeric information.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 26 words

A system according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a user-operable pointing device for accessing a spread by pointing at its tab identifiers.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 125 words

In a computer system comprising a central processor coupled to memory, a display, and a user input device, a method of interfacing with data in spreadsheet form, the method comprising the step of: (a) displaying a first page array of rows and columns of cells on said display, said cells being arranged to display data input to said memory means; characterised by: (b) simultaneously with step (a), displaying page indicators for second and third page arrays of cells; (c) inputting a signal from said user input device, said signal indicating selection of said page indicator for said second page array of cells; and (d) displaying said second page array of cells while simultaneously displaying page indicators for said first and third page arrays of cells.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 125 words

In a computer system comprising a central processor coupled to memory, a display, and a user input device, a method of interfacing with data in spreadsheet form, the method comprising the step of: (a) displaying a first page array of rows and columns of cells on said display, said cells being arranged to display data input to said memory means; characterised by: (b) simultaneously with step (a), displaying page indicators for second and third page arrays of cells; (c) inputting a signal from said user input device, said signal indicating selection of said page indicator for said second page array of cells; and (d) displaying said second page array of cells while simultaneously displaying page indicators for said first and third page arrays of cells.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein said page indicators are displayed along an outer portion of said display and are formed in the shape of notebook tabs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 52 words

A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said step (b) also displays a page indictor of said first page array of cells, said page indicator of said first page array of cells displayed in a different format from said page indictors for said second and third page arrays of cells.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method according to claim 11, wherein said different format is a different color.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 34 words

A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein said page indicators are initially marked with default labels and further comprising the step of receiving user input to change said labels.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 32 words

A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, and comprising the steps of receiving input for page indicator scrolling, and scrolling said page indicators to previously undisplayed page indicators.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 50 words

A method according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein said user input device is a mouse, and said signal is input when said user moves a cursor on said display with said mouse to said indicator for said second page array of cells and clicks said mouse.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 103 words

A method according to any one of claims 9 to 15 and comprising the step of specifying a three dimensional block of said cells for processing, said step of specifying a three dimensional block comprising the step of: identifying a two dimensional block of cells in said first page array; and identifying at least one of said second or third page arrays of cells by indicating at least one of said second or third page indicators, cells in said at least one of said second or third pages corresponding to said two dimensional block being identified as being in said three dimensional block.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method as according to claim 16, and comprising the step of copying said three dimensional block to another region of said first page array.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 55 words

A method according to any one of claims 9 to 17, and comprising percolating operations between a selected group of pages by the step of identifying said first and second pages as being in a first group, and performing common operations in cells in said first and second pages, but not in said third page.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method according to claim 18, and comprising percolating operations between a second selected group of pages by the step of identifying said second and third pages as being in a second group, and performing common operations in cells in said second and third pages, but not in said first page.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 108 words

A method according to any one of claims 9 to 19, and comprising the steps of: labelling a block of cells in said first page array of cells, at least one of said cells in said block being identified as absolute in a model; copying said block of cells to a second location with said at leat one cell labelled as absolute in a model, cells in said block having cell formulas adjusted to a new address of said at least one block; and copying said block of cells in a second location without having cell formulas adjusted to a new address of said at least one block.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 41 words

A method according to any one of claims 9 to 20 and comprising the step of inserting an additional page array of cells by specifying a page indicator, and inputting a signal for addition of said additional page array of cells.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 134 words

A computer system providing a user interface between the operator and the system in respect of stored data files, the system comprising a computer (100) having a processor (101) and a memory (102), means (151, 152, 153) for accessing a file, storing portions of the file in the memory and for entering and processing data therein, and means (106, 153) for displaying the data in the accessed file, characterised in that there are means (153) for presenting each file as a plurality of two-dimensional data areas, and the display means (106, 153) are arranged to display the data areas of the accessed file in the visually perceived form of respective pages of a notebook, each page bearing a tab identifier for identifying the page and by means of which the page can be accessed.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 134 words

A computer system providing a user interface between the operator and the system in respect of stored data files, the system comprising a computer (100) having a processor (101) and a memory (102), means (151, 152, 153) for accessing a file, storing portions of the file in the memory and for entering and processing data therein, and means (106, 153) for displaying the data in the accessed file, characterised in that there are means (153) for presenting each file as a plurality of two-dimensional data areas, and the display means (106, 153) are arranged to display the data areas of the accessed file in the visually perceived form of respective pages of a notebook, each page bearing a tab identifier for identifying the page and by means of which the page can be accessed.

System and methods for computer interfaces

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