Robert W Coffen

US Patent:

6613098, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

Jun 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/333815

Inventors:

Terri L. Sorge - Kirkland WA
Kevin J. Fischer - Redmond WA
Anna V. Timasheva - Bellevue WA
Russell S. Johnson - Seattle WA
Rajeev S. Misra - Redmond WA
Juha Niemisto - Mercer Island WA
Robert W. Coffen - Redmond WA
Ramakrishnan Natarajan - Bellevue WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1700

US Classification:

715503, 715504, 715513, 715522

Abstract:

A spreadsheet program saves data into a hypertext markup language (HTML) document that can be viewed with a browser program, but persists all of the information associated with that data necessary to maintain formatting and functionality of the data if reintroduced into the spreadsheet program. The HTML document can then be used both for displaying the data over the Internet or other network in a browser program, and also for opening the data in the spreadsheet program. The information necessary for preserving the format and functionality of the data in the spreadsheet program is incorporated into the HTML document using HTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and Extended Markup Language (XML). HTML is used for expressing cell data information that is displayed in the browser program, CSS are used for expressing cell-level properties of the data, and XML is used for expressing information that is not displayed in the browser program, but which is necessary for some functionality of the data when used in the spreadsheet program. If any formatting of the data are changed to enable display of the data in the browser program as displayed in the spreadsheet program, the original formatting information is retained in a supporting file that is ignored by a browser program.

US Patent:

6640234, Oct 28, 2003

Filed:

Dec 31, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/224341

Inventors:

Robert Wayne Coffen - Redmond WA
Kent Rogers Lowry - Seattle WA
Eric Lawrence Matteson - Bellevue WA
Mark S. Igra - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1721

US Classification:

707538, 707503

Abstract:

Methods for automatically, without user instruction, extending a format and/or a formula to include a cell in an electronic spreadsheet. A previously blank newly edited cell may be determined to be an extension to or within a list of cells. A list of cells may be defined as a number of previous cells having a consistent data type. If a list of cells exists and the previously blank newly edited cell also includes the consistent data type, the previously blank newly edited cell is considered to be an extension of or within a list. The cells in the list are then examined for consistent formatting. If consistent formatting exists in the list, the consistent formatting is applied to the previously blank newly edited cell. Also, the cells in the list are examined for consistent formulas. The rows containing the cells in the list are each examined for a consistent formula having all supporting cells populated.

US Patent:

7127672, Oct 24, 2006

Filed:

Aug 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/646131

Inventors:

Eric W. Patterson - Sammamish WA, US
Robert Wayne Coffen - Redmond WA, US
Michael J. McCormack - Snohomish WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06N 3/00

US Classification:

715503, 715509

Abstract:

An electronic spreadsheet is provided for automatically creating, expanding, and validating lists of cells. A list is created by receiving a user request for selecting a cell range, identifying a list range for the selected cell range, determining a header row for the list range, and generating a border for surrounding the list range. A list is expanded by determining that one or more cells are adjacent to the list and automatically expanding the list to include the new cells. A list is validated by determining a data type of data entered into the list and comparing the data type of the data entered into the list to a list data type. If, as a result of the comparison, the data type of the data entered into the list does not match the list data type, then the data type of the data entered into the list is invalid.

US Patent:

7222294, May 22, 2007

Filed:

Sep 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/667543

Inventors:

Robert Wayne Coffen - Redmond WA, US
Kent Rogers Lowry - Seattle WA, US
Eric Lawrence Matteson - Bellevue WA, US
Mark S. Igra - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/24

US Classification:

715504, 715503, 715517, 715520, 715523, 715528, 715539

Abstract:

Formats are extended automatically to cells in an electronic spreadsheet. Previously blank, newly edited cell(s) are determined to be an extension or within a list of cells based on having a consistent data type, and the like. Next, formatting of the list of cells is examined for consistency. If consistent formatting exists, it is applied to the previously blank, newly edited cell(s). List of cells may include rows, columns, and the like.

US Patent:

7225189, May 29, 2007

Filed:

Feb 19, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/782074

Inventors:

Michael J. McCormack - Snohomish WA, US
Robert W. Coffen - Redmond WA, US
Richard L. Dickinson - Seattle WA, US
Sumit Chauhan - Sammamish WA, US
Eric W. Patterson - Sammamish WA, US
Paul A. Hafner - Redmond WA, US
Larry Tseng - Sammamish WA, US
Xiaohui Pan - Bellevue WA, US
Michael J. Eatough - Kirkland WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

707 10, 715503

Abstract:

Methods and systems provide for bi-directional communication between a spreadsheet application worksheet and a database data source that allows modified data to be written from a spreadsheet application to source data in a database data source from which the original pre-modified data was obtained. Offline data changes in a spreadsheet application are cached by a data provider application and are published to a remote data source when the spreadsheet application is synchronized with the data source. Error conditions and data conflicts resulting from new or modified data published to a database data source from a spreadsheet application worksheet are reported to a user of the spreadsheet application worksheet through a data provider application to allow the user an opportunity to resolve error conditions and data conflicts between the user's data changes and other data changes made to the same source data contained in the database data source.

US Patent:

8621340, Dec 31, 2013

Filed:

Dec 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/018418

Inventors:

Joseph M. Chirilov - Kirkland WA, US
Dennis R. Newland - Monroe WA, US
Eoin J. Burke - Seattle WA, US
Hannah W. Zhou - Redmond WA, US
John C. Haymond - Duvall WA, US
Juha P. Niemisto - Mercer Island WA, US
Robert C. Collie - Kirkland WA, US
Robert W. Coffen - Redmond WA, US
Thao Moua - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/16
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

715212, 715217, 715219, 715249

Abstract:

Block properties and improved calculated columns properties are provided in a spreadsheet application. Once block properties are set for a group of spreadsheet cells or a spreadsheet list, the properties may be applied to the entire group of selected cells or list as opposed to requiring application of properties to individual cells. If rows or columns are added to the group of selected cells or list, properties applied to the group of cells or list are automatically applied to the new rows or columns. Block properties also provide for intelligent-behaving list borders where list borders are not corrupted by the movement or changing of columns or rows sharing edges with a list border. Calculated columns are a type of block property that extends the functionality of formulas throughout an entire column of an associated group of cells or list.

US Patent:

6567826, May 20, 2003

Filed:

Jun 23, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/602457

Inventors:

Kevin J. Fischer - Redmond WA
Robert W. Coffen - Redmond WA
Eric Snyder - Bellevue WA
Jeffrey Eric Larsson - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

707202, 715503, 714 2

Abstract:

A method and system for loading files into a spreadsheet application program (SAP) operating on a computer system, using an escalating load sequence. The SAP determines if a normal load mode failed while attempting to load the files. In response to determining that the normal load mode failed, the SAP escalates the load sequence to a safe load mode, where a plurality of checks are performed and the files are repaired. The SAP also determines if the safe load mode was successful in repairing and loading the files. If the SAP determines that the safe load mode was unsuccessful, the SAP escalates the load sequence to a data recovery mode, where the spreadsheet application program attempts to extract formulas and values from the file.

US Patent:

20140115434, Apr 24, 2014

Filed:

Dec 30, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/143298

Inventors:

- Redmond WA, US
Dennis R. Newland - Monroe WA, US
Eoin J. Burke - Seattle WA, US
Hannah W. Zhou - Redmond WA, US
John C. Haymond - Duvall WA, US
Juha P. Niemisto - Mercer Island WA, US
Robert C. Collie - Kirkland WA, US
Robert W. Coffen - Redmond WA, US
Thao Moua - Bellevue WA, US

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 17/24

US Classification:

715217

Abstract:

Block properties and improved calculated columns properties are provided in a spreadsheet application. Once block properties are set for a group of spreadsheet cells or a spreadsheet list, the properties may be applied to the entire group of selected cells or list as opposed to requiring application of properties to individual cells. If rows or columns are added to the group of selected cells or list, properties applied to the group of cells or list are automatically applied to the new rows or columns. Block properties also provide for intelligent-behaving list borders where list borders are not corrupted by the movement or changing of columns or rows sharing edges with a list border. Calculated columns are a type of block property that extends the functionality of formulas throughout an entire column of an associated group of cells or list.