Method, system, and computer-readable medium for controlling the calculation of volatile functions in a spreadsheet
US7640490B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F40/18
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method, system, and computer-readable medium are provided for controlling the calculation of volatile functions in a workbook created in a spreadsheet application program such that the volatile function does not need to be recalculated each time a calculation request is received in the workbook. A volatile function may include a function which is capable of returning a different value each time the function is calculated. The spreadsheet application program determines a calculation mode setting for the workbook, calculates a volatile function timeout value based on the calculation mode setting, and calculates the volatile function based on the volatile function timeout value. The volatile function timeout value may include a time span for which the results of a volatile function are valid. The volatile function timeout value is calculated by determining the maximum of a workbook timeout value assigned to the workbook on a client computer and a server timeout value assigned to the workbook on a server computer running the spreadsheet application program. During the volatile function timeout period, the volatile functions are not recalculated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.