DETAILED ACTION
This action is responsive to the application filed 4/8/2024.
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Claim Objections
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities: the claim omits the word “cell” in the visually arranging step. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 6-9 and 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Campbell, et al., U.S. PGPUB No. 2017/0124053 (“Campbell”).
With regard to Claim 1, Campbell teaches a computing apparatus comprising:
one or more computer readable storage media; one or more processors operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media; and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media (Fig. 12B) that, when executed by the one or more processors, direct the computing apparatus to at least:
receive, in a user interface of an application, a selection of a display format for a cell in a data table, wherein the display format defines visual arrangements of individual entries in cells based at least on entry characteristics of the individual entries ([0124] describes that a user can insert a compound object that defines content of a cell and formatting therefor when a cell is to contain multiple values, including a data structure which defines how content is presented);
receive multiple individual entries into the cell ([0124] describes that a user can input various values for the compound object); and
visually arrange the multiple individual entries in the cell based on an entry characteristic of each of the multiple individual entries and in accordance with the display format ([0045] describes that the data structure and cell an d card view properties of compound objects are created, and data in the object presented as specified).
Claim 9 recites a method carried out by the computing apparatus of Claim 1, and is similarly rejected. Claim 16 recites one or media storing instructions to implement the apparatus of Claim 1, and is likewise rejected.
With regard to Claim 6, Campbell teaches that the multiple individual entries comprise entries entered and committed to the cell at different times from other ones of the multiple individual entries. [0081] describes that a card view can be used to edit a compound object, allowing committing entries to the cell at different times.
Claim 14 recites a method carried out by the computing apparatus of Claim 6, and is similarly rejected.
With regard to Claim 7, Campbell teaches that the program instructions further direct the computing apparatus to receive user input comprising a request to display an expanded view of the multiple individual entries of the cell in the user interface. Fig. 3C shows various expanded views of each of a plurality of entries and data structures contained within a cell.
Claim 15 recites a method carried out by the computing apparatus of Claim 7, and is similarly rejected.
With regard to Claim 8, Campbell teaches that to receive the selection of the display format for the cell, the program instructions direct the computing apparatus to receive the selection of the display format for a column of the data table which includes the cell. [0079] describes that the content displayed in the cell from among the content values in the compound object are affected by the dimensions of the cell, thereby indicating that a selected column display width selects the display format for the compound object.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-5, 10-13 and 17-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KEITH D BLOOMQUIST whose telephone number is (571)270-7718. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 8:30-5 PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kieu Vu can be reached at 571-272-4057. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KEITH D BLOOMQUIST/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2171
12/23/2025