Method and system for facilitating information exchange
A method and system for facilitating information exchange between individuals and entities interacting on a shared project are provided, and more particularly to a method and system for horizontal. i.e.. non-hierarchical, participation in and/or contribution to a spreadsheet-based project. The method and system is Web-based and utilizes conventional browser and spreadsheet technology to achieve collaborative exchanges of information on an enterprise-wide basis. The method and system also facilitate efficacious remote information access and exchange, e.g., over a computer network such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, through a caching function that combines individual queries initiated by a spreadsheet program before transmitting across a network to a server for consideration.
1 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . A system for facilitating efficient database-related information exchanges across a network, the system comprising:
a server that is connected to a plurality of databases and that is in communication with the network, wherein the server is configured to:
receive a plurality of queries for data associated with a spreadsheet-based application program from a plurality of client computers across the network, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of data cells in at least one spreadsheet;
retrieve the data responsive to the plurality of queries from the plurality of databases; and
transmit the data responsive to the plurality of queries across the network to the plurality of client computers for use in rendering the at least one spreadsheet.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the server restricts access to data contained within the plurality of databases based upon access clearance of a user of one of the plurality of client computers.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the data responsive to the plurality of queries is stored in a cache at each of the plurality of client computers.
21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the data responsive to the plurality of queries transmitted by the server was not previously stored in the cache at each of the plurality of client computers.
22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the data responsive to the plurality of queries transmitted by the server is stored in the cache at each of the plurality of client computers before providing the data to the spreadsheet-based application program for use in rendering the at least one spreadsheet.
23 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of queries is related to the formulation of a budget using the spreadsheet-based application program.
24 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of queries is related to the formulation of a forecast using the spreadsheet-based application program.
25 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of databases comprises at least one relational database in communication with a centrally administered OLAP server.
26 . A method for facilitating efficient database-related information exchanges across a network, the system comprising:
providing a server that has a plurality of databases and that is in communication with the network;
receiving, at the server, a plurality of queries for data associated with a spreadsheet-based application program from a plurality of client computers across the network, wherein the data corresponds to a plurality of data cells in at least one spreadsheet;
retrieving the data responsive to the plurality of queries from the plurality of databases; and
transmitting the data responsive to the plurality of queries across the network to the plurality of client computers for use in rendering the at least one spreadsheet.
27 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising using the server to restrict access to data contained within the plurality of databases based upon access clearance of a user of one of the plurality of client computers.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the data responsive to the plurality of queries is stored in a cache at each of the plurality of client computers.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the data responsive to the plurality of queries transmitted by the server was not previously stored in the cache at each of the plurality of client computers.
30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the data responsive to the plurality of queries transmitted by the server is stored in the cache at each of the plurality of client computers before providing the data to the spreadsheet-based application program for use in rendering the at least one spreadsheet.
31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of queries is related to the formulation of a budget using the spreadsheet-based application program.
32 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of queries is related to the formulation of a forecast using the spreadsheet-based application program.
33 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of databases comprises at least one relational database in communication with a centrally administered OLAP server.