Electronic mathematical model builder
The present invention relates generally to the field of information processing by digital computers and, more particularly, to the entry and processing of information by application programs, particularly spreadsheets. The present invention is an electronic mathematical model builder that comprises a memory for storage of data, a processor for defining addressable sets of cells stored in the memory with a unique identifier, for entering data into the cells and for processing data stored in the cells, a user interface with a display for displaying sets of cells in a work area and means for creating and positioning sets of cells in the work area and inputting data to be entered into the cells, and a function builder for building mathematical relations between cells, comprising fields for user specification of a desired function by mathematical operators and input variables of the function, and set of destination cells containing values of the function.
1. An electronic mathematical model builder comprising:
a memory for storage of data,
a processor for defining panels of cells stored in the memory, for entering data into the cells and for processing data stored in the cells,
a user interface component with a display for displaying panels of cells in a work area and for specifying input data to be entered into the cells of at least one input panel, and
a function builder component configured for establishing a function comprising mathematical relations between the at least one input panel and an output panel with a plurality of cells, the established function being stored independently from the plurality of cells and not inherently connected with the plurality of cells via a special token used to invoke the established function, the function builder comprising fields for user specification of a desired function by mathematical operators, and input variables of the function,
wherein the processor determines respective output function values for the input data of the at least one input panel according to the established function, the established function being separate from the output function values.
2. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein the function builder component comprises components for selection by the user for specification of the function.
3. A model builder according to claim 2 , wherein at least one component is a function component selected from the group consisting of mathematical operators, mathematical functions, logical and Boolean functions, financial functions, string functions, and data base functions.
4. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein a function component is a Java class that encapsulates the calculation of a specific function, and the data that is input for the function.
5. A model builder according to claim 2 wherein at least one component is a data component including data of a panel of cells.
6. A model builder according to claim 5 , wherein the data component is a Java class that holds an object reference to a specific data source.
7. A model builder according to claim 6 , wherein a data source is selected from a panel of cells and an external database.
8. A model builder according claim 1 , further comprising data components including data from an external data source.
9. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein the function builder component comprises graphical symbols relating to respective components for selection by the user to be incorporated into the desired function.
10. A model builder according to claim 9 , wherein the graphical symbols relating to respective components are organized under various tabs according to their type.
11. A model builder according to claim 9 , wherein the graphical symbols relating to respective components are organized in a graphical, hierarchical diagram according to their type.
12. A model builder according to claim 9 , wherein components are selected by dragging and dropping the corresponding graphical symbols into the function field of the function builder component.
13. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein the function builder component comprises tools for specification of calculation type.
14. A model builder according to claim 13 , wherein the calculation type is selected from by row, by column, all cells in a panel, selected cells in a panel, accumulated, and non-accumulated.
15. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein the user interface comprises means for naming functions built with the function builder component.
16. A model builder according to claim 15 , further comprising means for storage and retrieval of functions in the memory.
17. A model builder according to claim 1 , further comprising means for storing a selected part of the model in the memory.
18. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein a first function may be an input variable to a second function.
19. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein the function builder component further comprises tools for user definition of a mathematical operator.
20. A model builder according to claim 1 , further including tools for saving a model document as a standalone Java .jar file.
21. A model builder according to claim 1 , further including tools for saving a model document as a standalone application.
22. A model builder according to claim 21 , wherein the standalone application is selected from a Java Applet, a server-side application, and an .exe-file.
23. A model builder according to claim 1 , further including tools for documenting the structure of a specific model document.
24. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein the function builder component is further adapted for automatic generation of an output panel comprising a plurality of cells for containing values of the function.
25. A model builder according to claim 1 , further including tools for saving a model document including data.
26. A model builder according to claim 1 , further including tools for saving a model document without data.
27. A model builder according to claim 1 , wherein the function builder component creates the output panel of cells to hold the output function values.
28. A method for building a mathematical model comprising:
defining, by a processor having a memory coupled thereto, panels of cells stored in the memory, for entering data into the cells and for processing data stored in the cells;
displaying in a user interface component panels of cells in a work area and specifying input data to be entered into the cells of at least one input panel; and
establishing with a function builder component a function comprising mathematical relations between the at least one input panel and an output panel with a plurality of cells, the established function being stored independently from the plurality of cells and not inherently connected with the plurality of cells via a special token used to invoke the established function, the function builder component comprising fields for user specification of a desired function by mathematical operators, and input variables of the function,
wherein the processor determines respective output function values for the input data of the at least one input panel according to the established function, the established function being separate from the output function values.
29. A non-transitory computer readable medium including program code for building a mathematical model, the medium comprising:
program code for defining, by a processor having a memory coupled thereto, panels of cells stored in the memory, for entering data into the cells and for processing data stored in the cells,
program code for displaying in a user interface component panels of cells in a work area and specifying input data to be entered into at least one input panel, and
program code for establishing with a function builder component a function comprising mathematical relations between the at least one input panel and an output panel with a plurality of cells, the established function being stored independently from the plurality of cells and not inherently connected with the plurality of cells via a special token used to invoke the established function, the function builder component comprising fields for user specification of a desired function by mathematical operators, and input variables of the function,
wherein the function builder provides the input data of the at least one input panel to the function, the established function being separate from the output function values.