Lotus Development Corporation

501 Lotus Development Corp.

Lotus Corporation

David P Reed

Carolyn J Boettner

Alfred M Blanchette

Hugh S Tucker

Peter O Harris

Carl J Young

A formula processor which computes results for a group of formulas in which at least one formula uses the result of another formula. The formula processor receives the formulas from a host and returns computed results for the formulas to the host for storage in a main memory. Formulas are received as a sequence of tokens, each token describing operands or operations. The formula processor is pipelined; as one token is interpreted and processed by the formula processor, subsequent tokens are received. The formula processor uses a computation element which is capable of performing only certain operations; before attempting each operation described by a token, the computation element determines whether the operation can be performed by the computation element--if it can be performed, it is; otherwise, the host may perform the operation itself, or rewrite the operation so the formula processor can perform it. After the formula processor computes a result for a formula, it stores this result in a cache memory. Thereafter, the formula processor can retrieve the result stored in the cache memory and use the retrieved result to compute a subsequent formula. The operands to a formula may be values or pointers indicating how to locate values; the formula processor converts pointers into values when required for a computation by requesting resolution from the host microprocessor, or, alternatively, by retrieval from the cache.

Formula processor having cache means for storing and retrieving results

An interface for enabling an application program to connect to a selected one or more of a plurality of external data sources/sinks, the application program running on a computer having active memory, the interface including a plurality of driver means, each of said drivers corresponding to a different subgroup of the plurality of external data sources/sinks; a name manager for identifying the drivers to the application; a selector for selecting one of the identified external data sources/sinks; a loader for loading the drivers corresponding to the selected external data source/sink into active memory; and an identifier for identifying a first plurality of entry points to a first plurality of function calls that said application can make to the loaded drivers, the plurality of function calls including function calls for establishing and/or terminating connectivity to the loaded drivers.

Interface for providing access to external data sources/sinks

A display management system for use with a computer that includes a display system, the display management system including means for generating a representation of a desired screen image; means for periodically updating the display system to display the desired screen image that corresponds to the state of the representation existing at the time of the update; and means for changing the representation so as to record the cumulative effect of a plurality of successive changes that are made to the desired screen image since the last update of the display system.

Asynchronous, minimal update display system

An information management system for use with a computer having a display screen, the system including means for organizing information into an ordered sequence of worksheets in a workspace, each worksheet of the sequence of worksheets comprising an array of cells; and means for enabling a user to navigate through the sequence of worksheets on a worksheet to worksheet basis so as to display a selected one of the worksheets on the display screen. The system also includes means for selecting a plurality of worksheets from the ordered sequence of worksheets; and means for displaying on the display screen a perspective presentation of the selected worksheets.

Growing community of inventors

Wellesley, MA, United States of America

David P Reed