Using a Document Model to Create and Maintain Dynamic Mathematic Representations Through Problem Spaces

Abstract

A device operable to maintain a document comprising a processor, a first problem space including a first variable having a first value, and a second problem space including a second variable having a second value, the first and second variables and the first and second values stored such that when the first variable is: the same as the second variable and the first value is different that the second value, the second value is maintained when the processor modifies the first value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a document as viewed by a user;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the structural organization of the document;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the flow of logic used to modify a datastore;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile device operable for some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is an exemplary general purpose device suitable for implementing the several embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A device operable to maintain a document comprising: a processor;a first problem space including a first variable having a first value; anda second problem space including a second variable having a second value, the first and second variables and the first and second values stored such that when the first variable is the same as the second variable and the first value is different that the second value, the second value is maintained when the processor modifies the first value.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second variables have the same name.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first problem space hither comprises a plurality of environments that display the first variable and the first value.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein one of the plurality of environments modifies one of the first variable and the first value, wherein the modification to one of the first variable and the first value is displayed in all of the environments in the first problem space, and wherein one of the first variable and the first value are displayed on one of the environments.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein a plurality of the environments modify one of the first variable and the first value, and wherein the modification to one of the first variable and the first value is displayed in all of the environments in the first problem space.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the problem space further comprises: a rule that defines one of the first variable and the first value.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein the problem space further comprises: a plurality of rules that define one of the first variable and the first value; anda conflict resolution algorithm for resolving conflicts between the rules.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is one of a system operable with a Windows-based operating system, a Unix-based operating system, a Mac-based operating system, and a handheld calculator operating system.

9. A handheld calculator comprising: a processor;a memory electrically coupled to the processor;a display screen electrically coupled to the processor; anda document stored in the memory, the document being executed on the processor and displayed on the display screen in response to a user command, the document comprising: a first problem space including a first variable having a first value; anda second problem space including a second variable having a second value, the first and second variables and the first and second values stored such that when the first variable is the same as the second variable and the first value is different that the second value, the second value is maintained when the processor modifies the first value.

10. The calculator of claim 9 wherein the first problem space is independent of the second problem space.

11. The calculator of claim 10 wherein modification of the first variable does not affect the second variable.

12. The calculator of claim 10: wherein the first variable has a first value and the second variable has a second value; andwherein modification of the first value does not affect the second value.

13. The calculator of claim 9 wherein the first problem space further comprises a plurality of environments that display the first variable and the first value.

14. The calculator of claim 13 wherein a plurality of the environments modify one of the first variable and the first value) and wherein the modification to the first variable or first value is displayed in all of the environments in the first problem space.

15. A method comprising: creating a first variable having a first value;creating a second variable having a second value; andwhen the first variable is the same as the second variable, modifying the first value without modifying the second value.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: receiving a user input to modify the first value.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising: associating a first problem space with the first datastore; andassociating a second problem space with the second datastore;wherein the modification of the first value is displayed in the first problem space but is not displayed in the second problem space.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising: associating a first environment with the first problem space;associating a second environment with the first problem space; anddisplaying the modification of the first value in the first environment and the second environment.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the first environment and the second environment dynamically update in response o the modification of the first value.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the first environment and the second environment are selected from the group consisting of: a tabular environment, a geometry grapher environment, a scratchpad environment, and a notepad environment.