Google patents spreadsheet tool that writes formulas from examples
This filing describes a system that looks at data entered in a spreadsheet cell and automatically guesses the formula needed to create that result. It generates several possible formulas, ranks them based on how well they fit the example, and saves the best one for the user.
In the filing’s own words
Techniques are described herein for automatically synthesizing programs that include one or more functions in a spreadsheet programming language. A method includes: receiving a first example including input provided in a first cell in a spreadsheet; automatically synthesizing a plurality of candidate programs including a first set of candidate programs consistent with the first example, wherein each candidate program in the first set of candidate programs comprises at least one function in a spreadsheet programming language and, when the candidate program is executed, the candidate program generates output that matches the first example; ranking the plurality of candidate programs; and storing a highest-ranked program of the plurality of candidate programs in association with the first cell in the spreadsheet.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method implemented by one or more processors, the method comprising: receiving a first example comprising first user input provided in a target cell in a target spreadsheet; automatically synthesizing a candidate program consistent with the first example, wherein the candidate program comprises at least one program idiom of a plurality of program idioms, the plurality of program idioms having been identified based on analyzing a corpus of spreadsheets, and each program idiom of the plurality of program idioms comprising a predefined grouping of a plurality of functions in a spreadsheet programming language that is implemented by a spreadsheet application; and storing the candidate program in association with the target cell in the target spreadsheet.
Facts
- Company
- Google (GOOGLE LLC)
- Official title
- SYNTHESIZING PROGRAMS IN A SPREADSHEET PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
- Publication number
- US20260288424A1
- Application number
- 19687928
- Filed
- May 26, 2026
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 14
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 8/31 Physics & computingG06F 16/24578 Physics & computingG06F 40/18 Physics & computingMore from Google in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.