Date format and date conversion procedure using a packed binary

Details Date format and date conversion procedure using a packed binary Date format and date conversion procedure using a packed binary

1996-05-30

1998-05-26

Amsbury, Wayne

Data processing: database and file management or data structures

Database design

Data structure types

707100, 707201, G06F 1730

Patent

active

057583366

ABSTRACT:
A binary date format, hereafter referred to as "packed binary", is used and comprises a 2-byte data field. The first two bits of the data field are utilized as identifiers to enable the packed binary format to be identified. The remaining bits are employed as a binary value year indication. A date conversion procedure employs the packed binary format and is called when a program reaches a date field that is to be processed. The date conversion procedure initially examines the date field to determine whether its format is zone decimal, packed decimal or packed binary. If the date field data format is either zone decimal or packed decimal, the date values are converted to packed decimal and the required arithmetic procedure is performed, using the packed binary format date value. Once the calculation is complete, the procedure determines whether a "year 2000" switch is set--indicating that all results are to be returned to the program in packed binary format. If the 2000 switch is not set, the date conversion procedure reconverts the packed binary year format back to the originally received format and returns the result to the running program.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4001570 (1977-01-01), Gooding et al.
patent: 5600836 (1997-02-01), Alter
patent: 5630118 (1997-05-01), Shaughnessy
patent: 5644762 (1997-07-01), Soeder
patent: 5668989 (1997-09-01), Mao
Digit Dates: A Guide for Planning and Implementation, IBM Corp., Jan. 1,1995, 4-1, to 4-12.

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