Patent US3416627A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5657259A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5657259A
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US
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Number formatting framework
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1994-01-21
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Granted: 1997-08-12
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Expires: 2014-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and system for formatting numerical information. An object-based operating system provides various number formatting services. Some objects scan text and convert the text to numerical information, and convert non-text numerical information to text, and convert between different numerical formats and languages. The system provides a common ground from which application programs can speak a seemingly common numerical language without specifying the details of converting numerical information between systems of representation. The present system relieves application developers of the burden of handling details of numerical information, and provides ease of information transfer between monetary systems and cultures having differing languages. The system also provides for conversion between number formats to allow for easier processing and/or comprehension of the numerical information, and normalization and alignment of any textual representation of numeric information.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark E. Davis
- 👤 John H. Jenkins
- 👤 Sanjay J. Poonen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:15
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/103; G06F40/12; G06F40/123; G06F40/126; G06F40/151; G06F40/166; G06F40/177; G06F40/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the apparatus converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number and comprising: (a) a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number; (b) a number formatter framework residing in the storage having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form; and (c) means responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the apparatus converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number and comprising: (a) a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number; (b) a number formatter framework residing in the storage having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form; and (c) means responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the number formatting classes includes at least one text-to-number conversion method for converting text to at least one number.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the text-to-number conversion method includes: at least one method for converting text to the standard intermediate form; and wherein the canonical number formatter object includes: at least one method for converting the standard intermediate form to at least one binary number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one number-to-text method for converting numerical information into text.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one number-to-text method includes means for providing a confidence indication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the number-to-text conversion method includes: at least one method for converting numerical information in the standard intermediate form to a text form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes class code for instantiating at least one object for managing language-specific numerals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one method for formatting positive and negative numbers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one method for managing out of bounds processing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polymorphic instantiation means includes: (a) means responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a first number formatter object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes for attempting a first conversion of numerical information and for returning a confidence value indicating the results of the first conversion attempt; and (b) means responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a second number formatter object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes for performing a second conversion when the first conversion results in a confidence value which does not meet predetermined criteria.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number formatter framework includes class code for instantiating at least one object for mapping character-values.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including display means for dynamically aligning any textual representation of numbers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of number formatting classes has methods for formatting numerical information in an additive format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of number formatting classes has methods for formatting numerical information in a positioned format.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer implemented method for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the method converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number, and comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number; (b) storing a number formatting framework having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form; (c) polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes in response to numerical information in the first format; and (d) converting the numerical information in the first format to a binary number using methods in the number formatting object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
A computer implemented method for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the method converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number, and comprising the steps of: (a) constructing a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number; (b) storing a number formatting framework having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form; (c) polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes in response to numerical information in the first format; and (d) converting the numerical information in the first format to a binary number using methods in the number formatting object.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the first format is text and step (d) includes the step of: (d1) converting numerical information in text format to at least one binary number.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16, wherein step (d1) includes the steps of: (d1a) converting text to a standard intermediate form; and (d1b) converting the standard intermediate form to at least one binary number.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17, wherein step (d1a) includes the step of generating conversion result information based on the conversion operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the step of generating conversion result information includes the step of providing a confidence indication.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15, including the step of: (e) Using the number formatter object to convert at least one binary number to text.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20, wherein step (e) includes the steps of: (e1a) converting at least one binary number to a standard intermediate form; and (e1b) converting the standard intermediate form to a textual form.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d2) converting numerical information in the first format with language-specific numerals to a binary number.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d3) formatting positive and negative numbers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d4) detecting an out of bounds processing condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the steps of: (d5) attempting a first conversion of numerical information and generating a confidence value based on the conversion; and (d6) performing a second conversion when the confidence value does not meet predetermined criteria.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of: (d7) dynamically aligning and displaying any textual representation of numeric information.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of mapping character values.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of formatting numerical information in an additive format.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (d) includes the step of formatting numerical information in a positional format.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer program product for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the computer program product converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number and comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including: (a) program code for constructing a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number; (b) a number formatter framework having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form; (c) program code for loading the number formatter framework into the storage; and (d) program code responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer program product for use in a computer system having a processor and a storage, the computer program product converting numerical information between a first format and a binary number and comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon including: (a) program code for constructing a canonical number formatter object in the storage which translates numerical information between a standard intermediate form and a binary number; (b) a number formatter framework having a plurality of number formatting classes arranged in a class hierarchy, each of the plurality of number formatting classes having methods for converting numerical information between one of a plurality of first formats and the standard intermediate form; (c) program code for loading the number formatter framework into the storage; and (d) program code responsive to numerical information in the first format for polymorphically instantiating a number formatting object from one of the plurality of number formatting classes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer program product of claim 30, wherein each of the number formatting classes includes at least one text-to-number conversion method for converting text to at least one number.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer program product of claim 31, wherein the text-to-number conversion method includes: at least one method for converting text to the standard intermediate form; and wherein the canonical number formatter object includes: at least one method for converting the standard intermediate form to at least one binary number.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer program product of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of number formatting classes includes at least one number-to-text method for converting numerical information into text.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |