Client/server database system with methods for multi-threaded data processing in a heterogeneous language environment

Claim 1

In a computer system, a method for transforming textual information based on locale-specific information, the method comprising: providing a transformation structure comprising a plurality of arrays storing locale-specific information for a particular type of character transformation; receiving input requesting that the character transformation be performed on an input character, said input character comprising at least one byte value; mapping said input character into a Unicode character using a Unicode mapping table, said Unicode character comprising a plurality of byte values; and transforming said Unicode character into a final transformation value for said input character, by performing the substeps of: (i) using a most significant byte of said Unicode character to reference a particular entry of a particular one of said plurality of arrays, (ii) determining whether the entry being referenced stores said final transformation value or a reference to a another one of said plurality of arrays, (iii) if said entry stores said final transformation value, satisfying said request by returning said final transformation value stored at the entry being referenced and thereafter terminating the method, (iv) if said entry stores a reference to another one of said plurality of arrays, using a next most significant byte of said Unicode character to reference a particular entry of said another one of said plurality of arrays, and (v) repeating substeps (ii)-(iv) until said final transformation value is located.