The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 19, 1991
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1988
Daniel R Hicks, Byron, MN (US);
Gary R Ricard, Rochester, MN (US);
John J Vriezen, Zumbrota, MN (US);
International Business Machines, , NY (US);
Abstract
A method of encoding data records comprised of null or variable length fields of data bytes such that the sortabilty of the resulting string of data is permitted via simple byte comparisons. The first field is examined to determine if it is a null field. A null field is a field containing no data. It should sort out before a field containing any data, even all zeros. If a null field is detected, it is represented in the encoded string of data by a null field indicator. If the field is not a null field, the bytes in the field are examined. Zero value bytes are encoded based on the number of consecutive zero value bytes while non-zero bytes remain unchanged. An end of field indicator designates the end of each field in the resulting string of encoded data.