Patent ID: 7890320
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps, comprising: providing a numeric tower, the numeric tower representing a structure supporting a plurality of statically defined numeric data types in a memory, the numeric data types each being a different but accurate representation of a particular value; providing a plurality of numeric operations for the numeric tower to perform with any of the statically defined numeric data types using a processing unit; enabling the numeric tower to select a particular representation of the particular value based on a numeric operation to be performed; providing at least one conversion operation for the numeric tower to up convert the particular value to a less restrictive representation type or down convert the particular value to a more restrictive representation type from one of the statically defined numeric data types to another one of the statically defined numeric data types using a processing, wherein the numeric tower is configured to allow statically defined data types be adjusted within the structure having the plurality of statically defined data types; and determining whether a result of the numeric operation will result in an overflow situation when the numeric operation does not fit within a range supported by the particular one of the numeric data types and converting to one of the other numeric data types when the numeric operation does not fit within a supported range.