Patent ID: 6658443
Filing Date: 2003-12-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for representing an interval within a computer system to facilitate implementing efficient arithmetic operations using the interval, the method comprising:receiving a representation of the interval, the representation including a first floating-point number representing a first endpoint of the interval and a second floating-point number representing a second endpoint of the interval; and performing an arithmetic operation using the interval and using a floating-point arithmetic unit to produce a result; wherein if the first endpoint is negative infinity and the second endpoint is finite, performing the arithmetic operation involves treating the first endpoint as a number less than the smallest negative floating-point number and greater than negative infinity to represent a result of a negative overflow toward negative infinity; wherein if the second endpoint is positive infinity and the first endpoint is finite, performing the arithmetic operation involves treating the first endpoint as a number greater than the largest positive floating-point number and less than positive infinity to represent a result of a positive overflow toward positive infinity.