Patent ID: 7549117
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to render a number in a spreadsheet program module, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to: determine the value of the number, the number comprising a measure of time; read a worldwide number format of the number wherein the worldwide format includes a locale specifier of the number and a base format of the number, the base number format comprising a format for a calendar date, wherein the locale specifier comprises a locale identification, a number shape and a calendar type, wherein the locale identification is used to categorize different global geographic regions by a plurality of languages and used to determine what language to render the number, wherein the plurality of languages comprise English, German, French, Thai, and Arabic, wherein rendering the number comprises displaying at least one of weekday names and weekday abbreviations, wherein the locale identification is further used to disambiguate dates used in at least the following countries: Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan, wherein the locale identification is further used as a tie-breaking mechanism when both the number shape of the number and the calendar type of the number do not make it clear how to display the number, wherein the number shape and the calendar type of the number are unclear when the display of the number comprises the display of a weekday name, wherein the calendar type only applies to a date category and a time category, the date category comprising the format: M/D/YY, and wherein the number shape comprises a number shape value that indicates a shape in which to represent the number; and use the base format and the locale specifier to render the number independent of regional settings associated with the spreadsheet program module therein applying the worldwide number format to the number.