public int getCurrentBitOffset(){
        int nbrBits = index << 3;
        switch ( bitMask ) {
//          case ( 0x80 ) :
//              return nbrBits;
            case ( 0x40 ) :
                return nbrBits + 1;
            case ( 0x20 ) :
                return nbrBits + 2;
            case ( 0x10 ) :
                return nbrBits + 3;
            case ( 0x08 ) :
                return nbrBits + 4;
            case ( 0x04 ) :
                return nbrBits + 5;
            case ( 0x02 ) :
                return nbrBits + 6;
            case ( 0x01 ) :
                return nbrBits + 7;
            default:                
                return nbrBits;
        }
    }