Multibyte locale for single byte languages

Abstract

A development suite for developing and testing internationalized software includes, in addition to an ASCII English locale, a multibyte English locale. The presence of a multibyte English locale permits early discovery and correction of errors by English speaking developers which would otherwise only be found during localization of the software for a country where a multibyte representation was required. A system and a computer program product also utilize a multibyte English locale.

1 . A computer implemented method of testing internationalized software, comprising the step of: 
 a. providing an element for performing the step of binding internationalized software to be tested to a multibyte locale created for a single byte language.    
     
     
         2 . A computer implemented method of implementing a multibyte locale in a single byte language, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing an element for performing the step of creating a mapping between multibyte binary words and characters of said single byte language; and    b. providing an element for performing the step of providing for conversion of representations of characters of said single byte language into corresponding multibyte binary words specified by said mapping.    
     
     
         3 . The method of implementing a multibyte locale of    claim 2    further comprising the step of: 
 c. providing an element for performing the step of providing a sort function which sorts multibyte binary words in a sort order customary for said single byte language, but which differs from a binary sort order;  
 whereby failure to invoke said sort function of the multibyte locale will result in a different sort order from said sort order customary for said single byte language.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of implementing a multibyte locale of    claim 2    further comprising the steps of: 
 c. providing an element for performing the step of defining a date representation for a particular locale; and  
 d. providing an element for performing the step of providing a date function which converts an internationalized date representation to said date representation for a particular locale  
 whereby failure to invoke said date function of the multibyte locale will result in a different date representation from said date representation customary for said locale.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method of implementing a multibyte locale of    claim 2    further comprising the step of: 
 b. providing an element for performing the step of providing for display of said multibyte binary words so as to create a visual distinction between characters represented in said multibyte binary words and characters represented in ASCII.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5    in which said visual distinction relates to one of font, color or spacing.  
     
     
         7 . A method for implementing a multibyte locale in a single byte language comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing an element for performing the step of converting representations of characters of said single byte language into corresponding multibyte binary words;    b. providing an element for performing the step of providing a sort function which sorts multibyte binary words in a sort order customary for said single byte language, but which differs from a binary sort order; and    c. providing an element for performing the step of providing a date function which converts an internationalized date representation to said date representation for a particular locale.    
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for testing internationalized software, comprising: 
 a. a computer; and    b. a computer program stored on said computer for use with said internationalized software, said program comprising a multibyte locale created for a single byte language.    
     
     
         9 . A computer system for developing software comprising: 
 a. at least one computer;    b. one or more message sources, each containing one or more program messages in a single byte language; and    c. one or more language tables containing specific processing information and conventions for a particular locale, at least one of which is a multibyte locale created for a single byte language.    
     
     
         10 . A computer system for developing and testing an internationalized computer program written in a single byte language, comprising: 
 a. a network;    b. one or more computers connected to said network;    c. a source of messages to be used by said internationalized computer program when running on said one or more computers; and    d. one or more locales, each containing specific processing information and conventions for a particular locale, at least one of which is a multibyte locale created for said single byte language, for binding to said internationalized computer program during program development and testing,    whereby an internationalized computer program under development can be tested using said multibyte locale.    
     
     
         11 . A product for implementing a multibyte locale comprising: 
 a computer readable memory medium; and    a data structure stored on said memory medium, utilized for controlling said multibyte locale, said data structure comprising:    a mapping of characters of a single byte language to corresponding multibyte binary words.    
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of    claim 11    in which the data structure further comprises: 
 a mapping of elements of a date representation utilized with internationalized software to elements of a date representation of a particular locale.  
 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of    claim 11    in which the data structure further comprises: 
 a representation of sort order utilized in a particular locale.  
 
     
     
         14 . A computer program product for implementing a multibyte locale comprising: 
 a computer readable memory medium; and    one or more language tables containing specific processing information and conventions for a particular locale, at least one of which is a multibyte locale created for a single byte language.    
     
     
         15 . A computer program product for implementing a multibyte locale in a single byte language comprising: 
 a computer readable memory medium; and    a computer program including 
 a routine for conversion of representations of characters of said single byte language into corresponding multibyte binary words;  
 a routine providing a sort function which sorts multibyte binary words in a sort order customary for said single byte language, but which differs from a binary sort order; and  
 a routine for providing a date function which converts an internationalized date representation to said date representation for a particular locale.  
   
     
     
         16 . A network with improved capabilities for testing internationalized software, comprising; 
 a plurality of computers connected to the network;    at least one of said computers configured to bind an internationalized program written in a single byte language to a multibyte locale created for said single byte language.    
     
     
         17 . A method of testing internationalized software written in a single byte language using a network comprising the steps of: 
 providing an element for performing the step of downloading, over said network, a multibyte locale implemented in said single byte language; and    providing an element for performing the step of binding said multibyte locale to said internationalized software for testing.    
     
     
         18 . A method of facilitating testing of internationalized software written in a single byte language at a remote location using a network comprising the steps of: 
 providing an element for performing the step of sending, over said network, a multibyte locale created for said single byte language to a computer at said remote location,    whereby said computer at said remote location can bind said multibyte locale created for said single byte language to said internationalized software for testing.