Patents by Inventor William N. Beam

William N. Beam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Character set and programming language extension for enlarging the capacity of a date code
    Patent number: 5950197
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new date code with a two digit year code that is compatible with standard date codes, and that may represent dates well beyond the year 1999. The invention defines a set of extended symbols that may be used as first or second digits in the new two digit year code in the new date code. In addition, the invention provides an interpretation of the extended symbols which allows the new year codes to be added, subtracted, or otherwise manipulated and still provide a two symbol representation of years well beyond 1999. In addition, the extended symbols may be used in non-year code mathematical operations to provide an extended range of results that still fit in a two symbol format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventor: William N. Beam