Efficient collation element structure for handling large numbers of characters

A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for facilitating use of a collation element that supports a large number of characters, the method comprising:

• receiving the collation element;
• reading a primary weight value from a primary weight field within the collation element;
• if the primary weight value falls within a reserved set of values, extending the primary weight field to include all bits within the collation element, wherein each different primary weight value in the extended primary weight value field identifies a different character, whereby the size of the extended primary weight field increases the number of characters that can be represented by the collation element;
• and
• if the primary weight value is not within the reserved set of values,
• reading a secondary weight value from the secondary weight field within the collation element, and
• reading a tertiary weight value from the tertiary weight field within the collation element,
• wherein the collation element is four bytes in size, of which the primary weight field is two bytes, the secondary weight field is one byte and the tertiary weight field is one byte, unless a value in the primary weight field belongs to the reserved set of values, in which case the primary weight field takes up all four bytes of the collation element,
• wherein the reserved set of values for the primary weight value includes hexadecimal values OXFFFO-OXFFFF,
• wherein the primary weight value identifies a character;
• wherein the secondary weight value can specify an accent on the character;
• and
• wherein the tertiary weight value can specify case information for the character.

An apparatus that facilitates use of a collation element that supports a large number of characters, comprising:

• an assignment mechanism that is configured to read a primary weight value from a primary weight field within the collation element;
• wherein if the primary weight value falls within a reserved set of values, the assignment mechanism is configured to extend the primary weight field to include all bits within the collation element, wherein each different primary weight value in the extended primary weight value field identifies a different character, whereby the size of the extended primary weight field increases the number of characters that can be represented by the collation element;
• and
• wherein if the primary weight value is not within the reserved set of values, the assignment mechanism is configured to,
• read a secondary weight value from the secondary weight field within the collation element, and to
• read a tertiary weight value from the tertiary weight field within the collation element,
• wherein the collation element is four bytes in size, of which the primary weight field is two bytes, the secondary weight field is one byte and the tertiary weight field is one byte, unless a value in the primary weight field belongs to the reserved set of values, in which case the primary weight field takes up all four bytes of the collation element,
• wherein the reserved set of values for the primary weight value includes hexadecimal values OXFFFO-OXFFFF.
• wherein the primary weight value identifies a character;
• wherein the secondary weight value can specify an accent on the character;
• and
• wherein the tertiary weight value can specify case information for the character.