[time-nuts] seeking a time/clock software architecture

[Chris Albertson]

>>I'd like to propose a standard description of a higher order model of
>>time and the transformation between raw clock and time (in some agreed
>>upon time scale).


A good time transform will let you transform between time scales at
points in the far future and far past.   For example "what was the
date on the Chinese calendar for Jan 11th in 1,500BC"  My point is
that you may want to apply your transform on times not near the
present.

Two timescales can have different phase and rate.   At any instant in
time two real numbers are enough to transform the time from one system
to another.  A linear equation is enough but the rate might change
over time. I think this means a second order polynomial.

Next I think you must always define the range where the polynomial is
valid.  For example adding a leap second to one time scale invalidates
the polynomial and makes you use another one

So a general purpose API would need to look at the epoch to be
transformed then select the correct polynomial.

This amounts really to a table look up.  But you need that to handle
things like conversion from UTC to a computer's internal time.  A
computer's time can depend in silly things like the air conditioner in
the room cycling

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California