On 7/3/2012 6:28 PM, Steve Allen wrote:
On 2012 Jul 3, at 18:13, Vadim Antonov wrote:
PS. I would vote for using TAI instead of UTC as the
non-relativistic time base in computer systems.
A problem with the use of TAI is that the BIPM and CCTF (who make
TAI) expressed strongly that they do not want it used as a system
time in document CCTF09-27
http://www.bipm.org/cc/CCTF/Allowed/18/CCTF_09-27_note_on_UTC-ITU-R.pdf
so strongly that they end by contemplating the discontinuation
of TAI.
There's always a possibility of using pseudo-TAI internally by
reconstructing it from UTC. This is not the best solution (because it
requires systems to have long-term memory of past leap seconds, or
ability to access a reliable storage of such), but at least this removes
the burden of doing complicated time handling from application software.
Actually, what they are saying is that they would discontinue TAI *if*
definition of UTC is amended to remove future leap seconds. The
document makes it clear that they recognize the necessity of continuous
coordinate time standard.
--vadim
