net.time4j.engine.TimeLine Maven / Gradle / Ivy

Go to download
Show more of this group Show more artifacts with this name
Show all versions of time4j-core Show documentation
There is a newer version: 4.38
/*
 * -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 * Copyright © 2013-2014 Meno Hochschild, 
 * -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 * This file (TimeLine.java) is part of project Time4J.
 *
 * Time4J is free software: You can redistribute it and/or modify it
 * under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published
 * by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2.1 of the License, or
 * (at your option) any later version.
 *
 * Time4J is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
 * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
 * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
 * GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
 *
 * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
 * along with Time4J. If not, see .
 * -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 */

package net.time4j.engine;


/**
 * Represents a time axis where a point in time can be moved forward or
 * backward. 
 *
 * As step width, the associated time axis will usually use the smallest
 * registered time unit. 
 *
 * @param    generic type of time points
 * @author  Meno Hochschild
 * @since   2.0
 */
/*[deutsch]
 * Repräsentiert eine Zeitachse, entlang der ein Zeitpunkt schrittweise
 * vorwärts oder zurück gesetzt werden kann. 
 *
 * Als Schrittweite wird die zugehörige Zeitachse gewöhnlich die
 * kleinste registrierte Zeiteinheit verwenden. 
 *
 * @param    generic type of time points
 * @author  Meno Hochschild
 * @since   2.0
 */
public interface TimeLine {

    //~ Methoden ----------------------------------------------------------

    /**
     * Move given point in time forward by one step. 
     *
     * @param   timepoint       point in time to be moved forward
     * @return  new point in time one step after given argument
     *          or {@code null} if applied on the maximum of timeline
     * @since   2.0
     */
    /*[deutsch]
     * Setzt den angegebenen Zeitpunkt einen Schritt vorwärts. 
     *
     * @param   timepoint       point in time to be moved forward
     * @return  new point in time one step after given argument
     *          or {@code null} if applied on the maximum of timeline
     * @since   2.0
     */
    T stepForward(T timepoint);

    /**
     * Move given point in time backwards by one step. 
     *
     * @param   timepoint       point in time to be moved backwards
     * @return  new point in time one step before given argument
     *          or {@code null} if applied on the minimum of timeline
     * @since   2.0
     */
    /*[deutsch]
     * Setzt den angegebenen Zeitpunkt einen Schritt
     * rückwärts. 
     *
     * @param   timepoint       point in time to be moved backwards
     * @return  new point in time one step before given argument
     *          or {@code null} if applied on the minimum of timeline
     * @since   2.0
     */
    T stepBackwards(T timepoint);

}