How to combine overlapping time ranges (time ranges union)

Question

I have an array with several time ranges inside:

[Tue, 24 May 2011 08:00:00 CEST +02:00..Tue, 24 May 2011 13:00:00 CEST +02:00,
 Tue, 24 May 2011 16:30:00 CE         


        

Answer 1

Searching a little bit I have found a code that does the trick:

def self.merge_ranges(ranges)
  ranges = ranges.sort_by {|r| r.first }
  *outages = ranges.shift
  ranges.each do |r|
    lastr = outages[-1]
    if lastr.last >= r.first - 1
      outages[-1] = lastr.first..[r.last, lastr.last].max
    else
      outages.push(r)
    end
  end
  outages
end

A sample (working with time ranges too!):

ranges = [1..5, 20..20, 4..11, 40..45, 39..50]
merge_ranges(ranges)
=> [1..11, 20..20, 39..50]

Found here: http://www.ruby-forum.com/topic/162010