def ibm2Ieee(ibm_float):
    """
    ibm2Ieee(ibm_float)
    Used by permission
    (C) Secchi Angelo
    with thanks to Howard Lightstone and Anton Vredegoor. 
    """
    """    
    I = struct.unpack('>I',ibm_float)[0]
    sign = [1,-1][bool(i & 0x100000000L)]
    characteristic = ((i >> 24) & 0x7f) - 64
    fraction = (i & 0xffffff)/float(0x1000000L)
    return sign*16**characteristic*fraction
    """
