Returns: A 
string vec used as a vector of integer values,
in which each element 
vec[i] represents the number of digits
in the group at position 
i,
starting with position 0 as the rightmost group
.  If 
vec.size() <= i,
the number is the same as group 
(i - 1);
if 
(i < 0 || vec[i] <= 0 || vec[i] == CHAR_MAX),
the size of the digit group is unlimited
.