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EP0304891A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Means and method for controlling input events in multi-processing computer systems

Assignee: Wang Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1988-08-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-08-24
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Abstract

Abstract A method of inputting to a program or virtual process information from an external source such as another independently running process of an I/O device. Information is transmitted to a program by means of events, which may be selectively retrieved from an event queue by the program. User input such as that from a keyboard or mouse-type device, is treated specially to insure that the input goes to the proper program in a multi-processing environment. A keyboard driver is included that has the capacity to use individual translation tables for each individual application program which is running. User input from user activated devices, such as a keyboard or mouse, are combined with input from other parts of the systems by an input funnel which insures that user input is routed to the proper destination. The input funnel operates in conjunction with a window manager to allow a user to type a sequence of keys which may be directed to several different programs which are running.

Inventors

  • 👤 Deborah A. Rhodes
  • 👤 Eric Rustici
  • 👤 Kelly Hale Carter

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 01:43
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/038; G06F3/02; G06F3/023; G06F3/0238

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 202 words
A method of routing user input in a computer system which concurrently runs a plurality of processes, including the steps of: receiving scan codes representative of keys typed by a user, the scan codes including shift codes representative of shift states and other keys representative of keystrokes; maintaining a shift state representative of shift keys typed by the user; producing keycode data comprised of individual keycodes, each representative of a keystroke, and each determined by looking up the keystroke in a multiplane table, the plane being selected as a function of the current shift state; distinguishing keycodes by looking each keycode up in a routing table which associates each possible keycode with an individual one of said plurality of processes, one of which processes is a supervisory process; sending each keycode to the associated process until a keycode associated with the supervisory process is received; sending keycodes received subsequent to the keycode associated with the supervisory process to a buffer; providing additional keycodes to the supervisory process from the buffer upon request by the supervisory process until the supervisory process has completed operation; and sending keycodes stored in the buffer to the process associated therewith after the supervisory process has completed operation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 202 words
A method of routing user input in a computer system which concurrently runs a plurality of processes, including the steps of: receiving scan codes representative of keys typed by a user, the scan codes including shift codes representative of shift states and other keys representative of keystrokes; maintaining a shift state representative of shift keys typed by the user; producing keycode data comprised of individual keycodes, each representative of a keystroke, and each determined by looking up the keystroke in a multiplane table, the plane being selected as a function of the current shift state; distinguishing keycodes by looking each keycode up in a routing table which associates each possible keycode with an individual one of said plurality of processes, one of which processes is a supervisory process; sending each keycode to the associated process until a keycode associated with the supervisory process is received; sending keycodes received subsequent to the keycode associated with the supervisory process to a buffer; providing additional keycodes to the supervisory process from the buffer upon request by the supervisory process until the supervisory process has completed operation; and sending keycodes stored in the buffer to the process associated therewith after the supervisory process has completed operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the operation of the supervisory process includes the step of modifying the routing table to change the association between the keycodes and the individual processes.

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