Window kernel

• US 6,397,262 B1
• Filed: 01/21/1998
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 2236008 Ontario Inc. (Blackberry Limited)
• Original Assignee: QNX Software Systems Limited (Canada) (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Hayden, Patrick M., Burgener, Robin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): COURTENAY III, ST JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/010,479
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 395/680,681,682 709/310-332 345/418-425
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

A system for managing the interaction of programs is provided, comprising means for storing a set of predetermined characteristics respecting each program to be managed, each set of characteristics including an input signal type characteristic indicative of the identity of the type of inputs signals to which the program associated with the set of characteristics, is responsive and a signal modification characteristic indicative of whether a type of input signal is to be modified by the associated program; means responsive to input signals having predetermined properties emitted from one of the programs for interrogating each set of predetermined characteristics in a predetermined sequence, determining whether the associated program is responsive to a current input signal, determining whether the properties of the current input signal are to be modified and, if so, modifying the properties of the input signal; and means for emitting an output signal to the programs determined to be responsive to the input signal.

Claims

1. A computer system for displaying graphical information on a plurality of display devices, said computer system comprising:

a first display device;

a second display device;

a processor for executing instructions; and

a memory, being coupled in communications with said first display device, said second display device and said processor, said memory including

a set of data representing a three-dimensional event space,

a plurality of draw events, each draw event having a dimensions property defining a draw area,

a first graphics driver having a first dimensions set, said first dimensions set defining a first area within said event space, said first graphics driver, being responsive to a draw event that has a draw area that intersects said first area, causing graphical information to be displayed on said first display device, and

a second graphics driver having a second dimensions set, said second dimensions set defining a second area within said event space, said first area and said second area being adjacent and within a single plane of said event space, said second graphics driver, being responsive to a draw event that has a draw area that intersects said second area, causing graphical information to be displayed on said second display device.

2. The computer system of claim 1 including a first computer and a second computer, said first computer includes said first display device, and said second computer includes said second display device, and where said first computer is coupled in communications with said second computer over a network.

3. A method of duplicating graphical information of a first computer for display by a second device, said method comprising:

generating a first draw event sender region in a multi-dimensional event space;

generating a first draw event sensitive region, said first draw event sensitive region being positioned in front of said first draw event sender region;

generating a ditto region, said ditto region being positioned between said first draw event sender region and said first draw event sensitive region;

transmitting a draw event from said first draw event sender region towards said first draw event sensitive region;

responsive to receiving said draw event at said ditto region, generating a duplicate draw event for a second draw event sensitive region; and

responsive to receiving said duplicate draw event at said second draw event sensitive region, generating said graphical information at said second device.

4. The method of claim 3 where said second device includes a second computer and where said method further includes:

responsive to receiving said draw event at said first draw event sensitive region, generating said graphical information for display by said first computer; and

said second computer displaying said graphical information.

5. The method of claim 4 where said draw event is defined by an N bit color value, and where said second computer can display M bit color values, and wherein said generating said graphical information includes converting said N bit color value to an M bit color value.

6. The method of claim 3 where said second device includes a printer and where said generating said graphical information at said second device includes printing said graphical information.

7. A computer including:

a first windowing system for displaying graphical information on said computer;

a second windowing system, said second windowing system being different from said first windowing system, said second windowing system being an process executing under said first windowing system, said second windowing system includes the following,

a graphics driver process, said graphics driver process defining a region within a three dimensional event space, said region corresponding to an area of display under said first windowing system, said graphics driver process for calling graphics display routines of said first windowing system in response to receiving draw events from within said event space.

8. The computer of claim 7 wherein said second windowing system further includes an input driver process defining a second region behind said graphics driver process, said input driver for generating input events into said event space in response to receiving input events from said first windowing system.

9. A computer having:

a first process, said first process defining a first region in a three dimensional event space, said first region having a front face and a back face;

a window manager, said window manager having a second region in said three dimensional event space, said second region defining an area larger than an area defined by said first region, said second region being behind said first region, said second region, responsive to receiving a window manipulation event, altering said second region and said first region.

10. The computer of claim 9 wherein an area around said first region and within said second region includes a button area for manipulating said second region and said first region.

11. The computer of claim 10 wherein said first region is a child region of said second region and wherein said altering said second region and said first region includes, responsive to said second region being altered, said first region being altered.

12. The computer of claim 9 wherein said window manager further includes a focus region in said three dimensional event space, said focus region being responsive to a first input device event and for outputting a second device event, said second device event for intersecting a different region than said first input device event.

13. The computer of claim 9 wherein said window manager further includes a workspace region, said workspace region being positioned behind said first region and immediately in front of a root region, said root region for causing an event to cease to exist if an event intersects with said root region, said workspace region, responsive to receiving an input device event, causing the display of a workspace menu.

14. A computer method of implementing a graphical user interface, said method comprising:

responsive to a process, generating a parent region in a multi-dimensional event space, said parent region defining a parent area in a parent plane of said event space;

generating a child region of said parent region, said child region defining a child area in a child plane of said event space, said child plane being in front of said parent region, said child region for emitting a draw event;

generating a sibling region of said child region, said child region defining a sibling region in a sibling plane of said event space, said sibling region having a position defined relative to said child region and wherein said parent plane, said child plane and said sibling plane are different.

15. The computer method of claim 14 further including setting force to front flag when generating said child region and wherein, responsive to said force to front flag, said sibling region is behind said child region and in front of said parent region.

16. The computer method of claim 14 wherein said parent region corresponds to a root region and said process is a graphical user interface microkernel and wherein said generating said child region is in response to a second process.