Processing events for concurrent tasks in a virtual machine

• US 7,904,904 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Mathiske, Bernd J., Wong, Kinsley, Kawahara, Hideya, Fresko, Nedim
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhen; Li B
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZHE, MENG YAO
• Application Number:
  US10/782,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20050183083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,575 Days
• Field of Search: 718/100, 718/1
• US Class Current: 718/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/543 Local
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/546 Xcast
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

Techniques for processing native events associated with tasks that are concurrently supported in a virtual machine are disclosed. The techniques allow the user of a virtual machine to concurrently perform tasks even if these tasks require processing of platform-specific (or native) events (e.g., platform-specific input). A smart event-dispatcher is used to dispatch native events to multiple tasks that are concurrently supported by the virtual machine. The smart event-dispatcher can determine which one of a plurality of concurrent tasks should receive the native event for processing. The determination can be made based on a variety of different criteria. In mobile devices, the foreground task is typically the only task that is displayed for the user of mobile devices at any given time. Thus, dispatching events to the foreground task is especially useful for a virtual machine that support a mobile device.

Claims

1. A method of processing platform-specific events by a virtual machine that operates on a first platform, wherein said virtual machine concurrently supports a first task and a second task, said method comprising:

simultaneously receiving, by the virtual machine, a plurality of platform-specific events which are associated with the first platform, wherein each said platform-specific event is an external event initiated externally to said virtual machine;

concurrently selecting, for each said platform-specific event, a selected task that defines which of said first and second tasks should process said platform-specific events;

simultaneously manipulating each said platform-specific event received by modifying a data structure of each said platform-specific event to comply with a data structure format supported by said selected task, thereby representing each said platform-specific event in a form that is accessible by said selected task;

assigning a platform-specific event-repository to said selected task, wherein said platform-specific repository provides event storage prior to processing by said selected task;

providing a platform-specific event-handler for said selected task;

using a platform-specific event-dispatcher, placing said platform-specific event in said platform-specific event-repository and invoking said platform-specific event-handler to initiate processing of said platform-specific event said selected task; and

processing each said platform-specific event by said selected task.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said event-repository is implemented as a first-in first-out queue, wherein said event-handler is implemented as an event-handler thread, and wherein said selection is performed by an event-manager thread of said virtual machine.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said platform-specific event is manipulated to be associated with a Java compliant data structure.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said manipulating of said platform-specific event is performed by said virtual machine.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected task is associated with a Java compliant Mobile Information Device Profile application (MIDIet).

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determination comprises:

selecting a foreground task when said determination is made.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said selected task is associated with a Java compliant Mobile Information Device Profile application (MIDIet), and wherein said determination comprises:

selecting a foreground task when said determination is made, said foreground task processed in the foreground relative to an unselected task and displayed in the foreground relative to the unselected task.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said determination of said, foreground tasks comprises:

selecting a task that is displayed for a user.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said first platform includes a mobile device.

10. A system implementing a virtual machine for processing platform-specific events associated with a first platform, wherein said system concurrently supports first and second tasks, said system comprising:

one or more processors;

first and second tasks concurrently operating on said virtual machine; and

a platform-specific event dispatcher that operates to;

simultaneously receive a plurality of platform-specific events associated with said first platform, wherein each said platform-specific event is an external event initiated externally to said virtual machine;

concurrently select, for each said platform-specific event, a selected task that defines which of said first and second tasks should receive said platform specific events, wherein said virtual machine simultaneously modifies a data structure of said platform-specific event to be compliant with a data structure format supported by said selected task, thereby representing platform-specific events in a form that is accessible by said selected task;

a platform-specific event-repository for said selected task, wherein said platform-specific repository provides event storage prior to processing by said selected task; and

a platform-specific event-handler for said selected task, wherein said platform-specific event-dispatcher operates to place said platform-specific event in said platform-specific event-repository and invoke said platform-specific event-handler to initiate processing of said platform-specific event.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said platform-specific event-handler is invoked when said selected task is selected, and wherein said platform-specific event-handler processes said platform-specific event when said platform-specific event-handler is invoked.

12. A computer readable storage medium including a computer program for processing platform-specific events by a virtual machine that operates on a first platform, wherein said virtual machine concurrently supports first and second tasks, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for simultaneously receiving a plurality of platform-specific events which are associated with the first platform, wherein each said platform-specific event is an external event initiated externally to said virtual machine;

computer program code which concurrently selects, for each said platform-specific event, a selected task that defines which of said first and second tasks should receive said platform-specific events;

computer program code that manipulates each said platform-specific event received by modifying its data structure to be compliant with a data structure format supported by said selected task, thereby representing each said platform-specific events in a form that is accessible by said selected task;

computer program code that assigns a platform-specific event-handler and a platform-specific event-repository to said selected task, wherein said platform-specific repository provides event storage prior to processing by said selected task;

computer program code that places said platform-specific events in said platform-specific event-repository and invokes said platform-specific event-handler to initiate processing of said platform-specific event; and

computer program code for processing each of said platform-specific events by the respective selected task.

13. The computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein said selected task is associated with a Java compliant Mobile Information Device application (MIDIet).