Window Server Event Taps

A storage device comprising instructions stored thereon and readable by a programmable control device, the instructions embodying a user interface event application programming interface (API) to a window server application, the API comprising:

• a function allowing a user to register each of a plurality of event processing routines within the window server application, wherein each event processing routine—
• is registered at a specified one of a plurality of user interface event taps within the window server application,
• is associated with a specified user interface event type,
• is not associated with a specific application being presented by the window server application, and
• is invoked for execution by the window server application when a first event of the associated user interface event type is received by the window server application at the specified one of a plurality of user interface event taps prior to notifying one or more applications being presented by the window server application that the specified user interface event type was received by the window server application.

A computer system, comprising:

• a display device;
• one or more input devices;
• a processor operatively coupled to the display and input devices;
• and
• memory operatively coupled to the processor, input and display devices, said memory adapted to store instructions embodying a user interface event application programming interface (API) to a window server application, the API comprising:
• a function allowing a user to register each of a plurality of event processing routines within the window server application, wherein each event processing routine—
• is registered at a specified one of a plurality of user interface event taps within the window server application,
• is associated with a specified user interface event type,
• is not associated with a specific application being presented by the window server application, and
• is invoked for execution by the window server application when a first event of the associated user interface event type is received by the window server application at the specified one of a plurality of user interface event taps prior to notifying one or more applications being presented by the window server application that the specified user interface event type was received by the window server application.

A computer event processing method, the method comprising:

• receiving a first event at a registered event processing routine executing on a programmable control device wherein the first event is targeted for a first application;
• identifying the first event as belonging to at least one of a plurality of event types;
• determining the first event is associated with an event processing routine;
• causing the event processing routine to process the first event without regard to the first application;
• receiving a result event from the event processing routine;
• and
• providing the result event for delivery to the first application,
• wherein the acts of receiving an event, identifying, determining, causing and receiving a result event are performed by the programmable control device prior to providing the result event for delivery to the first application.

A user interface event processing method performed by a programmable control device, the method comprising:

• receiving a user interface event from an operating system controlling a programmable control device, the user interface event targeted for a first application;
• identifying the user interface event as belonging to at least one of a plurality of user interface event types;
• determining the user interface event is associated with an event processing routine;
• causing the event processing routine to process the user interface event without regard to the first application;
• receiving a result from the event processing routine;
• and
• dispatching the result to the first application.

A user interface event processing method performed by a programmable control device, the method comprising:

• receiving a user interface event from an operating system controlling the programmable control device, the user interface event associated with a window, the window associated with a first application;
• identifying the user interface event as belonging to at least one of a plurality of registered user interface event types;
• determining the user interface event is associated with an event processing routine;
• causing the associated event processing routine to execute without regard to the first application;
• receiving a result event from the event processing routine;
• and
• delivering the result event to the window.

An event processing method, the method comprising:

• receiving a first event targeted for an application;
• associating the first event with a plurality of event types;
• associating at least one event processing routing with each of the plurality of event types;
• causing at least said one event processing routine to process the first event, without regard to the application, to generate a second event;
• and
• delivering the second event to the application.