JP2007265228A - Shared program and information apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shared library to facilitate individual processing in individual programs even when a plurality of programs access the shared library. <P>SOLUTION: This information apparatus for executing the shared program accessed by a plurality of application programs is provided with: a means for detecting an application program in a predetermined state among the plurality of application programs; and a means for providing the application program in the prescribed state with a predetermined function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a shared program called by a plurality of application programs.

  In an existing shared library such as Linux and Windows (registered trademark), a common code is executed in each process. For this reason, when these shared libraries are embedded in the source code, the processing is common to each process.

  For example, if a shared library that has a function to distribute touch panel events is embedded in the source code, the touch panel events are distributed to all running processes, and there may be a problem that events cannot be appropriately distributed to individual processes. . In order to avoid such a problem, for example, it is necessary to prepare a library in which each event delivery destination is distinguished for each process, and it takes time to create the library.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a system in which a library is prepared for each process. In this example, the library 1 executes a process dedicated to the process # 1 (the same applies to the libraries 2 and 3). Therefore, for example, when the library 1 detects a mouse event, the event is notified only to the process # 1, and the processes # 2 and # 3 can realize processing different from the process # 1. However, in such a system, it is necessary to prepare a library for each process, and it cannot be a shared library.

  On the other hand, some conventional multi-window systems that provide a shared library include a window manager that manages a process corresponding to the uppermost window. FIG. 2 shows an example of process management by the window manager. When detecting an event for hardware such as a touch panel event, the window manager selects a top-level window (process) and notifies the event to the process.

However, in a system equipped with a window manager, since the window manager is a method for managing events of all graphical user interfaces on the computer, the processing is complicated. That is, in a system using a shared library, conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which after an event occurs, an appropriate process corresponding to the event is identified from the state of each process, and a unique process is executed for each process. There wasn't. Therefore, it has been difficult to realize process-specific processing using a shared library in a small device with few resources or a device mounted on a mobile object such as an on-vehicle device.
JP 06-019663 JP 09-244920

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that allows a shared library to easily realize individual processing in each program even when a plurality of programs call the shared library.

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems. That is, the present invention is an information device that executes a shared program that is called by a plurality of application programs, the means for detecting an application program in a predetermined state among the plurality of application programs, and the predetermined state. Means for providing a predetermined function to an application program.

  According to the present invention, an application program in a predetermined state among the plurality of application programs is detected and a predetermined function is provided to the application program in the predetermined state, so that the application program is called by the plurality of application programs. Even when a shared program to be executed is executed, individual processing can be easily realized for the application program in such a specific state.

  According to the present invention, even when a plurality of programs call a shared library, the shared library can easily realize individual processing in each program.

  An information processing apparatus according to the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the following embodiment is an exemplification, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment.

  FIG. 3 shows an outline of functions of the information processing apparatus. This information system includes a computer main body 1, a display device 3 connected to the computer main body 1, and a pointing device 2 connected to the computer main body 1 and operating objects on the screen of the display device 3. The computer main body 1 is, for example, a personal computer, a vehicle-mounted device, a portable information terminal, a mobile phone, a digital TV, a set-top box for receiving digital broadcasts, or the like.

  The computer main body 1 includes a CPU, a memory, an input / output interface, a hard disk drive connected to the input / output interface, a drive for a removable recording medium (DVD, CD, flash memory card, etc.) connected to the input / output interface, etc. including.

  The display device 3 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence panel, or the like. The display device 3 displays a plurality of windows corresponding to programs executed by the computer main body 1 (processes # 1 to # 3, etc.).

  The pointing device 2 is, for example, a mouse, an electrostatic flat space, a joystick, a touch panel that detects a pressing operation on the screen, or the like. In the case of FIG. 3, a mouse pointer is displayed on the screen of the display device 3 by taking a mouse as an example.

  As shown in FIG. 3, application program processes # 1 to # 3 are executed on the computer 1. Each process incorporates an interface program of the common library 10 so that the common library 10 can be called.

  The information processing apparatus is characterized in that a switch module 11 that manages the connection between the library 10 and each process is provided. When there is a process execution request from the processes # 1 to # 3 to the library 10, the switch module 11 determines a currently valid process for the process of the library 10. The switch module 11 provides the function of the library 10 in response to an execution request from an effective process. On the other hand, the function of the library 10 is not provided for an execution request from a process that is not currently valid.

  With the currently effective process, for example, in the window operation through the pointing device 2, it is determined that the process corresponding to the uppermost window is an effective process. Further, for example, a process corresponding to a window focused by the pointing device 2 (for example, a mouse pointer is placed) is determined as an effective process. In addition, for example, in a plurality of process groups that periodically repeats an active state and an inactive state, a currently active process is an effective process.

  In this embodiment, identification information of an effective process is described in the effective process table. Here, the identification information is, for example, a process ID managed by the OS (operating system) of the computer 1.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a process management table managed by the OS. This process management table is a table for managing the environment constituting the process currently being executed on the computer 1 and the state of the current process. One row shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to one process.

  In this information processing apparatus, each row of the process management table has a process ID, start date / time, execution format size, program name, window, status, memory size, and other information. The start date and time is the date and time when the process was generated (program execution start date and time). The execution format size is the capacity of the activated program. The program name is the name (path name) of the program to be executed. The window is an ID of a window generated by the program. The status is an execution state of the program, for example, active (active), suspend, or the like. The memory size is a memory size including a data area currently occupied by the process. Other information includes, for example, CPU time, CPU occupancy, input / output interface access count, and the like.

  In this embodiment, a process ID is used to identify each such process. However, instead of the process ID, information such as the start date / time (time stamp), the execution format size, or the like that can uniquely identify each process may be used.

  FIG. 5 shows the processing of the management program that manages the effective process table. In this process, the computer 1 monitors user operations (S1). When a user operation is detected (in the case of YES in S2), the computer 1 changes, for example, the window hierarchy order (S3).

  Then, the computer 1 obtains a process ID corresponding to the window from the window ID of the uppermost window. The process ID can be obtained from the process management table shown in FIG. Then, the computer 1 stores the process ID in the effective process table (S4). This process corresponds to the step of detecting an application program in a predetermined state of the present invention. Thereafter, the computer 1 returns the control to S1.

  FIG. 6 shows processing of the switch module 11. In this process, the computer 1 receives an event read request from the application program process (S11).

  Then, the computer 1 acquires the process ID of the request source process from the event read request (S12).

  Then, the computer 1 refers to the valid process table and determines whether or not the process ID is currently stored in the valid process table (S13).

  If the process ID is stored in the valid process table, the computer 1 transmits an event occurring in the computer 1 to the process (S14). Here, the event is an event that is detected by, for example, a device driver, accumulated in the switch module 11 (for example, a predetermined queue or the like), and not transmitted to the process. This process corresponds to a step of providing a predetermined function to an application program in a predetermined state of the present invention.

  The event is information such as that a predetermined GUI component on the window is pressed by the pointing device 2, for example. However, simply that the pointing device 2 is pressed and the coordinates of the pressed position on the screen may be transmitted as an event.

  As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the effective process ID is managed according to the state of the process (for example, whether the window is in the highest hierarchy or the window is focused). The switch module 11 provides a function to the process in which the valid process ID is registered. In this way, by identifying a process with information that uniquely identifies each process such as a process ID, the common library 10 called from the process can be controlled to execute a specific process for each process. . In this case, it is not necessary to prepare a different library 10 for each process, and a common library may be prepared in the system as a shared library.

  In the example of FIG. 6, an example of processing for transmitting an event accumulated in a system (for example, a predetermined queue) in response to an event read request from an application process is shown. However, instead of such processing, an event may be triggered and an event may be transmitted to a process registered in the effective process ID at that time.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of such processing. In this process, the computer 1 monitors the occurrence of an event (S21). When an event occurs (YES in S22), the computer 1 acquires the ID of a valid application process from the valid process table (S23). Then, the computer 1 transmits an event to the process. Also by such processing, it is possible to realize processing specific to a specific process using the shared library 10.

  The present invention may be a program for causing a computer to execute any one of the processes described above. The present invention may be a computer-readable recording medium in which such a program is recorded, for example, a CD-ROM, a DVD, a flash memory card, or the like. Further, the present invention may be realized as a method in which a computer executes such processing.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the system which prepared the library for every process. It is a figure which shows the example of the process management by a window manager. It is a figure which shows the function outline | summary of the information processing apparatus which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the process management table which OS manages. It is a figure which shows the process of the management program which manages an effective process table. It is a figure showing processing of a switch module. It is a figure which shows the process of the switch module which concerns on a modification.

Explanation of symbols

1 Computer 2 Pointing Device 3 Display Device 10 Library 11 Switch Module

Claims (2)

A shared program called by multiple application programs,
Detecting an application program in a predetermined state among the plurality of application programs;
A program for causing a computer to execute a step of providing a predetermined function to the application program in the predetermined state. An information device that executes a shared program called by a plurality of application programs,
Means for detecting an application program in a predetermined state among the plurality of application programs;
Means for providing a predetermined function to the application program in the predetermined state.

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