Processing non-spatial input by multiple program elements of a computer program executed on a computer

摘要

A computer system supports a protocol to process directional navigation inputs to a host application and its component, to manage which component is currently active to receive input events. A first component determines whether to transfer focus to a second component. The first component initiates the transfer by sending a request to the second component. Further input events are queued. The second component processes the request to determine how to transfer focus within the second component. The second component indicates to the operating system how focus has been transferred. The operating system updates information to reflect the changes in state of the components, and informs the host and component that the state has been updated. Queued input events then can be released for processing according to the changed focus. Where the components are separate, independent processes, the protocol can be implemented through inter-process communication techniques.