Window Manager API

1.0 References

[1] Software Architecture Document, Version 1.1 Revision 1.4, LiMo Foundation, 11 September 2007

2.0 Overview

This specification describes the Window Manager public APIs as provided in LiMo Foundation Platform Release 1.
The document specifies how LiMo applications can make requests to the LiMo Window Manager.
The Window Manager provides APIs for the following Window Manager functions:
  • Window Manager registration
  • Window Management
  • Key delivery
  • Screen
  • Input mechanism
  • Case movement mechanisms
Note, many of the APIs described in this specification explain that requests made by client applications to the Window Manager will be subject to conflict management enforcement. However, the Window Manager will not check for conflicts in LiMo Foundation Platform Release 1 as the conflict management component is outside of the scope of this release.

Definitions, Acronyms and Abbreviations

Application Program: A program that can be launched only by the Application Launcher. It must have a window. It must have an application program ID and an application instance ID. The Application Launcher must provide functionality to launch Application Programs and Service Programs. For the purposes of this WM API specification, an application is regarded as a LAF Application; an application that is managed by the Application Framework provided in LiMo Foundation Platform Release 1. For further details see the LiMo Software Architecture Document.
Background Application UI State: The application is visible on the screen to the user but is not in focus.
Blocking API Call: Processing in the thread (or process if threads are not used by the application calling the API) will be suspended pending the response from the Window Manager.
Case Movement: The change in a handset's physical configuration due to operation of the handset by the user (eg, opening a clam shell or pushing open the slider mechanism).
Default Application: This application, specified by the handset vendor, should always be available to display its user interface when no other application is running. This is usually the Idle Screen application.
Focus: A window has focus (or is focused) if it is the target receiving input from the user at a given time.
Foreground Application UI State: The application is visible on the screen and has focus.
Inter-application Window Group: This is a set of standard window groups which belong to different applications which are interrelated.
Invisible Application UI state: When the application is notified of Invisible UI state the application can free up resources no longer needed, e.g. unmap windows.
Mapped Window: A mapped window is eligible to be displayed on the screen when the window is not fully overlapped by other windows.
Screen: A Server may provide several independent screens, which may or may not be physical independent hardware.
SPEF (Security Polices Enforcement Facility): Security component within LiMo.
Standard Window Group: A group of Top-Level Windows within one application.
Unmapped Window: When a window is unmapped it is removed from the WM stack and thus will no longer be visible.
Window: Within the UI Framework a 'window' is defined to mean a rectangular, bounded area of the mobile handset's display within which a single application interacts with the user by means of user interface widgets. An application may use one or more windows to interact with the user.
Window Manager: Responsible for managing Top-Level windows registered by applications.
Window State: A window has an internal state, which indicates whether it has been mapped to the display by the application or not.

3.0 Industry Standard

None

4.0 External API Documents

None

5.0 Plug-in Extension Point Interface

The Window Manager functionality can be customised by the LiMo Vendor in the following areas:
  • Key Adapter
  • Extended Input Event Plug-ins
  • Case Movement Event Plug-in

6.0 Other Interfaces

None

7.0 Other Notes

None
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