Processing user input events in a web browser
View Patent ↗A method and computing device are provided for processing user events received via a user interface, such as a touchscreen, in multiple threads. When a user event is received for a target element in a webpage, the user event is dispatched to both a main browser thread and a secondary thread. The secondary thread processes user events in accordance with established default actions defined within the browser, while the main thread processes the user events in accordance with any event handlers defined for that target element. The main thread processing may be delayed by other interleaved task, and the secondary thread may be given priority over the main thread. When the secondary thread completes processing, an updated webpage is displayed. When the main thread subsequently completes processing, its updated rendering of the webpage is displayed. The secondary thread thus provides an early user interface response to the user event.
1. A method of processing user events on a plurality of threads, the method comprising:
receiving a user event at a touchscreen of an electronic device curing display of a document by the touchscreen;
dispatching the user event to a main thread of a web browser and to a secondary thread of the web browser, wherein the main thread of the web browser is configured to process user events and non-user events;
after a predetermined period of time has elapsed following the start of processing of the user event by the main thread or dispatch of the user event to the main thread, processing the user event by the secondary thread, wherein the secondary thread is configured to process the user event using a default handling method;
upon completing processing of the user event by the main thread, updating the display of the document according to the processing completed by the main thread; and
notifying the second thread to terminate by the main thread, in response to the completion of the processing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the main thread is configured to process queued tasks such that processing of the user event by the main thread may be delayed until processing of other previously queued tasks completes.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period of time is at least 100 milliseconds.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the default handling method is defined at the electronic device prior to receipt of the document.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the document comprises a webpage.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the webpage specifies a handling method for the user event and wherein the main thread processes the user event according to the specified handling method.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the handling method specified by the webpage is different than the default handling method.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the handling method specified by the webpage is the same as the default handling method.
9. An electronic device comprising:
a touchscreen;
at least one processor in communication with the touchscreen, the at least one processor being configured to:
receive a user event at the touchscreen of the electronic device during display of a document by the touchscreen;
dispatch the user event to a main thread of a web browser and to a secondary thread of the web browser, wherein the main thread of the web browser configured to process user events and non-user events;
after a predetermined period of time has elapsed following the start of processing of the user event by the main thread or dispatch of the user event for to the main thread of the web browser, process the user event by the secondary thread, wherein the secondary thread is configured to process the user event using a default handling method;
upon completing processing of the user event by the main thread, update the display of the document according to the processing completed by the main thread; and
notify the second thread to terminate by the main thread, in response to the completion of the processing.
10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the main thread is configured to process queued tasks such that processing of the user event by the main thread may be delayed until processing of other previously queued tasks completes.
11. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined period of time is at least 100 milliseconds.
12. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the default handling method is defined at the electronic device prior to receipt of the document.
13. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the document comprises a webpage.
14. The electronic device of claim 13 , wherein the webpage specifies a handling method for the user event and wherein the main thread processes the user event according to the specified handling method.
15. The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the handling method specified by the webpage is different than the default handling method.
16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions which, when executed, configure a processor to:
receive a user event at a touchscreen of an electronic device during display of a document by the touchscreen;
dispatch the user event to a main thread of a web browser and to a secondary thread of the web browser, wherein the main thread of the web browser configured to process user events and non-user events;
after a predetermined period of time has elapsed following the start of processing of the user event by the main thread or dispatch of the user event to the main thread of the web browser, process the user event by the secondary thread, wherein the secondary thread is configured to process the user event using a default handling method;
upon completing processing of the user event by the main thread, update the display of the document according to the processing completed by the main thread; and
notify the second thread to terminate by the main thread, in response to the completion of the processing.