linux-kernel - Where are the semantics of MSC_SCAN & MSC

lists.openwall.net		lists / announce owl-users owl-dev john-users john-dev passwdqc-users yescrypt popa3d-users / oss-security kernel-hardening musl sabotage tlsify passwords / crypt-dev xvendor / Bugtraq Full-Disclosure linux-kernel linux-netdev linux-ext4 linux-hardening linux-cve-announce PHC
Open Source and information security mailing list archives

Hash Suite: Windows password security audit tool. GUI, reports in PDF.

[<prev] [next>] [day] [month] [year] [list]

Date:	31 Dec 2010 19:51:09 -0500
From:	"George Spelvin" <linux@...izon.com>
To:	linux-input@...r.kernel.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Cc:	linux@...izon.com
Subject: Where are the semantics of MSC_SCAN & MSC_RAW input events defined?

I'm trying to rework the ati-remote.c driver to use the input layer
better, such as supporting keyboard remapping.

And I'm finding documentation on the input layer... lacking.  What's the
point of these two event types?  Should I emit either or both when someone
presses a button?  Does it matter if the button has an EV_KEY mapping?

If I should generate multiple input events for one keypress, what order
should they be in?

I notice that atkbd.c generates MSC_SCAN, then EV_KEY.
But Documentation/laptops/thinkpad-acpi.txt says
"A Hot key is mapped to a single input layer EV_KEY event, possibly
followed by an EV_MSC MSC_SCAN event."

I notice there was a proposed patch to fix this in 2007:
http://www.mail-archive.com/linux-input@atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/msg00482.html

This recommends generating EV_KEY/KEY_UNKNOWN events for unfamiliar keys,
which atkbd.c (probably the most-used input handler) does not do.

The other question is that the ATI remote retransmits scan codes while
they key is held down, and key-up has to be inferred via a timeout.
Should I generate an MSC_SCAN event for each true reception, or only
for the synthesized key events?

I have a few other questions about the input layer:
- Should I fill in the input_id with the BUS_USB and the
  device's idVendor, idProduct, and bcdDevice?
- What should I put in the input->phys and input->uniq fields?

Thank you!
--
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@...r.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/