Where are the semantics of MSC_SCAN & MSC_RAW input events defined?

From: George Spelvin
Date: Fri Dec 31 2010 - 19:51:16 EST


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@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx/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!
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