Patent ID: 6078942
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for managing resources of a media device in a multitasking computer where at least two application programs are contending for the resources of the media device and where one of the application programs has a current input focus, the method comprising:freeing up all available resources of the media device for use by a first application in exclusive mode such that the first application has exclusive use of the available resources;while the first application has the current input focus and is in the exclusive mode, preventing another application program from accessing the available resources;storing a preferred state of the media device for the first application;determining when the current input focus changes from the first application to a second application by monitoring user input to detect when user input is directed to user interfaces of the first and second applications;in response to detecting that the first application has lost the input focus and a second application in exclusive mode gains the current input focus from the monitoring of user input, freeing up all available resources of the media device for use by the second application such that the second application has exclusive use of the available resources; andin response to detecting that the first application has regained the current input focus from the monitoring of user input, freeing up all resources of the media device for use by the first application such that the first application has exclusive use of the available resources, and restoring the preferred state of the media device for the first application.