Patent ID: 7676748

Claim:
A method for disabling access to executing application programs, the method comprising: displaying a visible portion of a root container of a graphics component hierarchy; displaying a visible portion of an application root component on top of the visible portion of the root container, wherein the application root component is a direct child of the root container; displaying a first application graphical component corresponding to a first executing application program on top of the visible portion of the application root component, wherein the first application graphical component is a child of the first application root component, and wherein the first application graphical component receives events only when the first application graphical component is visible; displaying a second application graphical component corresponding to a second executing application program on top of the visible portion of the application root component, wherein the second application graphical component is a child of the second application root component and wherein the second application graphical component receives events only when the second application graphical component is visible; and displaying, when a lockout event is detected, an opaque security shield on top of the visible portion of the root container such that the first application graphical component and the second application graphical component are rendered invisible, wherein the opaque security shield is defined by a security graphical component, and wherein the security graphical component is a direct child of the root container, wherein the first executing application is distinct from the second executing application.