Patent ID: 7991890

Claim:
A computer implemented method for communication between a game console having a communication port and a portable device, the method comprising: reserving a first predetermined amount of hardware resources of a game console for executing a game application, the first predetermined amount of hardware resources reserved for later use by only the game application and made unavailable to other applications regardless of amount of resources used by the game application; reserving a second predetermined amount of hardware resources different than the first predetermined amount of hardware resources which allow communication between the game application and an ancillary application to allow one or the other of the game application and the ancillary application having user input focus to transmit user input information to the other of the game application and the ancillary application not having user input focus; executing the game application using the first predetermined amount of reserved hardware resources; upon detecting that a portable device has been communicatively coupled to a communication port of the game console, launching the ancillary application, the ancillary application: concurrently executing using remaining hardware resources to communicate between the game console and the portable device, determining a protocol associated with the portable device, and communicating with the portable device via a driver compatible with the determined protocol, the driver supporting a subset of features provided by the determined protocol and occupying less memory than a full-featured driver; and upon receipt of a request at the ancillary application, the request requiring action by the game application, the ancillary application transmitting information regarding the request to the second predetermined amount of hardware resources which causes the game application to pause.