Multi-programmed data processing system with facility for inspecting state of background program

Patent 4713656 Issued on December 15, 1987. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 21, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Assignee

International Computers Limited

Application

No. 06/789323 filed on 10/21/1985

US Classes:

345/168, Including keyboard715/797, Viewing lower priority windows (e.g., overlapped windows)715/975POP-UP DIALOG BOX FOR ENTRY

Examiners

Primary: Harkcom, Gary V.
Assistant: Lacasse, Randy W.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Lee, Smith & Zickert

International Class

G06F 3/023 (20060101)

Foreign Application Priority Data

1984-11-10 GB

Abstract

A data processing system that can execute a plurality of programs concurrently and has a display screen for displaying data associated with any one of the programs. Each program maintains display screen data indicating the current status of the program. The system maintains a REVIEW menu containing a list of the programs that have display screen data available. When a REVIEW key is pressed, the REVIEW menu is displayed. By pressing a further key, one of the listed programs can then be selected, and its display screen data is displayed on the screen. When the key is released, the information that was being displayed prior to operation of the REVIEW key is restored to the screen. A RESUME menu lists programs that are currently in a background mode, and can be called up by pressing a RESUME key, allowing one of those programs to be put into a foreground mode in which it has access to the screen. Another menu lists programs that are available for execution and can be called up by pressing a START key, allowing one to be selected for execution.