Utilizing a first managed process to host at least a second managed process

• US 20080196038A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fulmer, David R., Dalvi, Vivek B., Relyee, David P., Antonio, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,074,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/543 User-generated data transfer, e.g. clipboards, dynamic data exchange [DDE], object linking and embedding [OLE]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues

Abstract

A system and method for utilizing a first managed process to host at least a second managed process is disclosed. The technology initially provides a first managed process. The first managed process hosting at least a second managed process. An unmanaged process is then provided to facilitate communication between the first managed process and the second managed process, such that a user can automatically communicate with the first managed process while the second managed process is operational and the first managed process is in the background without requiring the user to select the first managed process.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for utilizing a first managed process to host at least a second managed process, said computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a first managed process;

hosting at least a second managed process within said first managed process; and

providing an unmanaged process to facilitate communication between said first managed process and said second managed process, said unmanaged process allowing a user to automatically communicate with said first managed process while said second managed process is operational and said first managed process is in the background without requiring said user to select said first managed process.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

filtering at least one message received at said second managed process to said first managed process prior to said second managed process reviewing said at least one message.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising:

comparing a type of said at least one message with a request for message types of interest provided to said first managed process by said second managed process; and

passing said at least one message back to said second managed process when said at least one message is a type of message found on said list of message types.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

filtering every message received at said second managed process to said first managed process prior to said second managed process reviewing said message.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing Component Object Model (COM) object-oriented programming for said first managed process and said second managed process.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing NET at said unmanaged process to facilitate communication between said first managed process and said second managed process.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

utilizing a table for storing said request for message types of interest provided to said first managed process by said second managed process.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

passing said at least one message back to said second managed process when said at least one message is a type of message found on said list of message types prior to said first managed process reviewing said message.

9. A managed process interoperator comprising:

a receiver for receiving a message for at least one managed process;

a message comparator for comparing said message with a list of message types provided to a host managed process by at least one hosted managed process; and

a message filter configured to route said message to at least one of said hosted managed processes when said message is on said list of message types requested by said hosted managed process and to route said message to said host managed process when said message is not on said list of message types.

10. The managed process interoperator of claim 9 wherein said message is received from an input device selected the group of input devices consisting of:

keyboard, mouse, remote control, motion recognition, sense recognition, joystick, audio and video input devices.

11. The managed process interoperator of claim 9 wherein said message is passed back to said hosted managed process when said at least one message is a type of message found on said list of message types.

12. The managed process interoperator of claim 9 wherein said message is input during the operation of said hosted managed process.

13. The managed process interoperator of claim 9 wherein said hosted managed process cannot directly communicate with said host managed process.

14. The managed process interoperator of claim 9 wherein said host managed process and said hosted managed process utilize Component Object Model (COM) object-oriented protocols and said managed process operator utilizes .NET protocol.

15. Instructions on a computer-usable medium wherein the instructions when executed cause a computer system to perform a method for utilizing a first managed process to host at least a second managed process, said computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a message from an input device;

receiving a list of message types of interest for at least one hosted managed process operating in conjunction with a host managed process;

comparing said message from said input device to said list of message types of interest; and

utilizing an unmanaged process to direct said message from said input device to either said host managed process or one of said hosted managed processes based on said comparing.

16. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

directing said message from said input device to said host managed process when said message from said input device does not match any message types on said list of message types of interest.

17. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

directing said message from said input device to one of said hosted managed processes when said message from said input device matches a message type on said list of message types of interest.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of lists of message types of interest for a plurality of hosted managed processes operating in conjunction with a host managed process;

comparing said message from said input device to said plurality of lists of message types of interest; and

directing said message from said input device to a specific one of said hosted managed processes when said message from said input device matches a message type on one of said plurality of lists of message types of interest.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

providing a replacement user interface from said host managed process over said at least one hosted managed process user interface when said message is directed to said host managed process.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

utilizing Component Object Model (COM) object-oriented programming for said host managed process and said at least one hosted managed process; and

utilizing .NET at said unmanaged process to facilitate communication between said first managed process and said second managed process.