System and method for cross-environment interaction in a computerized graphical interface environment

• US 6,091,414 A
• Filed: 10/31/1996
• Issued: 07/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, George IV, Moore, John Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US08/741,888
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 345/332, 345/335, 345/339, 345/340, 345/343, 345/344, 345/345, 345/346, 345/349, 395/670, 395/673, 395/674, 395/675, 395/677, 364/468.06, 364/468.07
• US Class Current: 715/807
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues

Abstract

A system and method for automatically adjusting priority assigned to execution of applications, tasks, or workspaces. A display of visual indicators is provided, corresponding to a differing task. By selecting an indicator, priority given to task execution is altered as the task is moved into a focused state as a result of such selection. A window manager between a server and application registers in the server adjusted state of a particular application as either in focus or cleared. An application, through its corresponding window-id, detects from the server that an adjustment in priority is desired. A mapping function such as a lookup table maps the window id to a corresponding process-id which is then utilized by the application in a process table. The information from the window manager passed through the display server is utilized by the application to adjust its own priority relative to the remaining applications in the operating system'"'"'s process table. A WM_-- PROCESS atom is introduced to the X Server for the window-id to/from process-id mapping. CPU resource directed to the particular application as a result of the priority alteration is thereby altered. A focused application is dynamically provided with more CPU resource relative to remaining tasks, applications, or suites thereof associated with a workspace executing in the multitasking environment.

Claims

1. A method for cross-environment prioritizing of graphical user interface tasks of an X-based application in a visual display of a computer system having at least one CPU executing a multitasking Unix-based operating system, said computer system including an X-server comprising:

displaying a plurality of visual window indicators each corresponding to a different one of said tasks executing at a corresponding priority;

selecting one of said indicators;

storing with said X-based application in a shell window in said X-server of said computer system a WM_-- Process atom corresponding to said application for mapping between window-ids and process-ids;

accessing, with said atom and one of said window-ids corresponding to said application, one of said process-ids corresponding to said one of said window-ids; and

adjusting said corresponding priority of one of said tasks relative to remaining ones of said tasks in response to said selecting said one of said indicators and said accessing with said atom.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said windows corresponding to said one of said tasks becomes focused relative to said remaining ones of said tasks in response to said selecting.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said selected one of said indicators is brought to the foreground of said visual display in response to said selecting.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said adjusting corresponding priority of one of said tasks relative to remaining ones of said tasks comprises:

increasing utilization by said one of said tasks of said at least one CPU to a first level; and

reducing utilization by one of said remaining ones of said tasks of said at least one CPU from said first level to a second level.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein prior to said selecting, all of said tasks other than said one of said remaining ones of said tasks are utilizing said at least one CPU at said second level.

6. An apparatus for cross-environment prioritizing of graphical user interface tasks of an X-based application in a visual display of a computer system having at least one CPU executing a multitasking Unix-based operating system, said computer system including an X-server comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of visual window indicators each corresponding to a different one of said tasks executing at a corresponding priority;

means for selecting one of said indicators;

means for storing with said X-based application in a shell window in said X-server of said computer system a WM_-- process atom corresponding to said application for mapping between window-ids and process-ids;

means for accessing, with said atom and one of said window-ids corresponding to said application, one of said process-ids corresponding to said one of said window-ids; and

means for adjusting said corresponding priority of one of said tasks relative to remaining ones of said tasks in response to said selecting said one of said indicators and said accessing with said atom.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein one of said windows corresponding to said one of said tasks becomes focused relative to said remaining ones of said tasks in response to said means for selecting.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said selected one of said indicators is brought to the foreground of said visual display in response to said means for selecting.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for adjusting corresponding priority of one of said tasks relative to remaining ones of said tasks comprises:

means for increasing utilization by said one of said tasks of said at least one CPU to a first level; and

means for reducing utilization by one of said remaining ones of said tasks of said at least one CPU from said first level to a second level.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein prior to said selecting, all of said tasks other than said one of said remaining ones of said tasks are utilizing said at least one CPU at said second level.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said operating system includes a server and a window manager interconnecting said applications and said server;

and wherein said apparatus further includes;

means for sending set focus and clear focus (WM_-- NICE) commands to said X server.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 including means in said graphical user interface applications for setting sets of respective ones of said priorities, in response to information in said server from said means for sending said set focus and said clear focus commands.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said operating system includes a process table, and wherein said system includes means for setting said priorities by said applications adjusting said process table in response to said information from said server.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said priorities are set with Xt intrinsics (RE_-- NICE).