Interprocess application programming interface for computer applications
First Claim
1. A method for collaborating applications executing on a personal digital assistant (PDA) client comprising:
- (a) obtaining a shared database on the PDA client to be used as a common stack for collaborating applications, wherein the database comprises a catalog database having one or more records;
(b) storing one or more program entry records, as the one or more records, in the database wherein the last program entry record stored is the top of the stack, and wherein each program entry record comprises information regarding an application launched on the PDA client, wherein said information in each program entry record comprises;
(i) state information regarding the application launched on the PDA client; and
(ii) launch parameters for the application launched on the PDA client; and
(c) popping the last program entry record off of the stack when a second application corresponding to the last program entry record has completed execution, wherein the popping of the last program entry record returns control to a first application corresponding to a next program entry record on the stack, wherein said next program entry record on the stack comprises launch parameters for returning to the first application.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for collaborating application programs executing on a client such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). A shared database on the client is obtained and used as a common launch parameter stack. One or more program entry records are stored in the database and the last program entry record stored is identified as the top of the stack. Each program entry record may include information regarding an application launched on the client. When the last program identified on the stack has completed execution, the last program entry record is popped off of the stack. Thereafter, control is returned to an application that corresponds to the new program entry record on the top of the stack.
17 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method for collaborating applications executing on a personal digital assistant (PDA) client comprising:
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(a) obtaining a shared database on the PDA client to be used as a common stack for collaborating applications, wherein the database comprises a catalog database having one or more records; (b) storing one or more program entry records, as the one or more records, in the database wherein the last program entry record stored is the top of the stack, and wherein each program entry record comprises information regarding an application launched on the PDA client, wherein said information in each program entry record comprises; (i) state information regarding the application launched on the PDA client; and (ii) launch parameters for the application launched on the PDA client; and (c) popping the last program entry record off of the stack when a second application corresponding to the last program entry record has completed execution, wherein the popping of the last program entry record returns control to a first application corresponding to a next program entry record on the stack, wherein said next program entry record on the stack comprises launch parameters for returning to the first application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for collaborating applications executing on a personal digital assistant (PDA) client comprising:
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(a) a personal digital assistant (PDA) client; (b) a shared database on the PDA client that is used as a common stack for collaborating applications launched on the PDA client, wherein the database comprises a catalog database having one or more records; (c) a program entry record, as one of the one or more records, stored in the shared database wherein a last program entry record stored in the database is the top of the stack, and wherein each program entry record comprises information regarding an application launched on the PDA client, wherein said information in each program entry record comprises; (i) state information regarding the application launched on the PDA client; and (ii) launch parameters for the application launched on the PDA client; and (d) a second application launched on the PDA client, the application configured to; (i) store the program entry record in the shared database; and (ii) pop the last program entry record off of the stack when the second application has completed execution, wherein the popping of the last program entry record returns control to a first application corresponding to a next program entry record on the stack, wherein said next program entry record on the stack comprises launch parameters for returning to the first application. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage device embodying instructions that, when executed by a personal digital assistant (PDA) client, cause the PDA client to perform a method for collaborating applications executing on the PDA client, comprising:
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(a) means for obtaining a shared database on the PDA client to be used as a common stack for collaborating applications, wherein the database comprises a catalog database having one or more records; (b) means for storing one or more program entry records, as the one or more records, in the database wherein the last program entry record stored is the top of the stack, and wherein each program entry record comprises information regarding an application launched on the PDA client, wherein said information in each program entry record comprises; (i) state information regarding the application launched on the PDA client; and (ii) launch parameters for the application launched on the PDA client; and (c) means for popping the last program entry record off of the stack when a second application corresponding to the last program entry record has completed execution, wherein the popping of the last program entry record returns control to a first application corresponding to a next program entry record on the stack, wherein said next program entry record on the stack comprises launch parameters for returning to the first application. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification