A method for controlling execution of an audio video interactive program

Claim 2

The method of claim 1, characterized in that the step of minimizing the executing AVI program comprises the steps of: halting execution of the AVI program; storing the identifier of the AVI program and the execution state and environment of the AVI program in a block of the memory; and unloading the AVI program from the memory.

Claim 3

The method of claim 2, characterized in that the step of loading the AVI program comprises the steps of: searching previously stored blocks of memory for a block containing an identifier matching that of the AVI program; and if there is a matching memory block, setting the execution state and environment of the loaded AVI program to that of the matching block of memory.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, characterized in that the packet stream further includes execution signals, and further comprising the step of halting execution, and unloading the AVI program from the memory in response to an end execution signal in the packet stream.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, characterized in that the packet stream further includes execution signals, and further comprising the steps of: suspending execution of the AVI program in response to a suspend execution signal in the packet stream; and continuing execution of a previously suspended AVI program in response to a continue execution signal in the packet stream.

Claim 6

The method of claim 5, further characterized by the step of halting execution, and unloading the AVI program from the memory in response to an end execution signal in the packet stream.

Claim 7

In an audio video interactive (AVI) receiver receiving a packet stream including an AVI program and execution signals, a method for controlling the execution of the AVI program characterized by the steps of: loading the AVI program into a memory in response to the presence of the AVI program in the packet stream; beginning execution of the loaded AVI program; and halting execution, and unloading the AVI program from the memory in response to an end execution signal in the packet stream.

Claim 8

The method of claim 7, characterized in that the end execution signal in the packet stream is represented by an end execution signal packet.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7, further characterized by the steps of: suspending execution of the AVI program in response to a suspend execution signal in the packet stream; and continuing execution of a previously suspended AVI program in response to a continue execution signal in the packet stream.

Claim 10

The method of claim 9 characterized in that the suspend execution signal in the packet stream is represented by repetitive suspend execution signal packets during a suspend time interval, and the continue execution signal is represented by no repetitive suspend execution signal packets.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 characterized in that the suspend execution signal in the packet stream is represented by a suspend execution signal packet and the continue execution signal is represented by a continue execution signal packet.

Claim 12

In an audio video interactive (AVI) receiver receiving a packet stream including an AVI program and execution signals, and including an execution controller for controlling the execution of the AVI program, a method for controlling the execution of the AVI program characterized by the steps of: in the execution controller: loading the AVI program into a memory in response to the presence of the AVI program in the packet stream; sending an activate toggle message to the AVI program in response to a user input; sending an exit message to the AVI program in response to an end execution signal in the packet stream; sending a suspend message to the AVI program in response to a suspend execution signal in the packet stream; and sending a continue message to the AVI program in response to a continue execution signal in the packet stream; and in the AVI program: executing in one of: an inactive state, in which the AVI program is inactive; an active state, in which the AVI program is executing; and a suspended state, in which execution of the AVI program is suspended; entering the inactive state, in response to the loading of the AVI program into the memory; halting execution, and unloading the AVI program from the memory in response to the exit message; when in the inactive state, entering the active state in response to an activate toggle message; when in the active state: entering the inactive state in response to the activate toggle message; and entering the suspended state in response to a suspend message; and when in the suspended state: entering the active state in response to a continue message; and entering the inactive state in response to an activate toggle message.

Claim 13

The method of claim 12, characterized in that: the suspend execution signal in the packet stream is represented by repetitive suspend execution signal packets during a suspend time interval, and the continue execution signal is represented by no repetitive suspend execution signal packets; and the step of sending a suspend message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending the suspend message in response to a first suspend execution signal packet; and the step of sending a continue message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending a continue message after a predetermined time period in which no suspend execution signal packets are received.

Claim 14

The method of claim 12, characterized in that: the suspend execution signal in the packet stream is represented by a suspend execution signal packet and the continue execution signal is represented by a continue execution signal packet; and the step of sending a suspend message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending the suspend message in response to a suspend execution signal packet; and the step of sending a continue message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending a continue message in response to a continue execution signal packet.

Claim 15

In an audio video interactive (AVI) receiver selectively receiving one of a plurality of packet streams under control of a user, each packet stream including an AVI program having an identifier, and execution signals, the receiver including an execution controller for controlling the execution of the AVI program, a method for controlling the execution of the AVI program characterized by the steps of: in the execution controller: loading the AVI program into a memory in response to the presence of the AVI program in the selected one of the plurality of packet streams, storing the identifier of the loaded application program into a respective location in the memory, and searching blocks previously stored in the memory containing identifiers of minimized AVI programs and if an identifier contained in a block matches the identifier of the AVI program loaded into the memory, setting the execution state and environment of the newly loaded AVI program to an execution state and environment contained in the matching block; sending an activate toggle message to the AVI program in response to a user input; sending an exit message to the AVI program in response to an end execution signal in the selected one of the plurality of packet streams; sending a suspend message to the AVI program in response to a suspend execution signal in the selected one of the plurality of packet streams; and sending a continue message to the AVI program in response to a continue execution signal in the selected one of the plurality of packet streams; sending a minimize message to the AVI program in response to the presence of an AVI program in the data stream having a different identifier than the identifier in the respective location in the memory; and in the AVI program: executing in one of: an inactive state, in which the AVI-program is inactive; an active state, in which the AVI program is executing; a suspended state, in which execution of the AVI program is suspended; and a minimized state, including the steps of: halting execution of the AVI program; then storing the identifier of the AVI program and the execution state and environment of the AVI program in a block of the memory; then unloading the AVI program from the memory; entering the inactive state, in response to the loading of the AVI program into the memory; halting execution, and unloading the AVI program from the memory in response to the exit message; when in the inactive state, entering the active state in response to an activate toggle message; when in the active state: entering the inactive state in response to the activate toggle message; and entering the suspended state in response to a suspend message; and when in the suspended state: entering the active state in response to a continue message; entering the inactive state in response to an activate toggle message; and entering the minimized state in response to the minimize message.

Claim 16

The method of claim 15, characterized in that the storing step in the step of executing in a minimized state in the application program further comprises the step of: storing a time duration in the block of memory, indicating a period of time during which the data stored in the block of the memory will remain in the memory and, after the time duration has expired, removing the data stored in the block of memory.

Claim 17

The method of claim 15, characterized in that: the suspend execution signal in the selected one of the plurality of packet streams is represented by repetitive suspend execution signal packets during a suspend time interval, and the continue execution signal is represented by no repetitive suspend execution signal packets; and the step of sending a suspend message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending the suspend message in response to a first suspend execution signal packet; and the step of sending a continue message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending a continue message after a predetermined time period in which no suspend execution signal packets are received.

Claim 18

The method of claim 15, characterized in that: the suspend execution signal is represented by a suspend execution signal packet and the continue execution signal is represented by a continue execution signal packet; and the step of sending a suspend message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending the suspend message in response to a suspend execution signal packet; and the step of sending a continue message in the execution controller comprises the step of sending a continue message in response to a continue execution signal packet.