Method for sharing a graphics display as a resource in an embedded system

1. An apparatus An apparatus for managing a graphics display associated with an embedded system, said graphics display accessible by at least a first and second application program executable by said embedded system, said apparatus comprising;

a graphics resource manager executable by said embedded system;

wherein said graphics resource manager is configured to prevent simultaneous access of said graphics display by said application programs; and

wherein said embedded system includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

displaying an on-screen display;

selecting the first application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the first application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager to start the first application program when the first application program is selected.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the first application;

exiting the first application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager when the first application has been exited; and

displaying the on-screen display.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting the second application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the second application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager to start the second application when the second application is selected.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the second application;

exiting the second application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager when the second application has been exited; and

displaying the on-screen display.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager to suspend the on-screen display.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

displaying television content.

7. An apparatus for managing a graphics display associated with an embedded system, said graphics display accessible by at least a first and second application program executable by said embedded system, said apparatus comprising:

a microprocessor;

means, executable by said microprocessor, for preventing simultaneous access of said graphics display by said application programs;

wherein said means for preventing simultaneous access of said graphics display by said application programs comprises a graphics resource manager program; and

programming for carrying out the operating of:

displaying an on-screen display;

selecting the first application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the first application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to start the first application program when the first application program is selected.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the first application;

exiting the first application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program when the first application has been exited; and

displaying an on-screen display.

9. A system as recited in claim 7 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting the second application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the second application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to start the second application when the second application is selected.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the second application;

exiting the second application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program when the second application has been exited; and

displaying the on-screen display.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to suspend the on-screen display.

12. A system as recited in claim 11 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

displaying television content.

13. In an embedded system having a graphics display accessible by at least a first and second application program executable by said embedded system, the improvement comprising:

a graphics resource manager program executable by said embedded system;

wherein said graphics resource manager program is configured to prevent simultaneous access of said graphics display by said application programs; and

programming for carrying out the operations of:

displaying an on-screen display;

selecting the first application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the first application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to start the first application program when the first application program is selected.

14. An improvement as recited in claim 13 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the first application;

exiting the first application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program when the first application has been exited; and

displaying the on-screen display.

15. An improvement as recited in claim 14 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting the second application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the second application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to start the second application when the second application is selected.

16. An improvement as recited in claim 15 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the second application;

exiting the second application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program when the second application has been exited; and

displaying the on-screen display.

17. An improvement as recited in claim 16 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to suspend the on-screen display.

18. An improvement as recited in claim 17 , further comprising programming for carrying out the operations of:

displaying television content.

19. A method for managing a graphics display associated with an embedded system wherein said graphics display is accessible by at least a first and second application program executable by said embedded system, comprising:

providing a graphics resource manager program executable by said embedded system;

wherein said graphics resource manager program is configured to prevent simultaneous access of said graphics display by said application programs; and

wherein said embedded system includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

displaying an on-screen display;

selecting the first application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the first application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to start the first application program when the first application program is selected.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the first application;

exiting the first application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program when the first application has been exited; and

displaying the an-screen display.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting the second application via the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display when the second application is selected; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to start the second application when the second application is selected.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the second application;

exiting the second application;

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program when the second application has been exited; and

displaying the on-screen display.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

selecting to exit the on-screen display;

exiting the on-screen display; and

sending a message to the graphics resource manager program to suspend the on-screen display.

24. A method as recited in claim 23 , wherein said embedded system further includes programming for carrying out the operations of:

displaying television content.