Apparatus for managing outputs of applications

1. An apparatus for managing outputs of a first application and a second application, each application operable to execute on a data processing system, wherein output of the first application is executed on the data processing system, the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

a classifier for associating a first application and a second application with classification data, each application operable to execute on a data processing system, the first application and the second application each generating an output that is executable on the data processing system, wherein the classification data is stored in a classification data structure;

a comparator for comparing the classification data associated with the first application and the second application with the classification data structure to determine a priority, the priority indicating a preference for one of the output of the first application and the output of the second application, the comparator, in response to determining the priority, accessing a rule base to obtain a rule associated with the priority;

a generator, responsive to determination of the priority, for generating metadata associated with execution of at least one of the output of the first application and the output of the second application, the metadata generated based on the rule associated with the priority; and

a transmitter for transmitting the metadata to a function associated with an operating system of the data processing system;

wherein the classifier, the comparator, the generator, and the transmitter comprise one or more of logic hardware and executable code, the executable code stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver for receiving execution data generated in response to execution of the rule.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a receiver for receiving execution data generated in response to execution of the rule.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the generator is operable to use the execution data to generate the metadata.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the function associated with the operating system passes the metadata to one or more components associated with executing output of an application on the data processing system.

6. A method for managing outputs of a first application and a second application, comprising the steps of:

associating, using a classifier, a first application and a second application with classification data, each application operable to execute on a data processing system, the first application and the second application each generating an output that is executable on the data processing system, wherein the classification data is stored in a classification data structure;

comparing, using a comparator, the classification data associated with the first application and the second application with the classification data structure to determine a priority, the priority indicating a preference for one of the output of the first application and the output of the second application, the comparator, in response to determining the priority, accessing a rule base to obtain a rule associated with the priority;

generating, using a generator, in response to determination of the priority, metadata associated with execution of at least one of the output of the first application and the output of the second application, the metadata generated based on the rule associated with the priority; and

a transmitter for transmitting the metadata to a function associated with an operating system of the data processing system;

wherein the classifier, the comparator, and the generator, and the transmitter comprise one or more of logic hardware and executable code, the executable code stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of receiving execution data generated in response to execution of the rule.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the step of using the execution data to generate the metadata.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein classification data associated with an application comprises a property associated with execution of output of the application.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of transmitting the metadata to a function associated with an operating system of the data processing system.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the function associated with the operating system passes the metadata to one or more components associated with executing output of an application on the data processing system.

12. A computer program comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer usable program code for managing outputs of a first application and a second application, each application operable to execute on a data processing system, the first application and the second application each generating an output that is executable on the data processing system, said computer program product comprising:

computer usable program code for associating the first application and the second application with classification data, wherein the classification data is stored in a classification data structure;

computer usable program code for comparing the classification data associated with the first application and the second application with the classification data structure to determine a priority, the priority indicating a preference for one of the output of the first application and the output of the second application, a comparator, in response to determining the priority, accessing a rule base to obtain a rule associated with the priority;

computer usable program code for generating, in response to determination of the priority, metadata associated with execution of at least one of the output of the first application and the output of the second application, the metadata generated based on the rule associated with the priority; and

a transmitter for transmitting the metadata to a function associated with an operating system of the data processing system.