Enhanced user interface manager and method for managing non-contemporaneous user interface modules

1. At a user interface module executed on a workstation, the workstation including an input device and the user interface module associated with a peripheral device, a method of facilitating user interface management, said method comprising:

receiving, via the input device, partial input associated with establishment of a connection between the workstation and the peripheral device;

while receiving partial input associated with establishment of the connection between the workstation and the peripheral device, receiving a command message to cease execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device;

prior to ceasing execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device, transmitting a state information message to a user interface manager, the state information message including a control-state data structure, said control-state data structure including said partial input; and

ceasing execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device.

2. A computing apparatus comprising:

an input device;

a processor that executes a user interface module to:

receive, via the input device, partial input associated with establishment of a connection between the computing apparatus and a peripheral device;

while receiving partial input associated with establishment of the connection between the computing apparatus and the peripheral device, receive a command message to cease execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device;

prior to ceasing execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device, transmit a state information message to a user interface manager, the state information message including a control-state data structure, said control-state data structure including said partial input; and

cease execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor in a workstation, cause said processor to:

receive, via an input device, partial input associated with establishment of a connection between the workstation and a peripheral device at a user interface module;

while receiving partial input associated with establishment of the connection between the workstation and the peripheral device receive a command message to cease execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device;

prior to ceasing execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device transmit a state information message to a user interface manager, the state information message including a control-state data structure, said control-state data structure including said partial input; and

cease execution of the user interface module associated with the peripheral device.

4. A method of managing multiple user interfaces on a computing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving, from a providing user interface module, a control-data structure describing a state of said providing user interface module, said control-state data structure including an indication of partial input received in association with establishment of a workstation-to-peripheral connection;

storing said control-data structure including said input wherein storing comprises moving thread map entries associated with said providing user interface module to a cache;

receiving, from a requesting interface module, a request for user interface state; and

transmitting, to said requesting user interface module, said control-data structure.

5. A method of managing user interfaces, said method comprising:

receiving a state information message from a first user interface module, said state information message including an indication of partial input received in association with establishment of a workstation-to-peripheral connection that has not yet been established;

storing said state information including said input wherein storing comprises moving one or more thread map entries associated with said first user interface module to a cache;

receiving a request for said state information from a newly operational interface module; and

responsive to said receiving said request, transmitting said state information to said newly operational interface module.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising, responsive to said receiving said request, moving said thread map entries from said cache to a thread map associated with said newly operational user interface module.

7. A computing apparatus comprising a processor that executes a user interface manager to:

receive a state information message from a first user interface module, said state information message including an indication of partial input received in association with establishment of a workstation-to-peripheral connection that has not yet been established;

store said state information including said input wherein storing comprises moving one or more thread map entries associated with said first user interface module to a cache;

receive a request for said state information from a newly operational interface module; and

transmit said state information to said newly operational interface module responsive to said receiving said request.

8. The computing apparatus of claim 7 wherein said user interface manager is further arranged to, responsive to said receiving said request, move said thread map entries from said cache to a thread map associated with said newly operational user interface module.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor, cause said processor to:

receive a state information message from a first user interface module, said state information message including an indication of partial input received in association with establishment of a workstation-to-peripheral connection that has not yet been established;

store said state information including said input wherein storing comprises moving one or more thread map entries associated with said first user interface module to a cache;

receive a request for said state information from a newly operational interface module; and

transmit said state information to said newly operational interface module responsive to said receiving said request.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein said computer-executable instructions further cause said processor to, responsive to said receiving said request, move said thread map entries from said cache to a thread map associated with said newly operational user interface module.

11. A security system comprising:

a smart card reader;

a computing apparatus having a processor that executes a user interface module for facilitating a formation of a connection between said smart card reader and said computing apparatus, said user interface module to:

receive partial input associated with establishment of said connection;

while receiving partial input associated with establishment of said connection between said smart card reader and said computing apparatus, receive a command message to cease execution of the user interface module associated with the connection;

prior to ceasing execution of the user interface module associated with the connection, transmit a state information message to a user interface manager, the state information message including a control-state data structure, said control-state data structure including said input; and

cease execution of the user interface module associated with the connection between said smart card reader and said computing apparatus.

12. A security system comprising:

a smart card reader;

a computing apparatus having a processor that executes a user interface manager for facilitating a formation of a connection between said smart card reader and said computing apparatus, said user interface manager to:

receive, from a providing user interface module, a control-data structure describing a state of said providing user interface module, said control-data structure including an indication of partial input received in association with establishment of said connection that has not yet been established;

store said control-data structure including said input wherein storing comprises moving thread map entries associated with said providing user interface module to a cache;

receive, from a requesting interface module, a request for user interface state; and

transmit, to said requesting user interface module, said control-data structure.

13. A security system comprising:

a smart card reader;

a computing apparatus having a processor that executes a user interface manager for facilitating a formation of a connection between said smart card reader and said computing apparatus, said user interface manager to:

receive a state information message from a first user interface module, said state information message including an indication of partial input received in association with establishment of said connection that has not yet been established;

store said state information including said input wherein storing comprises moving thread map entries associated with said first user interface module to a cache;

receive a request for said state information from a newly operational interface module; and

transmit said state information to said newly operational interface module responsive to said receiving said request.