Mobile Device and Method for Synchronizing Use of the Mobile Device's Communications Port Among a Plurality of Applications

A method for synchronizing use of a mobile device's communications port among a plurality of applications, the method comprising:

• performing the following in a mobile device comprising a communications port, wherein the communications port is configured to be used by only one application at a time:
• queuing requests from a plurality of applications running on the mobile device to use the communications port;
• notifying one of the plurality of applications that it can use the communications port;
• and
• after the one of the plurality of applications is done using the communications port, notifying another one of the plurality of applications that it can use the communications port.

A method for synchronizing use of a mobile device's communications port among a plurality of applications, the method comprising:

• performing the following in a mobile device comprising a communications port and running a plurality of applications:
• sending a message from a first application to all of the other applications to request a response indicating whether any of the other applications are using the communications port;
• in response to the first application not receiving any responses, moving the first application to a ready state in which it can use the communications port;
• and
• in response to the first application receiving a response that a second application is using the communications port:
• moving the first application to a wait state;
• and
• after the second application releases the use of the communications port, moving the first application from the wait state to the ready state in which it can use the communications port.