Method for controlling execution of an audio video interactive program

In an audio video interactive (AVI) receiver receiving a packet stream including a directory and an AVI program having an associated identifier in the directory, a method for controlling the execution of the AVI program comprising 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;
• monitoring the packet stream for an AVI program different from the executing AVI program:
• and
• interrupting and minimizing the executing AVI program when said AVI program different from said AVI program is detected in the packet stream, and wherein minimizing includes removing said executing AVI program from said memory.

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 comprising 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.

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 comprising 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 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.