Prioritization of background display during animation

A computer implemented method for displaying an animated image, generated by a first process, on a multitasking data processing system, said animated image being superimposed on at least one other image being generated by a second process, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining whether said animated image will cause a previously obscured area of said other image to become visible;
• and
• assigning a first priority value to said first process which is relatively lower than a second priority value assigned to said second process;
• wherein said data processing system executes said second process at a higher relative priority than said first process such that said other image is available for display when said animated image exposes said other image.

A computer program including data structures stored on a computer readable media the causes an animated image, generated by a first process, to be displayed superimposed on at least one other image, generated by a second process, said computer program comprising:

• means for determining whether said animated image will cause a previously obscured area of said other image to become visible;
• and
• means for assigning a first priority value to said first process which is relatively lower than a second priority value assigned to said second process;
• wherein a data processing system will execute said second process at a higher relative priority than said first process such that said other image is available for display when said animated image exposes said other image.