System for changing modalities

An appliance for displaying information, said appliance having first and second modes, wherein said appliance is a home theater computer and wherein said first mode is a computer mode and said second mode is a video viewing mode, said appliance comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to said processor;
• a data storage device coupled to said processor;
• a video display coupled to said processor;
• means for displaying a first window when said appliance operates in said first mode and displaying a second window when said appliance operates in said second mode;
• means for displaying a computer desktop in said first window and displaying video images in said second window;
• means for capturing a user actuation indicative of a modal change;
• means for detecting a current mode for said appliance;
• means for selecting a next mode by sequentially cycling through all modes on a round-robin basis;
• means for displaying a next mode of said appliance;
• means for setting said next mode of said appliance as the mode for said appliance;
• means for maximizing the window associated with the mode of said appliance;
• and
• means for parking a cursor in a hidden location until a next user actuation indicative of a mode change.

A program storage device having a computer readable program code embodied therein for displaying information on an appliance having first and second modes, wherein said appliance is a home theater computer and wherein said first mode is a computer mode and said second mode is a video viewing mode, said program storage device comprising:

• code that displays a first window when said appliance operates in said first mode and that displays a second window when said appliance operates in said second mode;
• code that displays a computer desktop in said first window and displays video images in said second window;
• code that captures a user actuation indicative of a modal change;
• code that detects a current mode for said appliance;
• code that automatically selects a next mode of said appliance by sequentially cycling through all modes on a round-robin basis;
• code that displays said next mode of said appliance;
• code that sets said next mode of said appliance as the mode for said appliance;
• code that maximizes the window associated with the current mode of said appliance;
• and
• code that parks a cursor in a hidden location until a next user actuation indicative of a mode change.

A home theater computer, wherein said home theater computer has a first mode and a second mode, wherein said first mode is a computer mode and said second mode is a video viewing mode, comprising:

• a processor;
• a processor;
• a memory coupled to said processor;
• and
• a data storage device coupled to said processor, said data storage device having:
• code for displaying a first window when said home theater computer operates in said first mode and displaying a second window when said home theater computer operates in said second mode;
• code for displaying a computer desktop in said first window and displaying video images in said second window;
• code for capturing a user actuation indicative of a modal change from said personal computer mode to said video viewing mode;
• code for detecting a current mode for said home theater computer;
• code for selecting a next mode of said home theater computer based on said current mode of said home theater computer, comprising a code for sequentially cycling through all modes on a round-robin basis;
• code for setting said next mode of said appliance as the mode for said home theater computer;
• code for maximizing the window associated with the mode of said home theater computer;
• and
• code for parking a cursor in a hidden location until a next user actuation indicative of a mode change.

An appliance for displaying information, said appliance having first and second modes, wherein said appliance is a home theater computer and wherein said first mode is a computer and said second mode is a video viewing mode, said appliance comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to said processor;
• a data storage device coupled to said processor;
• a video display coupled to said processor;
• a graphics generator for displaying a first window when said appliance operates in said first mode and displaying a second window when said appliance operates in said second mode;
• code for displaying a computer desktop in said first window and displaying video images in said second window;
• an input device for capturing a user actuation indicative of a modal change;
• a mode detector for sensing a current mode for said appliance;
• a mode selector for picking a next mode of said appliance based on said current mode of said appliance, wherein said mode selector sequentially cycles through all modes on a round-robin basis;
• a menu for showing the next mode of said appliance, wherein said menu comprises other non-mode-change items;
• a switch for setting said next mode of said appliance as the mode for said appliance;
• and
• a code for maximizing the window associated with the mode of said appliance;
• and
• a code for parking the cursor in a hidden location until a next user actuation indicative of a mode change.

A method for operating a home theater computer, comprising:

• capturing a user actuation indicative of a modal change from a personal computer mode to a video viewing mode;
• detecting a current mode for said home theater computer;
• selecting a next mode of said home theater computer based on said current mode of said home theater computer, wherein said step for selecting the next mode comprises the step of sequentially cycling through all modes on a round-robin basis;
• setting next mode of said home theater personal computer as the mode for said home theater computer;
• maximizing the window associated with the mode of said home theater computer;
• and
• parking a cursor in a hidden location until a next user actuation indicative of a mode change.