The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 31, 2001
Filed:
May. 05, 1995
Dylan B. Ashe, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A clipboard manager which employs preemptive scheduling for access to contents of a clipboard region of memory in a computer remains backwardly compatible with application programs designed for cooperative scheduling, through the use of a locking mechanism. When an application which is designed for use with a preemptive scheduling interface desires access to the clipboard, it requests a key from a clipboard manager. As long as the application possesses the key, no other application can gain access to the clipboard. When an application which is designed for cooperative scheduling becomes the foreground program on the computer, the clipboard manager retains the key for itself. As long as this application is active, the clipboard manager prevents any other application running in the background from gaining access to the clipboard, and thereby avoids potential conflicts. Once the cooperatively scheduled application suspends operation, the clipboard manager releases the key, so that the clipboard can be accessed by other applications.