Terminal apparatus and method of controlling terminal apparatus with multi-tasking features

摘要

A terminal apparatus, and associated method, stores in memory a plurality of application programs. A controller executes the plurality of application programs in a multi-tasking arrangement. When one of the application programs is replaced in the foreground with another application program, an image of the former application program while in an active state is stored in memory. That image is then used as part of a graphical user interface to provide an indication to a user of the other applications that are presently running, and the state of execution of the other application programs when last operating in the foreground.

主权项

1. A terminal apparatus comprising:
circuitry configured to:
store a plurality of application programs each having computer readable instructions, said plurality of application programs including a first application program and a second application program;execute instructions of the first application program;display a screen generated by the circuitry when executing the first application program;store data on the first application program when an operation of the first application program is paused; andrespond to an external input by changing the screen to a screen image of the second application program, said external input including a dragging operation of an external device so as to pause the first application program,wherein in response to the circuitry receiving the external input, the circuitry causes image data generated for the first application program while being executed and data of an execution state of the first application program to be stored for subsequent retrieval when resuming execution of said first application program into the circuitry,the circuitry simultaneously displays a partial screen image for the first application program with a partial screen image of the second application program prior to fully transitioning to a display of an entirety of the screen image for the second application program,the circuitry gradually increases a display area of the screen image for the second application program in accordance with the dragging operation,the circuitry places the second application program into an execution state when the display area of the screen image for the second application program is more than a predetermined threshold,in a case that another external input is not detected by the circuitry within a predetermined time period of displaying the entirety of the screen image for the second application program, the circuitry begins execution of the second application program, andin a case that another external input is detected by the circuitry within the predetermined time period, the circuitry does not begin execution of the second application program and the circuitry subsequently begins execution of a different application program.