Systems and methods for providing a system level user interface in a multimedia console

摘要

Systems and methods for providing a system level user interface that can be invoked at any time during operation of a multimedia console are provided, enabling a user to interact with system level user data and/or initiate secondary behaviors or functionality not normally possible to achieve when the multimedia console is engaged only by a primary application. The system level user interface may either interrupt, e.g., pause, the primary application or allow the primary application to continue, and simultaneously displaying the operation of the primary application and the system level user interface. In one embodiment, the system level user interface layer is called a "Head's Up" Display, or HUD, and the HUD is invocable via peripheral input means, such as a button on a controller or remote device, and the HUD enables the user to perform secondary system level tasks not available through the primary gaming application. In one embodiment, the HUD operates using only a pre-defined subset of system resources, so that the primary application is guaranteed a pre-defined level of performance.