Importance

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Abstract

A plug-in executes as a separate computer process from a platform process in which the plug-in is installed and which invokes execution of the plug-in. The plug-in therefore has a context which is independent of the context of the platform process. Specifically, the plug-in is separated into a plug-in controller and a plug-in body. The plug-in body is a collection of computer instructions execution of which perform the substantive task of the plug-in, i.e., the task by which the plug-in extends the functionality of the platform process. The plug-in controller is installed in the platform process as a plug-in using the plug-in installation mechanism of the platform process. Once invoked by the platform process, typically in response to user-generated signals received by the platform process, the plug-in controller invokes execution of the plug-in body as a separate computer process from the platform process. The platform process creates a window into which the plug-in can display images and information and passes to the plug-in controller a window identifier of the window to thereby grant the plug-in controller access to the window. The plug-in controller passes the window identifier to the plug-in body through an argument list in execution of the exec( ) system call. The plug-in body avoids deletion of the window by creating a sub-window of the window and manipulating the window hierarchy to prevent deletion of the sub-window as a consequence of deletion of the window provided by the platform process.

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First Claim