METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN PLURAL AUDIO RESPONSES IN A MULTIMEDIA MULTITASKING ENVIRONMENT

In a data processing system having plural processes being executed concurrently thereon, with each process producing audio responses, there is provided a method and system for synchronizing the audio responses so that only one process at a time "speaks" to a user through an audio output device. The audio responses of a process are intercepted by a sequencer which determines if the audio output device is available for accessing. If the audio output device is available, then the sequencer provides the intercepted audio responses to the audio output device. If the audio output device is not available, then the sequencer delays the provision of the audio responses until the audio output device becomes available. Furthermore, notification is given to the user so that the particular process which is speaking through the audio output device can be identified. Notification can be by aural characteristics, such as frequency or pitch, or by graphically displaying the identifying information to the user.