Float patch above other applications

Hello. I've got a patch I want to build which will help parse midi data to be used by another application. I was originally going to do this with XCode/Cocoa, but after a lot of thought, and the realization that I had spent 4 years of my life in Max/MSP (version 4.6, I'm just now updating to vers5), I realized I could do this much more easily in Max.

The only thing is, ideally, I'd like some interface device to be able to be visible from within another open application. I don't really care what it is: a floating window, a menu extra (clock tray menu item)... whatever. I just need to be able to see something while Max/MSP is in the background. What do you suggest?

The specifics are, I'm using a wonderful program called Jambalaya for live performance of various VIs, but I want to build a simple patch to be able to change midi channels with the click of a foot pedal, to be able to route to different VI channels within Jambalaya. This is simple all fairly straightforward for me, but ideally I'd like to be able to see some visual indicator when Jambalaya is open, as to which channel I'm sending to.

Turning a patch into a dashboard app would be another possibility as well. It's been 6 long years since I last used Max, so I don't know what new surprises are available. Any ideas would be awesome.