Single input unlock for computing devices

• US 10,007,777 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2017
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Saini, Gaurav
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US15/627,036
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 726 2- 7, 726 17- 19, 726 26- 30, 713168, 713184, 713193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A device is described that, while operating in a lock-sensitive display. Responsive to detecting, and while receiving the first portion, the device displays a plurality of input nodes including a first node at the initial location and a second node at a subsequent location. Responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location, the device receives a second portion of the gesture beginning at the subsequent location and ending at a final location where a third node is displayed. Based on the second portion of the gesture, the device determines an ordered-selection of input nodes beginning with the second node and ending with the third node. Responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, the device transitions to operating an unlocked-state where the device displays a graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while a computing device is operating in a locked-state;

while receiving, by the computing device, beginning at an initial location of a presence-sensitive display, a first portion of the continuous-gesture input, outputting, by the computing device, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a plurality of input nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the initial location and a second node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at a subsequent location;

detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display;

receiving, by the computing device, beginning at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display and ending at a final location of the presence-sensitive display, a second portion of the continuous-gesture input;

determining, by the computing device, that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes a particular pattern near the second node;

responsive to determining that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes the particular pattern near the second node, determining, by the computing device, two subsequent selections of the second node;

determining, by the computing device, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, an ordered-selection of input nodes from the plurality of input nodes including the two subsequent selections of the second node; and

responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, transitioning, by the computing device, from operating in the locked-state to operating in an unlocked-state; and

while the computing device is operating in the unlocked-state, outputting, by the computing device, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a graphical user interface associated with one or more applications of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular pattern is a curlicue pattern or a loop pattern near the second node.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes the particular pattern near the second node comprises:

detecting the second portion of the continuous-gesture input moving away from the subsequent location and back to the subsequent location prior to contacting any other locations of the presence-sensitive display at which any other of the plurality of nodes is displayed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node and the second node are identical nodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a third node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the final location and the ordered-selection of input nodes ends with the third node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is a central node of the plurality of input nodes.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the computing device, an inflection point associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location, wherein the computing device begins receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture in response to detecting the inflection point.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the computing device, a pause associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location, wherein the computing device begins receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture in response to detecting the pause.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each input node of the plurality of input nodes corresponds to a different integer;

the ordered-selection corresponds to a first sequence of integers;

the unlock sequence corresponds to a second sequence of integers; and

determining that the ordered-selection satisfies the unlock sequence comprises determining, by the computing device, that the first sequence of integers corresponds to the second sequence of integers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while receiving the first portion of the continuous-gesture input, determining, by the computing device, first touch events associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture input;

while receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, determining, by the computing device, second touch events associated with the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, wherein determining the ordered-selection comprises determining the ordered-selection based on the second touch events and not based on the first touch events; and

responsive to receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, discarding, by the computing device, the first touch events from a memory.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a computing device to:

while operating in a locked-state;

while receiving, beginning at an initial location of a presence-sensitive display, a first portion of the continuous-gesture input, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a plurality of input nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the initial location and a second node of the plurality of input displayed is display at a subsequent location;

detect the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display;

receive, beginning at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display and ending at a final location of the presence-sensitive display, a second portion of the continuous-gesture input;

determine, that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes a particular pattern near the second node;

responsive to determining that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes the particular pattern near the second node, determine two subsequent selections of the second node;

determine, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, an ordered-selection of input nodes from the plurality of input nodes including the two subsequent selections of the second node; and

responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, transition, from operating in the locked-state to operating in an unlocked-state; and

while operating in the unlocked-state, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a graphical user interface associated with one or more applications of the computing device.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the particular pattern is a curlicue pattern or a loop pattern near the second node.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to determine that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes the particular pattern near the second node by at least detecting the second portion of the continuous-gesture input moving away from the subsequent location and back to the subsequent location prior to contacting any other locations of the presence-sensitive display at which any other of the plurality of nodes is displayed.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the first node and the second node are identical nodes.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein a third node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the final location and the ordered-selection of input nodes ends with the third node.

16. A computing device comprising:

a presence-sensitive display; and

at least one processor configured to;

while operating in a locked-state;

while receiving, beginning at an initial location of the presence-sensitive display, a first portion of the continuous-gesture input, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a plurality of input nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the initial location and a second node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at a subsequent location;

detect the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display;

receive, beginning at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display and ending at a final location of the presence-sensitive display, a second portion of the continuous-gesture input;

determine, that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes a particular pattern near the second node;

responsive to determining that the second portion of the continuous-gesture includes the particular pattern near the second node, determine two subsequent selections of the second node;

determine, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, an ordered-selection of input nodes from the plurality of input nodes including the two subsequent selections of the second node; and

responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, transition, from operating in the locked-state to operating in an unlocked-state; and

while operating in the unlocked-state, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a graphical user interface associated with one or more applications of the computing device.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the particular pattern is a curlicue pattern or a loop pattern near the second node.

18. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first node and the second node are identical nodes.

19. The computing device of claim 16, wherein a third node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the final location and the ordered-selection of input nodes ends with the third node.

20. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the first node is a central node of the plurality of input nodes.