Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image

• US 10,078,439 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2014
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas, Anzures, Freddy Allen, Van Os, Marcel, Forstall, Scott, Christie, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Xiao, Di
• Application Number:
  US14/248,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20150082252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 715863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

displaying an unlock image in a first state on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

detecting a predefined gesture on the touch-sensitive display at a location remote from the unlock image;

continuously modifying the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the predefined gesture;

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends after moving to at least a predetermined location;

ceasing to display the unlock image; and

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends before moving to the predetermined location;

maintaining the device in the user-interface lock state; and

modifying the unlock image back to the first state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to the predefined gesture.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to ending the predefined gesture after moving to at least the predetermined location.

4. A portable electronic device, comprising

a touch-sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules including instructions for;

displaying an unlock image in a first state on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

detecting a predefined gesture on the touch-sensitive display at a location remote from the unlock image;

continuously modifying the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the predefined gesture;

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends after moving to at least a predetermined location;

ceasing to display the unlock image; and

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends before moving to the predetermined location;

maintaining the device in a locked state; and

modifying the unlock image back to the first state.

5. The portable electronic device of claim 4, including instructions for:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state;

preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to the predefined gesture.

6. The portable electronic device of claim 5, including instructions for:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to ending the predefined gesture after moving to at least the predetermined location.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display an unlock image in a first state on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

detect a predefined gesture on the touch-sensitive display at a location remote from the unlock image;

continuously modify the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the predefined gesture;

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends after moving to at least a predetermined location;

cease to display the unlock image; and

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends before moving to the predetermined location;

maintain the device in a locked state; and

modify the unlock image back to the first state.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 7, including instructions which cause the device to:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, prevent the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to the predefined gesture.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, including instructions which cause the device to:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, prevent the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to ending the predefined gesture after moving to at least the predetermined location.

10. A method of controlling an electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, comprising:

while the device is in a user-interface lock state, detecting a predefined gesture on the touch-sensitive display at a location remote from an unlock image;

continuously modifying the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the predefined gesture;

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends after moving to at least a predetermined location;

ceasing to display the unlock image; and

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends before moving to the predetermined location;

maintaining the device in the user-interface lock state.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to the predefined gesture.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to ending the predefined gesture after moving to at least the predetermined location.

13. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more modules including instructions for;

while the device is in a user-interface lock state, detecting a predefined gesture on the touch-sensitive display at a location remote from an unlock image;

continuously modifying the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the predefined gesture;

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends after moving to at least a predetermined location;

ceasing to display the unlock image; and

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends before moving to the predetermined location;

maintaining the device in the user-interface lock state.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13, including instructions for:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to the predefined gesture.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 14, including instructions for:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, preventing the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to ending the predefined gesture after moving to at least the predetermined location.

16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

while the device is in a user-interface lock state, detect a predefined gesture on the touch-sensitive display at a location remote from an unlock image;

continuously modify the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with the predefined gesture;

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends after moving to at least a predetermined location;

cease to display the unlock image; and

in response to detecting that the predefined gesture ends before moving to the predetermined location;

maintain the device in the user-interface lock state.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, including instructions which cause the device to:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, prevent the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to the predefined gesture.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, including instructions which cause the device to:

while the device is in the user-interface lock state, prevent the device from performing a predefined set of actions in response to detecting any contact with the touch-sensitive display that does not correspond to ending the predefined gesture after moving to at least the predetermined location.