Private and public applications

• US 10,078,755 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Hayashida, Jeffrey Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gracia, Gary S
• Application Number:
  US13/118,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20120304280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,671 Days
• Field of Search: 726 16, 726 7, 726 17, 713186, 713189, 715835, 715836, 715769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

Designating applications for public access or private access on a computing device is disclosed. An application on the computing device is designated for private functionality or public functionality. A security wall is enforced with respect to the application if the application is designated for private functionality, wherein enforcing the security wall includes preventing access to the application until a security input is received. Access to the application is provided if the application is designated for public functionality, wherein providing access to the application includes allowing a user to access the application without receiving the security input from the user.

Claims

1. A method performed by one or more processors executing on a computer device, the method comprising:

determining a current geographic location of the computer device;

determining a frequency of use of an application on the computer device at the current geographic location;

determining a level of importance of the application on the computer device at the current geographic location;

designating the application on the computer device for private functionality and public functionality, where the computer device has a public mode and a private mode of operation, where the application is automatically designated based on the current geographic location of the computer device, the frequency of use of the application and the level of importance of the application at the current geographic location;

wherein designating the application on the computer device for private functionality comprises allowing limited access to one or more specific functions of the application while the computing device in a locked mode;

wherein the private functionality of the application includes a purchasing functionality allowing a user to conduct a purchase through the application;

determining that the computer device is running in the public mode of operation;

while the computer device is running in the public mode of operation, enforcing a security wall on the application with respect to the private functionality of the application, wherein enforcing the security wall includes allowing user access to the public functionality of the application but not the private functionality of the application; and

in response to receiving a security input, switching from the public mode of operation to the private mode of operation of the computer device and presenting one or more objects that are selectable to invoke public and private applications while the computer device is in the private mode of operation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein allowing user access to the public functionality of the application includes generating for display a visual indicator of availability of the application in a public mode of operation of the computer device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein generating for display the visual indicator includes displaying a particular visual indicator for each application in a group of applications, wherein each application in the group of applications is designated for public functionality.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is a photo application and the public functionality is taking pictures and the private functionality is reviewing pictures taken while the computer device is in the private mode of operation.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically designating the application for private functionality after a certain time period has elapsed since a previous use of the particular application.

6. The method of claim 1, where the current geographic location of the computing device is determined by a sensor of the computer device.

7. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, perform operations comprising:

determining a current geographic location of a computer device;

determining a frequency of use of an application on the computer device at the current geographic location;

determining a level of importance of the application on the computer device at the current geographic location;

designating the application on the computer device for private functionality and public functionality, where the computer device has a public mode and a private mode of operation, where the application is automatically designated based on the current geographic location of the computer device, the frequency of use of the application and the level of importance of the application at the current geographic location;

wherein designating the application on the computer device for private functionality comprises allowing limited access to one or more specific functions of the application while the computer device in a locked mode;

wherein the private functionality of the application includes a purchasing functionality allowing a user to conduct a purchase through the application;

determining that the computer device is running in the public mode of operation;

while the computer device is running in the public mode of operation, enforcing a security wall on the application with respect to the private functionality of the application, wherein enforcing the security wall includes allowing user access to the public functionality of the application but not the private functionality of the application; and

in response to receiving a security input, switching from the public mode of operation to the private mode of operation of the computer device and presenting one or more objects that are selectable to invoke public and private applications while the computer device is in the private mode of operation.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein allowing the user to interact with the private functionality of the application includes requiring a second input from the user before allowing the user to interact with the application, the second input different from the security input.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 wherein the private functionality of the application includes a purchasing functionality allowing the user to conduct a purchase through the application.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, where the current geographic location of the computer device is determined by a sensor of the computer device.

11. A computer device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operable to store instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising;

determining a current geographic location of the computer device;

determining a frequency of use of an application on the computer device at the current geographic location;

determining a level of importance of the application on the computer device at the current geographic location;

designating the application on the computer device for private functionality and public functionality, where the computer device has a public mode and a private mode of operation, where the application is automatically designated based on the current geographic location of the computer device, the frequency of use of the application and the level of importance of the application at the current geographic location;

wherein designating the application on the computer device for private functionality comprises allowing limited access to one or more specific functions of the application while the computer device in a locked mode;

wherein the private functionality of the application includes a purchasing functionality allowing a user to conduct a purchase through the application;

determining that the computer device is running in the public mode of operation;

while the computer device is running in the public mode of operation, enforcing a security wall on the application with respect to the private functionality of the application, wherein enforcing the security wall includes allowing user access to the public functionality of the application but not the private functionality of the application; and

in response to receiving a security input, switching from the public mode of operation to the private mode of operation of the computer device and presenting one or more objects that are selectable to invoke public and private applications while the computer device is in the private mode of operation.

12. The computer device of claim 11 wherein providing access to the application includes displaying a particular visual indicator for each application in a group of applications, wherein each application in the group of applications is designated for public functionality.

13. The computer device of claim 11, where the current geographic location of the computer device is determined by a sensor of the computer device.