Lockable widgets on a mobile device

• US 10,198,569 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2018
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Farraro, Eric J., Tapley, John, Cockcroft, Oliver Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US15/936,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20180218144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 726 16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00416 Multi-level menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00419 Arrangements for navigating between pages or parts of the menu

Abstract

A software widget running on a user device may be designed to operate in a locked or an unlocked mode. In unlocked mode, the user has full interactivity with the widget. In locked mode, however, at least some of the interactivity with the widget is restricted, despite the fact that the widget still operates normally otherwise while in the locked mode. While in locked mode, user input may determine if the widget should be unlocked.

Claims

1. A user device comprising:

a display;

a memory;

a processor operable to execute a first software widget, wherein the first software widget automatically displays information on the display and permits user interaction with the first software widget;

a widget locking module executable by the processor and configured to;

secure the first software widget in a locked mode, the securing of the first software widget in a locked mode not affecting a locked mode of any other software widgets on the user device;

while the first software widget is operating in a locked mode, receive first user input; and

in response to the receiving of the first user input, alter the state of the first software widget to an unlocked mode, the first user input not affecting the locked mode of any other software widgets on the user device.

2. The user device of claim 1, wherein the first user input is a navigation input in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

3. The user device of claim 1, wherein the first user input is a triple tap motion.

4. The user device of claim 1, wherein the first user input is selection of colors on the display.

5. The user device of claim 1, wherein the altering removes restrictions on interactivity between the first software widget and the user device placed in the locked mode while not affecting interactivity of any other software widgets on the user device.

6. The user device of claim 1, the widget locking module further configured to:

initiate an authentication sequence, based at least in part on receiving a predefined number of user input attempts failing to match the first predefined unlocking sequence, wherein the authentication sequence requires the user to enter specific user input corresponding to the user;

receive, in response to initiating the authentication sequence, additional user input; and

alter the state of the first software widget to an unlocked mode, upon validation that the additional user input matches the authentication sequence, the unlocked mode removing the locked mode for the first software widget.

7. The user device of claim 1, wherein the display is a touchscreen display.

8. A method comprising:

running a first software widget on a user device, wherein a software widget is a software application designed to automatically display information on the user device and to permit user interaction with the software application to modify the information displayed;

securing the first software widget in a locked mode, the securing of the first software widget in a locked mode not affecting a locked mode of any other software widgets on the user device;

while the first software widget is operating in a locked mode, receiving first user input; and

in response to the receiving of the first user input, altering the state of the first software widget to an unlocked mode, the first user input not affecting the locked mode of any other software widgets on the user device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first user input is a navigation input in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first user input is a triple tap motion.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first user input is selection of colors on the display.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the altering removes restrictions on interactivity between the first software widget and the user device placed in the locked mode while not affecting interactivity of any other software widgets on the user device.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

initiating an authentication sequence, based at least in part on receiving a predefined number of user input attempts failing to match the first predefined unlocking sequence, wherein the authentication sequence requires the user to enter specific user input corresponding to the user;

receiving, in response to initiating the authentication sequence, additional user input; and

altering the state of the first software widget to an unlocked mode, upon validation that the additional user input matches the authentication sequence, the unlocked mode removing the locked mode for the first software widget.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the display is a touchscreen display.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium embodying instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to execute operations comprising:

running a first software widget on a user device, wherein a software widget is a software application designed to automatically display information on the user device and to permit user interaction with the software application to modify the information displayed;

securing the first software widget in a locked mode, the securing of the first software widget in a locked mode not affecting a locked mode of any other software widgets on the user device;

while the first software widget is operating in a locked mode, receiving first user input; and

in response to the receiving of the first user input, altering the state of the first software widget to an unlocked mode, the first user input not affecting the locked mode of any other software widgets on the user device.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first user input is a navigation input in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first user input is a triple tap motion.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the first user input is selection of colors on the display.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the altering removes restrictions on interactivity between the first software widget and the user device placed in the locked mode while not affecting interactivity of any other software widgets on the user device.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:

initiating an authentication sequence, based at least in part on receiving a predefined number of user input attempts failing to match the first predefined unlocking sequence, wherein the authentication sequence requires the user to enter specific user input corresponding to the user;

receiving, in response to initiating the authentication sequence, additional user input; and

altering the state of the first software widget to an unlocked mode, upon validation that the additional user input matches the authentication sequence, the unlocked mode removing the locked mode for the first software widget.