METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING AND DISABLING A LOCK MODE ON A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20090187676A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Ladouceur, Norman, Fyke, Steven, Griffin, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/14
• 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 portable electronic device including a processor provided in a housing, the processor for switching the portable electronic device from a normal operating mode to a device lock mode and a first input device and a second input device provided in the housing. Actuation of the first input device within a maximum delay of actuation of the second input device enables the device lock mode.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor provided in a housing, said processor for switching said portable electronic device from a normal operating mode to a device lock mode;

a first input device and a second input device provided in said housing;

wherein actuation of said first input device within a maximum delay of actuation of said second input device enables said device lock mode.

2. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein actuation of said first input device within a maximum delay of actuation of said second input device enables said normal operating mode when said portable electronic device is operating in a device lock mode.

3. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first input device and said second input device are provided on opposing sides of said portable electronic device.

4. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first input device is provided on a front surface of said portable electronic device and said second input device is provided on a rear surface of said portable electronic device.

5. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first input device is provided on a left surface of said portable electronic device and said second input device is provided on a right surface of said portable electronic device.

6. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first input device and said second input device intersect an activation axis, said activation axis being aligned with the shortest distance between said first input device and said second input device.

7. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first input device and said second input device are mounted in said housing, said first input device and said second input device being selected from the group consisting of:

buttons, capacitive touch sensors and resistive touch sensors.

8. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first input device is a button provided on a rear surface of said portable electronic device and said second input device is a touchscreen provided on a front surface of said portable electronic device.

9. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said maximum delay is 0.25 seconds.

10. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processor receives signals corresponding to keydown events and keyup events for each of said input devices, said keydown events being compared when determining if actuation of said first input device occurs within a maximum delay of actuation of said second input device.

11. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said keyup events are compared by said processor in order to detect inadvertent button actuation, if a maximum hold time of both buttons exceeds 3 seconds, enablement of said lock mode is cancelled.

12. A method for enabling a device lock mode comprising:

actuating a first input device of a portable electronic device and generating a first input signal;

actuating a second input device of said portable electronic device and generating a second input signal;

receiving and comparing said first input signal and said second input signal at a processor;

switching said portable electronic device from a normal operating mode to said device lock mode when said first input signal and said second input signal occur within a maximum delay of one another.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

generating a non-visual confirmation after successful enablement of said device lock mode.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said non-visual confirmation is a vibration.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said non-visual confirmation is a sound.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said first input device and said second input device are provided on opposing sides of said portable electronic device.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said first input device and said second input device intersect an activation axis, said activation axis being aligned with the shortest distance between said first input device and said second input device.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first input device and said second input device are mounted in said housing, said first input device and said second input device being selected from the group consisting of:

buttons, capacitive touch sensors and resistive touch sensors.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first input device is a button provided on a rear surface of said portable electronic device and said second input device is a touch screen provided on a front surface of said portable electronic device.

20. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein each of said first input signal and said second input signal include a keydown event and a keyup event, said keydown events being compared when determining if actuation of said first input device occurs within a maximum delay of actuation of said input device.

21. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said keyup events are compared by said processor in order to detect inadvertent input device actuation, if a maximum hold time of both input devices exceeds 3 seconds, enablement of said lock mode is cancelled.

22. A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor provided in a housing, said processor for switching said portable electronic device from a normal operating mode to a device lock mode;

a first input device and a second input device provided in said housing;

wherein substantially simultaneous actuation of said first input device and said second input device enables said device lock mode.

23. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein substantially simultaneous actuation of said first input device and said second input device enables said normal operating mode when said portable electronic device is operating in a device lock mode.

24. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein said first input device and said second input device are provided on opposing sides of said portable electronic device.

25. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 24, wherein said first input device and said second input device intersect an activation axis, said activation axis being aligned with the shortest distance between said first input device and said second input device.