Preventing Unintentional Activation And/Or Input In An Electronic Device

• US 20100257490A1
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shiplacoff, Daniel Marc Gatan, Duarte, Matias Gonzalo, Lyon, Jeremy Godfrey, Dellinger, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,539,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• 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 system and method for preventing unintentional activation and/or input in an electronic device are provided. A movable on-screen user interface object is provided as an unlocking mechanism in a device having a touch-sensitive surface. The user moves the object in any desired direction from a starting point (or origin); if the object is moved a sufficient distance away from the starting point, the device is unlocked. The required amount of movement may be defined by a threshold which may or may not be made visible to the user. In various embodiments, the threshold may be defined by an arc, a circle, or by a straight line, or in some other arbitrary manner. In various embodiments, user authentication can be required before unlocking takes effect. In various embodiments, certain alerts can be displayed while the device is locked.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a locked electronic device, comprising:

displaying a movable user interface object at an origin position on a display screen;

defining a threshold boundary;

receiving user input indicating movement of the user interface object;

moving the user interface object responsive to the received user input; and

responsive to the user interface object being moved beyond the defined threshold boundary, unlocking the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

displaying a movable user interface object comprises displaying the movable user interface object on a screen having a touch-sensitive surface; and

receiving user input comprises detecting user contact with the touchsensitive surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input comprises receiving user input via at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a touch-sensitive surface;

a pointing device;

a mouse;

a touchpad;

a trackball;

a joystick;

a keyboard;

a rocker switch;

a dial; and

a directional keypad.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein unlocking the electronic device comprises granting access to at least one functional feature of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, prior to unlocking the electronic device, denying access to the at least one functional feature of the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a cellular telephone;

a smartphone;

a handheld computer;

a personal computer;

a personal digital assistant; and

a kiosk.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an indicator of the threshold boundary on the display screen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to user input indicating movement of the user interface object, displaying an indicator of the threshold boundary on the display screen.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold boundary comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an arc;

a circle substantially enclosing the origin position; and

a line.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface object can be moved in substantially any direction on the display screen.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the defined threshold boundary is reachable from the origin by movement of the user interface object can in any of a plurality of directions.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, responsive to the received user input indicating insufficient movement to reach the defined threshold boundary, returning the user interface object to the origin position.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying at least one alert while the electronic device is locked and concurrently with displaying the movable user interface object, the alert comprising a notification of at least one event.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying at least one alert comprises, for at least one alert:

responsive to the alert representing an event that occurred subsequent to the most recent locking of the device, displaying the alert in a first format; and

responsive to the alert representing an event that occurred prior to the most recent locking of the device, displaying the alert in a second format;

wherein the second format is more compact than the first format.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying at least one alert comprises, for at least one alert:

responsive to the alert having not been dismissed, displaying the alert in a first format; and

responsive to the alert having been dismissed, displaying the alert in a second format;

wherein the second format is more compact than the first format.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying at least one alert comprises, for at least one alert:

responsive to the alert representing an event that occurred subsequent to the most recent locking of the device, displaying the alert; and

responsive to the alert representing an event that occurred prior to the most recent locking of the device, suppressing display of the alert.

18. A method for unlocking a locked electronic device, comprising:

displaying a movable user interface object at an origin position on a display screen;

receiving user input indicating movement of the user interface object;

moving the user interface object responsive to the received user input; and

responsive to the distance between a current position of the user interface object and the origin position exceeding a predetermined minimum distance, unlocking the electronic device.

19. A method for unlocking a locked electronic device, comprising:

displaying a movable user interface object at an origin position on a display screen;

receiving user input indicating movement of the user interface object;

moving the user interface object responsive to the received user input; and

responsive to the distance between a current position of the user interface object and the origin position exceeding a predetermined minimum distance;

authenticating the user; and

responsive to a determination that the user is authorized to use the electronic device, unlocking the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein authenticating the user comprises:

prompting the user to enter a password; and

validating the password.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein authenticating the user comprises:

prompting the user to enter a personal identification number; and

validating the personal identification number.

22. A method for unlocking a locked electronic device to answer an incoming call, comprising:

receiving an incoming call;

displaying an indication of the incoming call;

displaying a movable user interface object at an origin position on a display screen;

defining a threshold boundary;

receiving user input indicating movement of the user interface object;

moving the user interface object responsive to the received user input; and

responsive to the user interface object being moved beyond the defined threshold boundary, connecting the call.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving user input to access additional functionality on the electronic device;

authenticating the user; and

responsive to a determination that the user is authorized to access the additional functionality, providing access to the additional functionality.

24. A method for displaying at least one alert on a locked electronic device, comprising:

displaying a user interface object for unlocking the electronic device;

prior to unlocking the electronic device and concurrently with displaying the movable user interface object, displaying at least one alert, the alert comprising a notification of at least one event;

receiving user input to unlock the electronic device; and

responsive to the user input, unlocking the electronic device;

wherein displaying at least one alert comprises, for at least one alert;

responsive to the alert representing an event that occurred subsequent to the most recent locking of the device, displaying the alert in a first format; and

responsive to the alert representing an event that occurred prior to the most recent locking of the device, displaying the alert in a second format;

wherein the second format is more compact than the first format.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second format comprises at least a portion of an alert summary.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

prior to unlocking the electronic device, denying access to at least one functional feature of the electronic device;

wherein unlocking the electronic device comprises granting access to the at least one functional feature of the electronic device.

27. A system for unlocking a locked electronic device, comprising:

a display screen, for displaying a movable user interface object at an origin position;

a user input device, for receiving user input indicating movement of the user interface object;

and a processor, for defining a threshold boundary;

wherein;

responsive to the received user input, the display screen moves the user interface object; and

responsive to the user interface object being moved beyond the defined threshold boundary, the processor unlocks

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the user input device comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

a touch-sensitive surface;

a pointing device;

a mouse;

a touchpad;

a trackball;

a joystick;

a keyboard;

a rocker switch;

a dial; and

a directional keypad.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the user interface object can be moved in substantially any direction on the display screen.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the defined threshold boundary is reachable from the origin by movement of the user interface object can in any of a plurality of directions.

31. The system of claim 27, wherein the display screen displays at least one alert while the electronic device is locked and concurrently with displaying the movable user interface object, the alert comprising a notification of at least one event.

32. A computer program product for unlocking a locked electronic device, comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, for;

displaying a movable user interface object at an origin position on a display screen;

defining a threshold boundary;

receiving user input indicating movement of the user interface object;

moving the user interface object responsive to the received user input; and

responsive to the user interface object being moved beyond the defined threshold boundary, unlocking the electronic device.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the user interface object can be moved in substantially any direction on the display screen.

34. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the defined threshold boundary is reachable from the origin by movement of the user interface object can in any of a plurality of directions.

35. The computer program product of claim 32, further comprising computer program code, encoded on the medium, for displaying at least one alert while the electronic device is locked and concurrently with displaying the movable user interface object, the alert comprising a notification of at least one event.