METHOD OF INTERACTING WITH ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN A LOCKED STATE AND HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONFIGURED TO PERMIT INTERACTION WHEN IN A LOCKED STATE

• US 20110081889A1
• Filed: 10/02/2009
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: GAO, Dapeng, OLIVER, Brian Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,338,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• 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 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• 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: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

A method of interacting with electronic devices in a locked state, and a handheld electronic device configured to permit interaction when in a locked state are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a handheld electronic device, comprising: a controller; a display screen connected to the controller; an input device connected to the controller; a communication subsystem connected to the controller for communication over a wireless network; a notification element connected to the controller; wherein the controller is configured for: initiating a locked state on the device in response to detection of a trigger condition; monitoring for one or more predetermined inputs via the input device when the device is in the locked state; and generating a notification via the notification element in response to detection of a predetermined input when the device is in the locked state.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a controller;

a display screen connected to the controller;

an input device connected to the controller;

a communication subsystem connected to the controller for communication over a wireless network;

a notification element connected to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured for;

initiating a locked state on the device in response to detection of a trigger condition;

monitoring for one or more predetermined inputs via the input device when the device is in the locked state; and

generating a notification via the notification element in response to detection of a predetermined input when the device is in the locked state.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a touch-sensitive display and the predetermined inputs are touchscreen gestures.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises an accelerometer and the predetermined inputs are motion-based gestures.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard or keypad and the predetermined inputs are predetermined keys or key combinations.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for deactivating the display screen when initiating the locked state, wherein the display screen remains deactivated in response to the detection of a predetermined input when the device is in the locked state.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured for re-activating the display screen when in response to detection of an input other than the predetermined input when the device is in the locked state, and displaying a prompt on the display screen for entry of a predetermined password to unlock the device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification element is an output device configured for generating a visual indication, audio indication, physical indication, or any combination thereof.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification element comprises a buzzer, a vibrator, a light, a tone generator, a speaker, or any combination thereof.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification relates to a new event which has occurred in respect of an application on the device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein at least two types of notifications are provided, each type of notification associated with a respective application on the device, wherein each type of notification is provided in response to detection of a respective predetermined input when the device is in the locked state.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the new event is receipt of a new electronic message or a reminder for an upcoming calendar event scheduled to occur within a predetermined duration from the detection of the predetermined input.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification element comprises a first light emitting diode for emitting light of a first colour and a second light emitting diode for emitting light of a second colour,

wherein the controller is configured for, in response to a first predetermined input, flashing the first light emitting diode in the first colour when one or more new events of a first type have occurred;

and

wherein the controller is configured for, in response to a second predetermined input, flashing the second light emitting diode in the second colour when one or more new events of a second type have occurred.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the new events of the first type are new electronic messages and the new events of the second type are upcoming calendar events are scheduled to occur within a predetermined duration from the second predetermined input.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein one or both of the first light emitting diode and second light emitting diode is flashed a number of times in dependence on a number of new events of the respective type.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification element comprises a first light emitting diode for emitting light of a first colour and a second light emitting diode for emitting light of a second colour,

wherein the controller is configured for, in response to a first predetermined input, flashing the first light emitting diode in the first colour when one or more new electronic messages exist and flashing the second light emitting diode in the second colour when no new electronic messages exist.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first light emitting diode is flashed a number of times in dependence on a number of new electronic messages which exist.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured for, in response to a second predetermined input, flashing the first light emitting diode in the first colour when one or more upcoming calendar events are scheduled to occur within a predetermined duration from the second predetermined input and flashing the second light emitting diode in the second colour when no upcoming calendar events are scheduled to occur within a predetermined duration from the second predetermined input.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the input device comprises a touch-sensitive display and the predetermined inputs are touchscreen gestures, wherein the first predetermined input is one of a horizontal touchscreen swipe gesture or vertical touchscreen swipe gesture, and the second predetermined input is the other of the horizontal touchscreen swipe gesture or vertical touchscreen swipe gesture.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the input device comprises an accelerometer and the predetermined inputs are motion-based gestures, wherein the first predetermined input is one of a horizontal tilt or swing gesture or vertical tilt or swing gesture, and the second predetermined input is the other of the horizontal tilt or swing gesture or vertical tilt or swing gesture.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the first light emitting diode is red and the second light emitting diode is green.

21. A method of interacting with an electronic device when in a locked state, the electronic device having a display screen, an input device and a notification element, the method comprising:

initiating a locked state on the device;

monitoring for one or more predetermined inputs via the input device when the device is in the locked state; and

generating a notification via the notification element in response to detection of a predetermined input when the device is in the locked state.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein initiating the locked state on the device comprises deactivating the display screen and maintaining the display screen in a deactivated state in response to the detection of a predetermined input when the device is in the locked state.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

re-activating the display screen when in response to detection of an input other than the predetermined input when the device is in the locked state; and

displaying a prompt on the display screen for entry of a predetermined password to unlock the device via the input device.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

unlocking the device in response to entry of the predetermined password to unlock the device via the input device.

25. A handheld electronic device, comprising:

a controller;

a display screen connected to the controller;

an input device connected to the controller;

a communication subsystem connected to the controller for communication over a wireless network;

a notification element connected to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured for;

deactivated the display screen in response to detection of a trigger condition;

monitoring for one or more predetermined inputs via the input device when the display screen is deactivated; and

generating a notification via the notification element in response to detection of a predetermined input when the display screen is deactivated.