ABOVE-LOCK CAMERA ACCESS

• US 20120009896A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bandyopadhyay, Shamik, Barnett, Donald A., Law, Veronica Y., Sengupta, Tirthankar, Kapoor, Vikram, Lemson, Kathryn C., Tyamagundlu, Divya, Bilal, Ahmad
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• 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 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 : for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for allowing smart phone users to “capture the moment” by allowing easy access to a camera application when a mobile device is in an above-lock (or locked) mode, while also preventing unauthorized access to other smart phone functionality. According to one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state comprises receiving input data requesting invocation of an camera application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and invoking the requested camera application on the device, where one or more functions of the requested application are unavailable as a result of the mobile device being in the above-lock state.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device having a plurality of authentication states, including an above-lock state and a below-lock state, the method comprising:

receiving first input data requesting invocation of an image-capture application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state; and

invoking the requested application on the device, wherein one or more functions of the requested application available in the below-lock state are unavailable to a user of the mobile device while the mobile device is in the above-lock state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second input data requesting one of the unavailable functions; and

based on the second input data, presenting a user interface to the user operable to change the state of the mobile device to the below-lock state.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

using the user interface, receiving third input data;

based on the third input data, changing the state of the mobile device to the below-lock state; and

after the changing the state of the mobile device, providing the requested application on the mobile device, wherein at least one of the previously unavailable functions is made available to the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requested application has one or more of the following functions available when in the above-lock state:

capturing an image, providing an image capture settings menu, or toggling between a video capture mode and a still image capture mode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unavailable function comprises at least one or more of the following:

deleting an image, sending an image, or uploading an image to a remote server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing an image; and

after the capturing, determining the state of the mobile device, wherein;

if the state of the mobile device is the below-lock state, transmitting the image to a location remote from the mobile device; and

if the state of the mobile device is the above-lock state, not transmitting the image to a location remote from the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising waking the mobile device from a standby state based on the receiving the first input data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data is received as a result of an image-capture button being depressed for a predefined duration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data is received as a result of both an image-capture button press being detected and second input data being received after detection of the image-capture button press.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input data is received as a result of an image-capture button being pressed concurrently with another button coupled to the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the invoking the requested application further comprises evaluating a previously-stored user setting permitting the requested application to be invoked when the mobile device is in the locked state.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing haptic feedback with the mobile device after the receiving of the first input data.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises evaluating a proximity sensor or a light sensor coupled to the mobile device, and wherein the providing the requested application occurs unless the evaluating determines an object in proximity with the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises evaluating both a proximity sensor and a light sensor coupled to the mobile device, and wherein the providing the requested application occurs unless the evaluating determines an object in proximity with the mobile device.

15. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method of operating a mobile device having a plurality of authentication states, including an above-lock state and an below-lock state, the method comprising:

receiving first input data requesting execution of an application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state; and

executing the requested application on the mobile device, wherein one or more functions of the requested application available in the below-lock state are unavailable to a user of the mobile device while the mobile device is in the above-lock state.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving second input data requesting one of the unavailable functions;

based on the second input data, presenting a user interface to the user operable to change the state of the mobile device to the below-lock state;

through the user interface, receiving third input data;

based on the third input data, changing the state of the mobile device to the below-lock state; and

after the changing the state of the mobile device, executing the requested application on the mobile device, wherein at least one of the previously unavailable functions are made available to the user.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

an image capture device;

one or more input sources coupled to the image capture device;

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processors, cause the apparatus to perform a method of invoking an image capture application, the instructions comprising;

instructions for receiving input data from the input source,

instructions for locking and unlocking the apparatus using authentication, and

instructions for invoking the image capture application, the image capture application being operable to capture an image using the image capture device, the image capture application including a set of a plurality of functions for capturing and processing the image, wherein;

if the apparatus is unlocked, the image capture application allows access to the set of functions, and

if the apparatus is locked, the image capture application allows access to one or more but not all of the set of functions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a proximity sensor, and wherein the computer-readable media further store instructions comprising:

proximity-checking instructions for evaluating the status of the proximity sensor, wherein the proximity-checking instructions comprise;

instructions for checking the status of the proximity sensor after the input module receives the input data,

instructions for preventing invocation of the image capture module if the evaluated status indicates that an object is in proximity with the apparatus, and

instructions for allowing invocation of the image capture module if the checked status indicates that an object is not in proximity with the apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the input source is coupled to a camera button, the camera button being coupled to a low-power state power supply.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a touch screen coupled to the apparatus, wherein the proximity sensor is the touch screen.