ACCESS TO LOCKED FUNCTIONS

• US 20120108166A1
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Hymel, James Allen
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/26.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A mobile communications device can have a locked mode in which the mobile communications device is protected against unauthorized use. A mobile communications device includes device applications implemented by a software program or firmware program that enables an application to be temporarily operable or operable under certain conditions when the mobile communications device is locked. Device applications can include a camera enabled for image data acquisition and a microphone or an audio recorder or a microphone and an audio recorder enabled for audio data acquisition. Acquired image data and audio data can be stored locally to the mobile communications device or stored externally to the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device can be configured to operate applications under different conditions. The mobile communications device can be configured to display a message that applications have been operated while the mobile communications device was locked or in a locked mode.

Claims

1. A mobile communications device comprising:

at least one processor,

at least one computer readable medium in communication with the processor; and

at least one program module,

stored on the at least one medium, and

operable, upon execution by the processor to;

maintain a locked function usage accumulator, the locked function usage accumulator comprising a current value and a predetermined limit;

receive input to perform a locked function,

compare the accumulator current value to the predetermined limit; and

perform the locked function when the accumulator is less than the predetermined limit.

2. The mobile communications device of claim 1, the at least one program module further operable, upon execution by the processor to:

increment the accumulator current value upon performing the locked function.

3. The mobile communications device of claim 1, the at least one program module operable, upon execution by the processor to:

increment the accumulator current value upon performing the locked function;

maintain a time calculator for determining an amount of elapsed time; and

lock the mobile communications device after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a specified event.

4. The mobile communications device of claim 1, wherein the locked function is a camera function and performing the locked function comprises obtaining and storing image data.

5. A processor-implemented method for enabling limited access to a locked function in a mobile communications device, the method comprising:

maintaining a locked function usage accumulator, the locked function usage accumulator comprising a current value and a predetermined limit;

receiving input to perform a locked function;

comparing the accumulator current value to the predetermined limit; and

performing the locked function when the accumulator is less than the predetermined limit.

6. The processor-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

incrementing the accumulator current value upon performing the locked function.

7. The processor-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

maintaining a time calculator for determining an amount of elapsed time; and

locking the electronic device after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a specified event.

8. The processor-implemented method of claim 5, further comprising:

incrementing the accumulator current value upon performing the locked function;

maintaining a time calculator for determining an amount of elapsed time; and

locking the electronic device after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a specified event.

9. The processor-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the specified event is a first performance of the locked function.

10. The processor-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the locked function is a camera function and performing the locked function comprises obtaining and storing image data.

11. The processor-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the locked function is a sound recorder function and performing the locked function comprises inputting and storing sound data.

12. The processor-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined limit is a number of images.

13. The processor-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined limit is a stored image data value.

14. A computer program product for enabling limited access to a locked function in a mobile communications device, the computer program product comprising:

a least one computer readable medium; and

at least one program module,

stored on the at least one medium, and

operative, upon execution by at least one processor to;

maintain a locked function usage accumulator, the locked function usage accumulator comprising a current value and a predetermined limit;

receive input to perform a locked function,

compare the accumulator current value to the predetermined limit; and

perform the locked function when the accumulator is less than the predetermined limit.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, the at least one program module further operative, upon execution by at least one processor to:

increment the accumulator current value upon performing the locked function.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, the at least one program module further operative, upon execution by at least one processor to:

maintain a time calculator for determining an amount of elapsed time; and

lock the electronic device after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a specified event.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, the at least one program module further operative, upon execution by at least one processor to:

increment the accumulator current value upon performing the locked function;

maintain a time calculator for determining an amount of elapsed time; and

lock the mobile communications device after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a specified event.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the specified event is a first performance of the locked function.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the locked function is a camera function and performing the locked function comprises obtaining and storing image data.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the locked function is a sound recorder function and performing the locked function comprises inputting and storing sound data.