APPARATUS, METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND USER INTERFACE

• US 20120290939A1
• Filed: 12/29/2009
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Yu, Kun, Wang, Hao
• Application Number:
  US13/519,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20120290939A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• 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 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An apparatus, method, computer program and user interface wherein the apparatus comprises: at least one processor: and at least one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to: configure the apparatus in a first mode of operation in which access to at least one function of the apparatus is disabled; display a plurality of items where a subset of the displayed items are associated with information which satisfies a predetermined criteria, wherein the information comprises contextual information; detect user selection of one or more of the items; determine whether or not the selected items satisfy the predetermined criteria; if the predetermined criteria is satisfied, configure the apparatus in a second mode of operation in which access to the at least one function of the apparatus is enabled; and if the predetermined criteria is not satisfied the apparatus is not configured in the second mode of operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code;

wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to;

configure the apparatus in a first mode of operation in which access to at least one function of the apparatus is disabled;

display a plurality of items where a subset of the displayed items are associated with information which satisfies a predetermined criteria, wherein the information comprises contextual information;

detect user selection of one or more of the items;

determine whether or not the selected items satisfy the predetermined criteria;

if the predetermined criteria is satisfied, configure the apparatus in a second mode of operation in which access to the at least one function of the apparatus is enabled; and

if the predetermined criteria is not satisfied the apparatus is not configured in the second mode of operation.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the contextual information comprises at least one of user dependent information, information relating to the history of use of the apparatus and information obtained from one or more databases where the one or more databases are associated with functions of the apparatus.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one function enables a user to make inputs and also enables an output to be provided to a user.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the at least one function comprises a communications function.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the at least one function enables content to be rendered.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined criteria comprises an authentication question and the subset of items which satisfy the predetermined criteria provide correct answers to the authentication question.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of the displayed items comprises a feasible answer to the authentication question.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the authentication question is determined by a user before the apparatus is configured in the restricted mode of operation.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the authentication question is displayed on the display in the restricted mode of operation.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined criteria comprises a permutation of the subset of items.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of displayed items comprises images.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the images are displayed in a networked graph.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the items displayed on the display are updated every time the apparatus enters the restricted mode.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the predetermined criteria is updated every time the apparatus enters the restricted mode.

3-4. -4. (canceled)

17. A method comprising:

configuring an apparatus in a first mode of operation in which access to at least one function of the apparatus is disabled;

displaying a plurality of items where a subset of the displayed items are associated with information which satisfies a predetermined criteria, wherein the information comprises contextual information;

detecting user selection of one or more of the items;

determining whether or not the selected items satisfy the predetermined criteria;

if the predetermined criteria is satisfied, configuring the apparatus in a second mode of operation in which access to the at least one function of the apparatus is enabled;

wherein, if the predetermined criteria is not satisfied the apparatus is not configured in the second mode of operation.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the contextual information comprises at least one of user dependent information, information relating to the history of use of the apparatus and information obtained from one or more databases where the one or more databases are associated with functions of the apparatus.

21. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the at least one function enables a user to make inputs and also enables an output to be provided to a user.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the at least one function comprises a communications function.

23. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the at least one function enables content to be rendered.

19-20. -20. (canceled)

24-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A physical entity embodying a computer program comprising computer program instruction means configured to control an apparatus, the program instructions enabling, when loaded into the at least one processor;

configuring the apparatus in a first mode of operation in which access to at least one function of the apparatus is disabled;

displaying a plurality of items where a subset of the displayed items are associated with information which satisfies a predetermined criteria, wherein the information comprises contextual information;

detecting user selection of one or more of the items;

determining whether or not the selected items satisfy the predetermined criteria;

if the predetermined criteria is satisfied, configuring the apparatus in a second mode of operation in which access to the at least one function of the apparatus is enabled;

wherein, if the predetermined criteria is not satisfied the apparatus is not configured in the second mode of operation.

34-40. -40. (canceled)