APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNLOCKING A TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE

• US 20130055169A1
• Filed: 08/06/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: WRIGHT, Aaron C., GATTU, BalaSubrahmanyam
• Application Number:
  US13/567,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055169A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

An apparatus and method for unlocking a device including a touchscreen display are provided. The method includes detecting an input to the touchscreen, determining whether the input corresponds to a request to unlock the device, determining whether the input is associated with a functionality of the device, unlocking the device if the input corresponds to a request to unlock the device, and loading, if the input is determined to be associated with a functionality of the device, an application associated with the input.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a device including a touchscreen display, the method comprising:

detecting an input to the touchscreen;

determining whether the input corresponds to a request to unlock the device;

determining whether the input is associated with a functionality of the device;

unlocking the device if the input corresponds to a request to unlock the device; and

loading, if the input is determined to be associated with a functionality of the device, an application associated with the input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a mobile terminal.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the input includes at least one gesture which corresponds to a touch of the touchscreen and a specific movement of the touch on the touchscreen.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

storing at least one gesture as a request to unlock the device; and

associating each of the at least one gesture with a corresponding specific functionality.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one gesture includes a movement of a touch on the touchscreen so as to form a corresponding shape,

wherein the corresponding shape includes at least one of a square, a triangle, a circle, and a figure-eight.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying at least one icon that is associated with a predefined application.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a selection of one of the at least one displayed icons followed by a gesture corresponding to a drag of the selected icon to a predefined area of the touchscreen corresponds to a request to unlock the device, and

wherein the application associated with the input corresponds to the application associated with the icon dragged to the predefined area of the touch screen.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a touch corresponding to a gesture in which one of the at least one displayed icons is circled corresponds to the selection of one of the at least one displayed icons.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a touch on an area of the touchscreen corresponding to one of the at least one displayed icons corresponds to the selection of one of the at least one displayed icons.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing at least one gesture as a request to unlock the device; and

associating each of the at least one gesture with a corresponding specific functionality.

11. An apparatus for transitioning from a locked to an unlocked state, the apparatus comprising:

a touchscreen; and

at least one controller for detecting an input to the touchscreen, for determining whether the input corresponds to a request to unlock the device, for determining whether the input is associated with a functionality of the device, for unlocking the device if the input corresponds to a request to unlock the device, and for loading, if the input is determined to be associated with a functionality of the device, an application associated with the input.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is a mobile terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the input includes at least one gesture which corresponds to a touch of the touchscreen and a specific movement of the touch on the touchscreen.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one controller is configured for storing at least one gesture as a request to unlock the device, and for associating each of the at least one gesture with a corresponding specific functionality.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one gesture includes a movement of a touch on the touchscreen so as to form a corresponding shape,

wherein the corresponding shape includes at least one of a square, a triangle, a circle, and a figure-eight.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one controller is configured for displaying at least one icon that is associated with a predefined application.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a selection of one of the at least one displayed icons followed by a gesture corresponding to a drag of the selected icon to a predefined area of the touchscreen corresponds to a request to unlock the device, and

wherein the application associated with the input corresponds to the application associated with the icon dragged to the predefined area of the touch screen.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a touch corresponding to a gesture in which one of the at least one displayed icons is circled corresponds to the selection of one of the at least one displayed icons.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a touch on an area of the touchscreen corresponding to one of the at least one displayed icons corresponds to the selection of one of the at least one displayed icons.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one controller is configured for storing at least one gesture as a request to unlock the device, and for associating each of the at least one gesture with a corresponding specific functionality.