Access to an Application Directly from a Lock Screen

• US 20130283199A1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Selig, Aaron Alexander, Yeo, Il
• Application Number:
  US13/454,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20130283199A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• 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 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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 digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating access to an application or action directly from a lock screen user interface while interacting with a (mobile) computing device are disclosed. Such systems, methods and computer program products provide a multi-stage approach—a first user input-based component (e.g., touch, swipe, voice commands) within a security user interface (e.g., lock screen user interface) followed by a second application or action-based component (e.g., action shortcut and/or action) launched directly from the security user interface. That is, to deactivate the lock screen user interface, the user provides an authorized user input at the computing device. Second, to access the application or action, an application or action shortcut user interface is automatically displayed or the application or action is automatically launched; both directly from the lock screen user interface without requiring any additional user interaction.

Claims

1. A method for providing access to an application from a lock screen user interface, the method executing on at least one processor of a computing device, comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting a lock screen user interface, within a graphical user interface screen of an application executing on the computing device, at a locked state;

(b) receiving, at the computing device, a user input authorized to change said lock screen user interface from said locked state to an unlocked state;

(c) determining a type of said user input;

(d) when said determining step (c) identifies said type as a first user input;

(i) changing said lock screen user interface from said locked state to an unlocked state and thereby automatically launching a first application associated with said first user input; and

(e) when said determining step (c) identifies said type as a second user input;

(i) changing said lock screen user interface from said locked state to said unlocked state and thereby automatically displaying an action shortcut user interface, associated with said second user input;

(ii) detecting a third user input at said action shortcut user interface; and

(iii) launching a second application associated with said third user input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(f) changing said lock screen user interface from said unlocked state, in response to the termination of said first or second application, back to said locked state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device is one of:

a game console;

a laptop;

a portable media player;

a slate computer;

a tablet computer;

a PDA;

a mobile computer; and

a mobile telephone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said first user input and said second user input comprises one of:

a swipe input;

a gesture input;

a touch input; and

a voice input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said lock screen user interface comprises at least one of:

a pin code user interface;

a swipe gesture user interface; and

a voice prompt user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said action shortcut user interface and said lock screen user interface are simultaneously displayed on said graphical user interface screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said action shortcut user interface is superimposed on said lock screen user interface and thereby visible on said graphical user interface screen.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said action shortcut user interface is responsive to one of:

a movement of said computing device;

a location of said computing device; and

a combination thereof.

9. A computer program product comprising computer usable medium encoded in a computer having control logic stored therein for causing the computer to provide access to an application from a lock screen user interface, said control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for causing the computer to detect a lock screen user interface, within a graphical user interface screen of an application executing on the computing device, at a locked state;

second computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive a user input authorized to change said lock screen user interface from said locked state to an unlocked state;

third computer readable program code means for causing the computer to determine a type of said user input;

fourth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to change said lock screen user interface from said locked state to an unlocked state and thereby automatically launch a first application associated with said first user input;

said launch of said first application indicative that the computer has identified said type as a first user input;

fifth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to change said lock screen user interface from said locked state to said unlocked state and thereby automatically display an action shortcut user interface associated with said second user input;

said display of said action shortcut user interface indicative that the computer has identified said type as a second user input;

sixth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to detect a third user input at said action shortcut user interface; and

seventh computer readable program code means for causing the computer to launch a second application associated with said third user input.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

eighth computer readable program code means for causing the computer to change said lock screen user interface from said unlocked state, in response to the termination of said first or second application, back to said locked state.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the computer is one of:

a game console;

a laptop;

a portable media player;

a slate computer;

a tablet computer;

a PDA;

a mobile computer; and

a mobile telephone.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein each of said first user input and said second user input comprises one of:

a swipe input;

a gesture input;

a touch input; and

a voice input.

13. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said lock screen user interface comprises at least one of:

a pin code user interface;

a swipe gesture user interface; and

a voice prompt user interface.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said action shortcut user interface and said lock screen user interface are simultaneously displayed on said graphical user interface screen.

15. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said action shortcut user interface is superimposed on said lock screen user interface and thereby visible on said graphical user interface screen.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein said action shortcut user interface is responsive to one of:

a movement of said computing device;

a location of said computing device; and

a combination thereof.

17. A computer system capable of providing access to an application from a lock screen user interface, comprising:

(a) means for detecting a lock screen user interface, within a graphical user interface screen of an application executing on the computer system, at a locked state;

(b) means for receiving, at the computer system, a user input authorized to change said lock screen user interface from said locked state to an unlocked state;

(c) means for determining a type of said user input;

(d) means for changing said lock screen user interface from said locked state to an unlocked state and thereby automatically launching a first application associated with said first user input;

said means for changing being responsive to said determining means (c) identifying said type as a first user input; and

(e) means for changing said lock screen user interface from said locked state to said unlocked state and thereby automatically displaying an action shortcut user interface, associated with said second user input;

said changing means for changing being responsive to said determining means (c) identifying said type as a second user input;

(f) means for detecting a third user input at said action shortcut user interface; and

(g) means for launching a second application associated with said third user input.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

(h) means for changing said lock screen user interface from said unlocked state, in response to the termination of said first or second application, back to said locked state.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer system is one of:

a game console;

a laptop;

a portable media player;

a slate computer;

a tablet computer;

a PDA;

a mobile computer; and

a mobile telephone.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein each of said first user input and said second user input comprises one of:

a swipe input;

a gesture input;

a touch input; and

a voice input.