MOBILE DEVICE CHILD SHARE

• US 20140068755A1
• Filed: 12/22/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: King, Joseph Spencer, Thomas, Shawn M., Goulding, Michael Burt, Derksen, Todd Myles, Yan Woo, Aaron Naoyoshi Sheung, Iturriaga Dubost, Bernardo, Auerbach, Alan Bennett, Braun, David A., Begun, Andrew P., Haon, Andrew Craig
• Granted Patent: US 9,230,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/53 by executing in a restricted environment, e.g. sandbox or secure virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• 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: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/086 using security domains
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

In embodiments of mobile device child share, a mobile device can display a default device lock screen on an integrated display device, and receive an input effective to transition from the default device lock screen to display a child lock screen without receiving a PIN code entered on the default device lock screen. The mobile device can receive a second input effective to transition from the child lock screen to display a child space. The mobile device implements a device share service that activates a child share mode of the mobile device, and restricts functionality of device applications and access to device content based on designated restriction limits.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

an input system configured to receive a first input effective to transition the mobile device from a default device lock screen to a different lock screen, the input system further configured to receive a second input effective to transition from the different lock screen to a restricted mode that is configured to restrict functionality of the device;

a display device configured to display, respectively, the default device lock screen, the different lock screen, and a screen of the restricted mode;

a processing system to implement a device share service that is configured to;

initiate a display associated with the restricted mode without an identifier code entered on the default device lock screen and without an identifier code entered on the different lock screen; and

activate the restricted mode that restricts functionality of at least one of device applications or access to device content based on designated restriction limits.

2. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

capacitive device input buttons configured to receive user input to initiate device functions; and

wherein

the device share service is further configured to deactivate the capacitive device input buttons in the restricted mode.

3. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device share service is configured to restrict an incoming voice call during the restricted mode.

4. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device share service is configured to:

allow access to a device camera application to capture digital photos; and

restrict an upload of the digital photos to cloud storage during the restricted mode.

5. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device share service is configured to provide an audible indication of an incoming voice call through an integrated speaker of the mobile device while a headset different than the integrated speaker is connected to a headset port of the mobile device during the restricted mode.

6. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device share service is configured to:

receive an input to a selectable control of the mobile device;

deactivate the restricted mode responsive to the input to the selectable control; and

reinitiate the display of the default device lock screen.

7. A mobile device as recited in claim 6, wherein the device selectable control comprises the power button of the mobile device.

8. A mobile device as recited in claim 6, wherein the device share service is configured to restore audio settings of the mobile device to volume levels that were designated prior to activation of the restricted mode.

9. A mobile device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device share service is configured to:

activate the restricted mode based on a profile that comprises application functionality restriction settings and content access restriction settings.

10. A method, comprising:

displaying a default device lock screen on an integrated display device of a mobile device;

receiving a first input effective to transition from displaying the default device lock screen to display a different lock screen;

displaying the different lock screen without receiving an identifier code entered on the default device lock screen;

receiving a second input effective to transition from displaying the different lock screen to display a screen associated with a restricted mode that is configured to restrict functionality of the device, without receiving an identifier code entered on the lock screen; and

activating the restricted mode of the mobile device effective to restrict functionality of at least one of device applications or access to device content based on designated restriction limits.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

deactivating capacitive device input buttons of the mobile device in the restricted mode.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

restricting an incoming voice call during the restricted mode.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

allowing access to a device camera application to capture digital photos; and

restricting an upload of the digital photos to cloud storage during the restricted mode.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

providing an audio notification of an incoming voice call through an integrated speaker of the mobile device while a headset different than the speaker is connected to a headset port of the mobile device during the restricted mode.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an input to a selectable control of the mobile device;

deactivating the restricted mode responsive to receiving the input to the selectable control; and

reinitiating the displaying of the default device lock screen.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

restoring audio settings of the mobile device to volume levels that were designated prior to activation of the restricted mode.

17. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the restricted mode is activated based on a profile that comprises device application functionality restriction settings and device content access restriction settings.

18. Computer-readable storage media comprising a device share service stored as instructions that are executable and, responsive to execution of the instructions at a mobile device, the computing device performs operations of the device share service comprising:

transitioning from a default device lock screen to a restricted mode that is configured to restrict functionality of the mobile device without a PIN code entered on the default device lock screen;

activating restricted mode of the mobile device; and

restricting functionality of device applications and access to device content based on designated restriction limits during the restricted mode.

19. Computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18, wherein the mobile device performs the operations of the device share service further comprising:

deactivating the restricted mode responsive to an input to the mobile device;

activating a user mode of the mobile device; and

restoring device settings previously designated in the user mode that changed during the restricted mode.

20. Computer-readable storage media as recited in claim 18, wherein the mobile device performs the operations of the device share service further comprising to:

allowing restricted device application functionality in the restricted mode; and

allowing restricted device content access in the restricted mode.

21. A mobile device, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable storage media embodying computer-readable instructions which, when executed, implement a method comprising;

enabling a child share mode in which access to device functionality is restricted;

receiving an input to deactivate the child share mode;

responsive to receiving said input, deactivating the child share mode effective to enable access to functionality that was restricted.

22. The mobile device of claim 21, wherein the child share mode permits access to an application.