METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING SECURITY CONTROL BY USING CAPTURED IMAGE

• US 20140129646A1
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Tsung-Yin
• Granted Patent: US 9,558,338 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/305 by remotely controlling device operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/12 Detection or prevention of fraud
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/65 Environment-dependent, e.g. using captured environmental data

Abstract

A method for performing security control includes selectively controlling at least one camera module of an electronic device to capture at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device. For example, the method includes: activating a screen lock function that is associated with a password; and when it is detected that a string that differs from the password is entered, controlling the module to capture the image and outputting the image. In another example, the method includes: activating a remote control function, allowing the electronic device to be remotely controlled, through at least one of a telecommunication network and a wireless local area network, by an application that runs on a processor of another electronic device; and based upon remote control of the application, controlling the camera module to capture the image and outputting the image. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for performing security control, the method being applied to an electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a screen lock function of the electronic device based upon a trigger signal, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a checking operation for determining whether the screen lock function should be deactivated; and

when a checking result of the checking operation indicates that the screen lock function should not be deactivated, controlling at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the at least one image further comprises:

sending an electronic mail (e-mail) thorough Internet with the at least one image being attached to the e-mail.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein outputting the at least one image further comprises:

sending the e-mail from a first predetermined e-mail account to a second predetermined e-mail account, allowing the at least one image to be received by utilizing the second predetermined e-mail account through another electronic device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein outputting the at least one image further comprises:

sending the e-mail from a first predetermined e-mail account to the first predetermined e-mail account, allowing the at least one image to be received by utilizing the first predetermined e-mail account through another electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the at least one image further comprises:

displaying at least one portion of the at least one image on a screen of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying a predetermined message on the screen, allowing a person who enters the string to simultaneously or non-simultaneously view the predetermined message and his/her own image, an image within the at least one image.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a predetermined message on a screen of the electronic device, allowing a person who enters the string to be encouraged to return the electronic device to an owner of the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a password;

and the step of controlling the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image for security of the electronic device further comprises;

when it is detected that a string that differs from the password is entered to try deactivating the screen lock function, controlling the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a predetermined drawing pattern;

and the step of controlling the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image for security of the electronic device further comprises;

when it is detected that a drawing pattern that differs from the predetermined drawing pattern is input to try deactivating the screen lock function, controlling the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a personal identification number (PIN) code of the electronic device;

and the step of controlling the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image for security of the electronic device further comprises;

when it is detected that a code that differs from the PIN code is input to try deactivating the screen lock function, controlling the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the checking operation comprises at least one biometric checking operation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one biometric checking operation comprises at least one of a face recognition operation, an iris recognition operation, a fingerprint recognition operation, and a vein recognition operation.

13. An apparatus for performing security control, the apparatus comprising at least one portion of an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a storage unit arranged to temporarily store information; and

a processing circuit arranged to control operations of the electronic device, and to activate a screen lock function of the electronic device based upon a trigger signal, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a checking operation for determining whether the screen lock function should be deactivated;

wherein when a checking result of the checking operation indicates that the screen lock function should not be deactivated, the processing circuit controls at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture at least one image, temporarily stores image data of the at least one image in the storage unit, and outputs the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing circuit sends an electronic mail (e-mail) thorough Internet with the at least one image being attached to the e-mail.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing circuit sends the e-mail from a first predetermined e-mail account to a second predetermined e-mail account, allowing the at least one image to be received by utilizing the second predetermined e-mail account through another electronic device.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processing circuit sends the e-mail from a first predetermined e-mail account to the first predetermined e-mail account, allowing the at least one image to be received by utilizing the first predetermined e-mail account through another electronic device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing circuit displays at least one portion of the at least one image on a screen of the electronic device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing circuit displays a predetermined message on the screen, allowing a person who enters the string to simultaneously or non-simultaneously view the predetermined message and his/her own image, an image within the at least one image.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing circuit displays a predetermined message on a screen of the electronic device, allowing a person who enters the string to be encouraged to return the electronic device to an owner of the electronic device.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a password;

and when it is detected that a string that differs from the password is entered to try deactivating the screen lock function, the processing circuit controls the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a predetermined drawing pattern;

and when it is detected that a drawing pattern that differs from the predetermined drawing pattern is input to try deactivating the screen lock function, the processing circuit controls the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a personal identification number (PIN) code of the electronic device;

and when it is detected that a code that differs from the PIN code is input to try deactivating the screen lock function, the processing circuit controls the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture the at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the checking operation comprises at least one biometric checking operation;

and the processing circuit utilizes at least one optical input .module of the electronic device to input biometric information, for performing the at least one biometric checking operation.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one optical input .module comprises a front camera of the electronic device and/or a specific scanner module of the electronic device;

and the at least one biometric checking operation comprises at least one of a face recognition operation, an iris recognition operation, a fingerprint recognition operation, and a vein recognition operation.

25. A method for performing security control, the method being applied to an electronic device, the method comprising:

activating a remote control function of the electronic device based upon a trigger signal, allowing the electronic device to be remotely controlled, through at least one of a telecommunication network and a wireless local area network, by an application that runs on a processor of another electronic device; and

based upon remote control of the application that runs on the processor of the other electronic device, controlling at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein outputting the at least one image further comprises:

sending an electronic mail (e-mail) thorough Internet with the at least one image being attached to the e-mail.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein outputting the at least one image further comprises:

displaying at least one portion of the at least one image on a screen of the electronic device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

displaying a predetermined message on the screen, allowing a person to simultaneously or non-simultaneously view the predetermined message and his/her own image, an image within the at least one image.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in a situation where the remote control function of the electronic device is activated, automatically displaying a predetermined message on the screen, allowing a person to simultaneously or non-simultaneously view the predetermined message and his/her own image, an image within the at least one image.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

activating a screen lock function of the electronic device based upon remote control of the application that runs on the processor of the other electronic device, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a password; and

when it is detected that a string that differs from the password is entered to try deactivating the screen lock function, controlling the at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture another image and outputting the other image, for security of the electronic device.

31. A computer program product, having program instructions for instructing a processor to perform a method comprising the steps of:

activating a screen lock function of the electronic device based upon a trigger signal, wherein the screen lock function is associated with a checking operation for determining whether the screen lock function should be deactivated, and the electronic device comprises the processor; and

when a checking result of the checking operation indicates that the screen lock function should not be deactivated, controlling at least one camera module of the electronic device to capture at least one image and outputting the at least one image, for security of the electronic device.