METHOD AND MOBILE TERMINAL FOR CONTROLLING SCREEN LOCK

• US 20140155031A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Ju-youn, LEE, Sang-hyup
• Granted Patent: US 9,549,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/35 communicating wirelessly
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/30 Security of mobile devices; Security of mobile applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A method of controlling screen lock and a mobile terminal employing the same is provided. The mobile device includes a User Interface (UI) for setting a screen unlock mode using a wireless device other than the mobile terminal and stores IDentifier (ID) information of the wireless device designated by the UI corresponding to the screen unlock mode. The mobile terminal is capable of detecting a wireless device. After the ID information of the wireless device is stored, if the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal and ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, the mobile terminal controls not to display an unlock requesting screen when the display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

Claims

1. A method of controlling screen lock of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

providing a User Interface (UI) for setting a screen unlock mode using a wireless device other than the mobile terminal;

storing IDentifier (ID) information of the wireless device designated by the UI corresponding to the screen unlock mode; and

if, after the ID information of the wireless device is stored, the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal and ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, controlling not to display a unlock requesting screen when a display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if, after the display unit is turned on, the wireless device having ID information identical to the stored ID information is continuously detected, controlling to keep the display unit on without displaying an unlock requesting screen until a screen off input is received from a user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising, if the ID information is not received from the wireless device for a predetermined period of time while the display unit is on, controlling to turn off the display unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a distance between the wireless device and the mobile terminal via the UI,

wherein the detection of the wireless device by the mobile terminal indicates that the wireless device is transmitting a signal having an intensity equal to or greater than a reception signal intensity corresponding to the stored distance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a sensing condition of the mobile terminal via the UI; and

acquiring sensing information,

wherein, in the controlling not to display the unlock requesting screen, if, after the ID information of the wireless device is stored, the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal, ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, and the acquired sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, the mobile terminal is controlled not to display an unlock requesting screen when the display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the acquiring of the sensing information is carried out if the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensing condition comprises a sensing condition that a shape of a grip for holding the mobile terminal is identical to a predetermined grip.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensing condition comprises a sensing condition that motion of the mobile terminal is identical to a predetermined motion shape.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the sensing condition comprises a sensing condition that the face of a user recognized by the mobile terminal corresponds to predetermined face of the user.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

after the display unit is turned on, if the ID information is continuously received from the wireless device, acquiring new sensing information from the mobile terminal; and

if the new sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, controlling to keep the display unit on until a screen off input is received from a user of the mobile terminal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a sensing condition of the wireless device via the UI; and

receiving sensing information from the wireless device,

wherein, in the controlling not to display the unlock requesting screen, if, after the ID information of the wireless device is stored, the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal, ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, and the received sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, the mobile terminal is controlled not to display an unlock requesting screen when the display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

13. A mobile terminal which controls screen lock, the mobile terminal comprising

a User Interface (UI) unit, which provides a UI for setting a screen unlock mode using a wireless device other than the mobile terminal;

a memory, which stores IDentifier (ID) information of the wireless device designated by the UI corresponding to the screen unlock mode;

a communication unit, which detects the wireless device; and

a control unit, which, if, after the ID information of the wireless device is stored, the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal and ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, controls not to display an unlock requesting screen when a display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein, if, after the display unit is turned on, the wireless device having ID information identical to the stored ID information is continuously detected, the control unit controls to keep the display unit on without displaying an unlock requesting screen until a screen off input is received from a user.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein, if the ID information is not received from the wireless device for a predetermined period of time while the display unit is on, the control unit controls to turn off the display unit.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the wireless device comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the memory stores a distance between the wireless device and the mobile terminal via the UI, and

wherein the communication unit detects the wireless device transmitting a signal having an intensity equal to or greater than a reception signal intensity corresponding to the stored distance.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 13, further comprising a sensing unit, which acquires sensing information,

wherein the memory stores sensing information regarding the mobile terminal via the UI, and

wherein, after the ID information of the wireless device is stored, if the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal, ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, and the acquired sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, the control unit controls not to display an unlock requesting screen when the display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the sensing unit acquires the sensing information if the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the sensing condition comprises a sensing condition that a shape of a grip for holding the mobile terminal is identical to a predetermined grip.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the sensing condition comprises a sensing condition that motion of the mobile terminal is identical to a predetermined motion shape.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein the sensing condition comprises a sensing condition that the face of a user recognized by the mobile terminal corresponds to predetermined face of the user.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 18, wherein, after the display unit is turned on, if the ID information is continuously received from the wireless device, the sensing unit acquires new sensing information from the mobile terminal, and

wherein, if the new sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, the control unit controls to keep the display unit on until a screen off input is received from a user of the mobile terminal.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 13, wherein the memory stores a sensing condition of the wireless device via the UI,

wherein the communication unit receives sensing information from the wireless device, and

wherein, after the ID information of the wireless device is stored, if the wireless device is detected by the mobile terminal, ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, and the received sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, the control unit controls not to display an unlock requesting screen when the display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

25. A method of controlling screen lock of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

storing a predetermined sensing condition and IDentifier (ID) information of a wireless device other than the mobile terminal;

receiving ID information from the wireless device located by the mobile terminal;

acquiring sensing information from the mobile terminal; and

if ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, and the received sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, controlling not to display an unlock requesting screen when the display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.

26. A method of controlling screen lock of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

storing a predetermined sensing condition and IDentifier (ID) information of a wireless device other than the mobile terminal;

receiving ID information and sensing information from the wireless device located by the mobile terminal;

if ID information of the detected wireless device is identical to the stored ID information, and the received sensing information satisfies the sensing condition, controlling not to display an unlock requesting screen when the display unit of the mobile terminal is turned on.