METHOD OF LOCKING AN APPLICATION ON A COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20140283012A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: FARNSWORTH, Andrew John, EGGERTON, Gary James
• Granted Patent: US 9,367,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2147 Locking files
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent

Abstract

A computer-implemented method entails steps of receiving user input signifying that an application on a computing device is to be locked and, in response to the user input, locking a user within the application to thereby permit the user to utilize functionalities of the application without exiting from the application or switching to another application on the computing device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving user input signifying that an application on a computing device is to be locked; and

in response to the user input, locking the application to restrict switching to another application or exiting from the application while maintaining other functionalities of the application.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein receiving the user input signifying that the application is to be locked comprises receiving a predetermined gesture.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein receiving the user input signifying that the application is to be locked comprises detecting a predetermined gesture resembling a padlock.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising displaying user selectable options to lock the application or to lock a currently displayed screen being displayed by the application.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a command to unlock the application or perform a restricted action;

in response to the command, requesting input of user credentials; and

unlocking the application or performing the restricted action only if the user credentials are provided.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving user input to define one or more related applications which can be also used when the application is locked.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving user input to define which functionalities of the application are operative and which are inoperative.

8. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a computing device cause the computing device to:

receiving user input signifying that an application on a computing device is to be locked; and

in response to the user input, lock the application to restrict switching to another application or exiting from the application while maintaining other functionalities of the application.

9. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 8 wherein receiving the user input signifying that the application is to be locked comprises receiving a predetermined gesture.

10. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 8 wherein receiving the user input signifying that the application is to be locked comprises detecting a predetermined gesture resembling a padlock.

11. The computer-readable medium as claimed claim 8 further comprising code that causes the computing device to display user selectable options to lock the application or to lock a currently displayed screen being displayed by the application.

12. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 8 further comprising code that causes the computing device to:

receive a command to unlock the application or perform a restricted action;

in response to the command, request input of user credentials; and

unlock the application or perform the restricted action only if the user credentials are provided.

13. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 8 further comprising code that causes the computing device to receive user input to define one or more related applications which can be also used when the application is locked.

14. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 8 further comprising code that causes the computing device to receive user input to define which functionalities of the application are operative and which are inoperative.

15. A computing device comprising:

a memory for storing an application;

a processor operatively coupled to the memory for executing the application; and

a user interface for receiving user input, wherein the processor is configured to lock the application in response to the user input to thereby restrict switching to another application or exiting from the application while maintaining other functionalities of the application.

16. The computing device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured recognize a predetermined gesture as the user input signifying that the application is to be locked.

17. The computing device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured recognize a predetermined gesture resembling a padlock as the user input signifying that the application is to be locked.

18. The computing device as claimed claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to provide user selectable options to lock the application or to lock a currently displayed screen being displayed by the application.

19. The computing device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to:

receive a command to unlock the application or perform a restricted action;

in response to the command, request input of user credentials; and

unlock the application or perform the restricted action only if the user credentials are provided.

20. The computing device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to receive user input to define one or more related applications which can be also used when the application is locked.

21. The computing device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the processor is configured to receive user input to define which functionalities of the application are operative and which are inoperative.