PORTABLE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RESTRICTING USE OF PORTABLE DEVICE

• US 20150056974A1
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: KIM, Hwa-Kyung, JUN, Jin-Ha, LEE, Jun-Seok
• Granted Patent: US 9,948,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device

Abstract

A method for restricting a use of a portable device is provided. The method includes receiving an input for selecting an icon displayed on a screen of the portable device, the icon corresponding to an application for executing a concentration improvement mode that restricts the use of the application, setting a restriction time for the concentration improvement mode, deactivating the selected icon in the concentration improvement mode, and blocking a notification message provided by the application corresponding to the selected icon in the concentration improvement mode.

Claims

1. A method of restricting a use of a portable device, the method comprising:

receiving an input for selecting an icon displayed on a screen of the portable device, the icon corresponding to an application for executing a concentration improvement mode that restricts the use of the application;

setting a restriction time for the concentration improvement mode;

deactivating the selected icon in the concentration improvement mode; and

blocking a notification message provided by the application corresponding to the selected icon in the concentration improvement mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the restriction time has expired, displaying the icon on the screen in response to deactivation of the concentration improvement mode.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the restriction time has expired, displaying a stored notification message provided by the application on the screen in response to the deactivation of the concentration improvement mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the concentration improvement mode, receiving a deactivation input corresponding to deactivation of the concentration improvement mode,

wherein the request for deactivation comprises an entry of a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

deactivating the concentration improvement mode, if the PIN included in the deactivation input coincides with a PIN for deactivating the concentration improvement mode; and

updating a deactivation number corresponding to the number of times of deactivation of the concentration improvement mode.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in the concentration improvement mode, displaying an indicator corresponding to activation of the concentration improvement mode on the screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the deactivating of the selected icon, the icon is hidden from at least one of a home screen, a menu, a file explorer, and a launcher by deactivation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the deactivating of the selected icon, the selection of the icon from at least one of a home screen, a menu, a file explorer, and a launcher is ignored by deactivation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message includes at least one of a notification message received from outside of the portable device and a message generated in the portable device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the blocking of the notification message comprises:

determining whether to activate the concentration improvement mode, in response to the notification message; and

storing the notification message if the concentration improvement mode has been activated.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a notification window in response to a third user input that requests opening of the notification window on a status bar of the screen when an input of the third user input is detected through the status bar during the concentration improvement mode,

wherein the notification window comprises a notification line informing that the concentration improvement mode is being activated, and

the notification line comprises at least one of an amount of time remaining before the concentration improvement mode is deactivated and the number of times left for deactivation of the concentration improvement mode.

23. At least one non-transitory processor readable medium for storing a computer program of instructions configured to be readable by at least one processor for instructing the at least one processor to execute a computer process for performing the method as recited in claim 1.

12. A method of restricting a use of a portable device, the method comprising:

receiving a first user input for selecting at least one application for operation in a multitasking restriction mode in the portable device; and

when the application is executed, operating the portable device in the multitasking restriction mode while blocking a user input through a screen area, except for an execution screen area of the application in a display screen of the portable device, and blocking a notification of a receipt of a push notification message received by the portable device from a network.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, when a condition for deactivating the multitasking restriction mode is satisfied during the multitasking restriction mode, allowing a user input through the screen, except for the execution screen area of the application, and informing a user of an existence of the received push notification message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the condition for deactivating the multitasking restriction mode comprises at least one of a case in which a set amount of time has expired after the multitasking restriction mode is activated, a case in which execution of the application is terminated, and a case in which a second user input for deactivation of the multitasking restriction mode is received.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein, during an operation of the multitasking restriction mode, a user input on a status bar on the screen of the portable device is ignored and a home button and a back button of the portable device are turned off.

16. A portable device comprising:

a display screen; and

a controller that controls a concentration improvement mode of the portable device,

wherein the controller is configured to execute;

receiving an input for selecting an icon displayed on a screen of the portable device, the icon corresponding to an application for executing a concentration improvement mode that restricts a use of the application;

setting a restriction time for the concentration improvement mode;

deactivating the selected icon in the concentration improvement mode; and

blocking a notification message provided by the application corresponding to the selected icon in the concentration improvement mode.

17. The portable device of claim 16, wherein, when the restriction time has expired, the display screen displays the icon on the screen in response to the deactivation of the concentration improvement mode.

18. The portable device of claim 16, wherein, when the restriction time has expired, the portable device displays a stored notification message provided by the application on the screen in response to the deactivation of the concentration improvement mode.

19. The portable device of claim 16, wherein the notification message includes at least one of a notification message received from outside of the portable device and a message generated in the portable device.

20. A portable device comprising:

a display screen;

an input unit configured to receive a first user input for selecting at least one application for operation in a multitasking restriction mode; and

a controller that, when the application is executed, is configured to operate the portable device in the multitasking restriction mode while blocking a user input through a screen area, except for an execution screen area, of the application in a display screen of the portable device, and block a notification of a receipt of a push notification message received by the portable device from a network.

21. The portable device of claim 20, wherein, during an operation of the multitasking restriction mode, the controller ignores a user input on a status bar on the screen of the portable device, and turns off a home button and a back button of the portable device.

22. The portable device of claim 20, wherein a condition for deactivating the multitasking restriction mode comprises at least one of a case in which a set amount of time has expired after the multitasking restriction mode is activated, a case in which an operation of the application is terminated, and a case in which a second user input for deactivation of the multitasking restriction mode is received.