Apparatus and method for controlling locking function using direction sensor in portable terminal

• US 8,023,930 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Won, Jong-Se
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu; Michael T
• Application Number:
  US12/592,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20100130181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/563, 455/575, 455/410, 455/411, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A mobile terminal includes an apparatus for controlling a locking function using a direction sensor. The apparatus includes an input element that receives a locking signal. The apparatus can detect direction information of the portable terminal, and set the lock of the portable terminal by storing the input locking signal and the detected direction information in a memory, or unset the lock of the portable terminal by comparing the input locking signal and the detected direction information with locking signal and direction information pre-stored in the memory. Accordingly, even if the locking signal is exposed, the locking signal is not authenticated if a terminal direction value is not correct, thereby maintaining security of the locking signal in a further improved manner without having to add another complex functions.

Claims

1. A method of setting or unsetting a lock of a portable terminal, the method comprising:

inputting a locking signal;

detecting a direction information of the portable terminal using a direction sensor; and

setting the lock of the portable terminal by storing the input locking signal and the detected direction information in a memory, or unsetting the lock of the portable terminal by comparing the input locking signal and the detected direction information with a pre-stored locking signal and a pre-stored direction information pre-stored in the memory,

wherein the direction sensor senses a direction in which the portable terminal is moved.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking signal is input through at least one of a keypad, a touchpad, and a voice input element.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the direction information is detected by the direction sensor using a direction indicator which is pre-set in a specific portion of the portable terminal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the direction information is detected by the direction sensor by sensing a direction of a wide-angle signal which is transmitted through a wide-angle signal transmission module having a directivity and pre-installed in a specific portion of the portable terminal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the direction information is detected by an acceleration sensor of the direction sensor that measures a tilt angle of the portable terminal and an acceleration applied to the portable terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and outputting a message for reporting at least one of an input result, a storing result, a lock setting state, and a lock unsetting state of the locking signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the comparison result shows that the input locking signal and the detected direction information do not coincide with the locking signal and direction information pre-stored in the memory, generating and outputting at least one of a message for indicating inconsistency of that the locking signal and a message for requesting a re-input of the locking signal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the locking signal is not input during a pre-set time, generating and outputting a message for requesting a re-input of the locking signal.

9. An apparatus for setting or unsetting a lock of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising:

an input element configured to receive an input a locking signal;

a direction sensor configured to detect a direction information of the portable terminal; and

a controller configured to at least one of;

set the lock of the portable terminal by storing the input locking signal and the detected direction information in a memory; and

unset the lock of the portable terminal by comparing the input locking signal and the detected direction information with a pre-stored locking signal and a pre-stored direction information pre-stored in the memory,

wherein the direction sensor senses a direction in which the portable terminal is moved.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the input element comprises at least one of a keypad, a touchpad, and a voice input element.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the direction sensor is configured to detect the direction information by using a direction indicator which is pre-set in a specific portion of the portable terminal.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the direction sensor is configured to detect the direction information by sensing a direction of a wide-angle signal which is transmitted through a wide-angle signal transmission module including a directivity and pre-installed in a specific portion of the portable terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the direction sensor comprises an acceleration sensor, and detects the direction information by measuring a tilt angle of the portable terminal and an acceleration applied to the portable terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an output element configured to generate and output a message for reporting at least one of an input result, a storing result, a lock setting state, and a lock unsetting state of the locking signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an output element configured to generate and output at least one of a message for indicating inconsistency of the locking signal and a message for requesting a re-input of the locking signal if the comparison result shows that the input locking signal and the detected direction information do not coincide with the locking signal and direction information pre-stored in the memory.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an output element configured to generate and output a message for requesting a re-input of the locking signal if the locking signal is not input during a pre-set time.

17. A portable terminal for use in a wireless communication network, the portable terminal comprising:

an apparatus for setting or unsetting a lock of a portable terminal, the apparatus comprising;

an input element configured to receive an input a locking signal;

a direction sensor configured to detect a direction information of the portable terminal; and

a controller configured to at least one of;

set the lock of the portable terminal by storing the input locking signal and the detected direction information in a memory; and

unset the lock of the portable terminal by comparing the input locking signal and the detected direction information with a pre-stored locking signal and a pre-stored direction information pre-stored in the memory,

wherein the direction sensor senses a direction in which the portable terminal is moved.

18. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the input element comprises at least one of a keypad, a touchpad, and a voice input element.

19. The portable terminal of claim 18, further comprising an output element configured to generate and output at least one of a message for indicating inconsistency of the locking signal and a message for requesting a re-input of the locking signal if the comparison result shows that the input locking signal and the detected direction information do not coincide with the locking signal and direction information pre-stored in the memory.

20. The portable terminal of claim 18, further comprising an output element configured to generate and output a message for requesting a re-input of the locking signal if the locking signal is not input during a pre-set time.

21. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the direction sensor is configured to detect the direction information by using a direction indicator which is pre-set in a specific portion of the portable terminal.

22. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the direction sensor is configured to detect the direction information by sensing a direction of a wide-angle signal which is transmitted through a wide-angle signal transmission module including a directivity and pre-installed in a specific portion of the portable terminal.

23. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the direction sensor comprises an acceleration sensor, and detects the direction information by measuring a tilt angle of the portable terminal and an acceleration applied to the portable terminal.

24. The portable terminal of claim 17, further comprising an output element configured to generate and output a message for reporting at least one of an input result, a storing result, a lock setting state, and a lock unsetting state of the locking signal.