Direct, gesture-based actions from device's lock screen

• US 8,136,053 B1
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, James B., Trivi, Jean-Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, TUYETLIEN T
• Application Number:
  US13/170,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20120060128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 259 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/169, 345/173, 715/702, 715/863, 715/864, 379/142.05, 455/26.1
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/68 Gesture-dependent or behaviour-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Embodiments enable a mobile device to execute an action analogous to a user-defined action in response to receipt of a gesture analogous to a user-defined gesture. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method executes an action on a mobile device. A lock screen view is displayed on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent access to the mobile device'"'"'s data. While the mobile device is locked, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape is detected on a touch screen of the mobile device independently of the initial position of the touch gesture on the touch screen. In response to detection of the touch gesture, a particular action is executed on the mobile device while the mobile device stays locked. The particular action determined according to the pre-defined shape. In this way, detection of the touch gesture causes the particular action to execute while keeping the mobile device locked.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for executing an action on a mobile device, comprising:

outputting, at a touch screen of the mobile device, a lock screen view configured to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to the mobile device;

while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen;

detecting, at the touch screen, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape, wherein the touch gesture is entered by a user at any position on the touch screen, the touch gesture being of any size relative to the pre-defined shape; and

in response to detecting the touch gesture, executing, by the mobile device a particular action determined, at least in part, on the pre-defined shape, whereby detection of the touch gesture causes the particular action to execute while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen;

whereby executing the particular action while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen and in response to the touch gesture being entered at any position on the touch screen prevents inadvertent access while the mobile device is obscured from view.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the user;

unlocking the mobile device; and

when the mobile device is unlocked, receiving the touch gesture entered by the user that, when detected, causes the mobile device to execute the particular action, whereby detection of the user-defined shape securely authorizes execution of the particular action while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen mobile.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein executing the particular action comprises:

accessing personal data stored on the mobile device; and

outputting the personal data while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein

accessing the personal data includes retrieving calendar appointment data scheduled for a current date stored on the mobile device, and

outputting the personal data includes displaying at least a portion of the calendar appointment data at the touch screen.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein

accessing the personal data includes retrieving a media file stored on the mobile device;

and

outputting the personal data includes playing the media file on the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the user;

unlocking the mobile device; and

when the mobile device is unlocked, displaying, at the touch screen, the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected, causes the mobile device to execute the particular action.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a user query, displaying, at the touch screen, the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected, causes the mobile device to execute the particular action.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the particular action includes changing an unsecure setting of the mobile device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein changing the unsecure setting includes silencing the mobile device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein changing the unsecure setting includes increasing or decreasing a volume of the mobile device.

11. A mobile device for executing an action comprising:

a lock screen module configured to output, at a touch screen of the mobile device a lock screen view configured to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to the mobile device;

a gesture interpretation module that, while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen is configured to detect, at the touch screen, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape, wherein the touch gesture is entered by a user at any position on the touch screen, the touch gesture being of any size relative to the pre-defined shape; and

a lock action module that, in response to detecting the touch gesture and while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen, is configured to execute, by the mobile device, a particular action on determined, at least in part, on the pre-defined shape;

at least one memory unit that stores each of the lock screen module, the gesture interpretation module, and the lock action module;

at least one computer processor that implements each of the lock screen module, the gesture interpretation module, and the lock action module;

whereby detection of the touch gesture initiates the particular action while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen; and

whereby executing the particular action while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen and in response to the touch gesture being entered at any position on the touch screen prevents inadvertent access while the mobile device is obscured from view.

12. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the lock screen module is configured to receive an input to authenticate the user and/in response to the authenticated input, unlock the mobile device, and further comprising:

a gesture definition module that, when the mobile device is unlocked, is configured to receive the touch gesture entered by the user that, when detected by the gesture interpretation module, causes the lock action module to execute the particular action,

whereby detection of the user-defined shape securely authorizes execution of the particular action while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen.

13. The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the particular action executed by the lock action module includes accessing personal data stored on the mobile device and outputting the personal data while the lock screen view is displayed at the touch screen.

14. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the particular action executed by the lock action module includes retrieving calendar appointment data scheduled for a current date stored on the mobile device and displaying at least a portion of the calendar appointment data at the touch screen.

15. The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the particular action executed by the lock action module includes retrieving a media file and playing the media file.

16. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the lock screen module receives an input to authenticate the user and, in response to the authenticated input, unlocks the mobile device, and further comprising:

a gesture definition module that, when the mobile device is unlocked, is configured to display, at the touch screen, the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected by the gesture interpretation module, causes the lock action module to execute the particular action.

17. The mobile device of claim 11, further comprising a gesture definition module that, in response to a user query, displays, at the touch screen, the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected by the gesture interpretation module, causes the lock action module to execute the particular action.

18. The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the particular action executed by the lock action module includes changing an unsecure setting of the mobile device.

19. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein changing the unsecure setting includes silencing the mobile device.

20. The mobile device of claim 18, wherein changing the unsecure setting increases or decreases a volume of the mobile device.