Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image

• US 8,286,103 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas, Anzures, Freddy Allen, Van Os, Marcel, Forstall, Scott, Christie, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Andres E
• Application Number:
  US13/204,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20110296356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 713/154, 713/182, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• 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

Abstract

A device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.

Claims

1. A method of unlocking a portable electronic device, the device including a touch-sensitive display, the method comprising:

detecting a contact with the touch-sensitive display on an unlock image displayed at a first location on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the unlock image is a graphical, interactive user-interface object with which a user interacts in order to unlock the device;

continuously moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with movement of the detected contact while continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is maintained;

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

unlocking the portable electronic device; and

ceasing to display the unlock image; and

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display does not result in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

maintaining the device in a locked state; and

maintaining display of the unlock image.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, transitioning the device to an application.

3. The method of claim 1, including:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, transitioning the device to an application corresponding to the unlock image.

4. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors;

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

detecting a contact with the touch-sensitive display on an unlock image displayed at a first location on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the unlock image is a graphical, interactive user-interface object with which a user interacts in order to unlock the device;

continuously moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with movement of the detected contact while continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is maintained;

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

unlocking the portable electronic device and

ceasing to display the unlock image; and

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display does not result in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

maintaining the device in a locked state; and

maintaining display of the unlock image.

5. The device of claim 4, including instructions for:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, transitioning the device to an application.

6. The method of claim 4, including instructions for:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, transitioning the device to an application corresponding to the unlock image.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

detect a contact with the touch-sensitive display on an unlock image displayed at a first location on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the unlock image is a graphical, interactive user-interface object with which a user interacts in order to unlock the device;

continuously move the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with movement of the detected contact while continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is maintained;

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

unlock the portable electronic device and

cease to display the unlock image; and

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display does not result in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

maintain the device in a locked state; and

maintain display of the unlock image.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, including instructions which cause the device to:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, transition the device to an application.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, including instructions which cause the device to:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, transition the device to an application corresponding to the unlock image.

10. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch sensitive display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

an unlock image displayed on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

wherein;

a contact with the touch-sensitive display is detected on the unlock image displayed at a first location on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the unlock image is a graphical, interactive user-interface object with which a user interacts in order to unlock the device;

the unlock image is continuously moved on the touch-sensitive display in accordance with movement of the detected contact while continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is maintained;

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

the portable electronic device is unlocked and

display of the unlock image is ceased; and

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display does not result in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display;

the device is maintained in a locked state; and

display of the unlock image is maintained.

11. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, the device is transitioned to an application.

12. The graphical user interface of claim 10, wherein:

if moving the unlock image on the touch-sensitive display results in movement of the unlock image from the first location to an unlock region on the touch-sensitive display, the device is transitioned to an application corresponding to the unlock image.