Method, apparatus and system for access mode control of a device

• US 8,528,072 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shi, Jianxiong Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): CORUM JR, WILLIAM A
• Application Number:
  US12/842,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 726/17, 715/863
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• 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

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for accessing at least a portion of a device based upon an access input. An access input is received. The access input includes information for gaining access to one or more functions of the device. A user access mode of the device is changed from a first access mode to a second access mode based upon at least in part on the access input. An application is selected in the device in response to changing from the first access mode to the second access mode. At least a portion of the output of the selected application is provided.

Claims

1. A method for changing the an operational mode of a device, comprising:

receiving a first gesture from a user while the device is in a locked mode, wherein while in the locked mode all applications except an unlocking application are inaccessible to the user, wherein the unlocking application grants access to at least one application that was heretofore inaccessible, wherein the first gesture is associated with a first unlocked mode of the device;

determining if the first gesture is recognized by the device;

changing the operational mode of the device from the locked mode to the first unlocked mode using the unlocking application in response to the first gesture only when the first gesture is recognized, wherein while in the first unlocked mode at least a first application associated with the first gesture becomes accessible;

receiving a second gesture from the user while the device is in the first unlocked mode, the second gesture associated with a second unlocked mode of the device;

determining if the second gesture is recognized by the device; and

changing the operational mode of the device from the first unlocked mode to the second unlocked mode in response to the second gesture only when the second gesture is recognized, wherein while in the second unlocked mode at least a second application associated with the second gesture becomes accessible,

wherein the first unlocked mode allows access to applications in a first group of applications, the second unlocked mode allows access to applications in a second group of applications, and the first group of applications and the second group of applications are mutually exclusive.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first unlocked mode allows access to more applications than the second unlocked mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the second gesture comprises:

receiving the second gesture from the user while the user is simultaneously touching an application icon while the device is in the first unlocked mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second groups of applications is each one of a productivity group, communication group, entertainment group or a web-based group of applications.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the productivity group comprises at least one of a word processing application, a database application, a spreadsheet application and a presentation application.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication group comprises at least one of an email application, a text messaging application, a telephone application, a chat application and a social networking application.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the entertainment group comprises at least one of a music application, a game application, a video application and a movie application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the device from a first unlocked mode comprises:

displaying a preview of at least one application available to be opened, wherein the preview is selectable by the user to access the at least one application.

9. A device, comprising:

a display;

a touch-sensitive surface;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a first gesture from a user while the device is in a locked mode, wherein while in the locked mode all applications except an unlocking application are inaccessible to the user, wherein the unlocking application grants access to at least one application that was heretofore inaccessible, wherein the first gesture is associated with a first unlocked mode of the device;

determining if the first gesture is recognized by the device;

changing an operational mode of the device from the locked mode to the first unlocked mode using the unlocking application in response to the first gesture only when the first gesture is recognized, wherein while in the first unlocked mode at least a first application associated with the first gesture becomes accessible;

receiving a second gesture from the user while the device is in the first unlocked mode, the second gesture associated with a second unlocked mode of the device;

determining if the second gesture is recognized by the device; and

changing the operational mode of the device from the first unlocked mode to the second unlocked mode in response to the second gesture only when the second gesture is recognized, wherein while in the second unlocked mode at least a second application associated with the second gesture becomes accessible,

wherein the first unlocked mode allows access to applications in a first group of applications, the second unlocked mode allows access to applications in a second group of applications, and the first group of applications and the second group of applications are mutually exclusive.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first unlocked mode allows access to more applications than the second unlocked mode.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the instructions for receiving the second gesture comprise:

instructions for receiving a second gesture from the user while the user is simultaneously touching an application icon while the device is in the first unlocked mode.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the first and second groups of applications is each one of a productivity group, communication group, entertainment group or a web-based group of applications.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the productivity group comprises at least one of a word processing application, a database application, a spreadsheet application and a presentation application.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the communication group comprises at least one of an email application, a text messaging application, a telephone application, a chat application and a social networking application.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the entertainment group comprises at least one of a music application, a game application, a video application and a movie application.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the instructions for changing the device from a first unlocked mode comprise:

instructions for displaying a preview of at least one application available to be opened, wherein the preview is selectable by the user to access the at least one application.

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

receive a first gesture from a user while the device is in a locked mode, wherein while in the locked mode all applications except an unlocking application are inaccessible to the user, wherein the unlocking application grants access to at least one application that was heretofore inaccessible, wherein the first gesture is associated with a first unlocked mode of the device;

determine if the first gesture is recognized by the device;

change the operational mode of the device from the locked mode to the first unlocked mode using the unlocking application in response to the first gesture only when the first gesture is recognized, wherein while in the first unlocked mode at least a first application associated with the first gesture becomes accessible;

receive a second gesture from the user while the device is in the first unlocked mode, the second gesture associated with a second unlocked mode of the device; and

determine if the second gesture is recognized by the device; and

change the operational mode of the device from the first unlocked mode to the second unlocked mode in response to the second gesture only when the second gesture is recognized, wherein while in the second unlocked mode at least a second application associated with the second gesture becomes accessible;

wherein the first unlocked mode allows access to applications in a first group of applications and the second unlocked mode allows access to applications in a second group of applications, and wherein the first group of applications and the second group of applications are mutually exclusive.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first unlocked mode allows access to more applications than the second unlocked mode.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions tha cause the device to receive the second gesture comprise:

instructions that cause the device to receive a second gesture from the user while the user is simultaneously touching an application icon while the device is in the first unlocked mode.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the first and second groups of applications is each one of a productivity group, communication group, entertainment group or a web-based group of applications.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the productivity group comprises at least one of a word processing application, a database application, a spreadsheet application and a presentation application.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the communication group comprises at least one of an email application, a text messaging application, a telephone application, a chat application and a social networking application.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the entertainment group comprises at least one of a music application, a game application, a video application and a movie application.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein instructions that cause the device to change from a first unlocked mode comprise:

instructions that cause the device to display a preview of at least one application available to be opened, wherein the preview is selectable by the user to access the at least one application.