Mobile device and method for controlling the same

• US 8,626,095 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2013
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sungyup
• Primary Examiner(s): Rego, Dominic E
• Application Number:
  US13/936,009
• Time in Patent Office: 186 Days
• Field of Search: 455/127.4, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/407, 455/411, 455/425, 455/556.2, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/127.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/04 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A mobile device and a method for controlling the same, in which different lock states are provided depending on a mode which is currently implemented in a dual mode of a child mode and an adult mode, and different unlock interfaces are provided depending on the lock state.

Claims

1. A mobile device providing a dual mode of a first mode and a second mode, the mobile device comprising:

a display unit configured to display at least one application executed in the first mode and the second mode;

a sensor unit configured to sense a user input for the mobile device; and

a processor configured to;

provide a first unlock interface to unlock a first lock state, wherein the first unlock interface allows the mobile device to enter into the first mode or the second mode after unlocking the first lock state,

display at least one application executed in the first mode when the mobile device enters into the first mode through the first unlock interface,

enter a second lock state when an event for the second mode is detected, and

provide a second unlock interface to unlock the second lock state, wherein the second unlock interface allows the mobile device to enter into only the second mode after unlocking the second lock state.

2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to process the event when the mobile device enters into the second mode through the second unlock interface.

3. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to enter the first lock state if the event is completely processed.

4. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to continue to execute at least one application which is being executed in the first mode when detecting the event, after processing the event.

5. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to switch the second mode to the first mode when the event is completely processed.

6. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to switch the second mode to the first mode if an input signal or occurrence of an event are not detected for a predetermined time, after the event is completely processed.

7. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the second unlock interface includes information related to the event.

8. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first lock state is a state that the processor is on standby to receive the user input or to detect occurrence of the event, and the mobile device enters the first lock state from the second mode or the first mode.

9. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first lock state is unlocked by a first unlock signal for entering into the first mode or a second unlock signal for entering into the second mode for the first unlock interface.

10. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the second lock state is a state that the processor is on standby to receive the user input, and the mobile device enters the second lock state when the event for the second mode is detected in the first mode.

11. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the second lock state is unlocked by a second unlock signal for entering into the second mode for the second unlock interface.

12. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first mode includes a child mode and the second mode includes an adult mode.

13. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the first mode includes a master mode and the second mode includes a slave mode.

14. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one application includes at least one of a first application executed only in the first mode, a second application executed only in the second mode, and a third application executed in both the first mode and the second mode.

15. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a first setup interface in the second mode and determine an executing mode of the at least one application between the first mode and the second mode through the first setup interface.

16. The mobile device according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a second setup interface in the first mode and configure an environment for executing the at least one application executed only in the first mode through the second setup interface.

17. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to disable a function for processing the event in the first mode, when the processor detects the event for the second mode in the first mode.

18. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to provide information guiding mode switching from the first mode to the second mode when the mobile device enters the second lock state.

19. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the event includes at least one of an event for call reception, an event for message reception, and an event for mail reception.

20. A method for controlling a mobile device, which provides a dual mode of a first mode and a second mode, the method comprising:

providing a first unlock interface to unlock a first lock state, wherein the first unlock interface allows the mobile device to enter into the first mode or the second mode after unlocking the first lock state;

displaying at least one application executed in the first mode when the mobile device enters into the first mode through the first unlock interface;

detecting an event for the second mode in the first mode;

entering a second lock state; and

providing a second unlock interface to unlock the second lock state, wherein the second unlock interface allows the mobile device to enter into only the second mode after unlocking the second lock state.