Input to locked computing device

• US 8,667,562 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: LeBeau, Michael J, Jitkoff, John Nicholas, Guy, Romain P
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US13/251,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20120124644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 726 2- 7, 726 27- 30, 726 34- 35, 713190-194
• US Class Current: 726/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/70 Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/032 Protect output to user by software means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect
• 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 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving at a computing device that is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to unlock the device and to execute at least one command that is different from a command for unlocking the device. The method further includes executing in response to the user inputs to unlock the device an unlocking operation to convert the device from a locked state to an unlocked state. The method further includes executing the at least one command in response to receiving the user inputs to execute the at least one command. The at least one command executes so that results of executing the at least one command are first displayed on the device to a user automatically after the device changes from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device that is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device and to execute at least one command that is different from a command for unlocking the computing device;

executing, in response to the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device, an unlocking operation by the computing device to convert the computing device from the locked state to an unlocked state;

executing the at least one command in response to receiving the one or more user inputs to execute the at least one command;

wherein the at least one command executes so that results of executing the at least one command are first displayed on the computing device to a user automatically after the computing device changes from the locked state to the unlocked state,

wherein executing the at least one command comprises sending a network request to a server system that is remote from the computing device so as to accelerate availability of content from the server system as soon as the computing device enters the unlocked state;

storing results from the server system without displaying the results while the computing device is locked; and

displaying the stored results in response to the computing device entering the unlocked state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the at least one command begins before the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device are fully received.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device to one or more passcodes, and executing the unlocking operation only if the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device match the one or more passcodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device and to execute the at least one command comprises receiving a touch input on a device touchscreen to unlock the computing device and a spoken input to execute the at least one command.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device and to execute the at least one command comprises receiving a dragging motion between an icon that corresponds to a function corresponding to the at least one command, and an icon that corresponds to an unlocking function for the computing device.

6. A computer program product, encoded on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, at a computing device that is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device and to execute at least one command that is different from a command for unlocking the computing device;

executing, in response to the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device, an unlocking operation by the computing device to convert the computing device from a locked state to an unlocked state;

executing the at least one command in response to receiving the one or more user inputs to execute the at least one command;

wherein the at least one command executes so that results of executing the at least one command are first displayed on the computing device to a user automatically after the computing device changes from the locked state to the unlocked state,

wherein executing the at least one command comprises sending a network request to a server system that is remote from the computing device so as to accelerate availability of content from the server system as soon as the computing device enters the unlocked state;

storing results from the server system without displaying the results while the computing device is locked; and

displaying the stored results in response to the computing device entering the unlocked state.

7. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

a computing device comprising;

a user interface that receives, while the computing device is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device and to execute at least one command that is different from a command for unlocking the computing device;

a processor that executes, in response to the one or more user inputs to unlock the computing device, an unlocking operation to convert the computing device from a locked state to an unlocked state, and that executes the at least one command in response to receiving the one or more user inputs to execute the at least one command;

a display device that first displays results of executing the at least one command on the computing device to a user automatically after the computing device changes from the locked state to the unlocked state;

a microphone that receives audio, wherein executing the at least one command includes processing the received audio, wherein processing the received audio includes sending the received audio to a server system and receiving the results from the server system; and

a memory that stores the results received from the server system without displaying the results while the computing device is locked, and wherein the computing device displays the stored results in response to the computing device entering the unlocked state.

8. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device that is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to execute at least one command and execute an unlocking operation, execution of the at least one command being different from execution of the unlocking operation;

executing, by the computing device and in response to at least some of the one or more user inputs, the at least one command by sending a network request to a server system while the computing device is in the locked state;

receiving, by the computing device and as having been sent by the server system, information that identifies a result of the network request, and storing the information in computer memory without the computing device presenting the result while the computing device is in the locked state;

executing, by the computing device and in response to at least some of the one or more user inputs, the unlocking operation so as to convert the computing device from the locked state to an unlocked state; and

presenting, by the computing device and in response to the one or more user inputs, the result in response to the computing device entering the unlocked state.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the one or more user inputs is a single user input that initiates the executing of the at least one command and the executing of the unlocking operation.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the one or more user inputs include a first one or more user inputs to execute the at least one command and a second one or more user inputs to enter a correct password, passcode, or unlock pattern that causes execution of the unlocking operation, wherein the information is received by the computing device and as having been sent by the server system after receiving the first one or more user inputs but before completion of the second one or more user inputs.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the computing device is configured to receive a different one or more user inputs while in the locked state that causes the computing device to execute the unlocking operation without executing the one or more commands.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein receiving the one or more user inputs includes identifying contact with a touchscreen of the computing device that moves a display of an icon across the touchscreen.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein:

the at least one command includes a command to activate an email application program for display by the computing device; and

the network request includes a request to retrieve email messages.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising converting the computing device from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to user selection of a power button or passage of a predetermined period of user inactivity with the computing device.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the network request is sent over the internet.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein:

the one or more user inputs include a voice command; and

the network request includes a recording of the voice command.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the received information includes a text transcription of at least part of the recording.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the voice command includes a request for a map, and the result that is presented includes a display of the map that was requested.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the voice command includes a request for weather information, and the result that was presented includes a display of the weather information that was requested.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the voice command includes a search query, and the request that was presented includes a display of multiple search results.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein receiving the one or more user inputs includes receiving user input of a password, a passcode, or an unlock pattern while the computing device waits for the text transcription as a response to the network request.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the voice command is recorded with a microphone of the computing device and the user input of the password, the passcode, or the unlock pattern is received with a keyboard of the computing device.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, wherein the computing device is configured to only execute the unlocking operation as a result of a determination that the password, the passcode, or the unlock pattern that was user input matches a correct password, a correct passcode, or a correct unlock pattern for which the computing device authorizes performance of the unlocking operation.

24. A computer program product, encoded on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations, comprising:

receiving, by a computing device that is in a locked state, one or more user inputs to execute at least one command and execute an unlocking operation, execution of the at least one command being different from execution of the unlocking operation;

executing, by the computing device and in response to at least some of the one or more user inputs, the at least one command by sending a network request to a server system while the computing device is in the locked state;

receiving, by the computing device and as having been sent by the server system, information that identifies a result of the network request, and storing the information in computer memory without the computing device presenting the result while the computing device is in the locked state;

executing, by the computing device and in response to at least some of the one or more user inputs, the unlocking operation so as to convert the computing device from the locked state to an unlocked state; and

presenting, by the computing device and in response to the one or more user inputs, the result in response to the computing device entering the unlocked state.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the one or more user inputs is a single user input that initiates the executing of the at least one command and the executing of the unlocking operation.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the one or more user inputs include a first one or more user inputs to execute the at least one command and a second one or more user inputs to enter a correct password, passcode, or unlock pattern that causes execution of the unlocking operation, wherein the information is received by the computing device and as having been sent by the server system after receiving the first one or more user inputs but before completion of the second one or more user inputs.

27. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the computing device is configured to receive a different one or more user inputs while in the locked state that causes the computing device to execute the unlocking operation without executing the one or more commands.

28. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein receiving the one or more user inputs includes identifying contact with a touchscreen of the computing device that moves a display of an icon across the touchscreen.

29. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein:

the at least one command includes a command to activate an email application program for display by the computing device; and

the network request includes a request to retrieve email messages.

30. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the operations further comprise converting the computing device from the unlocked state to the locked state in response to user selection of a power button or passage of a predetermined period of user inactivity with the computing device.

31. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the network request is sent over the internet.

32. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein:

the one or more user inputs include a voice command; and

the network request includes a recording of the voice command.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the received information includes a text transcription of at least part of the recording.

34. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the voice command includes a request for a map, and the result that is presented includes a display of the map that was requested.

35. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the voice command includes a request for weather information, and the result that was presented includes a display of the weather information that was requested.

36. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein the voice command includes a search query, and the request that was presented includes a display of multiple search results.

37. The computer program product of claim 33, wherein receiving the one or more user inputs includes receiving user input of a password, a passcode, or an unlock pattern while the computing device waits for the text transcription as a response to the network request.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the voice command is recorded with a microphone of the computing device and the user input of the password, the passcode, or the unlock pattern is received with a keyboard of the computing device.

39. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computing device is configured to only execute the unlocking operation as a result of a determination that the password, the passcode, or the unlock pattern that was user input matches a correct password, a correct passcode, or a correct unlock pattern for which the computing device authorizes performance of the unlocking operation.