Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image

• US 8,745,544 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2013
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• 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): Ng, Amy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Andres E
• Application Number:
  US13/791,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 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

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, comprising:

at a portable device with a touch-sensitive display and phone functionality;

receiving a phone call on the device while the device is in a first user-interface lock state;

in response to receiving the phone call, displaying information about the phone call on the touch-sensitive display and displaying a first unlock image on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a gesture by a continuous contact on the touch-sensitive display that moves the first unlock image;

determining that the detected gesture satisfies a predetermined condition; and

transitioning the device to a user-interface active state that provides access to the received phone call, wherein the device displays interactive user-interface objects for the phone call on the touch-sensitive display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the phone call includes identifying information about the caller of the phone call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined condition includes the first unlock image moving from a first location to a predefined second location on the touch-sensitive display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined condition includes the first unlock image moving along a predefined path on the touch-sensitive display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein in the user interface active state the user-interface objects for the phone call include an object to accept the call and an object to decline the call.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein in the user-interface active state all displayed user-interface objects are for the phone call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting an input through one of the user-interface objects displayed in the user-interface active state, and taking an action with respect to the phone call in accordance with the input.

8. A computer readable memory including instructions that, when executed by a processor of a portable device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to perform operations comprising:

receiving a phone call on the device while the device is in a first user-interface lock state;

in response to receiving the phone call, displaying information about the phone call on the touch-sensitive display and displaying a first unlock image on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a gesture by a continuous contact on the touch-sensitive display that moves the first unlock image;

determining that the detected gesture satisfies a predetermined condition; and

transitioning the device to a user-interface active state that provides access to the received phone call, wherein the device displays interactive user-interface objects for the phone call on the touch-sensitive display.

9. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the information about the phone call includes identifying information about the caller of the phone call.

10. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the predetermined condition includes the unlock image moving from a first location to a predefined second location on the touch-sensitive display.

11. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the predetermined condition includes the unlock image moving along a predefined path on the touch-sensitive display.

12. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein in the user-interface active state the user-interface objects for the phone call include an object to accept the call and an object to decline the call.

13. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein in the user-interface active state all displayed user-interface objects are for the phone call.

14. The computer readable memory of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise detecting an input through one of the user-interface objects displayed in the user-interface active state, and taking an action with respect to the phone call in accordance with the input.

15. A portable device, comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

at least one processor in communication with the touch-sensitive display; and

at least one memory in communication with the at least one processor, the memory including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to perform operations including;

receiving a phone call on the device while the device is in a first user-interface lock state;

in response to receiving the phone call, displaying information about the phone call on the touch-sensitive display and displaying a first unlock image on the touch-sensitive display;

detecting a gesture by a continuous contact on the touch-sensitive display that moves the first unlock image;

determining that the detected gesture satisfies a predetermined condition; and

transitioning the device to a user-interface active state that provides access to the received phone call, wherein the device displays interactive user-interface objects for the phone call on the touch-sensitive display.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the information about the phone call includes identifying information about the caller of the phone call.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined condition includes the unlock image moving from a first location to a predefined second location on the touch-sensitive display.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the predetermined condition includes the unlock image moving along a predefined path on the touch-sensitive display.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein in the user interface active state the user-interface objects for the phone call include an object to accept the call and an object to decline the call.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein in the user-interface active state all displayed user-interface objects are for the phone call.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise detecting an input through one of the user-interface objects displayed in the user-interface active state, and taking an action with respect to the phone call in accordance with the input.