Color pattern unlocking techniques for touch sensitive devices

• US 8,963,869 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barnes & Noble College Booksellers LLC (Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nook Digital, LLC (f/k/a Barnesandnoble.com LLC) (Bahwan CyberTek Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hicks, Kourtny M., Cueto, Gerald B., Mesguich Havilio, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): PARDO, THUY N
• Application Number:
  US13/868,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20140317724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 726/16, 705/3
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for providing a color pattern unlock mode in electronic touch sensitive devices. The color pattern unlock mode can display an unlock screen to the user, prompting the user to arrange or create a specific color pattern in order to unlock the device. The customizable color pattern may include any uniquely identifiable unlocking pattern including a combination of colors. Example color patterns include a combination of colors arranged in a certain order, a combination of colors combined with a password, a combination of colors combined with one or more words written out in one or more colors, or a combination of colors each matched with a specific image. When the user has arranged the proper color pattern, the device unlocks and may be used. If the correct color pattern is not arranged, the device remains locked.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a touch screen display for displaying content to a user and allowing user input; and

a user interface including a color pattern unlock mode configured to activate in response to the device entering a locked state thereby causing an unlock screen to display, wherein the color pattern unlock mode is further configured to unlock the device in response to receiving an unlock code comprising a first unlock screen input that includes a correct color selection followed by a second unlock screen input that includes a correct pattern provided in the selected color, wherein the color is user-selected and the pattern is user-drawn using the selected color, and wherein the combination of the color selection and the pattern provides at least part of the unlock code.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the correct color and the correct pattern of the unlock code is user configurable.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the correct pattern includes a doodle provided at least in part in the correct color.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the correct pattern further includes text provided in another correct color.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the color pattern unlock mode is configured to display a color palette having the correct color along with other colors thereby allowing the user to make a color selection.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the correct pattern includes at least one password and/or doodle provided via the touch screen display in the correct color.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the correct pattern includes a single word written in the correct color.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the color pattern unlock mode is further configured to display an unlocking animation as the device is being unlocked.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the color pattern unlock mode is further configured to maintain the device in a locked state if an incorrect unlock code is received.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is an eReader device or a tablet computer or a smartphone.

11. A mobile computing system, comprising:

a processor and a display for displaying content to a user and a touch sensitive surface for allowing user input; and

a user interface executable on the processor and including a color pattern unlock mode, wherein the color pattern unlock mode is configured to maintain the device in a locked state until receiving an unlock code comprising a first unlock screen input that includes a correct color selection followed by a second unlock screen input that includes a correct pattern provided in the selected color, wherein the color is user-selected and the pattern is user-drawn using the selected color, and wherein the combination of the color selection and the color pattern provide at least a part of the unlock code and is user configurable.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the correct pattern includes a doodle provided at least in part in the correct color.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the color pattern unlock mode includes at least two color input areas, and the correct pattern further includes at least one word traced on the touch sensitive surface in the correct color, and one or more correct colors in each of the at least two color input areas.

14. A non-transient computer program product comprising a plurality of instructions encoded thereon that when executed by one or more processors cause a process to be carried out, the process comprising:

display on the electronic device an unlock screen, wherein the unlock screen prompts a user to input an unlock code; and

unlock the electronic device in response to receiving the unlock code, the unlock code comprising a first unlock screen input that includes a correct color selection followed by a second unlock screen input that includes a correct pattern provided in the selected color, wherein the color is user-selected and the pattern is user-drawn using the selected color, and wherein the combination of the color selection and the pattern provide at least part of the unlock code.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the unlock screen is further configured to display a randomly changing image, and wherein the pattern further includes at least one correct color matched with at least one of the randomly changing images.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the correct pattern includes at least one of a combination of colors arranged in a specific order, a combination of colors combined with a password, a combination of colors combined with one or more words written out in one or more colors, or a combination of colors each matched with a specific image.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein at least one of the correct color and the correct pattern of the unlock code is user configurable.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the correct pattern includes a doodle provided at least in part in the correct color.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the correct pattern further includes text provided in another color.

20. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the process further comprises:

maintain the device in a locked state in response to receiving an incorrect unlock code.