Above-lock notes

• US 9,009,630 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kruzeniski, Michael J., Tobens, Joseph B., Bell, Jon, Stauber, William Scott, Bhatia, Rohit, Papatla, Ram Pattabhi, Escapa, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/489,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 715/864, 715/833, 715/825, 715/817
• US Class Current: 715/864
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/604 Tools and structures for managing or administering access control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6209 to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A note-capture application is disclosed that allows notes to be displayed on the lock screen. In one embodiment, a note-capture application can be invoked when a mobile device is in an above-lock state. Note data can be captured using the note-capture application, and the captured data can be persistently displayed on the lock screen. A user can perform a unique gesture from the lock screen to invoke the note-capture application. In another embodiment, multiple input modes can be available for note data capture. For example, voice data, text data, camera data, etc. can all be used to capture notes for display on the lock screen.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state, the method comprising:

invoking a note-capture application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state;

capturing note data from a user using the note-capture application with the mobile device in the above-lock state, wherein capturing note data includes receiving a new note in the above-lock state; and

in the above-lock state, persistently displaying at least a part of the note data on a lock screen until receiving a user request to remove the note data;

wherein the at least the part of the note data is a portion of the new note that has not exceeded a predetermined length and in response to receiving a selection of the note data, displaying an entirety of the new note.

2. The method of claim 1, further including, in the above-lock state, selectively displaying the entire captured note data in response to a user request to view the note data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the note data is displayed on the lock screen when the mobile device exits a low-power mode.

4. The method of claim 1, further including, in the above-lock state, receiving a user request to selectively choose one of a plurality of input modes for capturing the note data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the input modes include speech or text inputs.

6. The method of claim 4, further including receiving a user selection of a text input mode and automatically displaying a keyboard in response thereto.

7. The method of claim 1, further including switching from the above-lock state to a below-lock state in response to a user input command, wherein in the above-lock state, a majority of applications on the mobile device are not accessible to a user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

9. The method of claim 1, further including receiving user input to remove the persistently displayed note data from the lock screen.

10. A computer readable storage having instructions thereon for executing a method of capturing a note using a mobile device, the method comprising:

receiving a request to enter note data into a note-capture application;

capturing note data using the note-capture application, wherein capturing note data includes taking a new note in an above-lock state; and

persistently displaying at least a first part of the note data on the lock screen in the above-lock state, wherein the first part of the note data is below a predetermined length and in response to receiving a selection of the note data, displaying at least a second part of the note data and additional calendar or contact information associated with the note data.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the lock screen prevents access to a majority of applications stored on the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein persistently displaying at least a part of the note data includes continuously displaying the at least partial note data whenever the lock screen is displayed until user input is received to remove the note data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least partial note data is displayed on the lock screen when the mobile device exits a low-power mode.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the request to enter note data includes receiving user selection between a plurality of input modes for entering note data while the mobile device is in an above-lock state.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the received request is from the lock screen or from an application, other than a note application, in a below-lock state.

16. The method of claim 10, further including switching from the lock screen, which is an above-lock state to a below-lock state in response to a user password.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

18. A method of capturing note data on a mobile phone, comprising:

from a lock screen that is displayed in an above-lock state, invoking a note-capture application using a single user gesture;

receiving user input selecting one of a plurality of input modes for receiving note data;

capturing note data from a user using the selected input mode, wherein capturing includes taking a new note while in the above-lock state;

displaying the note data persistently on the lock screen, with only a subset of functionality of the note-capture application being available from the lock screen, wherein full functionality of the note-capture application is available below-lock, wherein the note data is a first portion of a note that is below a threshold length and upon receiving user input, displaying an entirety of the note;

receiving user input to enter a below-lock state wherein a plurality of applications available on the mobile phone are accessible to the user;

after a predetermined period of time without user activity, automatically entering a low-power mode;

in response to a user request, exiting the low-power mode and automatically returning to the lock screen wherein the note data is displayed.

19. The method of claim 18, further including:

from the lock screen, entering an application associated with the note data and receiving user input to delete the note data from the lock screen; and

deleting the note data in response to the user input.