Multiple-access-level lock screen

• US 9,027,117 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wilairat, Weerapan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, THONG P
• Application Number:
  US12/897,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20120084734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 726/17, 726/21
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application

Abstract

A multiple-access-level lock screen system allows different levels of functionality to be accessed on a computing device. For example, when a device is in a locked state, a user can select (e.g., by making one or more gestures on a touchscreen) a full-access lock screen pane and provide input that causes the device to be fully unlocked, or a user can select a partial-access lock screen pane and provide input that causes only certain resources (e.g., particular applications, attached devices, documents, etc.) to be accessible. Lock screen panes also can be selected (e.g., automatically) in response to events. For example, when a device is in a locked state, a messaging access lock screen pane can be selected automatically in response to an incoming message, and a user can provide input at the messaging access lock screen pane that causes only a messaging application to be accessible.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable memory or storage devices storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform a method, the method comprising:

while the computing device remains in a locked state;

presenting a first lock screen pane of plural lock screen panes in a multiple-access-level lock screen user interface, each of the plural lock screen panes configured to receive unlock input that unlocks the computing device in accordance with a different one of plural access levels, each of the plural access levels having corresponding different functionality on the computing device;

receiving selection input; and

responsive to the selection input, replacing the first lock screen pane with a second lock screen pane of the plural lock screen panes in the multiple-access-level lock user interface of the computing device,

wherein the second lock screen pane comprises a visual indicator of a corresponding access level of the plural access levels.

2. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 1, wherein the selection input comprises one or more horizontal gestures on a touchscreen of the computing device, and wherein the replacing the first lock screen pane with the second lock screen pane comprises moving the second lock screen pane horizontally into a display area of the touchscreen.

3. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving unlock input via the second lock screen pane; and

determining whether the unlock input is sufficient to enable functionality on the computing device corresponding to an access level associated with the second lock screen pane.

4. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises, based on the determining, enabling the functionality associated with the access level associated with the second lock screen pane.

5. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 3, wherein the unlock input comprises password input.

6. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 3, wherein the unlock input comprises touchscreen input.

7. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 1, wherein the plural access levels comprise a full access level and plural partial access levels, the partial access levels comprising a basic access level and an enhanced access level, and wherein functionality associated with the enhanced access level is greater than functionality associated with the basic access level and less than functionality associated with the full access level.

8. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 7, wherein the functionality associated with the basic access level comprises phone call functionality.

9. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plural access levels is a user-definable access level.

10. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 9, wherein the functionality associated with the user-definable access level comprises access to at least one resource selected by a user.

11. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 10, wherein the at least one resource comprises an application.

12. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 10, wherein the at least one resource comprises a group of applications.

13. The computer-readable memory or storage devices of claim 1, wherein when the second lock screen pane is presented, the first lock screen pane is removed from the user interface.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

while a mobile computing device remains in a locked state;

displaying on a touchscreen of the mobile computing device having a display area, a default lock screen pane in a graphical user interface comprising plural lock screen panes, wherein each of the plural lock screen panes are configured to receive unlock input, wherein the default lock screen pane is associated with a default access level, and wherein the default lock screen pane comprises a visual indication that the mobile computing device is in a locked state;

receiving selection input comprising gesture input on the touchscreen;

selecting a lock screen pane other than the default lock screen pane based on the selection input;

changing the displayed lock screen pane from the default lock screen pane to the selected lock screen pane, wherein the selected lock screen pane is associated with an access level that differs from the default access level, and wherein the selected lock screen pane comprises a visual indicator of the associated access level;

receiving unlock input at the selected lock screen pane;

determining whether the unlock input is sufficient to enable functionality on the mobile computing device that corresponds to the access level associated with the selected lock screen pane;

exiting the locked state in response to the determining;

displaying a visual indication that the locked state has been exited in the display area; and

enabling the functionality that corresponds to the access level associated with the selected lock screen pane.

15. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors;

a display; and

one or more computer-readable memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform a method comprising;

while the computing device remains in a locked state;

presenting a default lock screen pane in a user interface on the display, wherein the default lock screen pane is associated with a default level of access to functionality of the computing device;

receiving first selection input;

responsive to the first selection input, presenting a second lock screen pane in the user interface on the display in place of the default lock screen pane, wherein the second lock screen pane is associated with a first limited level of access to functionality of the computing device, and wherein the first limited level of access provides access to less functionality than the default level;

receiving second selection input; and

responsive to the second selection input, presenting a third lock screen pane in the user interface on the display in place of the second lock screen pane, wherein the third lock screen pane is associated with a second limited level of access to functionality of the computing device, and wherein the second limited level of access provides access to less functionality than the default level,

wherein at least one of the second lock screen pane or the third lock screen pane comprises a visual indicator of the respective limited level of access.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the first and second limited functionality include at least one of phone call functionality, messaging functionality, or web browsing functionality.

17. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving unlock input comprising one or more gestures on a touchscreen of the computing device; and

determining whether the unlock input is sufficient to enable the second limited functionality associated with the first access level.

18. The computing device of claim 15, wherein presenting the second lock screen pane in place of the default lock screen pane comprises animating a transition between the default lock screen pane and the second lock screen pane.

19. The computing device of claim 15, wherein each of the default, second, and third lock screen panes include an indicator that represents the functionality with which the respective lock screen panes are associated.