Combined passcode and activity launch modifier

• US 9,223,948 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Hamilton, Alistair Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Phy Anh
• Application Number:
  US13/286,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20130111581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed whereby an activity launch modifier is combined with a passcode. The activity launch modifier is used to determine a portion of an application to activate upon valid authentication.

Claims

1. A method of activating an application on an electronic device when the electronic device is in a locked state, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display of the electronic device, a first image and a second image, the second image overlaying the first image, the first image having a first reference point and the second image having a second reference point;

receiving input, via an input device of the electronic device; and

when the first reference point of the first image is substantially aligned with the second reference point of the second image in combination with receiving an activity launch modifier as input, unlocking the electronic device and activating an application corresponding to the activity launch modifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the first reference point of the first image is substantially aligned with the second reference point of the second image and no activity launch modifier is received, unlocking the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity launch modifier includes a gesture.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity launch modifier includes a manner in which the first reference point is substantially aligned with the second reference point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity launch modifier includes selection of a selectable modifier displayed on the display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the corresponding application comprises activating a portion of the application corresponding to the activity launch modifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the corresponding application comprises implementing an action within the application corresponding to the activity launch modifier.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a processor;

a display and an input device coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having machine readable instructions stored thereon for activating an application when the electronic device is in a locked state, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

display, on the display of the electronic device, a first image and a second image, the second image overlaying the first image, the first image having a first reference point and the second image having a second reference point;

receive input, via the input device of the electronic device; and

when the first reference point of the first image is substantially aligned with the second reference point of the second image in combination with receiving an activity launch modifier as input, unlock the electronic device and activate an application corresponding to the activity launch modifier.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

when the first reference point of the first image is substantially aligned with the second reference point of the second image and no activity launch modifier is received, unlocking the electronic device.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the activity launch modifier includes a gesture.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the activity launch modifier includes a manner in which the first reference point is substantially aligned with the second reference point.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the activity launch modifier includes selection of a selectable modifier displayed on the display.

13. A non-transitory machine readable medium having machine readable instructions tangibly stored thereon for activating an application on an electronic device when the electronic device is in a locked state, which when executed by a processor of the electronic device, cause the processor to:

display, on a display of the electronic device, a first image and a second image, the second image overlaying the first image, the first image having a first reference point and the second image having a second reference point;

receive input, via an input device of the electronic device; and

when the first reference point of the first image is substantially aligned with the second reference point of the second image in combination with receiving an activity launch modifier as input, unlock the electronic device and activate an application corresponding to the activity launch modifier.

14. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the machine readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

when the first reference point of the first image is substantially aligned with the second reference point of the second image and no activity launch modifier is received, unlocking the electronic device.

15. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the activity launch modifier includes a gesture.

16. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the activity launch modifier includes a manner in which the first reference point is substantially aligned with the second reference point.

17. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 13, wherein the activity launch modifier includes selection of a selectable modifier displayed on the display.