Mobile device having a touch-lock state and method for operating the mobile device

• US 9,225,824 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2015
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Yeon, Bok, Il Geun, Shin, Hyun Kyung, Lee, Sung Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US14/621,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20150163343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-184, 178 1801- 1809, 178 2001- 2004
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A mobile device with a touch panel and a touch-lock operating method thereof are provided. The mobile device preferably includes an RF communication unit for supporting communication services; a touch panel for sensing input touches; a display unit for displaying a screen, where the screen includes at least one of a preset image, text, and map; and a controller for setting a touch-lock in the touch panel according to a preset condition. The controller also controls the display unit to display at least one of a text and image or at least one particular icon corresponding to the information reception event that occurs, based on the RF communication unit, in the touch-lock state. A portion of the display screen can be locked, or only certain predetermined touch functions permitted.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display unit; and

a controller configured to;

transition the electronic device into a lock state;

control the display unit to display a plurality of indications of incoming messages on the display unit, wherein each one of the plurality of indications is associated with a different respective message, and the plurality of indications is displayed while the device is in the lock state; and

responsive to an input received in a portion of the display unit where a given indication from the plurality is displayed while the electronic device is in the lock state, transition the electronic device out of the lock state and activate a function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indications includes a first indication associated with a first message and a second indication associated with a second message, and the first indication and the second indication are displayed according to an order in which the first message and the second message are received at the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first message includes:

activating a first function corresponding to the first message when a first input is received at a first location in the display unit where the first indication is displayed, and

activating a second function corresponding to the second message when a second input is received at a second location in the display unit where the second indication is displayed.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indications includes a first indication, and displaying the first indication includes configuring a portion of the display unit where the first indication is displayed as a region for unlocking the electronic device.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is transitioned out of the lock state only when the input is of a pre-designated type.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein activating the function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication includes displaying, on the display unit, information associated with the respective message of the given indication.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein activating the function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication includes displaying, on the display unit, content that is part of the respective message of the given indication.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein activating the function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication includes displaying, on the display unit, a preview of the respective message of the given indication.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of indications includes a first indication and a second indication, and the controller is further configured to:

display, on the display unit, a lock idle screen image when the first indication is displayed; and

change a characteristic of the lock idle screen image when the second indication is subsequently displayed.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the input includes a drag or a sweep.

11. A method comprising:

transitioning an electronic device into a lock state;

displaying a plurality of indications of incoming messages on a display unit of the electronic device, wherein each one of the plurality of indications is associated with a different respective message, and the plurality of indications is displayed while the device is in the lock state; and

responsive to an input received in a portion of the display unit where a given indication from the plurality is displayed, activating a function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of indications includes a first indication associated with a first message and a second indication associated with a second message, and the first indication and the second indication are displayed according to an order in which the first message and the second message are received at the electronic device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first message includes:

activating a first function corresponding to the first message when a first input is received at a first location in the display unit where the first indication is displayed, and

activating a second function corresponding to the second message when a second input is received at a second location in the display unit where the second indication is displayed.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of indications includes a first indication, and displaying the first indication includes configuring a portion of the display unit where the first indication is displayed as a region for unlocking the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is transitioned out of the lock state only when the input is of a pre-designated type.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication includes displaying, on the display unit, information associated with the respective message of the given indication.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication includes displaying, on the display unit, content that is part of the respective message of the given indication.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein activating the function corresponding to the respective message of the given indication includes displaying, on the display unit, a preview of the respective message of the given indication.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of indications includes a first indication and a second indication, the method further comprising:

displaying a lock idle screen image when the first indication is displayed; and

changing a characteristic of the lock idle screen image when the second indication is subsequently displayed.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the input includes a drag or a sweep.

21. An electronic device comprising:

a display unit; and

a controller configured to;

control the display unit to display a lock screen;

while the lock screen is displayed, display on the display unit, a first indication of an information reception event that is generated in response to at least one message being received at the electronic device;

receive an input in a portion of the display unit where the first indication is displayed while the lock screen is displayed; and

in response to receiving the input, transition out of the lock screen and activate a function corresponding to the first indication.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the at least one message includes a text message.

23. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the first indication is generated in response to a plurality of messages being received at the electronic device.

24. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the first indication includes an indication of a count of unread messages that are accumulated at the electronic device.

25. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to arrange a portion of the display unit where the first indication is displayed as a region for unlocking the electronic device.

26. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first indication includes outputting information associated with the at least one message.

27. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first indication includes outputting content that is part of the at least one message.

28. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first indication includes outputting a preview of the at least one message.

29. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the input includes a drag or a sweep.

30. A method comprising:

displaying a lock screen on a display unit of an electronic device;

while the lock screen is displayed, displaying on the display unit of the electronic device a first indication that is generated in response to at least one message being received at the electronic device; and

receiving an input in a portion of the display unit where the first indication is displayed while the lock screen is displayed; and

in response to receiving the input, transitioning out of the lock screen and activating a function corresponding to the first indication.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one message includes a text message.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the first indication is generated in response to a plurality of messages being received at the electronic device.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the first indication includes an indication of a count of unread messages that are accumulated at the electronic device.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising, for each indication, configuring a portion of the display unit where the indication is displayed as a region for unlocking the electronic device.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first indication includes outputting information associated with the at least one message.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first indication includes outputting content that is part of the at least one message.

37. The method of claim 30, wherein activating the function corresponding to the first indication includes outputting a preview of the at least one message.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the input includes a drag or a sweep.