Apparatus and method for configuring password and for releasing lock

• US 9,230,079 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yun, Yong-Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughan, Michael R
• Application Number:
  US14/580,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20150113635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/45 Structures or tools for the administration of authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/46 by designing passwords or checking the strength of passwords
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2113 Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
• 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

Methods of configuring a different authority for a plurality of users to use at least one application in an electronic device. User inputs are received to set passwords for respective user levels, where each user level is associated with a different authority to access applications. The passwords are registered for the respective user levels. At least one application is associated with one of the user levels.

Claims

1. A method of operation in an electronic device, the method comprising:

in a second mode of the electronic device;

(i) displaying a pattern lock setting screen on a display of the electronic device;

(ii) setting a first pattern password corresponding to a first mode through the pattern lock setting screen, wherein the first pattern password is a password for entering the first mode from a lock screen state;

(iii) displaying representations corresponding to a plurality of applications stored in the electronic device, for setting at least one application for the first mode; and

(iv) setting at least one application selected via user input from among the displayed representations of the plurality of applications, as at least one application executable in the first mode;

displaying a pattern password input screen in the lock screen state;

determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the pattern password input screen corresponds to the set first pattern password among a plurality of pattern passwords stored in the electronic device;

releasing a lock state and entering the first mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock screen state corresponds to the first pattern password; and

upon entering the first mode, displaying at least one icon for executing an application corresponding to the at least one application selected via the user input, on a home screen on which icons corresponding to respective applications are arranged;

wherein a setting function for setting any device unlocking password is disabled in the first mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting a second pattern password corresponding to the second mode through the pattern lock setting screen, wherein the second pattern password is a password for entering the second mode from the lock screen state;

determining whether a pattern password entered by the user through the pattern password input screen corresponds to the set second pattern password corresponding to the second mode among the plurality of pattern passwords stored in the electronic device;

releasing the lock state and entering the second mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock screen state corresponds to the second pattern password; and

displaying both the at least one icon for executing an application corresponding to the at least one application selected by the user as an application for the first mode and at least one further icon for executing at least one further application that is not selected via user input as the at least one application for the first mode, on the screen in the second mode.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a selection function for an application for the first mode is enabled in the second mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pattern password is a password that passes at least two grid points among a plurality of grid points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the at least one application as at least one application executable in the first mode is made via a selection of one or more icons corresponding to one or more respective applications.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an application that is not selected by the user as the at least one application for the first mode is not executable in the first mode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entry of the password is made by touch input on the password input screen displayed on a touch screen.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a touch screen configured to display a pattern password input screen in a lock screen state and to receive an entry of a password via touch input in the pattern password input screen;

a memory configured to store a plurality of applications and a plurality of pattern passwords; and

a processor configured to control operations of;

in a second mode of the electronic device;

(i) displaying a pattern lock setting screen on a display of the electronic device;

(ii) setting a first pattern password corresponding to a first mode through the pattern lock setting screen, wherein the first pattern password is a password for entering the first mode from the lock screen state;

(iii) displaying representations corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the electronic device, for setting at least one application for the first mode; and

(iv) setting at least one application selected by a user from among the displayed representations of the plurality of applications, as at least one application for the first mode;

displaying a pattern password input screen in the lock screen state;

determine whether a pattern password entered by a user through the pattern password input screen corresponds to the set first pattern password among a plurality of pattern passwords stored in the electronic device;

releasing a lock state and entering the first mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock screen state corresponds to the first pattern password; and

displaying at least one representation corresponding to the at least one application selected via the user input, on a screen in the first mode;

wherein a setting function for setting any device unlocking password is disabled in the first mode.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to

set a second pattern password corresponding to the second mode through the pattern lock setting screen, wherein the second pattern password is a password for entering the second mode from the lock screen state;

determine whether a pattern password entered by the user through the pattern password input screen corresponds to the set second pattern password corresponding to the second mode among the plurality of pattern passwords stored in the electronic device;

releasing the lock state and entering the second mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock screen state corresponds to the second pattern password; and

control displaying both the at least one representation corresponding to the at least one application selected by the user as an application for the first mode and at least one further representation corresponding to at least one further application that is not selected by the user as the application for the first mode, on the screen in the second mode.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor controls the electronic device so that a selection function for an application for the first mode is enabled in the second mode.

11. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one representation is at least one icon.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the at least one representation is at least one text or at least one image.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first pattern password or the second pattern password is a pattern password that passes at least two grid points among a plurality of grid points.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the selection of the at least one application for the first mode is made via a selection of at least one icon corresponding to one or more respective applications.

15. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor controls the electronic device so that an application that is not selected by the user as the application for the first mode is not displayed on the screen in the first mode.

16. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor controls the electronic device so that a selection function for an application for the first mode is disabled in the first mode.

17. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the entry of the password is made by a touch of the user on the password input screen displayed on the touch screen.

18. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein a setting function for setting any application as an application executable in the first mode, is disabled in the first mode.

19. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein an authority of the second mode is higher than for the first mode.

20. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein, among the plurality of applications, unselected applications for the first mode are non-executable in the first mode.

21. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein setting at least one application selected by a user as at least one application for the first mode comprises setting a plurality of applications selected by the user as applications executable in the first mode.