Apparatus and method for configuring password and for releasing lock

• US 9,600,650 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2015
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yun, Yong-Sang
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughan, Michael R
• Application Number:
  US14/982,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 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 first screen for setting a pattern password on a touch screen of the electronic device;

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

(iii) displaying a second screen for displaying representations corresponding to a plurality of applications stored in the electronic device, for setting a plurality of applications executable in the first mode among the plurality of applications; and

(iv) setting a plurality of first applications selected via a user input from among the plurality of applications stored in the electronic device through the second screen, as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode;

displaying a third screen for inputting a pattern password on the touch screen, in the lock state;

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

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

upon entering the first mode, displaying a plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications on the touch screen;

wherein said (iv) setting the plurality of first applications 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 first screen, wherein the second pattern password is a password for entering the second mode from the lock state;

determining whether a pattern password entered by the user through the third screen corresponds to the second pattern password 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

upon entering the second mode, displaying both the plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications and at least one further icon for executing at least one application that is not selected via the user input as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode, on the touch screen.

3. 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.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the plurality of first applications is made via a selection of two or more icons corresponding to two or more respective applications.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an application that is not selected by the user input as the plurality of first applications executable in the first mode is not executable in the first mode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an entry of the pattern password is made by a touch of the user on the third screen displayed on a touch screen.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein a selection function for the plurality of applications for the first mode is enabled in the second mode.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a touch 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 first screen for setting a pattern password on the touch screen;

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

(iii) displaying a second screen for displaying representations corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the memory, for setting a plurality of applications executable in the first mode among the plurality of applications; and

iv) setting a plurality of first applications selected by a user input from among the plurality of applications stored in the memory through the second screen, as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode;

displaying a third screen for inputting a pattern password on the touch screen in the lock state;

determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the third screen corresponds to the first pattern password among a plurality of pattern passwords stored in the memory;

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

displaying a plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications on the touch screen, upon entering the first mode;

wherein said (iv) setting the plurality of first applications 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 first screen, wherein the second pattern password is a password for entering the second mode from the lock state;

determine whether a pattern password entered by the user through the third screen corresponds to the second pattern password among the plurality of pattern passwords stored in the memory;

release 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 plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications and at least one further icon for executing at least one application that is not selected via the user input as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode on the touch screen, upon entering the second mode.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the representations comprises at least one of icon, test or image corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the memory.

11. 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.

12. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the selection of the plurality of first applications is made via a selection of two or more icons corresponding to tow or more respective applications.

13. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor controls the touch screen so as not to display an application that is not selected by the user input as the plurality of applications for the first mode, in the first mode.

14. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor disables a selection function for the plurality of application for the first mode in the first mode.

15. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein an entry of the pattern password is made by a touch of the user on the third screen displayed on the touch screen.

16. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the processor enables a selection function for an application for the first mode in the second mode.

17. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the processor disables a setting function for setting the plurality of the first applications as the plurality of applications for the first mode, in the first mode.

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

19. 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.

20. An electronic device comprising:

a touch 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 first screen for setting a pattern password on the touch screen;

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

(iii) displaying a second screen for displaying representations corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the memory, for setting a plurality of applications executable in the first mode among the plurality of applications; and

(iv) setting a plurality of first applications selected by a user input from among the plurality of applications stored in the memory through the second screen, as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode;

displaying a third screen for inputting a pattern password on the touch screen in the lock state;

determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the third screen corresponds to the first pattern password among a plurality of pattern passwords stored in the memory;

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

displaying a plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications on the touch screen, upon entering the first mode;

wherein said (ii) setting the first pattern password corresponding to the first mode is disabled in the first mode.