Initiation of actions by a portable computing device from a locked state

• US 9,632,694 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: VanHeirseele, Joshua, Nguyen, Catherine, Fortin, Nathan, El-Guerrab, Rachid, Sung, Kye-Wan, Oursbourn, Matthew, Richards, Timothy R., Boras, Ogi, Enslow, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): BHARGAVA, ANIL K
• Application Number:
  US14/456,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20140351706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04801 Cursor retrieval aid, i.e. visual aspect modification, blinking, colour changes, enlargement or other visual cues, for helping user do find the cursor in graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0686 with two or more screen areas displaying information with different brightness or colours
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/045 Zooming at least part of an image, i.e. enlarging it or shrinking it
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing an action while a portable computing device is in a locked state is disclosed. An unlock image is displayed in a first region of a touch-sensitive display. Responsive to detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display at the first region, an action image is displayed in a second region of the touch-sensitive display. While the unlock image remains stationary at the first region, movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display is detected and a direction of movement of the contact is determined. Responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, the action image is visually modified to distinguish it from the unlock image. Responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the second region, an action associated with the action image is performed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, an indication of a first gesture detected at a region of a touch-sensitive display associated with an unlock image, wherein the computing device is in a locked state;

responsive to receiving the indication, outputting, by the computing device and for display at the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of action images, wherein the unlock image is displayed between at least two action images from the plurality of action images;

receiving, by the computing device, an indication of a second gesture separate from the first gesture, the second gesture corresponding to movement from the region of the touch-sensitive display associated with the unlock image to a different region of the touch-sensitive display in which an action image is displayed;

responsive to determining, by the computing device, that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display, visually modifying the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display; and

responsive to the second gesture being detected within the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which the action image is displayed, executing, by the computing device, an action corresponding to the action image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining, by the computing device, that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which the action image is displayed, visually modifying the unlock image.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to determining, by the computing device, that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which the action image is displayed, visually modifying one or more action images from the plurality of action images other than the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein visually modifying the one or more action images from the plurality of action images other than the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more of decreasing a brightness of the one or more action images, or decreasing a size of each of the one or more action images.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein visually modifying the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more of increasing a size of the action image, modifying one or more colors of the action image, or increasing a brightness of the action image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of action images and respective regions associated with each of the plurality of action images is user configurable.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture, transitioning, by the computing device, from being in the locked state to being in an unlocked state.

8. A device comprising:

a touch-sensitive display;

a processor coupled to the touch-sensitive display; and

a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive an indication of a first gesture detected at a region of the touch-sensitive display associated with an unlock image, wherein the device is in a locked state;

responsive to receiving the indication, output, for display at the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of action images, wherein the unlock image is displayed between at least two action images from the plurality of action images;

receive an indication of a second gesture separate from the first gesture corresponding to movement from the region of the touch-sensitive display associated with the unlock image to a different region of the touch-sensitive display in which an action image is displayed;

responsive to determining that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display, visually modify the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display; and

responsive to receiving the second gesture being detected within the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which the action image is displayed, execute an action corresponding to the action image.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the storage device further includes instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to determining that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which an action image is displayed, visually modify the unlock image.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the storage device further includes instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to determining that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which an action image is displayed, visually modify one or more action images from the plurality of action images other than the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein visually modify the one or more action images from the plurality of action images other than the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more of decreasing a brightness of the one or more action images, or decreasing a size of each of the one or more action images.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein visually modify the one or more action images from the plurality of action images other than the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more of increasing a size of the action image, modifying one or more colors of the action image, or increasing a brightness of the action image.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of action images and respective regions associated with each of the plurality of action images is user configurable.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the storage device further includes instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture, transition the device from being in the locked state to being in an unlocked state.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to:

receive an indication of a first gesture detected at a region of a touch-sensitive display associated with an unlock image, wherein the computing device is in a locked state;

responsive to receiving the indication, output, for display at the touch-sensitive display, a plurality of action images, wherein the unlock image is displayed between at least two action images from the plurality of action images;

receive an indication of a second gesture separate from the first gesture, the second gesture corresponding to movement from the region of the touch-sensitive display associated with the unlock image to a different region of the touch-sensitive display in which an action image is displayed;

responsive to determining that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display, visually modify the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display; and

responsive to the second gesture being detected within the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which the action image is displayed, execute an action corresponding to the action image.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further including instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to determining that a direction of the movement of the second gesture is towards the different region of the touch-sensitive display in which the action image is displayed, visually modify one or more action images from the plurality of action images other than the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display, wherein visually modify the one or more action images from the plurality of action images other than the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more of decrease a brightness of the one or more action images, or decrease a size of each of the one or more action images.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein visually modify the action image associated with the different region of the touch-sensitive display comprises one or more of increase a size of the action image, modify one or more colors of the action image, or increase a brightness of the action image.