Single input unlock for computing devices

• US 9,710,639 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Saini, Gaurav
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Hosuk
• Application Number:
  US14/853,441
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 726 2- 7, 726 17- 19, 726 26- 30, 713168, 713193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226

Abstract

A device is described that, while operating in a lock-sensitive display. Responsive to detecting, and while receiving the first portion, the device displays a plurality of input nodes including a first node at the initial location and a second node at a subsequent location. Responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location, the device receives a second portion of the gesture beginning at the subsequent location and ending at a final location where a third node is displayed. Based on the second portion of the gesture, the device determines an ordered-selection of input nodes beginning with the second node and ending with the third node. Responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, the device transitions to operating an unlocked-state where the device displays a graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while a computing device is operating in a locked-state;

detecting, by the computing device, beginning at an initial location of a presence-sensitive display, a first portion of a continuous-gesture input;

responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input and while receiving the first portion of the continuous-gesture input, outputting, by the computing device, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a plurality of input nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the initial location and a second node of the plurality of input nodes is display at a subsequent location;

responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display, receiving, by the computing device, beginning at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display and ending at a final location of the presence-sensitive display, a second portion of the continuous-gesture input, wherein a third node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the final location;

determining, by the computing device, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, an ordered-selection of input nodes from the plurality of input nodes beginning with the second node and ending with the third node; and

responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, transitioning, by the computing device, from operating in the locked-state to operating in an unlocked-state; and

while the computing device is operating in the unlocked-state, outputting, by the computing device, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a graphical user interface associated with one or more applications of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the ordered-selection of input nodes comprises determining, by the computing device, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture, a subsequent selection of fourth and fifth nodes from the plurality of input nodes following an initial selection of the second node and preceding a final selection of the third node, wherein the ordered-selection is derived from the initial, subsequent, and final selections.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of:

the second node and the fourth node are first identical nodes;

the fourth node and the fifth node are second identical nodes;

or

the fifth node and the third node are third identical nodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the ordered-selection of input nodes comprises determining, by the computing device, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture, two subsequent selections of a single node from the plurality of input nodes in response to detecting a curlicue pattern near the single node, wherein the ordered-selection includes the two subsequent selections of the single node.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third node corresponds to the first node.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first node is a central node of the plurality of input nodes.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the computing device, an inflection point associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location, wherein the computing device begins receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture in response to detecting the inflection point.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the computing device, a pause associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location, wherein the computing device begins receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture in response to detecting the pause.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each input node of the plurality of input nodes corresponds to a different integer;

the ordered-selection corresponds to a first sequence of integers;

the unlock sequence corresponds to a second sequence of integers; and

determining that the ordered-selection satisfies the unlock sequence comprises determining, by the computing device, that the first sequence of integers corresponds to the second sequence of integers.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while receiving the first portion of the continuous-gesture input, determining, by the computing device, first touch events associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture input; and

while receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, determining, by the computing device, second touch events associated with the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, wherein determining the ordered-selection comprises determining the ordered-selection based on the second touch events and not based on the first touch events.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, discarding, by the computing device, the first touch events from a memory.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor of a computing device to:

while operating in a locked-state;

detect, beginning at an initial location of a presence-sensitive display, a first portion of a continuous-gesture input;

responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input and while receiving the first portion of the continuous-gesture input, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a plurality of input nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the initial location and a second node of the plurality of input nodes is display at a subsequent location;

responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display, receive, beginning at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display and ending at a final location of the presence-sensitive display, a second portion of the continuous-gesture input, wherein a third node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the final location;

determine, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, an ordered-selection of input nodes from the plurality of input nodes beginning with the second node and ending with the third node; and

responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, transition from operating in the locked-state to operating in an unlocked-state; and

while operating in the unlocked-state, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a graphical user interface associated with one or more applications of the computing device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to determine the ordered-selection of input nodes by at least determining, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture, a subsequent selection of fourth and fifth nodes from the plurality of input nodes following an initial selection of the second node and preceding a final selection of the third node, wherein the ordered-selection is derived from the initial, subsequent, and final selections.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein at least one of:

the second node and the fourth node are first identical nodes;

the fourth node and the fifth node are second identical nodes;

or

the fifth node and the third node are third identical nodes.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to determine the ordered-selection of input nodes by at least determining, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture, two subsequent selections of a single node from the plurality of input nodes in response to detecting a curlicue pattern near the single node, wherein the ordered-selection includes the two subsequent selections of the single node.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to begin receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture in response to at least one of:

detecting an inflection point associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location;

or

detecting a pause associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location.

17. A computing device comprising:

a presence-sensitive display;

at least one processor; and

at least one module operable by the at least one processor to;

detect, beginning at an initial location of the presence-sensitive display, a first portion of a continuous-gesture input;

responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input and while receiving the first portion of the continuous-gesture input, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a plurality of input nodes, wherein a first node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the initial location and a second node of the plurality of input nodes is display at a subsequent location;

responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display, receive, beginning at the subsequent location of the presence-sensitive display and ending at a final location of the presence-sensitive display, a second portion of the continuous-gesture input, wherein a third node of the plurality of input nodes is displayed at the final location;

determine, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture input, an ordered-selection of input nodes from the plurality of input nodes beginning with the second node and ending with the third node; and

responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, transition from operating in the locked-state to operating in an unlocked-state; and

while operating in the unlocked-state, output, for display at the presence-sensitive display, a graphical user interface associated with one or more applications of the computing device.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to determine the ordered-selection of input nodes by at least determining, based on the second portion of the continuous-gesture, a subsequent selection of fourth and fifth nodes from the plurality of input nodes following an initial selection of the second node and preceding a final selection of the third node, wherein the ordered-selection is derived from the initial, subsequent, and final selections.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein at least one of:

the second node and the fourth node are first identical nodes;

the fourth node and the fifth node are second identical nodes;

or

the fifth node and the third node are third identical nodes.

20. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the at least one module is further operable by the at least one processor to begin receiving the second portion of the continuous-gesture in response to at least one of:

detecting an inflection point associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location;

or

detecting a pause associated with the first portion of the continuous-gesture that occurs at the subsequent location.