INITIATION OF ACTIONS BY A PORTABLE COMPUTING DEVICE FROM A LOCKED STATE

• US 20130201199A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fortin, Nathan J., Nguyen, Catherine, El Guerrab, Rachid, Sung, Kye-Wan, Oursbourn, Matthew, Richards, Timothy R., Boras, Ogi, Enslow, Ryan W., VanHeirseele, Joshua M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,806,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/589
• 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 for modifying a state of a portable computing device:

detecting contact with a touch-sensitive display at a first region associated with an unlock image displayed responsive to the portable computing device being in a locked state;

responsive to detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display at the first region, displaying an action image in a second region of the touch-sensitive display;

detecting movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display, while the unlock image remains stationary at the first region;

determining a direction of movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display;

responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, visually modifying the action image; and

responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the second region, executing an action associated with the action image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the action associated with the action image comprises:

modifying the portable computing device from the locked state to an unlocked state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein visually modifying the action image comprises increasing a size of the action image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein visually modifying the action image comprises modifying one or more colors of the action image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein visually modifying the action image comprises increasing a brightness of the action image.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting contact with the first region, displaying a second action image in a third region of the touch-sensitive display; and

responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, visually modifying the action image and visually modifying the second action image.

7. The method of claim 6, visually modifying the action image and visually modifying the second action image comprises:

increasing a size of the action image; and

decreasing a size of the second action image.

8. The method of claim 6, visually modifying the action image and visually modifying the second action image comprises:

increasing a brightness of the action image; and

decreasing a brightness of the second action image.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the third region, executing a second action associated with the second action image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second action comprises at least one of executing a messaging application, executing an image capture application or executing a telephone dialer application.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a visual indication of movement of the contact to execute the action associated with the action image.

12. 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;

detect contact with the touch-sensitive display at a first region associated with an unlock image;

responsive to detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display at the first region, display an action image in a second region of the touch-sensitive display;

detect movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display, while the unlock image remains stationary at the first region;

determine a direction of movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display;

responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, visually modify the action image; and

responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the second region, execute an action associated with the action image.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein execute the action associated with the action image comprises:

transition the device from a locked state to an unlocked state.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein visually modify the action image comprises:

increase a size of the action image.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein visually modify the action image comprises:

increase a brightness of the action image.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the storage device further includes instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to detecting contact with the first region, display a second action image in a third region of the touch-sensitive display; and

responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, visually modify the action image and visually modify the second action image.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein visually modify the action image and visually modify the second action image comprises:

increase a size of the action image; and

decrease a size of the second action image.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein visually modify the action image and visually modify the second action image comprises:

increase a brightness of the action image; and

decrease a brightness of the second action image.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the storage device further includes instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the third region, execute a second action associated with the second action image.

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

detect contact with the touch-sensitive display at a first region associated with an unlock image;

responsive to detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display at the first region, display an action image in a second region of the touch-sensitive display;

detect movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display, while the unlock image remains stationary at the first region;

determine a direction of movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display;

responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, visually modify the action image; and

responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the second region, execute an action associated with the action image.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein execute the action associated with the action image comprises:

transition a device coupled to the processor from a locked state to an unlocked state.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, further including instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to detecting contact with the first region, display a second action image in a third region of the touch-sensitive display; and

responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards the action image, visually modify the action image and visually modify the second action image.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 22, further including instructions, that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the third region, execute a second action associated with the second action image.

24. A method for modifying a state of a portable computing device comprising:

detecting contact with a touch-sensitive display at a first region associated with an unlock image displayed responsive to the portable computing device being in a locked state;

responsive to detecting contact with the touch-sensitive display at the first region, displaying a plurality of action images in a plurality of regions of the touch-sensitive display, an action image displayed in a region of the touch-sensitive display identified during a configuration process;

detecting movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display, while the unlock image remains stationary at the first region;

determining a direction of movement of the contact with the touch-sensitive display;

responsive to determining the direction of movement of the contact is towards an action image, visually modifying the action image; and

responsive to the contact with the touch-sensitive display reaching the region including the action image, executing an action associated with the action image.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein displaying the plurality of action images in a plurality of regions of the touch-sensitive display comprises:

displaying a first action image in a second region of the touch-sensitive display, the first region identified from a set of regions during the configuration process; and

displaying a second action image in a second region of the touch-sensitive display, the first region identified from the set of regions during the configuration process.