UNLOCKING A TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE

• US 20130239045A1
• Filed: 04/19/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lindberg, Phillip, Niemela, Sami
• Granted Patent: US 10,310,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A method for unlocking a touch screen device includes providing a touch screen device in an idle mode. An area or region displayed on a screen of the device in the idle mode is contacted or activated to reveal at least one application icon associated with an active/unlocked state of the device. The region is moved, expanded or dragged to an edge of the device to change a state of the device to an active/unlocked mode and activate the revealed application.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer program code configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause at least the following to be performed;

causing a display of a device to display an object when the device is in a locked mode; and

unlocking the device in response to a user dragging the object to an unlock region at an edge region of the display.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object is an icon.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer program code is configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause at least the following to be performed:

causing the display to display at least one further object when the device is in the locked mode, wherein the at least one further object represents at least one further application present or available in the device.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one further object is at least one icon.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computer program code is configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause at least the following to be performed:

responding to a user dragging the object to the at least one further object, when the device is in the locked mode, by changing a visual appearance of the at least one further object.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the computer program code is configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause at least the following to be performed:

responding to a user dragging the object to the at least one further object, when the device is in the locked mode, by temporarily illuminating or highlighting the at least one further object while the device is in the locked mode.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the device is unlocked and the at least one application is activated in response to the user dragging the object to the at least one further object and then dragging the object to the unlock region at the edge region of the display.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen display.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is a proximity screen display.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where the apparatus is the device.

11. A method, comprising:

causing a display of a device to display an object when the device is in a locked mode; and

unlocking the device in response to a user dragging the object to an unlock region at an edge region of the display.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the object is an icon.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

causing the display to display at least one further object when the device is in the locked mode, wherein the at least one further object represents at least one further application present or available in the device.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

responding to a user dragging the object to the at least one further object, when the device is in the locked mode, by changing a visual appearance of the at least one further object.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

responding to a user dragging the object to the at least one further object, when the device is in the locked mode, by temporarily illuminating or highlighting the at least one further object while the device is in the locked mode.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the device is unlocked and the at least one application is activated in response to the user dragging the object to the at least one further object and then dragging the object to the unlock region at the edge region of the display.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the display is a touch screen display.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program code that, when performed by at least one processor, causes at least the following to be performed:

causing a display of a device to display an object when the device is in a locked mode; and

unlocking the device in response to a user dragging the object to an unlock region at an edge region of the display.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein the object is an icon.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

causing the display to display at least one further object when the device is in the locked mode, wherein the at least one further object represents at least one further application present or available in the device.