APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNLOCKING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20130298079A1
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pantech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pantech Corporation (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Inventors: KIM, Hyoung-Jin
• Application Number:
  US13/671,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for controlling an unlocking operation includes detecting an unlocking event, displaying a virtual control mechanism for performing the unlocking operation, detecting a touch input on a touch screen of an electronic device, determining whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input, and unlocking a component of the electronic device. An electronic device includes a touch screen to receive a touch input, and to display a virtual control mechanism, and an unlocking unit to detect an unlocking event, to determine whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input, and to unlock a component of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an unlocking operation, comprising:

detecting an unlocking event;

displaying a virtual control mechanism for performing the unlocking operation;

detecting a touch input on a touch screen of an electronic device;

determining whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input; and

unlocking a component of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to the touch input.

4. The method of claim 2, where in modifying the appearance of the virtual control mechanism comprises modifying at least one of shape, pattern, outline, color, brightness, and saturation of the virtual control mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the component of the electronic device is the touch screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual control mechanism is a virtual switch comprising a switch knob and a path of movement of the switch knob.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual control mechanism is displayed with an instruction for performing the unlocking operation.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the unlocking operation is performed by touching the switch knob.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the unlocking operation is performed by touching the path of movement of the switch knob.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the switch knob moves faster along the path of movement of the switch knob when a touch input is detected on the path of the movement of the switch knob rather than on the switch knob.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input comprises determining whether the touch input corresponds with a predetermined touch input.

12. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen to receive a touch input, and to display a virtual control mechanism; and

an unlocking unit to detect an unlocking event, to determine whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input, and to unlock a component of the electronic device.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the unlocking unit modifies an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to time.

14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the unlocking unit modifies an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to the touch input.

15. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the component of the electronic device is the touch screen.

16. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the virtual control mechanism is a switch comprising a switch knob and a path of movement of the switch knob.

17. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the virtual control mechanism is displayed with an instruction to perform the unlocking operation.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein unlocking unit unlocks the component when the switch knob is touched.

19. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein unlocking unit unlocks the component when the path of movement of the switch knob is touched.

20. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the switch knob moves faster along the path of movement of the switch knob when a touch input is detected on the path of the movement of the switch knob rather than on the switch knob.

21. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the unlocking unit determines whether the touch input corresponds to a predetermined touch input to determine whether the touch input is the unlocking touch input.

22. A method for controlling an unlocking operation, comprising:

detecting an unlocking event;

displaying a virtual switch comprising a switch knob for performing an unlocking operation;

detecting a touch input on a touch screen of an electronic device;

determining whether the touch input corresponds to an operation of the virtual switch; and

unlocking the touch screen.