COMPUTER APPLICATION SECURITY

• US 20140201834A1
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl J. Conforti
• Original Assignee: Carl J. Conforti
• Inventors: Conforti, Carl J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,542,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

A method of providing restricted access to computer application information via a computing device includes: displaying a limited-access icon on a display of the computing device, the limited-access icon including a function indicator and code-entry segments that can be selected by a user of the computing device, each of the code-entry segments including a visual indicator; receiving a selection sequence of user selections of selected ones of the code-entry segments; and performing a limited-access function corresponding to the function indicator in response to the selection sequence corresponding to an authorized sequence.

Claims

1. A method of providing restricted access to computer application information via a computing device, the method comprising:

displaying a limited-access icon on a display of the computing device, the limited-access icon including a function indicator and a plurality of code-entry segments that can be selected by a user of the computing device, each of the code-entry segments including a visual indicator;

receiving a selection sequence of user selections of selected ones of the plurality of code-entry segments; and

performing a limited-access function corresponding to the function indicator in response to the selection sequence corresponding to an authorized sequence.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the code-entry segments are disposed adjacent to and outside a perimeter of the function indicator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein least one of the code-entry segments overlays the function indicator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the function indicator is an indication of the computer application and wherein performing the limited-access function comprises starting the computer application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of authorized selection sequences and a plurality of limited-access functions corresponding to the function indicator, and wherein performing the limited-access function comprises performing the limited-access function of the plurality of limited-access functions that corresponds to the selection sequence.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the function indicator is a portion of a page of the computer application and wherein performing the limited-access function comprises displaying information indicated by the function indicator or initiating an operation, within the computer application, indicated by the function indicator.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to selecting the function indicator, associating the code-entry segments with the function indicator and displaying the code-entry segments with the function indicator as the limited-access icon.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the visual indicators changes in response to the computing device receiving a selection of at least one of the code-entry segments by the user.

9. A computing device comprising:

display means for displaying a limited-access icon, the limited-access icon including a function indicator and a plurality of code-entry segments that can be selected by a user of the computing device, each of the code-entry segments including a visual indicator;

selection means for receiving a selection sequence of user selections of selected ones of the plurality of code-entry segments; and

access means for performing a limited-access function corresponding to the function indicator in response to the selection sequence corresponding to an authorized sequence.

10. The computing device of claim 9 wherein the display means are for displaying the code-entry segments outside a perimeter of the function indicator.

11. The computing device of claim 9 wherein the display means are for displaying the code-entry segments such that at least one of the code-entry segments overlays the function indicator.

12. The computing device of claim 9 wherein the function indicator is an indication of the computer application and the limited-access function comprises starting the computer application.

13. The computing device of claim 9 wherein there are a plurality of authorized selection sequences and a plurality of limited-access functions corresponding to the function indicator, and wherein the access means are for performing the limited-access function of the plurality of limited-access functions that corresponds to the selection sequence.

19. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the function indicator is a portion of a page of the computer application and wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the limited-access function are configured to cause the processor to display information indicated by the function indicator or initiate an operation, within the computer application, indicated by the function indicator.

20. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the instructions further comprise instructions configured to cause the processor to, in response to receiving an indication of a selection of the function indicator, associate the code-entry segments with the function indicator and cause the display to display the code-entry segments with the function indicator as the limited-access icon.

14. A computer program product stored on a non-transitory, processor-readable medium and comprising instructions for causing a processor to:

cause a display to display a limited-access icon, the limited-access icon including a function indicator and a plurality of code-entry segments that can be selected, each of the code-entry segments including a visual indicator;

receive a selection sequence of selections of selected ones of the plurality of code-entry segments; and

perform a limited-access function corresponding to the function indicator in response to the selection sequence corresponding to an authorized sequence.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to cause the display to display the code-entry segments adjacent to and outside a perimeter of the function indicator.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the instructions are configured to cause the processor to cause the display to display least one of the code-entry segments overlaying the function indicator.

17. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the function indicator is an indication of the computer application and wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the limited-access function are configured to cause the processor to start the computer application.

18. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein there are a plurality of authorized selection sequences and a plurality of limited-access functions corresponding to the function indicator, and wherein the instructions configured to cause the processor to perform the limited-access function are configured to cause the processor to perform the limited-access function of the plurality of limited-access functions that corresponds to the selection sequence.