ABOVE-LOCK CAMERA ACCESS

• US 20150050916A1
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bandyopadhyay, Shamik, Barnett, Donald A., Kapoor, Vikram, Law, Veronica Y., Lemson, Kathryn C., Sengupta, Tirthankar, Tyamagundlu, Divya, Bilal, Ahmad
• Granted Patent: US 9,521,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/1365 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/107 wherein the security policies are location-dependent, e.g. entities privileges depend on current location or allowing specific operations only from locally connected terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724631 by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 : for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for allowing smart phone users to “capture the moment” by allowing easy access to a camera application when a mobile device is in an above-lock (or locked) mode, while also preventing unauthorized access to other smart phone functionality. According to one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state comprises receiving input data requesting invocation of an camera application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and invoking the requested camera application on the device, where one or more functions of the requested application are unavailable as a result of the mobile device being in the above-lock state.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A method of operating a mobile device having a plurality of authentication states, including an above-lock state and a below-lock state, the method comprising:

receiving first input data requesting invocation of an application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state;

changing the state of the mobile device from the above-lock state to the below-lock state; and

invoking the requested application on the device, wherein one or more functions of the requested application available in the below-lock state are unavailable to a user of the mobile device while the mobile device is in the above-lock state.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the unavailable functions comprise sending data using a network connection connected to the mobile device.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising waking the mobile device from a standby state based on the receiving the first input data.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the first input data is received as a result of a hardware button of the mobile device being depressed for a predefined duration.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the first input data is received as a result of detecting that a hardware button of the mobile device is depressed and second input data being received after the detection of the hardware button depress.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the first input data is received as a result of a hardware button of the mobile device being depressed concurrently with another button coupled to the mobile device.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving second input data requesting at least one of the unavailable functions, and subsequent to the receiving the second input data, performing the changing the state of the mobile device.

28. One or more computer-readable storage devices or memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method of operating a mobile device coupled to a touch screen display, the mobile device having a plurality of authentication states, including an above-lock state and an below-lock state, the method comprising:

when the touch screen display is on, receiving a request to execute a function of a mobile device application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state; and

executing the requested application or function on the mobile device, wherein one or more functions of the requested application available in the below-lock state are unavailable to a user of the mobile device while the mobile device is in the above-lock state.

29. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises, based on receiving authenticating input, changing the state of the mobile device from the above-lock state to the below-lock state;

and

wherein at least one of the unavailable functions are made available to the user in the below-lock state.

30. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

if the mobile device does not detect user activity before a predetermined timeout period expires, then transitioning the mobile device back to the above-lock state.

31. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

if the mobile device does not detect user activity before a predetermined timeout period expires, and the mobile device is recording audio and/or video, then remaining in the below-lock state.

32. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 28, wherein the request is received with the touch screen display.

33. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 28, wherein the request is received via a voice recognition or voice recording application.

34. An apparatus, comprising:

one or more input sources;

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processors, cause the apparatus to perform a method of invoking a requested function, the instructions comprising;

instructions for receiving input data from the input source,

instructions for locking and unlocking the apparatus using authentication, and

instructions for, responsive to receiving the input data, invoking the requested function, wherein;

if the apparatus is unlocked, the requested function is provided access to a first set of functions only when the apparatus is unlocked.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a low-power state power supply, the low-power state power supply being electrically connected to at least one hardware button configured to send input requesting that the apparatus enter an active power state; and

an active-state power supply configured to provide power for one or more applications operable in the active power state but not in the low-power state.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a low-power state power supply, the low-power state power being electrically connected to a wireless modem receiver; and

an active-state power supply, the active-state power supply being electrically connected to a touch screen display and a wireless modem transmitter.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first set of functions includes at least one or more of the following:

wake phone, GPS data, auto upload data to cloud, or keep GPS data with uploaded documents.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first set of functions are determined by privacy options that can be configured by a user of the apparatus, and wherein the first set of functions includes at least one or more of the following:

wake phone, GPS data, auto upload data to cloud, or keep GPS data with uploaded documents.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for, if the apparatus is locked, invoking the instructions for unlocking the device using authentication.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions for, if the apparatus is locked, invoking the instructions for unlocking the device using authentication; and

after the unlocking the device, providing the requested function as if the requested function was invoked when the device was unlocked.