Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image

• US 8,209,637 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas, Anzures, Freddy Allen, Van Os, Marcel, Forstall, Scott, Christie, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Andres E
• Application Number:
  US13/250,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20120023458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 713/182, 715/863
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• 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 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• 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 device with a touch-sensitive display may be unlocked via gestures performed on the touch-sensitive display. The device is unlocked if contact with the display corresponds to a predefined gesture for unlocking the device. The device displays one or more unlock images with respect to which the predefined gesture is to be performed in order to unlock the device. The performance of the predefined gesture with respect to the unlock image may include moving the unlock image to a predefined location and/or moving the unlock image along a predefined path. The device may also display visual cues of the predefined gesture on the touch screen to remind a user of the gesture.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a touch sensitive display;

memory;

one or more processors;

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

displaying a first unlock image and a second unlock image on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display;

transitioning the device to a first application corresponding to the first unlock image if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the first unlock image; and

transitioning the device to a second application distinct from the first application if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the second unlock image.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein transitioning the device to the first application includes presenting an event received for the first application while the device was in the user-interface lock state.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the detected gesture is a movement of a point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the movement of the point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is a horizontal movement on the touch screen display.

5. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display, cause the device to:

display a first unlock image and a second unlock image on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

detect a gesture on the touch-sensitive display;

transition the device to a first application corresponding to the first unlock image if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the first unlock image; and

transition the device to a second application distinct from the first application if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the second unlock image.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein transitioning the device to the first application includes presenting an event received for the first application while the device was in the user-interface lock state.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the detected gesture is a movement of a point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the movement of the point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is a horizontal movement on the touch screen display.

9. A method, comprising:

at a portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display;

displaying a first unlock image and a second unlock image on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

detecting a gesture on the touch-sensitive display;

transitioning the device to a first application corresponding to the first unlock image if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the first unlock image; and

transitioning the device to a second application distinct from the first application if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the second unlock image.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transitioning the device to the first application includes presenting an event received for the first application while the device was in the user-interface lock state.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the detected gesture is a movement of a point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the movement of the point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is a horizontal movement on the touch screen display.

13. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touch sensitive display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in the memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

a first unlock image and a second unlock image displayed on the touch-sensitive display while the device is in a user-interface lock state;

wherein

a gesture is detected on the touch-sensitive display;

the device is transitioned to a first application corresponding to the first unlock image if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the first unlock image; and

the device is transitioned to a second application distinct from the first application if the detected gesture corresponds to a predefined gesture with respect to the second unlock image.

14. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein transitioning the device to the first application includes presenting an event received for the first application while the device was in the user-interface lock state.

15. The graphical user interface of claim 13, wherein the detected gesture is a movement of a point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display.

16. The graphical user interface of claim 15, wherein the movement of the point of contact across the touch-sensitive display while maintaining continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display is a horizontal movement on the touch screen display.