Method and apparatus for user interaction while device is locked

• US 8,718,606 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Mantyla, Janne, Gillet, Elena
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US12/648,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20110159844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 379/189, 379/161, 379/184, 379/194, 379/200
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code

Abstract

A method, apparatus, user interface and computer program product for detecting an invalid passcode state of a device when the device is in a locked state, prompting a communication from the device to a trusted contact while the device is in the locked state, the trusted contact being designated by the device, and transmitting the communication to the trusted contact with a lost passcode request while the device is in the locked state.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing for detection of, in a mobile communication device, an invalid passcode state of the mobile communication device while the mobile communication device is in a locked state;

prompting a communication from the mobile communication device to a trusted contact while the mobile communication device is in the locked state, the trusted contact being designated by the mobile communication device;

retrieving a passcode from a secure storage facility in the mobile communication device; and

providing for transmission of the communication to the trusted contact with a lost passcode request while the mobile communication device is in the locked state, wherein the communication includes the retrieved passcode.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a communication from the trusted contact in response to the transmitted communication that includes the passcode.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the received communication is a Short Message Service, a voice call, a push to talk cellular service or an electronic mail message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication is automatically enabled after an invalid passcode entry.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to receiving the communication with the passcode, verifying an authenticity of a user of the mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the mobile communication device to establish a voice call only with the trusted contact while the mobile communication device is still in the locked mode after transmitting the communication from the mobile communication device to the trusted contact while the device is in the locked mode.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the trusted contact is one of a pre-defined contact from a contact application, a most used contact, a last called contact or a contact group list.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein, the transmitted communication is a Short Message Service, a voice call, a push to talk cellular service or an electronic mail message.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising that the communication to the trusted contact includes a one time password that can be used to unlock the mobile communication device and wherein the mobile communication device is enabled for restricted operation.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising detecting receipt of a message in the mobile communication device that includes the one-time password and enabling the mobile communication device for restricted operation.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication to the trusted contact is a pre-stored automated message that includes the lost passcode request.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after detecting the invalid passcode state of the mobile communication device, detecting an incoming call, determining that the incoming call is from a trusted contact, and wherein the communication from the mobile communication device to the trusted contact is enabled.

13. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

detect an invalid passcode state of the apparatus while the apparatus is in a locked state;

prompt a communication from the apparatus to a trusted contact while the apparatus is in the locked state, the trusted contact being designated by the apparatus;

retrieve a passcode from a secure storage facility in the apparatus and provide for transmission of the communication to the trusted contact with a lost passcode request while the apparatus is in the locked state, wherein the communication includes the retrieved passcode.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus is further caused to detect a communication from the trusted contact in response to the transmitted communication that includes the passcode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the apparatus is further caused to verify the passcode and automatically transition a state of the apparatus to an unlocked state if the passcode is valid.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising enabling the apparatus to establish a voice call only with the trusted contact while the apparatus is still in the locked mode after transmitting the communication to the trusted contact while the apparatus is in the locked mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus is further caused to include a one-time passcode in the lost password request, detect the one-time passcode in a message from the trusted contact, and automatically change a state of the apparatus to a restricted unlocked state.

18. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium bearing computer program code instructions stored therein, the computer-executable program code instructions comprising:

program code instructions for detecting, in a mobile communication device, an invalid passcode state of the mobile communication device while the device is in a locked state;

program code instructions for prompting a communication from the communication device to a trusted contact while the device is in the locked state, the trusted contact being designated by the device;

program code instructions to retrieve a passcode from a secure storage facility in the apparatus; and

program code instructions for transmitting the communication to the trusted contact with a lost passcode request while the device is in the locked state, wherein the communication includes the retrieved passcode.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 further comprising program code instructions for detecting a communication from the trusted contact in response to the transmitted communication that includes the passcode.