Unlocking a touch screen device

• US 8,918,741 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Lindberg, Phillip, Niemela, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US13/889,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20130246971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 715/702
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• 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 method for unlocking a touch screen device includes providing a touch screen device in an idle mode. An area or region displayed on a screen of the device in the idle mode is contacted or activated to reveal at least one application icon associated with an active/unlocked state of the device. The region is moved, expanded or dragged to an edge of the device to change a state of the device to an active/unlocked mode and activate the revealed application.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing computer program code configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause at least the following to be performed;

causing a display of a device to display an object, relating to an application, when the device is in a locked mode; and

enabling a user to select the object while the device is in the locked mode, in order to determine a state, function or utility of the application without fully activating the application while the device remains in the locked mode.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer program code is configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause at least the following to be performed:

responding to user selection of the object by illuminating or highlighting the object.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a movable object is provided to enable the user to select the object.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the object is highlighted or illuminated to a lesser extent than that associated with a standard mode setting.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the object represents an application that is present or available in the device.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer program code is configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause at least the following to be performed:

causing the display to display another object, relating to another application, when the device is in a locked mode.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the another object represents an application that is present or available in the device.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the another object indicates that the another application is not activatable when the device is in the locked mode.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen display, and enabling a user to select the object comprises enabling the user to select the object using the touch screen display.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is the device.

11. A method, comprising:

causing a display of a device to display an object, relating to an application, when the device is in a locked mode; and

enabling a user to select the object while the device is in the locked mode, in order to determine a state, function or utility of the application without fully activating the application while the device remains in the locked mode.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the object is a dimmed icon.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

responding to user selection of the object by illuminating or highlighting the object.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a movable object is provided to enable the user to select the object.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the object represents an application that is present or available in the device.

16. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display is a touch screen display, and enabling a user to select the object comprises enabling the user to select the object using the touch screen display.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program code that, when performed by at least one processor, causes at least the following to be performed:

causing a display of a device to display an object, relating to an application, when the device is in a locked mode; and

enabling a user to select the object while the device is in the locked mode, in order to determine a state, function or utility of the application without fully activating the application while the device remains in the locked mode.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 17, wherein the object is a dimmed icon.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the object is an icon.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the icon is a dimmed icon.