Mobile security using graphical images

• US 9,137,666 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Bonn, Mark J., Jintaseranee, Kosol, Choi, Heesook, Hoelzle, Sean Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Hanidu, Ganiyu A
• Application Number:
  US14/026,757
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 455/438, 455/2.01, 455/411, 455/456.1, 455/414.1, 455/566, 455/456.3, 455/450, 455/68, 455/39, 455/70, 345/179, 345/173, 345/661, 345/501, 345/174, 715/744, 715/255, 715/863, 715/781, 715/810, 715/702, 715/835
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• 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: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security

Abstract

A wireless communication device receives a first user input indicating a function to lock. The wireless communication device receives a second user input indicating a geometric pattern. The wireless communication device receives a third user input indicating a plurality of graphical images. The wireless communication device receives a fourth user input indicating individual positions of the graphical images on the geometric pattern. The wireless communication device processes these user inputs to lock the function. The wireless communication device receives a fifth user input indicating the individual positions of the graphical images on the geometric pattern. The wireless communication device processes the fifth user input to unlock the function.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communication device to unlock a function by placing graphical images selected by a user in a geometric pattern selected by the user, the method comprising:

receiving first user input indicating the function to lock;

receiving second user input indicating the user'"'"'s selection of the geometric pattern for placement of the graphical images;

receiving third user input indicating the graphical images selected by the user;

receiving fourth user input indicating individual positions of the graphical images on the geometric pattern;

processing the first, second, third, and fourth user inputs to lock the function;

receiving fifth user input indicating the individual positions of the graphical images on the geometric pattern; and

processing the fifth user input to unlock the function.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first user input indicating the function to lock comprises the user'"'"'s selection of the function to lock from a plurality of displayed functions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second user input indicating the user'"'"'s selection of the geometric pattern comprises the user'"'"'s selection of the geometric pattern from a plurality of displayed geometric patterns.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the third user input indicating the graphical images selected by the user comprises the user'"'"'s selection of the graphical images from a plurality of displayed graphical images.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a thumbnail gallery which includes at least the graphical images selected by the user from which the fifth input is selected.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the user selected geometric pattern comprises a two dimensional grid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the user selected geometric pattern comprises a one dimensional grid.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the function to lock comprises wake-up from sleep.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the function to lock comprises launching an application located on the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the function to lock comprises a financial transaction.

11. A wireless communication device comprising:

a user interface configured to receive first user input indicating a function to lock, receive second user input indicating a user'"'"'s selection of a geometric pattern for placement of graphical images, receive third user input indicating the graphical images selected by the user, receive fourth user input indicating individual positions of the graphical images on the geometric pattern, and receive fifth user input indicating the individual positions of the graphical images on the geometric pattern; and

a processing system configured to process the first, second, third, and fourth user inputs to lock the function and process the fifth user input to unlock the function.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the first user input indicating the function to lock comprises the user'"'"'s selection of the function from a plurality of displayed functions.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the second user input indicating the user'"'"'s selection of the geometric pattern comprises the user'"'"'s selection of the geometric pattern from a plurality of displayed geometric patterns.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the third user input indicating the graphical images selected by the user comprises the user'"'"'s selection of the graphical images from a plurality of displayed graphical images.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 11 further comprising determining a thumbnail gallery which includes at least the graphical images selected by the user from which the fifth input is selected.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the user selected geometric pattern comprises a two dimensional grid.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the user selected geometric pattern comprises a one dimensional grid.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the function to lock comprises wake-up from sleep.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the function to lock comprises launching an application located on the wireless communication device.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the function to lock comprises a financial transaction.