Mechanism for locking a computer display and for unlocking the display when purposely used
First Claim
1. A computer, comprising:
- an execution engine;
an electronic display coupled to the execution engine and having a touch-sensitive display screen configurable in a locked state and an unlocked state;
a graphical user interface (GUI) coupled to the execution engine and the electronic display, wherein the GUI presents at least one icon on the display screen and accepts user actuation of the at least one icon to launch the execution engine only when the display screen is in the unlocked state; and
a mechanism coupled to the execution engine and the electronic display and configured for determining a source of user interaction with the computer or the locked display screen and controlling a transition of the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state based on said source, wherein said mechanism comprises;
a touch lock mechanism configured for presenting a button onto a portion of the locked display screen if the source of the user interaction is determined to be a touch actuation on the locked display screen, and transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state only if the button is continuously actuated for a predetermined amount of time; and
a bypass mechanism configured for bypassing the presentation of the button onto the portion of the locked display screen and immediately transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state upon connection of the computer to a power cord.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system, portable electronic device, and method are provided for preventing accidental enabling of a disabled display and/or graphical user interface (GUI) of the display screen. The computer, device, and method hereof enable the display screen by first detecting the difference between an accidental or unintended touch on the display screen and a purposeful user interaction. An accidental touch actuation can cause a button to appear on the display, yet the display and GUI remain disabled or “locked”. It is not until the user actuates the button for a predetermined amount of time will the display and GUI be restored to an enabled or “unlocked” state. If purposeful user interaction is detected, the display screen is immediately transitioned from a disabled to enabled state to quickly awaken the computer system or portable electronic device.
17 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer, comprising:
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an execution engine; an electronic display coupled to the execution engine and having a touch-sensitive display screen configurable in a locked state and an unlocked state; a graphical user interface (GUI) coupled to the execution engine and the electronic display, wherein the GUI presents at least one icon on the display screen and accepts user actuation of the at least one icon to launch the execution engine only when the display screen is in the unlocked state; and a mechanism coupled to the execution engine and the electronic display and configured for determining a source of user interaction with the computer or the locked display screen and controlling a transition of the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state based on said source, wherein said mechanism comprises; a touch lock mechanism configured for presenting a button onto a portion of the locked display screen if the source of the user interaction is determined to be a touch actuation on the locked display screen, and transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state only if the button is continuously actuated for a predetermined amount of time; and a bypass mechanism configured for bypassing the presentation of the button onto the portion of the locked display screen and immediately transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state upon connection of the computer to a power cord. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a display screen configurable in a locked state and an unlocked state; a graphical user interface (GUI) that presents at least one icon on the display screen and accepts user actuation of the at least one icon only when the display screen is in the unlocked state, and wherein the display screen is darkened and the GUI is prevented from accepting user actuation of the at least one icon when the display screen is in the locked state; a touch lock mechanism coupled to the display screen for presenting a button onto a portion of the display screen in response to a touch actuation on the display screen when the display screen is in the locked state, wherein if the touch lock mechanism recognizes continuous user actuation onto only the button beyond a predetermined amount of time, the touch lock mechanism is configured to transition the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state; and a bypass mechanism coupled to the display screen for bypassing the presentation of the button onto the portion of the locked display screen and immediately transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state upon connection of the portable electronic device to a power cord. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for unlocking a display screen of a portable electronic device, the display screen being in a locked state, which presents a dark background on the display screen and prevents a graphical user interface of the portable electronic device from accepting user actuation of one or more icons, which are presented on the display screen when the display screen is in an unlocked state, the method comprising:
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detecting user interaction with the portable electronic device or the display screen when the display screen is in the locked state; determining a source of the user interaction, wherein if the source of the user interaction is determined to be a touch actuation on the display screen, the method further comprises; presenting a button onto a portion of the locked display screen; transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state only if the button is continuously actuated for a predetermined amount of time; and bypassing the presentation of the button onto the portion of the disabled display screen and immediately transitioning the display screen from the locked state to the unlocked state upon connection of the portable electronic device to a power cord. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification