Mobile computing device with multiple access modes

• US 9,778,837 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Shepherd, Matthew E., Grainger, Morgan, Edwards, Dylan, Federighi, Craig M., Christie, Gregory N., Lemay, Stephen O., Pedrick, Martin, Coffman, Patrick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arani, Taghi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lane, Gregory
• Application Number:
  US14/078,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20140283135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 726 29, 715863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/74 operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724634 With partially locked states, e.g. when some telephonic functional locked states or applications remain accessible in the locked states

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a mobile device that restricts access to its applications. The mobile device, displays, on the device'"'"'s touch screen display, a lock screen page for accessing the device in a primary access mode or a secondary access mode. The primary access mode provides access to several of the device'"'"'s applications, and the secondary access mode provides access to a limited set of the applications. The mobile device receives a touch input on the lock screen page to access the device in the secondary access mode. The mobile device unlocks the device to the secondary access mode by allowing access to the set of applications and restricting access to the remaining applications in the plurality of applications.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at a mobile electronic device with one or more processors, a memory, a touch screen display, and an authentication input device;

while the device is in a locked state in which respective functionality of the device is prevented;

displaying, on the touch screen display, an authentication user interface;

detecting an authentication input on the authentication input device;

in accordance with a determination that the authentication input corresponds to a first user;

ceasing to display the authentication user interface; and

unlocking the device to a primary access mode, wherein the primary access mode provides access to all applications that execute on the mobile device to the first user and wherein in the primary access mode, the mobile device is configured to display a dock that includes one or more application icons that correspond to applications on the mobile device; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the authentication input fails and, responsive to the failure of the authentication input, automatically, without further user input;

ceasing to display the authentication user interface; and

unlocking the device to a secondary access mode, wherein the secondary access mode provides access to a limited set, less than all, of the applications that execute on the mobile device to a user, including providing access to the respective functionality of the device that is prevented in the locked state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication input is a fingerprint, and the authentication input device is a fingerprint scanner.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in the secondary access mode, the mobile device is configured to display only application icons that correspond to applications in the limited set of applications, without displaying the dock.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication user interface is displayed in response to a touch-based gesture on a prior user interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the prior user interface is a lock screen.

12. The method of claim 1, including:

in accordance with the determination that the authentication input fails and, responsive to the failure of the authentication input, automatically, without further user input;

displaying a visual or textual indication that the authentication input failed.

13. The method of claim 1, including providing a menu option to specify whether a failed authentication input results in unlocking the device to the secondary access mode or keeping the device locked.

4. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen display;

an authentication input device;

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

while the device is in a locked state in which respective functionality of the device is prevented;

displaying, on the touch screen display, an authentication user interface;

detecting an authentication input on the authentication input device;

in accordance with a determination that the authentication input corresponds to a first user;

ceasing to display the authentication user interface; and

unlocking the device to a primary access mode, wherein the primary access mode provides access to all applications that execute on the mobile device to the first user and wherein in the primary access mode, the mobile device is configured to display a dock that includes one or more application icons that correspond to applications on the mobile device; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the authentication input fails and, responsive to the failure of the authentication input, automatically, without further user input;

ceasing to display the authentication user interface; and

unlocking the device to a secondary access mode, wherein the secondary access mode provides access to a limited set, less than all, of the applications that execute on the mobile device to a user, including providing access to the respective functionality of the device that is prevented in the locked state.

5. The mobile electronic device of claim 4, wherein the authentication input is a fingerprint, and the authentication input device is a fingerprint scanner.

6. The mobile electronic device of claim 4, wherein in the secondary access mode, the mobile device is configured to display only application icons that correspond to applications in the limited set of applications, without displaying the dock.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein the authentication user interface is displayed in response to a touch-based gesture on a prior user interface.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the prior user interface is a lock screen.

16. The device of claim 4, including instructions for:

in accordance with the determination that the authentication input fails and, responsive to the failure of the authentication input, automatically, without further user input;

displaying a visual or textual indication that the authentication input failed.

17. The device of claim 4, including instructions for providing a menu option to specify whether a failed authentication input results in unlocking the device to the secondary access mode or keeping the device locked.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more programs stored thereon for execution by one or more processors of a mobile electronic device with a touch screen display and an authentication input device, the one or more programs including instructions for:

while the device is in a locked state in which respective functionality of the device is prevented;

displaying, on the touch screen display, an authentication user interface;

detecting an authentication input on the authentication input device;

in accordance with a determination that the authentication input corresponds to a first user;

ceasing to display the authentication user interface; and

unlocking the device to a primary access mode, wherein the primary access mode provides access to all applications that execute on the mobile device to the first user and wherein in the primary access mode, the mobile device is configured to display a dock that includes one or more application icons that correspond to applications on the mobile device; and

,

in accordance with a determination that the authentication input fails and, responsive to the failure of the authentication input, automatically, without further user input;

ceasing to display the authentication user interface; and

unlocking the device to a secondary access mode, wherein the secondary access mode provides access to a limited set, less than all, of the applications that execute on the mobile device to a user, including providing access to the respective functionality of the device that is prevented in the locked state.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the authentication input is a fingerprint, and the authentication input device is a fingerprint scanner.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein in the secondary access mode, the mobile device is configured to display only application icons that correspond to applications in the limited set of applications, without displaying the dock.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the authentication user interface is displayed in response to a touch based gesture on a prior user interface.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the prior user interface is a lock screen.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for:

in accordance with the determination that the authentication input fails and, responsive to the failure of the authentication input, automatically, without further user input;

displaying a visual or textual indication that the authentication input failed.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the one or more programs include instructions for providing a menu option to specify whether a failed authentication input results in unlocking the device to the secondary access mode or keeping the device locked.