Method of locking an application on a computing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9367672-B2
Application number	US-201313799531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Jun 14, 2016
Grant date	Jun 14, 2016

Abstract

A computer-implemented method entails steps of receiving user input signifying that an application on a computing device is to be locked and, in response to the user input, locking a user within the application to thereby permit the user to utilize functionalities of the application without exiting from the application or switching to another application on the computing device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
associating each of a plurality of guest users identified by a respective biometric identifier to sets of functions within one or more applications;
executing an application on a computing device while in an unlocked state, the unlocked state providing unrestricted user access to all applications and functionalities of the computing device;
receiving, in the unlocked state, a predetermined gesture user input signifying that the executing application on the computing device is to be locked;
in response to the predetermined gesture user input, locking the executing application; and
reading a biometric identifier and allowing access to selective sets of functions within the locked application that correspond to the guest user identified by the read biometric identifier.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein receiving the user input signifying that the application is to be locked comprises detecting a predetermined gesture resembling a padlock.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising displaying user selectable options to lock the application or to lock a currently displayed screen being displayed by the application.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
receiving a command to unlock the application or perform a restricted action;
in response to the command, requesting input of user credentials; and
unlocking the application or performing the restricted action only if the user credentials are provided.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving user input to define one or more related applications which can be also used when the application is locked.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising receiving user input to define which functionalities of the application are operative and which are inoperative.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions in code which when loaded into a memory and executed by a processor of a computing device cause the computing device to:
associate each of a plurality of guest users identified by a respective biometric identifier to sets of functions within one or more applications;
execute an application on a computing device while in an unlocked state, the unlocked state providing unrestricted user access to all applications and functionalities of the computing device;
receive on the computing device that is the unlocked state a predetermined gesture user input signifying that the executing application on the computing device is to be locked; and
in response to the predetermined gesture user input, lock the executing application; and
read a biometric identifier to allow access to selective sets of functions within the locked application that correspond to the guest user identified by the read biometric identifier.

8. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 7 wherein receiving the user input signifying that the application is to be locked comprises detecting a predetermined gesture resembling a padlock.

9. The computer-readable medium as claimed claim 7 further comprising code that causes the computing device to display user selectable options to lock the application or to lock a currently displayed screen being displayed by the application.

10. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 7 further comprising code that causes the computing device to:
receive a command to unlock the application or perform a restricted action;
in response to the command, request input of user credentials; and
unlock the application or perform the restricted action only if the user credentials are provided.

11. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 7 further comprising code that causes the computing device to receive user input to define one or more related applications which can be also used when the application is locked.

12. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 7 further comprising code that causes the computing device to receive user input to define which functionalities of the application are operative and which are inoperative.

13. A computing device comprising:
a memory for storing an application;
a processor operatively coupled to the memory for:
associating each of a plurality of guest users identified by a respective biometric identifier to sets of functions within one or more applications; and
executing the application while in an unlocked state, the unlocked state providing unrestricted user access to all applications and functionalities of the computing device; and
a user interface for:
receiving on the computing device that is the unlocked state, a predetermined gesture user input, wherein the processor is configured to lock the executing application in response to the predetermined gesture user input, and
reading a biometric identifier and allowing access to selective sets of functions within the locked application that correspond to the guest user identified by the read biometric identifier.

14. The computing device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processor is configured recognize a predetermined gesture resembling a padlock as the user input signifying that the application is to be locked.

15. The computing device as claimed claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to provide user selectable options to lock the application or to lock a currently displayed screen being displayed by the application.

16. The computing device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a command to unlock the application or perform a restricted action;
in response to the command, request input of user credentials; and

unlock the application or perform the restricted action only if the user credentials are provided.

17. The computing device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to receive user input to define one or more related applications which can be also used when the application is locked.

18. The computing device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the processor is configured to receive user input to define which functionalities of the application are operative and which are inoperative.

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Eggerton Gary James
• Farnsworth Andrew John

Classifications

• G06F2221/2141

  Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices · CPC title

• G06F21/31 Primary

  User authentication · CPC title

• G06F2221/2147

  Locking files · CPC title

• G06F21/629

  to features or functions of an application · CPC title

• H04W12/08

  Access security · CPC title