Above-lock camera access

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9521247-B2
Application number	US-201414339060-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2010
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for allowing smart phone users to “capture the moment” by allowing easy access to a camera application when a mobile device is in an above-lock (or locked) mode, while also preventing unauthorized access to other smart phone functionality. According to one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state comprises receiving input data requesting invocation of an camera application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and invoking the requested camera application on the device, where one or more functions of the requested application are unavailable as a result of the mobile device being in the above-lock state.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of operating a mobile device having a plurality of authentication states, including an above-lock state and a below-lock state, the method comprising:
receiving first input data from a hardware button coupled to a low-power state power supply of the mobile device, the first input data indicating a request for invocation of an application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state, wherein one or more functions of the requested application available in the below-lock state are unavailable while the mobile device is in the above-lock state;
responsive to the receiving the first input data, invoking the requested application on the mobile device;
responsive to receiving second input data requesting at least one of the unavailable functions, presenting an unlock user interface; and
authenticating a user of the mobile device with the unlock user interface and changing the state of the mobile device from the above-lock state to the below-lock state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unavailable functions comprise sending data using a network connection connected to the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising waking the mobile device from a standby state based on the receiving the first input data.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first input data is received as a result of a hardware button of the mobile device being depressed for a predefined duration.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first input data is received as a result of detecting that a hardware button of the mobile device is depressed and second input data being received after the detection of the hardware button depress.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first input data is received as a result of a hardware button of the mobile device being depressed concurrently with another button coupled to the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving second input data requesting at least one of the unavailable functions, and subsequent to the receiving the second input data, performing the changing the state of the mobile device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hardware button is a camera shutter button.

9. One or more computer-readable storage devices or memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by a mobile device cause the mobile device to perform a method, the mobile device having a plurality of authentication states, including an above-lock state and an below-lock state, the mobile device having a plurality of power states, including a low-power state and an active-power state, the method comprising:
receiving a first request from a hardware button coupled to a low-power state power supply of the mobile device, the first request being for execution of an application or function when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and the low-power state;
responsive to receiving the first request, causing the mobile device to enter the active-power state and executing the requested application or function with the mobile device, wherein one or more functions of the requested application available in the below-lock state are unavailable while the mobile device is in the above-lock state;
receiving a second request for one or more of the functions unavailable in the above-lock state; and
responsive to the receiving the second request, presenting a lock screen that can be used to change the mobile device to the below-lock state.

10. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises, based on receiving authenticating input, changing the state of the mobile device from the above-lock state to the below-lock state; and
wherein at least one of the unavailable functions are made available in the below-lock state.

11. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
if the mobile device does not detect user activity before a predetermined timeout period expires, then transitioning the mobile device back to the above-lock state.

12. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 9 , wherein the second request is received with a touch screen display.

13. The computer-readable storage devices or memory of claim 9 , wherein the second request is received via a voice recognition or voice recording application.

14. An apparatus, comprising:
one or more input sources;
one or more processors; and
a low-power state power supply, the low-power state power supply being electrically connected to a first hardware button configured to send a first signal requesting that the apparatus enter an active power state and a second hardware button configure to send a second signal requesting that the apparatus enter the active power state and invoke a requested function;
an active-state power supply configured to provide power for the requested function in the active power state but not in the low-power state; and
one or more computer-readable media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processors, cause the apparatus to perform a method of invoking the requested function, the instructions comprising:
instructions for receiving input data from the input source,
instructions for locking and unlocking the apparatus using authentication, and
instructions for, responsive to receiving the second signal, invoking the requested function.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:
the low-power state power supply is electrically connected to a wireless modem receiver; and
the active-state power supply is electrically connected to a touch screen display and a wireless modem transmitter.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the requested function includes at least one or more of the following: wake phone, GPS data, auto upload data to cloud, or keep GPS data with uploaded documents.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the requested function is determined by privacy options that can be configured by a user of the apparatus, and wherein the requested function includes at least one or more of the following: wake phone, GPS data, auto upload data to cloud, or keep GPS data with uploaded documents.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions for, if the apparatus is locked, invoking the instructions for unlocking the apparatus using authentication.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further comprise:
instructions for, if the apparatus is locked, invoking the instructions for unlocking the apparatus using authentication; and
after the unlocking the apparatus, providing the requested function as if the requested function was invoked when the device was unlocked.

20. One or more computer-readable storage devices or memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by a mobile device cause the mobile device to perform a method, the method comprising:
executing an application or function for recording audio, images, and/or video when the mobile device is in an above-lock state;
receiving a request for one or more functions unavailable in the above-lock state;
responsive to the receiving the request, presenting a lock screen that can be used to change the mobile device to a below-lock state;
changing the mobile device to a below lock state; and
if the mobile device does not detect user activity before a predetermined timeout period expires, and the mobile device is recording audio and/or video, then remaining in the below-lock state.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Bandyopadhyay Shamik
• Barnett Donald A
• Kapoor Vikram
• Law Veronica Y
• Lemson Kathryn C
• Sengupta Tirthankar
• Tyamagundlu Divya
• Bilal Ahmad

Classifications

• H04L63/083

  using passwords (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226) · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• G06F2221/2149

  Restricted operating environment · CPC title

• G06F21/31

  User authentication · CPC title

• H04L63/0861

  using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231) · CPC title