Method and apparatus for disabling the user interface of electronic devices
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for an electronic device ( 100 ) monitors one or more inputs to the device, such as a transition in sensed ambient light ( 170 )and key press sequences ( 180 ), to determine when to lock the device ( 100 ). The device memory ( 155 ) may include a matrix (or dictionary or rules) of valid, questionable, and invalid inputs that may be updated from time to time. When a questionable input is received, the device ( 100 ) notifies a user to enter an exit trigger, such as a MENU * key sequence, or else the phone will be locked. By using a variety of factors to discern questionable inputs and by presenting an exit trigger upon receipt of a questionable input, the electronic device will not lock when a user enters the exit trigger after a questionable input but will lock otherwise.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a user interface including at least one input apparatus and at least one output apparatus, the at least one input apparatus including input keys;
memory for storing questionable inputs;
a controller configured to monitor the at least one input apparatus and to compare input, received when the electronic device is a not-locked state, with the questionable inputs;
the controller further configured to specify an exit trigger on an output apparatus when the controller discerns the input to be a questionable input and places the electronic device in a semi-locked state; and
the controller is further configured to lock the electronic device to a locked state, if no exit trigger is received after a predetermined time period, wherein locking the electronic device includes disabling the input keys.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to store and update information in the memory related to the questionable inputs.
3. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the questionable inputs include a factor related to one or more operational modes of the electronic device.
4. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the questionable inputs include a factor related to ambient light levels.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the questionable inputs include information related to timing of key presses.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the questionable inputs include information related to one or more application software programs running within the electronic device.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the questionable inputs include information related to one or more functions built-in to the electronic device.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein locking the electronic device includes not providing power to a backlight.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein locking the electronic device includes preventing launching of one or more application software programs stored in the electronic device.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to employ the output apparatus to display a transient message when the controller discerns the input to be a questionable input.
11. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the memory also stores an unlock sequence and the controller is configured to unlock the electronic device in response to receiving the unlock sequence at the user interface.
12. A method in an electronic device comprising:
storing information in memory related to whether inputs from a user interface are questionable inputs;
monitoring the user interface;
comparing input, received from the user interface when the electronic device is in a not-locked state, with the information;
waiting for an exit trigger while in a semi-locked state when the input is a questionable input; and
locking the electronic device in a locked state, if no exit trigger is received after a predetermined time period.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein storing information comprises:
storing current operational mode information as a factor for the questionable inputs.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein storing information comprises:
storing ambient light level information as a factor for the questionable inputs.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein comparing input comprises:
comparing an output from a light sensor with ambient light level information.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein storing information comprises:
storing key press timing information as a factor for the questionable inputs.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein comparing input comprises:
comparing a time interval between key presses with key press timing information.
18. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
providing exit trigger instructions to a user through the user interface before waiting.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein comparing input comprises:
comparing a current operational mode of the electronic device and a key press sequence to stored information.
20. The method of claim 12 wherein comparing input comprises:
comparing the number of times a key has been pressed in a key press sequence.