Granted Patent B2

US 9,086,799 · App. 13/122,849 · Granted Jul 21, 2015

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. A method in an electronic device having a processor and touch screen displaying a lock screen, the method comprising:

receiving a start area user input actuation from a start area of a screen;

displaying plural target areas of said screen, wherein each target area is operatively connected to an application launchable in said electronic device;

receiving at least one intermediate area user input actuation from an intermediate area of said screen, said intermediate area being placed between said start area and a target area of said target areas of said screen;

receiving a target area user input actuation from said target area of said screen;

wherein the target area user input actuation includes at least one slide gesture in a vertical, a horizontal, or a diagonal direction;

if said target area is associated with at least one sub-choice representing a specific action or operation within the application operatively connected to said target area:

introducing a new start area coinciding with said target area; and

for each associated sub-choice, introducing a new sub-choice target area associated with said sub-choice, each sub-choice target area coinciding with one of said target areas of said screen and each sub-choice target area being operatively connected to a specific action or operation within the application operatively connected to said target area; and

if a sub-choice target area user input actuation is received from a sub-choice target area of said screen, unlocking said screen, launching said application operatively connected to said target area, and initiating, within said launched application, said specific action or operation within the application operatively connected to said sub-choice target area; and

if said user input actuation is discontinued, unlocking said screen and launching said application operatively connected to said target area.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising switching screen mode from idle screen mode to active screen mode.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said idle screen mode is an energy saving screen mode in comparison with said active screen mode.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising in association with receiving said start area user input actuation from said start area of said screen, displaying at least one graphical object on said screen, each said graphical object indicating a placement of one of said target areas on said screen.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising determining a most recent user input actuation of said intermediate user input actuations, determining a most recent position based on said most recent user input actuation, and wherein said displaying a graphical object on said screen is made with respect to said most recent position.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said start area is a physically distinguishable area of said screen.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said start area is a corner of said screen.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said target area is a physically distinguishable area of said screen.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said target area is a corner of said screen.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said application is any of a calendar application software, a messaging application software, a web browser application software, a contacts list application software, game application software, setting management application software, music player application software, a camera application software, communications settings application software, or a video recording application software.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processing device;

a memory operatively connected to said processing device; and

a touch screen;

said screen being adapted to display graphical information; and

said screen being adapted to provide said processing device with information pertaining to a user input actuation input via said screen, said information being associated with a position of said touch actuation on screen and an input time;

said processing device being adapted to:

receive a start area user input actuation from a start area of a screen;

display plural target areas of said screen, wherein each target area is operatively connected to an application launchable in said apparatus;

receive at least one intermediate area user input actuation from an intermediate area of said screen, said intermediate area being placed between said start area and a target area of said target areas of said screen and includes at least one slide gesture in a vertical, a horizontal, or a diagonal direction;

receive a target area user input actuation from said target area of said screen;

if said target area is associated with at least one sub-choice representing a specific action or operation within said application operatively connected to said target area, introduce a new start area coinciding with said target area; and

for each associated sub-choice, introduce a new sub-choice target area associated with said sub-choice, each sub-choice target area coinciding with one of said target areas of said screen and

each sub-choice target area being operatively connected to a specific action or operation within the application operatively connected to said target area;

if a sub-choice target area user input actuation is received from a sub-choice target area of said screen, unlock said screen, launch said application operatively connected to said target area, and initiate, within said application, said specific action or operation operatively connected to said sub-choice target area; and

if said user input actuation is discontinued, unlock said screen and launch said application operatively connected to said target area.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said apparatus is a mobile communications terminal.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said screen is a capacitive touch screen.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said screen is a resistive touch screen.

15. A computer program product comprising computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium which, when executed on a processor of an electronic device having a touch screen displaying a lock screen, carries out the method of:

receiving a start area user input actuation from a start area of a screen;

displaying plural target areas of said screen, wherein each target area is operatively connected to an application launchable in said electronic device;

receiving at least one intermediate area user input actuation from an intermediate area of said screen, said intermediate area being placed between said start area and a target area of said target areas of said screen;

receiving a target area user input actuation from said target area of said screen;

wherein the target area user input actuation includes at least one slide gesture in a vertical, a horizontal, or a diagonal direction;

if said target area is associated with at least one sub-choice representing a specific action or operation within the application operatively connected to said target area,

introducing a new start area coinciding with said target area; and

for each associated sub-choice, introducing a new sub-choice target area associated with said sub-choice, each sub-choice target area coinciding with one of said target areas of said screen and each sub-choice target area being operatively connected to a specific action or operation within the application operatively connected to said target area; and

if a sub-choice target area user input actuation is received from a sub-choice target area of said screen, unlocking said screen, launching said application operatively connected to said target area, and initiating, within said launched application, said specific action or operation operatively connected to said sub-choice target area; and

if said user input actuation is discontinued, unlocking said screen and launching said application operatively connected to said target area.

Assignments (7)