APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UNLOCKING AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

1 . A method for controlling an unlocking operation, comprising:

detecting an unlocking event;

displaying a virtual control mechanism for performing the unlocking operation;

detecting a touch input on a touch screen of an electronic device;

determining whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input; and

unlocking a component of the electronic device.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to time.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to the touch input.

4 . The method of claim 2 , where in modifying the appearance of the virtual control mechanism comprises modifying at least one of shape, pattern, outline, color, brightness, and saturation of the virtual control mechanism.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the component of the electronic device is the touch screen.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual control mechanism is a virtual switch comprising a switch knob and a path of movement of the switch knob.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual control mechanism is displayed with an instruction for performing the unlocking operation.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the unlocking operation is performed by touching the switch knob.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the unlocking operation is performed by touching the path of movement of the switch knob.

10 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the switch knob moves faster along the path of movement of the switch knob when a touch input is detected on the path of the movement of the switch knob rather than on the switch knob.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input comprises determining whether the touch input corresponds with a predetermined touch input.

12 . An electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen to receive a touch input, and to display a virtual control mechanism; and

an unlocking unit to detect an unlocking event, to determine whether the touch input is an unlocking touch input, and to unlock a component of the electronic device.

13 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the unlocking unit modifies an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to time.

14 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the unlocking unit modifies an appearance of the virtual control mechanism with respect to the touch input.

15 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the component of the electronic device is the touch screen.

16 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the virtual control mechanism is a switch comprising a switch knob and a path of movement of the switch knob.

17 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the virtual control mechanism is displayed with an instruction to perform the unlocking operation.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein unlocking unit unlocks the component when the switch knob is touched.

19 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein unlocking unit unlocks the component when the path of movement of the switch knob is touched.

20 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the switch knob moves faster along the path of movement of the switch knob when a touch input is detected on the path of the movement of the switch knob rather than on the switch knob.

21 . The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the unlocking unit determines whether the touch input corresponds to a predetermined touch input to determine whether the touch input is the unlocking touch input.

22 . A method for controlling an unlocking operation, comprising:

detecting an unlocking event;

displaying a virtual switch comprising a switch knob for performing an unlocking operation;

detecting a touch input on a touch screen of an electronic device;

determining whether the touch input corresponds to an operation of the virtual switch; and

unlocking the touch screen.