Controlling a device operational mode according to an authentication mode
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for controlling a device operational mode. Some examples involve receiving an indication of an authentication attempt, determining an authentication mode corresponding with the authentication attempt and determining a device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode. Responsive to determining that an authentication process corresponding with the authentication attempt completed successfully, a device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode may be implemented. Examples of device operational modes include a limited access mode and a distress mode, both of which may involve blocking access to at least one type of device functionality or access to at least one type of data. The distress mode also may involve sending SOS data to one or more other devices. The quick launch mode may cause one or more selected software applications to initialize. Some authentication modes may involve obtaining fingerprint data from a specific combination of digits.
1 . A method of controlling a device operational mode, the method comprising: receiving an indication of an authentication attempt, wherein receiving the indication of the authentication attempt involves receiving touch indications corresponding to two or more digits in a fingerprint sensor area; determining an authentication mode corresponding with the authentication attempt, wherein the authentication mode is a fingerprint-based authentication mode and wherein the fingerprint-based authentication mode corresponds with a plurality of specific combinations of fingerprints from more than one digit; determining a first device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode, wherein the first device operational mode involves initiating a first software application upon successful authentication via a first combination of fingerprints from more than one digit; determining that an authentication process corresponding with the authentication attempt completed successfully; invoking the first device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode and wherein the first device operational mode involves initiating a second software application upon successful authentication via a second combination of fingerprints from more than one digit, the first combination of fingerprints being different from the second combination of fingerprints and the first software application being different from the second software application, and wherein the first device operational mode is a quick launch mode and wherein the quick launch mode involves initiating the first software application or the second software application.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a second device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode, wherein the second device operational mode is a limited access mode and wherein the limited access mode involves blocking access to at least one type of device functionality or access to at least one type of data.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one type of data includes one or more of image data, video data, textual data or alphanumeric data.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one type of device functionality includes functionality of one or more software applications.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a third device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode, wherein the third device operational mode is a distress mode and wherein the distress mode involves transmitting SOS data to one or more other devices.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the distress mode involves blocking access to at least one type of device functionality or access to at least one type of data.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the indication of the authentication attempt also involves receiving, via a user interface system, a code comprising a plurality of numbers, a plurality of letters, or a combination thereof and wherein determining the authentication mode involves determining a code-based authentication mode.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode involves determining whether the code corresponds with a normal operational mode, a distress mode, a limited access mode or a quick launch mode.
9 . An apparatus, comprising: an interface system; and a control system, implemented using at least one hardware processor, configured for communication with the interface system and configured to: receive, via the interface system, an indication of an authentication attempt, wherein receiving the indication of the authentication attempt involves receiving touch indications corresponding to two or more digits in a fingerprint sensor area;
determine an authentication mode corresponding with the authentication attempt, wherein the authentication mode is a fingerprint-based authentication mode and wherein the fingerprint-based authentication mode corresponds with a plurality of specific combinations of fingerprints from more than one digit; determine a first device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode, wherein the first device operational mode involves initiating a first software application upon successful authentication via a first combination of fingerprints from more than one digit; and an authentication system, implemented using the at least one hardware processor, configured for communication with the control system, the authentication system being further configured to perform one or more types of authentication processes, wherein, responsive to determining that an authentication process corresponding with the authentication attempt completed successfully, the control system is further configured to implement the device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode; and wherein the first device operational mode involves initiating a second software application upon successful authentication via a second combination of fingerprints from more than one digit, the first combination of fingerprints being different from the second combination of fingerprints and the first software application being different from the second software application, wherein the first device operational mode is a quick launch mode and wherein the quick launch mode involves initiating the first software application or the second software application.
10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control system is further configured for determining a second device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode, wherein the second device operational mode is a limited access mode and wherein the limited access mode involves blocking access to at least one type of device functionality or access to at least one type of data.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one type of data includes one or more of image data, video data, textual data or alphanumeric data.
12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one type of device functionality includes functionality of one or more software applications.
13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the control system is further configured for determining a third device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode, wherein the third device operational mode is a distress mode and wherein the distress mode involves transmitting SOS data to one or more other devices.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the distress mode involves blocking access to at least one type of device functionality or access to at least one type of data.
15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein receiving the indication of the authentication attempt also involves receiving, via a user interface system, a code comprising a plurality of numbers, a plurality of letters, or a combination thereof, wherein determining the authentication mode involves determining a code-based authentication mode and wherein determining the device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode involves determining whether the code corresponds with a normal operational mode, a distress mode, a limited access mode or a quick launch mode.
16 . One or more non-transitory media having software stored thereon, the software including instructions executed by a hardware processor for controlling a device operational mode, the method comprising:
receiving an indication of an authentication attempt, wherein receiving the indication of the authentication attempt involves receiving touch indications corresponding to two or more digits in a fingerprint sensor area;
determining an authentication mode corresponding with the authentication attempt, wherein the authentication mode is a fingerprint-based authentication mode and wherein the fingerprint-based authentication mode corresponds with a plurality of specific combinations of fingerprints from more than one digit;
determining a first device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode, wherein the first device operational mode involves initiating a first software application upon successful authentication via a first combination of fingerprints from more than one digit;
determining that an authentication process corresponding with the authentication attempt completed successfully; and invoking the first device operational mode corresponding with the authentication mode;wherein the first device operational mode involves initiating a second software application upon successful authentication via a second combination of fingerprints from more than one digit, the first combination of fingerprints being different from the second combination of fingerprints and the first software application being different from the second software application, and wherein the first device operational mode is a quick launch mode and wherein the quick launch mode involves initiating the first software application or the second software application.