Unlocking a computing device via images

1. A method, in a data processing system, for unlocking a locked computing device based on the knowledge of a user, the method comprising:

responsive to detecting an intent to utilize the locked computing device, randomly selecting a subset of images in an identified tag category from a plurality of tagged images, wherein the subset of images comprise a plurality of tags in the identified tag category;

randomly selecting an order in which the user must gesture to the plurality of bags in the subset of images;

presenting the subset of images and the order in which the user must gesture to the plurality of tags in the subset of images to the user; and

responsive to the user gesturing to a subset of tags in the subset of images in the selected order, unlocking the locked computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein randomly selecting the subset of the images in the identified tag category from the plurality of tagged images comprises:

randomly selecting a tag category from a plurality of metadata indexed in an indexed data structure;

determining whether a number of tags in the selected tag category is equal to or above a predetermined threshold;

responsive to the number of tags in the selected tag category being less than the predetermined threshold, randomly selecting a different tag category from the plurality of metadata indexed in the indexed data structure; and

responsive to the number of tags in the selected tag category being equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, selecting the subset of the images in the identified tag category from the plurality of tagged images.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein tags in each image of the plurality of images comprise one or more of a first name, a middle name, a last name, a maiden name, a birth date, an anniversary date, a graduation date, a deceased date, a location associated with the image, a date associated with when the image was captured, or a date associated with an object appearing in the image.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the order is an ascending date order or a descending date order if the tag category is related to date.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the order is an ascending alphabetical order or a descending alphabetical order if the tag category is related to a name or location.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the order is an ascending numerical order or a descending numerical order if the tag category is related to age or time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the order is farthest to nearest or nearest to farthest if the tag category is related to proximity.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to the user failing to gesture to the subset of tags in the selected order, locking the computing device for a predetermined time period before another attempt to unlock the locked computing device can be attempted.

9. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:

responsive to detecting an intent to utilize a locked computing device, randomly select a subset of images in an identified tag category from a plurality of tagged images, wherein the subset of images comprise a plurality of tags in the identified tag category;

randomly select an order in which the user must gesture to the plurality of tags in the subset of images;

present the subset of images and the order in which the user must gesture to the plurality of tags in the subset of images to the user; and

responsive to the user gesturing to a subset of tags in the subset of images in the selected order, unlock the locked computing device.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program to randomly select the subset of the images in the identified tag category from the plurality of tagged images further causes the computing device to:

randomly select a tag category from a plurality of metadata indexed in an indexed data structure;

determine whether a number of tags in the selected tag category is equal to or above a predetermined threshold;

responsive to the number of tags in the selected tag category being less than the predetermined threshold, randomly select a different tag category from the plurality of metadata indexed in the indexed data structure; and

responsive to the number of tags in the selected tag category being equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, selecting the subset of the images in the identified tag category from the plurality of tagged images.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein tags in each image of the plurality of images comprise one or more of a first name, a middle name, a last name, a maiden name, a birth date, an anniversary date, a graduation date, a deceased date, a location associated with the image, a date associated with when the image was captured, or a date associated with an object appearing in the image.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the order is an ascending date order or a descending date order if the tag category is related to date and wherein the order is an ascending alphabetical order or a descending alphabetical order if the tag category is rebated to a name or location.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the order is an ascending numerical order or a descending numerical order if the tag category is related to age or time and wherein the order is farthest to nearest or nearest to farthest if the tag category is related to proximity.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to:

responsive to the user failing to gesture to the subset of tags in the selected order, lock the computing device for a predetermined time period before another attempt to unlock the locked computing device can be attempted.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

responsive to detecting an intent to utilize a locked computing device, randomly select a subset of images in an identified tag category from a plurality of tagged images, wherein the subset of images comprise a plurality of tags in the identified tag category;

randomly select an order in which the user must gesture to the plurality of tags in the subset of images;

present the subset of images and the order in which the user must gesture to the plurality of tags in the subset of images to the user; and

responsive to the user gesturing to a subset of tags in the subset of images in the selected order, unlock the locked computing device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions to randomly select the subset of the images in the identified tag category from the plurality of tagged images further cause the processor to:

randomly select a tag category from a plurality of metadata indexed in an indexed data structure;

determine whether a number of tags in the selected tag category is equal to or above a predetermined threshold;

responsive to the number of tags in the selected tag category being less than the predetermined threshold, randomly select a different tag category from the plurality of metadata indexed in the indexed data structure; and

responsive to the number of tags in the selected tag category being equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, selecting the subset of the images in the identified tag category from the plurality of tagged images.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein tags in each image of the plurality of images comprise one or more of a first name, a middle name, a last name, a maiden name, a birth date, an anniversary date, a graduation date, a deceased date, a location associated with the image, a date associated with when the image was captured, or a date associated with an object appearing in the image.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the order is an ascending date order or a descending date order if the tag category is related to date and wherein the order is an ascending alphabetical order or a descending alphabetical order if the tag category is related to a name or location.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the order is an ascending numerical order or a descending numerical order if the tag category is related to age or time and wherein the order is farthest to nearest or nearest to farthest if the tag category is related to proximity.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:

responsive to the user failing to gesture to the subset of tags in the selected order, lock the computing device for a predetermined time period before another attempt to unlock the locked computing device can be attempted.