Touch Gesture Actions From A Device's Lock Screen

Abstract

Embodiments enable a mobile device to execute an action analogous to a user-defined action in response to receipt of a gesture analogous to a user-defined gesture. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method executes an action on a mobile device. A lock screen view is displayed on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent access to the mobile device's data. While the mobile device is locked, a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape is detected on a touch screen of the mobile device independently of the initial position of the touch gesture on the touch screen. In response to detection of the touch gesture, a particular action is executed on the mobile device while the mobile device stays locked. The particular action determined according to the pre-defined shape. In this way, detection of the touch gesture causes the particular action to execute while keeping the mobile device locked.

1 . A computer-implemented method for executing an action on a mobile device, comprising:
 displaying a lock screen view on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to the mobile device's data;   while the mobile device is locked:
 detecting a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape on a touch screen of the mobile device, wherein a user is able to input the touch gesture at any position on the touch screen; and 
 in response to detection of the touch gesture, executing a particular action on the mobile device, the particular action determined according to the pre-defined shape, 
   whereby detection of the touch gesture causes the particular action to execute while keeping the mobile device locked.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input to authenticate the user;   in response to the received input, unlocking the mobile device; and   when the mobile device is unlocked, enabling a user to define the shape of the touch gesture that, when detected, causes the mobile device to execute the particular action,   whereby detection the user-defined shape securely authorizes execution of the particular action while the mobile device is locked.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the executing the particular action (c) comprises:
 accessing personal data stored on the mobile device; and   outputting the personal data.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the accessing the personal data (i) comprises retrieving calendar appointment data scheduled for the present date stored on the mobile device, and
 wherein the outputting the personal data (ii) comprises displaying at least a portion of the calendar appointment data on the touch screen of the mobile device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the accessing personal data (i) comprises retrieving a media file stored on the mobile device, and
 wherein the outputting the personal data (ii) comprises playing the media file on the mobile device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an input to authenticate the user;   in response to the received input, unlocking the mobile device; and   when the mobile device is unlocked, displaying to a user the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected, causes the mobile device to execute the particular action.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 when the mobile device is locked and in response to a user query, displaying to a user the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected, causes the mobile device to execute the particular action.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing the particular action comprises changing an unsecure setting of the mobile device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the changing the unsecure setting comprises silencing the mobile device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the executing the particular action comprises changing a volume of the mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . A system for executing an action on a mobile device, comprising:
 a lock screen module that displays a lock screen view on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized or inadvertent access to the mobile device's data;   a gesture interpretation module that, while the mobile device is locked, detects a touch gesture having a pre-defined shape on a touch screen of the mobile device, wherein a user is able to input the touch gesture at any position on the touch screen; and   a lock action module that, in response to detection of the touch gesture and while the mobile device remains locked, executes a particular action on the mobile device determined according to the pre-defined shape,   wherein the mobile device comprises at least one processor and memory,   whereby detection of the touch gesture initiates the particular action while keeping the mobile device locked.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lock screen module receives an input to authenticate the user and, in response to the authenticated input, unlocks the mobile device, and further comprising:
 a gesture definition module that, when the mobile device is unlocked, enables a user to define the shape of the touch gesture that, when detected by the gesture interpretation, causes the lock action module to execute the particular action,   whereby detection the user-defined shape securely authorizes execution of the particular action while the mobile device is locked.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the lock action module accesses personal data stored on the mobile device and outputs the personal data to execute the particular action. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the lock action module retrieves calendar appointment data scheduled for the present date stored on the mobile device and displays at least a portion of the calendar appointment data on the touch screen of the mobile device to execute the particular action. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the lock action module retrieves a media file and plays the media file to execute the particular action. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lock screen module receives an input to authenticate the user and, in response to the authenticated input, unlocks the mobile device, and further comprising:
 a gesture definition module that, when the mobile device is unlocked, displays to a user the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected by the gesture interpretation, causes the lock action module to execute the particular action.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a gesture definition module that, when the mobile device is locked, displays to a user the pre-defined shape of the touch gesture that, when detected by the gesture interpretation, causes the lock action module to execute the particular action. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the lock action module changes an unsecure setting of the mobile device to execute the particular action. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the changing the unsecure setting comprises silencing the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the lock action module changes a volume of the mobile device to execute the particular action. 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for executing an action on a mobile device, comprising:
 when the mobile device is unlocked, enabling a user to define a shape of a touch gesture to cause the mobile device to execute a particular action on the mobile device,   displaying a lock screen view on the mobile device to prevent unauthorized and inadvertent access to the mobile device's data;   while the mobile device is locked:
 detecting a touch gesture having the user-defined shape on a touch screen of the mobile device; and 
 in response to detection of the touch gesture, executing the particular action on the mobile device, 
   whereby detection the user-defined shape securely authorizes execution of the particular action while the mobile device is locked.