Access to locked applications

Abstract

A mobile communications device can have a locked mode in which the mobile communications device is protected against unauthorized use. A mobile communications device includes device applications implemented by a software program or firmware program that enables an application to be temporarily operable or operable under certain conditions when the mobile communications device is locked. Device applications can include a camera enabled for image data acquisition and a microphone or an audio recorder or a microphone and an audio recorder enabled for audio data acquisition. Acquired image data and audio data can be stored locally to the mobile communications device or stored externally to the mobile communications device. The mobile communications device can be configured to operate applications under different conditions. The mobile communications device can be configured to display a message that applications have been operated while the mobile communications device was locked or in a locked mode.

1 . An electronic device which is password-locked to protect against unauthorized use, the electronic device comprising:
 a processor;   a computer readable medium, coupled to the processor and storing instructions that are operable upon execution to cause the processor to receive an input corresponding to a required password and unlock the electronic device,   wherein the computer readable medium further stores instructions that are operable upon execution to cause the processor to:   receive an input corresponding to selection of an application in a locked state, and   enable the application upon receipt of the selection input, thereby allowing the locked application to be operable without the required password having been received.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium further stores instructions that are operable to disable the application after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a predetermined event. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined event is a performance of a function by the application. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the application is a camera application and the performance of the function is an acquisition of image data by the camera application. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein the application is a camera application and the performance of the function is a request to acquire image data from a camera module. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium further stores instructions that are operable to disable the application after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a last action of the application. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the application is a camera application. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the computer readable medium further stores instructions that are operable to disable the camera application after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the later of:
 an acquisition of image data by the camera application; or   enablement of the camera application.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the input corresponding to selection of the application comprises a detection of a touch of a predetermined area on a touch screen of the electronic device. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the input corresponding to selection of the application comprises selection of a camera button of the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the input corresponding to selection of the application comprises selection of a predefined key of the electronic device. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the input corresponding to selection of the application comprises selection of a camera icon displayed on a display of the electronic device. 
     
     
         13 . A method of enabling an application in a password-locked electronic device, the method comprising:
 receiving an input corresponding to selection of an application in a locked state; and   enabling the application upon receipt of the selection input without a password having been received.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 disabling the application after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a predetermined event.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the application is a camera application. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 disabling the camera application after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the later of:   an acquisition of image data by the camera application; or   enablement of the camera application.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of the electronic device, are operable to:
 receive an input corresponding to a required password and unlock the electronic device;   receive an input corresponding to selection of an application in a locked state; and   enable the application upon receipt of the selection input without the required password having been received.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, are operable to:
 disable the application after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since a predetermined event.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the application is a camera application. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 19 , further storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, are operable to:
 disable the camera application after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the later of:   an acquisition of image data by the camera application; or   enablement of the camera application.