Lockable widgets on a mobile device

Abstract

Systems and methods for locking and unlocking software applications are described. In some embodiments, a software application is placed in a locked mode. While the software application is in the locked mode, data to alter the application's state is received. In response to receiving the data, the mode of the software application is altered to an unlocked mode. The placement of a software application in a locked or unlocked mode does not affect the modes of other software applications on the user device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 placing a state of a first software application on a user device in a first locked mode, the placing of the first software application in the first locked mode not affecting a mode of any other software application on the user device;   while the first software application is in the first locked mode, receiving a first data to alter the state of the first software application; and   altering the state of the first software application to a second unlocked mode in response to receiving the first data, the first data not affecting a locked mode of any other software application on the user device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 providing for display of an instruction for altering the state of the first software application when the first software application is in the first locked mode.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first software application is placed in the first locked mode in response to one or more user commands. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first software application is placed in the first locked mode in response to a predetermined amount of time lapsing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user device comprises a second software application managing states of software applications on the user device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , the method further comprising:
 receiving an authentication sequence by the second software application before receiving the first data.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the authentication sequence is a password. 
     
     
         8 . One or more non-transitory machine-readable media storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 placing a state of a first software application on a user device in a first locked mode, the placing of the first software application in the first locked mode not affecting a mode of any other software application on the user device;   while the first software application is in the first locked mode, receiving a first data to alter the state of the first software application; and   altering the state of the first software application to a second unlocked mode in response to receiving the first data, the first data not affecting a locked mode of any other software application on the user device.   
     
     
         9 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 providing for display of an instruction for altering the state of the first software application when the first software application is in the first locked mode.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the first software application is placed in the first locked mode in response to one or more user commands. 
     
     
         11 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the first software application is placed in the first locked mode in response to a predetermined amount of time lapsing. 
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable media of  claim 8 , wherein the user device comprises a second software application managing states of software applications on the user device. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable media of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving an authentication sequence by the second software application before receiving the first data.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory machine-readable media of  claim 13 , wherein the authentication sequence is a password. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more non-transitory machine-readable media storing computer-useable instructions that, when used by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:   place a state of a first software application on a user device in a first locked mode, the placing of the first software application in the first locked mode not affecting a mode of any other software application on the user device;   while the first software application is in the first locked mode, receive a first data to alter the state of the first software application; and   alter the state of the first software application to a second unlocked mode in response to receiving the first data, the first data not affecting a locked mode of any other software application on the user device.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further caused to:
 provide for display of an instruction for altering the state of the first software application when the first software application is in the first locked mode.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the first software application is placed in the first locked mode in response to one or more user commands. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the first software application is placed in the first locked mode in response to a predetermined amount of time lapsing. 
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the user device comprises a second software application managing states of software applications on the user device. 
     
     
         20 . The computer system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors are further caused to:
 receive an authentication sequence by the second software application before receiving the first data.