Apparatus and method for configuring password and for releasing lock

Abstract

Methods of configuring a different authority for a plurality of users to use at least one application in an electronic device. User inputs are received to set passwords for respective user levels, where each user level is associated with a different authority to access applications. The passwords are registered for the respective user levels. At least one application is associated with one of the user levels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operation in an electronic device, the method comprising:
 in a second mode of the electronic device after receiving an input on a screen for increasing the number of levels, wherein the second mode is associated with a highest user level: 
 (i) displaying a first screen for setting a pattern password on a touch screen of the electronic device, wherein the pattern password is associated with a user level lower than the highest user level; 
 (ii) setting a first pattern password corresponding to a first mode through the first screen, wherein the first pattern password is a password for entering the first mode from a lock state of the electronic device; 
 (iii) displaying a second screen for displaying representations corresponding to a plurality of applications stored in the electronic device, for setting a plurality of applications executable in the first mode among the plurality of applications; and 
 (iv) setting a plurality of first applications selected via a user input from among the plurality of applications stored in the electronic device through the second screen, as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode; 
 displaying a third screen for inputting a pattern password on the touch screen, in the lock state; 
 determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the third screen corresponds to the first pattern password among a plurality of pattern passwords stored in the electronic device; 
 releasing the lock state and entering the first mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock state corresponds to the first pattern password; and 
 upon entering the first mode, displaying a plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications on the touch screen and displaying at least one image indicating a restriction of usage corresponding to at least one application from among the plurality of applications in response to entering the first mode; and  
 wherein said (iv) setting the plurality of first applications is disabled in the first mode. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 setting a second pattern password corresponding to the second mode through the first screen, wherein the second pattern password is a password for entering the second mode from the lock state; 
 determining whether a pattern password entered by the user through the third screen corresponds to the second pattern password among the plurality of pattern passwords stored in the electronic device; 
 releasing the lock state and entering the second mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock screen state corresponds to the second pattern password; and 
 upon entering the second mode, displaying both the plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications and at least one further icon for executing at least one application that is not selected via the user input as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode, on the touch screen. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first pattern password is a password that passes at least two grid points among a plurality of grid points. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection of the plurality of first applications is made via a selection of two or more icons corresponding to two or more respective applications. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein an application that is not selected by the user input as the plurality of first applications executable in the first mode is not executable in the first mode. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein an entry of the pattern password is made by a touch of the user on the third screen displayed on a touch screen. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein a selection function for the plurality of applications for the first mode is enabled in the second mode. 
     
     
       8. An electronic device comprising:
 a touch screen; 
 a memory configured to store a plurality of applications and a plurality of pattern passwords; and 
 a processor configured to control operations of:; and 
 a memory configured to store a plurality of applications and a plurality of pattern passwords and a plurality of executable instructions, wherein execution of the plurality of executable instructions by the processor causes performance of a plurality of operations comprising:  
 in a second mode of the electronic device after receiving an input on a screen for increasing a number of levels, wherein the second mode is associated with a highest user level: 
 (i) displaying a first screen for setting a pattern password on the touch screen; 
 (ii) setting a first pattern password corresponding to a first mode through the first screen, wherein the first pattern password is a password for entering the first mode from a lock state of the electronic device, wherein the first pattern password is associated with a user level lower than the highest user level; 
 (iii) displaying a second screen for displaying representations corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the memory, for setting a plurality of applications executable in the first mode among the plurality of applications; and 
 iv) setting a plurality of first applications selected by a user input from among the plurality of applications stored in the memory through the second screen, as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode; 
 displaying a third screen for inputting a pattern password on the touch screen in the lock state; 
 determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the third screen corresponds to the first pattern password among a plurality of pattern passwords stored in the memory; 
 releasing the lock state and entering the first mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock state corresponds to the first pattern password; and 
 displaying a plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications on the touch screen and displaying at least one image indicating a restriction of usage superposed with another at least one icon, upon entering the first mode; 
 wherein said (iv) setting the plurality of first applications is disabled in the first mode. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to plurality of operations further comprises: 
 set a second pattern password corresponding to the second mode through the first screen, wherein the second pattern password is a password for entering the second mode from the lock state; 
 determine whether a pattern password entered by the user through the third screen corresponds to the second pattern password among the plurality of pattern passwords stored in the memory; 
 release the lock state and entering the second mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock screen state corresponds to the second pattern password; and 
 control displaying both the plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications and at least one further icon for executing at least one application that is not selected via the user input as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode on the touch screen, upon entering the second mode. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the representations comprises at least one of icon, test or image corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the memory. 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the first pattern password or the second pattern password is a pattern password that passes at least two grid points among a plurality of grid points. 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the selection of the plurality of first applications is made via a selection of two or more icons corresponding to tow or more respective applications. 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor controls the plurality of operations further comprises controlling the touch screen so as not to display an application that is not selected by the user input as the plurality of applications for the first mode, in the first mode. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor disables plurality of operations further comprise disabling a selection function for the plurality of application for the first mode in the first mode. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein an entry of the pattern password is made by a touch of the user on the third screen displayed on the touch screen. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor enables plurality of operations further comprise enabling a selection function for an application for the first mode in the second mode. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor disables plurality of operations further comprise disabling a setting function for setting the plurality of the first applications as the plurality of applications for the first mode, in the first mode. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 9 , wherein an authority of the second mode is higher than for the first mode. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein, among the plurality of applications, unselected applications for the first mode are non-executable in the first mode. 
     
     
       20. An electronic device comprising:
 a touch screen; 
 a memory configured to store a plurality of applications and a plurality of pattern passwords; and 
 a processor configured to control operations of:; and 
 memory configured to store a plurality of applications and a plurality of pattern passwords, and storing a plurality of executable instructions, wherein execution of the plurality of instructions causes performance of a plurality of operations comprising: 
 in a second mode of the electronic device after receiving an input on a screen for increasing a number of levels, wherein the second mode is associated with a highest user level: 
 (i) displaying a first screen for setting a pattern password on the touch screen; 
 (ii) setting a first pattern password corresponding to a first mode through the first screen, wherein the first pattern password is a password for entering the first mode from a lock state of the electronic device, wherein the first pattern is associated with a user level lower than the highest user level; 
 (iii) displaying a second screen for displaying representations corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the memory, for setting a plurality of applications executable in the first mode among the plurality of applications; and 
 (iv) setting a plurality of first applications selected by a user input from among the plurality of applications stored in the memory through the second screen, as the plurality of applications executable in the first mode; 
 displaying a third screen for inputting a pattern password on the touch screen in the lock state; 
 determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the third screen corresponds to the first pattern password among a plurality of pattern passwords stored in the memory; 
 releasing the lock state and entering the first mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock state corresponds to the first pattern password; and 
 displaying a plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of first applications on the touch screen and displaying at least one image indicating a restriction of usage superposed with another at least one icon, upon entering the first mode; 
 wherein said (ii) setting the first pattern password corresponding to the first mode is disabled in the first mode. 
 
     
     
       21. An electronic device comprising:
 a touchscreen;   a processor; and   a memory storing a plurality of executable instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor causes performance of a plurality of operations comprising:
 in a first mode of the electronic device:
 controlling to display a first screen for inputting a password on the touchscreen; 
 determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the first screen corresponds to a first pattern password corresponding to a second mode; and 
 entering the second mode, if the pattern password entered by the user through the first screen corresponds to the first pattern password, 
 
 in the second mode of the electronic device after receiving an input on a screen for increasing the number of levels, wherein the second mode is associated with a highest user level:
 (i) controlling to display a second screen for setting a pattern password on the touchscreen of the electronic device; 
 (ii) changing the first pattern password corresponding to the second mode through the second screen, wherein the first pattern password is a pattern password for entering the second mode; 
 (iii) controlling to display a third screen for displaying representations corresponding to a plurality of applications stored in the memory, for setting a plurality of applications executable in a user level lower than the highest level among the plurality of applications; and 
 (iv) setting a plurality of first applications selected via a user input from among the plurality of applications stored in the memory through the third screen, as a plurality of applications executable in the user level lower than the highest user level; 
 
   wherein the third screen for setting the plurality of first applications is inaccessible in the first mode; and   wherein the memory stores at least one other pattern password associated with the user level lower than the highest user level.   
     
     
       22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of operations further comprises:
 controlling to display a fourth screen for inputting a password on the touchscreen, in a lock state;   determining whether a pattern password entered by a user through the fourth screen corresponds to the first password corresponding to the second mode;   releasing the lock state and enter the second mode, if the pattern password entered in the lock state corresponds to the first password; and   upon entering the second mode, controlling to display, on the touch screen, a plurality of icons for executing applications corresponding to the plurality of applications stored in the memory.   
     
     
       23. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of first applications is executable in the highest user level. 
     
     
       24. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of operations comprises:
 in the second mode of the electronic device:
 (v) setting a plurality of second applications among the plurality of applications in an intermediate user level that is higher than the user level and lower than the highest user level, wherein the plurality of first applications and the plurality of second applications are executable at the intermediate user level, and wherein the plurality of second applications is not accessible at the user level.