Patent ID: 8904479
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method comprising: outputting, by a computing device, a display of a plurality of selectable graphical elements for presentation at a device display, each of the plurality of selectable graphical elements having a shape that matches others of the selectable graphical elements; identifying, by the computing device, that a user contact with the display device drew a pattern across at least three of the selectable graphical elements while the selectable graphical elements were being displayed by the device display, the identifying that the user contact drew the pattern and responsive modifications to the display of the plurality of selectable graphical elements comprising: detecting a removal of the user contact from the device display after the user contact has dragged from the first location to the second location, and from the second location to the third location; in response to identifying that the user contact with the display device drew the pattern, comparing the pattern to information representing a stored authentication pattern for the user, the stored authentication pattern having been previously defined by user input on the computing device that substantially matches the pattern drawn across the at least three of the displayed selectable graphical elements; and unlocking access to functions on the computing device in response to a determination that the pattern substantially matches the stored authentication pattern for the user, wherein the computing device is programmed to prevent access to the functions on the computing device as a result of another pattern drawn across at least two of the displayed selectable graphical elements being determined not to match the stored authentication pattern.