Abstract:
A portable electronic device can be switched between locked and unlocked states by handheld motion. The portable electronic device includes a display screen, a storage device stored unlocking information, a control unit, an inputting unit, and a comparison unit. An unlocking interface is displayed on a display screen when the portable electronic device is locked. The unlocking interface includes a compass with a plurality of prompting characters and a pointer. The inputting unit orderly inputs characters while the portable electronic device is rotated to change and acquire a prompting character which is facing the pointer. The comparison unit compares the total of input characters and the unlocking information, and unlocks the portable electronic device when the input information is identical to the unlocking information. Either the compass or the pointer can rotate to change the prompting character which is facing the pointer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Taiwanese Patent Application No. 104116353 filed on May 21, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter herein generally relates to electronic device security. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A portable electronic device can switch between a locked state and a unlocked state. A common unlocking technique for the portable electronic device in the locked state is to input an alpha-numeric password using a physical keypad of the electronic device or a virtual keypad displayed on a touch screen of the portable electronic device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0004]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of this disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of a portable electronic device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 1  displaying an unlocking interface with a first input prompting character. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 2  displaying the unlocking interface with two input prompting characters. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of the portable electronic device of  FIG. 3  displaying the unlocking interface with three input prompting characters. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of an embodiment of the unlocking method for unlocking a portable electronic device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
         [0011]    The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a portable electronic device  100 . The portable electronic device  100  displays images, and is capable of switching between a locked state and a unlocked state. In at least one embodiment, the portable electronic device  100  is a mobile device. In other embodiments, the portable electronic device  100  can be a tablet or a personal digital assistant (PDA). 
         [0013]    The portable electronic device  100  includes a sensing portion  10 , a display screen  20 , a storage device  30 , and an unlocking system  40 , which can communicate with each other by wires or wirelessly. 
         [0014]    The sensing portion  10  senses a rotating direction of the portable electronic device  100 , and communicates with the unlocking system  40 . In at least embodiment, the sensing portion  10  can be an acceleration transducer, an electronic compass, or a combination of the acceleration transducer and the electronic compass. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an interface of the display screen  20  in the locked state. The display screen  20  displays an unlocking interface  5  when the portable electronic device  100  is in the locked state, and displays a normal user interface when the portable electronic device  100  is in the unlocked state. The unlocking interface  5  includes a compass  51  and a pointer  53 . Either the compass  51  or the pointer  53  can rotates with the portable electronic device  100 . The compass  51  includes a plurality of prompting characters  513  arranged in a circle. The prompting characters  513  are equidistantly spaced from each other. The pointer  53  is capable of facing one of the prompting characters  513 . In at least one embodiment, the compass  51  rotates with the portable electronic device  100  to change the prompting character  513  which is facing the pointer  53 . The pointer  53  remains pointing to a predetermined direction while the portable electronic device  100  rotates. The pointer  53  remains pointing to a top side of the portable electronic device. A prompting character  513  can be a letter, a number, or a combination of a letter and a number. In other embodiments, the pointer  53  rotates with the portable electronic device  100  to point to a different prompting character  513 . The compass  51  remains static while the portable electronic device  100  rotates. 
         [0016]    The storage device  30  stores unlocking information. The unlocking information comprises a predetermined number of specified characters and rotating directions. The storage device  30  can be an internal storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM) for temporary storage of information, and/or a read only memory (ROM) for permanent storage of information. The storage device  30  can also be an external storage device, such as an external hard disk, a storage card, or a data storage medium. 
         [0017]    The unlocking system  40  identifies as input information a rotating direction of the portable electronic device  100  and the prompting character  513  facing the pointer  53  when the portable electronic device  100  stops rotating, and compares an input information with the unlocking information. When the total input information is identical to the unlocking information, the unlocking system  40  switches the portable electronic device  100  into the unlocked state. In at least one embodiment, the unlocking operation can unlock a display screen of the portable electronic device  100 , a keyboard of the portable electronic device  100 , or an encryption program of the portable electronic device  100 . 
         [0018]    The unlocking system  40  includes a controlling unit  41 , an obtaining unit  42 , an inputting unit  43 , a counting unit  45 , a determining unit  47 , and a comparison unit  49 . 
         [0019]    The controlling unit  41  controls the display screen  20  to display the unlocking interface  5 . In at least one embodiment, the controlling unit  41  controls the display screen  20  to display the unlocking interface  5  when a specified mechanical key or a specified virtual key of the portable electronic device is pressed. 
         [0020]    The obtaining unit  42  obtains the rotating direction of the portable electronic device  100  sensed by the sensing portion  10 . 
         [0021]    The inputting unit  43  obtains as an input character the one of the prompting characters  513  which is facing the pointer  53  when the portable electronic device  100  stops rotating, and orderly displays the input characters on the unlocking interface  5 . The inputting unit  43  further stores the input characters and the corresponding rotating direction as input information in the storage device  30 . In at least one embodiment, the inputting unit  43  counts the period of time of the portable electronic device  100  being static and obtains the prompting character  513  facing the pointer  53  when the counted time equals a predetermined time. The predetermined time is  2  seconds. The predetermined time can be set by operation of user. In other embodiments, the inputting unit  43  obtains the prompting character  513  facing the pointer  53  as the input character, and orderly displays a specified symbol on the unlocking interface  5  when the portable electronic device  100  stop rotating. The specified symbol can be a block point or a “*” symbol representing a prompting character  513 . 
         [0022]    The counting unit  45  acquires a certain number of the input character and stores the acquired number in the storage device  30 . 
         [0023]    The determining unit  47  determines whether the number of the input characters is equal to a predetermined value. When the number of input characters is equal to a predetermined value, the determining unit  47  controls the comparison unit  49  to execute a comparison operation. 
         [0024]    The comparison unit  49  compares the total input information with the unlocking information. When the total input information is identical to the unlocking information, the comparison unit  49  controls the portable electronic device  100  to be unlocked. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates the unlocking interface  5  displayed in the display screen  20  during an unlocking operation. The prompting characters  513  are numbers arranged in a circle, for example, the numbers 0-9. The pointer  53  points at “0”. When the counted time of the portable electronic device  100  reaches the predetermined time, the unlocking interface  5  display “0”. Then, the portable electronic device  100  rotates anti-clockwise.  FIG. 3  illustrates that the pointer  53  points at “9” after the counted time. The unlocking interface  5  orderly displays “0” and “9”. Then, the portable electronic device  100  rotates along a clockwise direction.  FIG. 3  illustrates that the pointer  53  points at “1” after the counted time. The unlocking interface  5  orderly displays “0”, “9”, and “1”. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a unlocking method for the portable electronic device  100 . The method  500  is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method  500  described below can be carried out using the configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , for example, and various elements of these figures are referenced in explaining the method  500 . Each block shown in  FIG. 5  represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the method  500 . Furthermore, the order of blocks is illustrative only and the order of the blocks can change. Additional blocks can be added or blocks can be removed, without departing from this disclosure. The method  500  can begin at block  51 . 
         [0027]    At block  501 , the controlling unit  41  controls the display screen  20  to display an unlocking interface  500  with a compass  51  and a pointer  53 . The compass  51  includes a plurality of prompting characters  513  arranged in a circle. The compass  51  or the pointer  53  can be capable of rotating with the portable electronic device  100 . In at least one embodiment, the compass  51  rotates with the portable electronic device  100  to change the prompting character  513  which face the pointer  53 . The pointer  53  remains pointing to a predetermined direction while the portable electronic device  100  rotates. The pointer  53  remains pointing to a top side of the portable electronic device. The prompting characters  513  can be a letter, a number, or a combination of a letter and a number. In other embodiments, the pointer  53  rotates with the portable electronic device  100  to point to a different prompting character  513 . The compass  51  remains static while the portable electronic device  100  rotates. 
         [0028]    At block  502 , the obtaining unit  42  obtains the rotating direction by the sensing portion  10  when the portable electronic device  100  rotates. 
         [0029]    At block  503 , the inputting unit  43  counts a period of time after the portable electronic device  100  has stopped rotating. 
         [0030]    At block  504 , the inputting unit  43  determines whether the counted period of time reaches a predetermined time. When the counted period of time reaches the predetermined time, the procedure goes to block  505 . Until the counted period reaches the predetermined time, the procedure remains in block  503 . 
         [0031]    At block  505 , the inputting unit  43  obtains the prompting character  513  facing the pointer  53  as an input character, and stores the input character  513  and the rotating direction as input information, in the storage device  30 . In at least one embodiment, the inputting unit  43  further controls the display screen  20  to orderly display the input character on the unlocking interface  500 , as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . In other embodiments, the inputting unit  43  further controls the display screen to orderly display a specified symbol on the unlocking interface  500  in place of a prompting character. The specified symbol can be a block point or a “*” symbol. 
         [0032]    At block  506 , the counting unit  45  acquires a number of the input characters. 
         [0033]    At block  507 , the determining unit  47  determines whether the acquired number of input characters is equal to a predetermined value. When the acquired number of input characters is equal to the predetermined value, the procedure goes to block  508 . 
         [0034]    At block  508 , the comparison unit  49  determines whether the input information is satisfying. When the input information is identical to unlocking information, the comparison unit  49  determines that the input information is satisfactory, and the procedure goes to block  59 . When the input information is not identical to unlocking information, the comparison unit  49  determines that the input information is not satisfactory, and the procedure goes back to block  53 . 
         [0035]    At block  509 , the comparison unit  49  switches the portable electronic device  100  into the unlocked state. 
         [0036]    In use, a physical rotation of the portable electronic device  100  is used to input unlocking information without touches on the display screen  20 . Therefore, a privacy of the portable electronic device  100  is improved. 
         [0037]    While various embodiments have been described, the disclosure is not to be limited thereto. Various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are also intended to fall within this disclosure. The scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass at least all such modifications and similar arrangements.