Device and method for authorization management

A device may be authorized via a method, which includes: displaying several numbered folder objects while the device is in an unauthorized state, each of which is displayed with a corresponding serial number and represents a folder containing several files stored in the device; executing a predefined operation toward one of the folder objects; detecting the serial numbers corresponding to the operated folder object; comparing the detected serial numbers and a predetermined password; and maintaining the device in the unauthorized state, if the detected serial numbers do not correspond to the password.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and a method applied thereto, more particularly relating to a portable electronic device with an authorization managing function and a method for managing authorization.

2. Description of Related Art

As mobile phones with a camera are prevalent today, people usually have numerous images stored in their mobile phones. However, invasions of privacy are becoming commonplace, and there is a high risk of personal private photos being seen by anyone having access to the mobile phone, which may cause distress and undesired consequences. Once the user of the phone has set a password under a traditional security system to try and protect those pictures, another problem is that other people may observe and use that password. Accordingly, a more secure way of protecting those photos is required.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1, a block diagram of a portable electronic device1of the present disclosure according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The device1includes a storage unit11, a processor12and a display13. The storage unit11stores several folders111and one or more programs112, wherein each folder111contains several files1111, and the program12is to be executed by the processor12. The display13displays an authorization managing interface131while the device1is in an unauthorized state. While the device1is in the unauthorized state, a predefined set of actions are prohibited, for example, one of the prohibited actions is to access the folders111.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, a flowchart illustrating the method of the present disclosure and a schematic diagram illustrating an authorization managing interface131, both according to a first embodiment, are respectively shown. In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the files1111contained in the folders111are images files, which preferably are photo files.

In step101, while the device1is in the unauthorized state, display the authorization managing interface131, which includes a plurality of numbered folder objects14. As shown inFIG. 3, the folder objects14are graphical, interactive user-interface objects, while each of the folder objects14represents one of the folders111stored in the storage unit11. Each folder object14is shown as an image implying a “photo album”, which may be a representing photo on reduced scale (not shown inFIG. 3). Meanwhile, each of the folder objects14is displayed with a corresponding serial number.

In step102, the device1executes a predefined operation from a user, to operate at least two of the folder objects14. In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the predefined operation is to choose at least two of the folder objects14sequentially, through a predefined choosing operation. After the choosing actions are finished, the serial numbers corresponding to chosen folder objects14are detected by the processor12, in the chosen order, as step103. For example, the user chooses the folder object14numbered “2” (corresponding to the serial number “2”) at first, then chooses the folder object14numbered “5” (corresponding to the serial number “5”) . As a result, the serial numbers “2” and “5” as two digits are sequentially detected by the processor12.

In step104, the device1compares the detected serial numbers and a predetermined password to determine whether the detected serial numbers correspond to the password. If the detected serial numbers do not correspond to the password, the device1maintains in the unauthorized state. If the detected serial numbers, “2” and “5”, which will be combined by the processor12to be a sequence “25”, correspond to the password which is also“25”, the device1transits to an authorized state and above-mentioned predefined set of prohibited actions are not prohibited anymore, as step105.

As a result, the user can authorize the device1in an unnoticeable way, without operating through a communicating window to input the password. Therefore, others may not know the authorization management is processing, and the embarrassment caused by is prevented.

Referring toFIG. 4, a flowchart illustrating the method of the present disclosure according to a second embodiment is shown. Referring toFIGS. 5A and 5B, which are schematic diagrams illustrating an authorization managing interface according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the display13of the device1is a touch-sensitive display, and the predetermined password is composed of several sequences, for example, 2-4, 5-8 and 10-11.

As shown inFIG. 5A, in step201, while the device1is in the unauthorized status, the touch-sensitive display shows the authorization managing interface131, which includes a serial numbers portion1311, a sliding portion1312and an input portion1313. The folder objects14are placed in the sliding portion1312, and their corresponding serial numbers are placed in the serial numbers portion1311, wherein each folder object14has a positional correlation with its corresponding serial number . The input portion1313is to show the digits represent the detected serial numbers.

In step202, The user touches the touch-sensitive display by a finger to contact with a selected one of the folder objects14. Then, as shown inFIG. 5B, the user drags the touching folder object14from its original location shown inFIG. 5Ato a replacing location shown inFIG. 5B, through a continuous contact with the touch-sensitive display, as a predefined operation in the second embodiment. Thus, a position of the touching folder object14relative to an initial serial number, which is initially corresponding to the operated folder object14, is changed. Meanwhile, the touching folder object14now has a positional correlation with a designated serial number.

In this embodiment, the initial serial number is “2” and the designated serial number is “4”. Through the above-mentioned operation, the initial serial number and the designated serial number are detected by the processor12, as step203. Thus, a sequence beginning from the initial serial number and ending at the designated serial number, which is the sequence “2, 3, 4”, is determined by the processor12. Then, such sequence is compared with the predetermined password, as step204. By repeating the above-mentioned operation, the user can “input” several sequences to the device1through means of detection and determining provided by the processor12. The device1transits to an authorized state if the sequences all correspond to the password, as step205. As a result, the user can authorize the device1in an unnoticeable way.

Moreover, the user can input the desired sequence to the device1through the predetermined operation described above in such two ways, to set the password while the device1is in a password-setting status and to lock the device1from the authorized status back to the unauthorized status. Without displaying a communicating window, the present disclosure can make the authorization management performed in the unnoticeable ways, therefore prevent the possible embarrassments might happen.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, this disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.