Abstract:
A method of controlling a computer including a display screen, the computer having a plurality of modes with respect to the display screen, includes: determining that the computer is set to a first lock mode after inactivity during a non-lock mode over a first time period before a second lock mode is set, the first lock mode, the second lock mode, and the non-lock mode being from among the plurality of modes; switching the computer from the first lock mode to the second lock mode when after inactivity over a second time period subsequent to the first time period; and returning, by a processor in the computer, the computer from the first lock mode to the non-lock mode when an input designating a position included in a certain area of the display screen is detected within the second time period.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-248349, filed on Nov. 29, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     The embodiments discussed herein are related to a technique of controlling a mode of a device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic devices equipped with touch panel displays, such as smart phones or tablets have widely been used. The electronic device can be generally set to enter a lock mode when the device is not operated for a predetermined time. After the shift to the lock mode, the touch panel display is also turned off. Upon detection of a touch operation and the like on the touch panel display by a user in the lock mode, the touch panel display is turned on to display an entry screen to prompt the user to make an entry for cancelling the lock mode. Upon detection of a user&#39;s entry of a password, a passcode or a pattern which is registered in advance, the electronic device exits from the lock mode. 
     When the device is set to enter the lock mode within a short period of time, the user is forced to often enter the password, the passcode or the pattern to cancel the lock mode, which results in an increase in user&#39;s load. To reduce such load, many users set their devices not to enter the lock mode or set a long period of time to enter the lock mode. 
     Meanwhile, the following setting is also popular: when not operated for a predetermined time, the device enters a sleep mode before entering a lock mode; and then enters the lock mode if not operated for another predetermined time after the shift to the sleep mode. If a user wants to cancel the sleep mode, the user has only to perform a touch operation on the touch panel display. A related technique is disclosed by Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-272996, for example. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the invention, a method of controlling in a computer including a display screen, the computer having a plurality of modes with respect to the display screen, includes: determining that the computer is set to a first lock mode after inactivity during a non-lock mode over a first time period before a second lock mode is set, the first lock mode, the second lock mode, and the non-lock mode being from among the plurality of modes; switching the computer from the first lock mode to the second lock mode when after inactivity over a second time period subsequent to the first time period; and returning, by a processor in the computer, the computer from the first lock mode to the non-lock mode when an input designating a position included in a certain area of the display screen is detected within the second time period. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an example of functions of main units in a smart device according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electric system of the smart device according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of specific region registration processing according to the embodiment; 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D  are illustrations, each presenting a display example in the specific region registration processing according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of quick lock mode control processing according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration presenting an example of a specific region according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of quick lock mode control processing according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an illustration presenting an example of a specific region according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of quick lock mode control processing according to a third embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is an illustration presenting an example of a specific region according to the third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The sleep mode is easier to cancel than the lock mode, but has difficulty in protecting the electronic device from operation by other people. 
     One aspect of the disclosed technique has an object to provide a quick lock mode which can be cancelled with a less load than a lock mode without impairment of a protection function. 
     Hereinafter, an exemplar embodiment of the disclosed technique is described in detail by referring to the drawings. It is noted that a smart device is described as an example of electronic devices related to the disclosed technique, but the disclosed technique is not limited to the smart device. For example, the disclosed technique is applicable to various kinds of electronic devices such as personal computers, game machines, car navigation systems, mobile phones, and digital cameras. 
     First Embodiment 
     A smart device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1  as an example includes a protection mode control unit  12 , a registration control unit  18 , a timer  22 , a storage unit  24 , and a display and detection control unit  26 . The protection mode control unit  12  includes a quick lock mode control unit  14  and a lock mode control unit  16 . The quick lock mode control unit  14  and the lock mode control unit  16  are coupled to each other. 
     Furthermore, each of the quick lock mode control unit  14  and the lock mode control unit  16  is coupled to the timer  22 , the storage unit  24 , and the display and detection control unit  26 . The registration control unit  18  is coupled to the storage unit  24  and the display and detection control unit  26 . 
     The quick lock mode control unit  14  as a control unit performs various kinds of controls when the smart device  10  enters a quick lock mode. The lock mode control unit  16  performs various kinds of controls when the smart device  10  enters a lock mode. 
     The registration control unit  18  performs control such that a specific region for cancelling the quick lock mode can be registered in the storage unit  24 . The display and detection control unit  26  performs control such that information indicating user&#39;s operations detected by a detection unit can be applied to various kinds of processing and a display unit can display various kinds of information. The timer  22  measures an elapsed time after the smart device  10  enters the quick lock mode, for example. 
     The smart device  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  as an example includes a central processing unit (CPU)  60 , a primary storage unit  62 , a secondary storage unit  64 , a touch panel display  70 , a timer  22 , and an external interface  68 . The CPU  60 , the primary storage unit  62 , the secondary storage unit  64 , the touch panel display  70 , the timer  22 , and the external interface  68  are coupled to each other through a bus  80 . 
     The touch panel display  70  includes a display  72  serving as the display unit and a touch panel  74  serving as the detection unit. The display  72  displays various kinds of information and the touch panel  74  detects an operation of an operator. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A to 4D ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 10 , the display  72  and the touch panel  74  are put on top of one another to form the touch panel display  70 . The external interface  68  is coupled to an external device so as to manage transmission and reception of various kinds of information between the external device and the CPU  60 . The operator is a user or another person other than the user. The user is a person having a legitimate right to the smart device  10 , such as an owner of the smart device  10 . 
     The primary storage unit  62  is a volatile memory such as a random access memory (RAM). The secondary storage unit  64  is a nonvolatile memory, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The primary storage unit  62  and the secondary storage unit  64  function as the storage unit  24  in  FIG. 1 . 
     As one example, the secondary storage unit  64  stores a quick lock mode control program  66 A, a lock mode control program  66 B, a registration control program  66 C, and a quick lock mode cancellation table  68 . The CPU  60  loads the quick lock mode control program  66 A, the lock mode control program  66 B, and the registration control program  66 C from the secondary storage unit  64  and expands them to the primary storage unit  62 . The CPU  60  executes the quick lock mode control program  66 A to operate as the quick lock mode control unit  14  in  FIG. 1 . The CPU  60  executes the lock mode control program  66 B to operate as the lock mode control unit  16  in  FIG. 1 . Moreover, the CPU  60  executes the registration control program  66 C to operate as the registration control unit  18  in  FIG. 1 . In the quick lock mode cancellation table  68 , a specific region for cancelling the quick lock mode is registered. 
     (Specific Region Registration Processing) 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , description is hereinafter provided for specific region registration processing, as one operation of the embodiment of the disclosed technique, which is performed by the smart device  10  with the CPU  60  executing the registration control program  66 C. 
     In the specific region registration processing, a specific region for cancelling the quick lock mode is registered in the quick lock mode cancellation table  68 . 
     The smart device  10  has a lock function. The smart device  10  includes the touch panel display  70 . For example, when the touch panel  74  does not detect a user&#39;s operation for a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) or longer while the quick lock mode is not cancelled, the lock function operates to shift to the lock mode. After entering the lock mode, the smart device  10  does not accept any operation other than a predetermined one and powers off the display  72 . 
     When the smart device  10  is in the lock mode, the user cancels the lock mode by entering a password, a passcode or the like which is registered in advance. Frequent entering of the password, the passcode or the like imposes such a high load that some users set a long period of time (for example, 30 minutes) to enter the lock mode. 
     However, when the time to enter the lock mode is set long, a function to protect the smart device  10  from an illegitimate operation of another person is not sufficiently operated. On the other hand, the quick lock mode of the disclosed technique can be cancelled with a less load than that for canceling the lock mode. For example, when the touch panel  74  does not detect a user&#39;s operation for a predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) or longer, the smart device  10  enters the quick lock mode. Then, as similar to the lock mode, the smart device  10  does not accept any operation other than a predetermined one and powers off the display  72 . 
     When the smart device  10  is in the quick lock mode, the user cancels the quick lock mode by performing a touch operation in the specific region of the display  72  which is registered in advance. 
     In order to register the specific region, for example, the CPU  60  determines whether it is detected that a user performs a touch operation, in other words, tapping on an “OK” button displayed on the touch panel display  70  of the smart device  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4A . When the tapping is detected, the specific region registration processing is started. Then, at step  202 , the touch panel display  70  is controlled to display a grid thereon as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . A grid pitch may be 1 cm, for example, but the disclosed technique is not restrictive to this. For example, the grid pitch may be set to any length such as 1.5 cm or 2 cm, for example. 
     At step  204 , it is determined whether user&#39;s tapping on the touch panel display  70  is detected. When the determination result is “yes” at step  204 , it is determined at step  206  whether the user&#39;s tapping is kept held without moving for a predetermined time (for example, 3 seconds) or longer. When the determination result is “no” at step  206 , the control is returned to step  204 . 
     On the other hand, when the determination result is “yes” at step  206 , the coordinates of the position tapped by the user on the touch panel display  70  are acquired at step  208 . 
     For example, when the acquired coordinates are within a region c 05 , a confirmation screen to prompt the user to confirm the region c 05  tapped by the user is displayed on the display  72  at step  210 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4C . At step  212 , it is determined whether the user taps a “registration” button displayed on the touch panel display  70 . When the determination result is “yes” at step  212 , at step  214 , information indicating the region c 05  is registered as a specific region for cancelling the quick lock mode in the quick lock mode cancellation table  68 . After that, as illustrated in  FIG. 4D , a screen informing that the specific region is registered is displayed on the touch panel display  70 . 
     On the other hand, when the determination result is “no” at step  212 , it is determined at step  216  whether the user taps a “cancel” button. When the determination result is “yes,” the control is returned to step  204 . 
     When the determination result is “no” at step  216 , it is determined at step  218  whether the user taps a “stop” button. When the determination result is “yes,” the specific region registration processing is terminated. When the determination result is “no” at step  218 , the control is returned to step  212 . 
     In the above description, when the touch panel  74  does not detect the user&#39;s operation for the predetermined time (for example, 15 seconds) or longer, a quick lock function operates to shift to the quick lock mode. However, the disclosed technique is not limited to this. For example, the smart device  10  may have an unillustrated hardware button, and may be configured to enter the quick lock mode when the hardware button is not operated by the user for a predetermined time or longer. 
     (Quick Lock Mode Control Processing) 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , description is provided for quick lock mode control processing which is performed by the smart device  10  with the CPU  60  executing the quick lock mode control program  66 A. 
     The quick lock mode control processing is started when the smart device  10  enters the quick lock mode. Specifically, when the touch panel display  70  does not detect any user&#39;s operation for a predetermined time or longer, the quick lock function operates to shift to the quick lock mode and to turn off the display  72 . However, the touch panel  74  is kept turned on. When the quick lock mode control processing is started, “0” is set in a variable C for counting the number of times that user&#39;s tapping which is a touch operation is detected on a region other than the specific region at step  152 . 
     At step  154 , it is determined whether user&#39;s tapping is detected on the touch panel display  70 . When the determination result is “no” at step  154 , it is determined at step  168  whether a time measured by the timer  22  after the shift to the quick lock mode exceeds a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). When the determination result is “no” at step  168 , the control is returned to step  154 . 
     When the determination result is “yes” at step  154 , the coordinates P of a position on the touch panel display  70 , which is a touched region tapped by the user, are acquired at step  156 . 
     At step  158 , it is determined whether the coordinates P are included inside the region c 05  which is registered in the quick lock mode cancellation table  68  as the predetermined region for cancelling the quick lock mode illustrated in  FIG. 6 . When the determination result is “yes,” the quick lock mode is cancelled and shifted to a normal mode and the display  72  is powered on at step  160 . Then, the processing is terminated. It is noted that  FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating a specific region, and presents a grid and a region which is registered as the specific region for facilitating understanding. However, in the quick lock mode, the display  72  is turned off and does not display the grid. 
     On the other hand, when the determination result is “no” at step  158 , the variable C is incremented by 1 at step  162 . At step  164 , it is determined whether a value contained in the variable C is larger than a certain preset number of times N. When the determination result is “no” at step  164 , the control is returned to step  154 . 
     On the other hand, when the determination result is “yes” at step  164 , this means that the region other than the specific region is tapped more than the predetermined number of times N, and the smart device  10  enters the lock mode at step  166 . Also, when the determination result is “yes” at step  168 , in other words, when a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) elapses without the touch panel display  70  tapped after the shift to the quick lock mode, the smart device  10  enters the lock mode at step  170 . 
     The disclosed technique enables the quick lock mode to be cancelled upon detection of a touch operation in the specific region which is stored in advance. The operation of cancelling the quick lock mode imposes a less load on a user than in the case of cancelling the lock mode, but other people who do not know the specific region may have much more difficulty in cancelling the quick lock mode than in cancelling the sleep mode. The disclosed technique provides the quick lock mode which imposes a less load for cancellation than the lock mode without impairment of the protection function. Thus, the utilization of the protection function by the user is promoted. This is because the quick lock mode lowers the barrier to setting the smart device  10  to enter the quick lock mode when the touch panel  74  does not detect a user&#39;s operation for a relatively short time (for example, 15 seconds) or longer. 
     Furthermore, in the disclosed technique, when the predetermined time elapses after the shift to the quick lock mode, or when the touch operation is performed in the region other than the specific region more than the predetermined number of times, the smart device  10  enters the lock mode. Accordingly, the protection function is enhanced. 
     Second Embodiment 
     In a second embodiment, the components described in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and are omitted in explanation. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , description is provide for the second embodiment of the quick lock mode control processing performed by a smart device  10  with a CPU  60  executing a quick lock mode control program  66 A. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that regions b 04 , b 05 , b 06 , c 04 , c 06 , d 04 , d 05 , and d 06  surrounding a specific region c 05  for cancelling the quick lock mode which is registered in advance are set as semi-specific regions. Even when user&#39;s tapping is detected in any of the semi-specific regions, the smart device  10  does not enter the normal mode unlike the case where user&#39;s tapping is detected in the specific region. On the other hand, even when user&#39;s tapping is detected in any of the semi-specific regions, the detected tapping is not counted as the number of times that the region other than the specific region is tapped. 
     In  FIG. 7 , the same steps as those in  FIG. 5  are omitted in description herein. At step  154  in  FIG. 7 , it is detected whether user&#39;s tapping is detected on the touch panel display  70 . When the determination result is “yes,” the coordinates P of a position tapped by the user on the touch panel display  70  are acquired at step  156 . 
     At step  158 , it is determined whether the coordinates P are included inside the specific region c 05  which is registered in the quick lock mode cancellation table  68  as the predetermined region for cancelling the quick lock mode illustrated in  FIG. 8 . When the determination result is “yes” at step  158 , the quick lock mode is cancelled and shifted to the normal mode and the display  72  is turned on at step  160 . Then, the quick lock mode control processing is terminated. It is noted that  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating the specific region and the semi-specific regions, and presents the grid and the regions registered as the specific region and the semi-specific regions for facilitating understanding. However, in the quick lock mode, the display  72  is turned off and does not display the grid. 
     On the other hand, when the determination result is “no” at step  158 , it is determined at step  159  whether the coordinates P are included in any of the semi-specific regions. When the determination result is “yes” at step  159 , the control is returned to step  154 . The value of the variable C is not incremented. 
     When the determination result is “no” at step  159 , the value of the variable C is incremented by 1 at step  162 . 
     In the disclosed technique, the regions b 04 , b 05 , b 06 , c 045 , c 06 , d 04 , d 05 , and d 06  are set as the semi-specific regions. However, the disclosed technique is not limited to this. The semi-specific regions may further include regions b 03 , c 03 , and d 03 , for example. Also, in the disclosed technique, the specific region is surrounded by the semi-specific regions, but the disclosed technique is not limited to this. The semi-specific regions may be regions adjacent to the specific region, such as regions b 04 , c 04 , and d 04 . 
     In the above description, a width of each of the semi-specific regions surrounding the specific region is one grid pitch. However, the disclosed technique is not limited to this. For example, the width of the semi-specific regions may be set to a half grid pitch, a 1.5-time grid pitch, or the like. 
     The disclosed technique enables the quick lock mode to be cancelled upon detection of a touch operation in the specific region which is stored in advance. The operation of cancelling the quick lock mode imposes a less load on a user than in the case of cancelling the lock mode, but other people who do not know the specific region may have much more difficulty in cancelling the quick lock mode than in cancelling the sleep mode. The disclosed technique provides the quick lock mode which imposes a less load for cancellation than the lock mode without impairment of the protection function. Thus, the utilization of the protection function by the user is promoted. This is because the quick lock mode lowers the barrier to setting the smart device  10  to enter the quick lock mode when the touch panel  74  does not detect a user&#39;s operation for a relatively short time (for example, 15 seconds) or longer. 
     Further, in the disclosed technique, when the predetermined time elapses after the shift to the quick lock mode, or when the touch operation is performed in the region other than the specific or the semi-specific regions more than the predetermined number of times, the smart device  10  enters the lock mode. Accordingly, the protection function is enhanced. 
     Furthermore, in the disclosed technique, when a touch operation is performed in any of the semi-specific regions surrounding the specific region, the touch operation is not counted as the number of times that a touch operation is performed in the region other than the specific region. If the user has a vague memory of the position of the specific region, the user may perform a touch operation near the specific region and may fail to cancel the quick lock mode. However, the disclosed technique lowers the possibility that such cancellation failure may cause a shift to the lock mode. Thus, the load on the user may be further reduced. 
     Third Embodiment 
     In a third embodiment, the components described in the first and second embodiments are given the same reference numerals and are omitted in explanation. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , description is provided for the third embodiment of the quick lock mode control processing performed by a smart device  10  with a CPU  60  executing a quick lock mode control program  66 A. 
     The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a specific region for cancelling a quick lock mode which is registered in a quick lock mode cancellation table  68  in advance is not a single one, but two regions, that is, a first specific region c 05  and a second specific region g 02  are registered, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . When user&#39;s tapping is detected in both the first specific region c 05  and the second specific region g 02 , the quick lock mode is cancelled. 
     When a touch panel display  70  does not detect a user&#39;s operation for a predetermined time or longer, a quick lock function operates to shift to the quick lock mode and to power off a display  72 . Then, quick lock mode control processing illustrated in  FIG. 9  is started. 
     At step  172 , “0” is set in a variable C and a variable T. The variable C is used for counting the number of times that a region other than the first specific region c 05  and the second specific region g 02  is tapped. The variable T is used for determining whether tapping on the first specific region c 05  is already detected. 
     At step  174 , it is detected whether user&#39;s tapping is detected on the touch panel display  70 . When the determination result is “no,” it is determined at step  188  whether the variable T is “0.” The variable T of “0” means that the user&#39;s tapping is not yet detected in the first specific region c 05 . In the case where the variable T is “0,” it is determined at step  190  whether a time measured by a timer  22  after the shift to the quick lock mode reaches a first predetermined time. 
     When the determination result is “no” at step  190 , the control is returned to step  174 . 
     When the determination result is “yes” at step  190 , in other words, when the time measured by the timer  22  reaches the first predetermined time while the user&#39;s tapping is not yet detected in the first specific region c 05 , the smart device  10  enters the lock mode at step  192 . 
     When the determination result is “yes” at step  174 , the coordinates P in a position tapped by the user on the touch panel display  70  are acquired at step  176 . 
     At step  178 , it is determined whether the variable T is “0.” When the variable T is “0,” in other words, when the user&#39;s tapping is not yet detected in the first specific region c 05 , it is determined at step  180  whether the coordinates P are included inside the first specific region c 05 . When the determination result is “yes” at step  180 , the variable T is incremented by 1 and the variable C is set to “0” at step  182 . Then, the control is returned to step  174 . 
     When the determination result is “no” at step  180 , in other words, when the user&#39;s tapping is detected in the region other than the first specific region c 05 , the value of the variable C is incremented by 1 at step  200 . At step  184 , it is determined whether the value of the variable C exceeds a predetermined threshold N. When the determination result is “no,” the control is returned to step  174 . 
     The determination result of “yes” at step  184  means that the region other than the first specific region c 05  is tapped a number of times more than the predetermined threshold N. Accordingly, the smart device  10  enters the lock mode at step  186 . 
     On the other hand, the determination result of “no” at step  178 , in other words, the variable T of “1” means that the user&#39;s tapping is already detected in the first specific region c 05 . Accordingly, at step  196 , it is determined whether the coordinates P are included inside the second specific region g 02 . If the determination result is “yes,” this means that the user&#39;s tapping is detected in both the first specific region c 05  and the second specific region g 02 . Thus, at step  198 , the smart device  10  enters a normal mode and turns on the display  72 . Then, the quick lock mode control processing is terminated. 
     On the other hand, when the determination result is “no” at step  196 , in other words, when the user&#39;s tapping is detected in the region other than the second region g 02 , the value of the variable C is incremented by 1. It is determined at step  184  whether the value of the variable C exceeds the threshold N. When the determination result is “no,” the control is returned to step  174 . 
     If the determination result is “yes” at step  184 , this means that the region other than the second specific region g 02  is tapped the number of times more than the predetermined threshold N. For this reason, the smart device  10  enters the lock mode at step  186 . 
     At step  188 , it is determined whether the variable T is “0” as described above. The determination result of “no,” in other words, the variable T of “1” means that the user&#39;s tapping is already detected in the first specific region c 05 . In this case, it is determined at step  194  whether a time measured by the timer  22  after the tapping of the first specific region c 05  reaches a second predetermined time. The second predetermined time may be set to be shorter than the first predetermined time, for example. 
     When the determination result is “no” at step  194 , the control is returned to step  174 . When the determination result is “yes” at step  194 , the smart device  10  enters the lock mode at step  192 . 
     In the above description, the first specific region c 05  and the second specific region g 02  are set as two specific regions, but the disclosed technique is not limited to this. For example, three or more specific regions may be set. 
     In the above description, the user&#39;s tapping is detected in the second specific region g 02  after the user&#39;s tapping is detected in the first specific region c 05 . However, the disclosed technique is not limited to this. For example, in the case where two or more specific regions are set, the quick lock mode may be cancelled if the user&#39;s tapping is detected in all the specific regions in a random order. Alternatively, the quick lock mode may be cancelled only if simultaneous tapping in the two or more specific regions is detected. 
     In the case where two or more specific regions are set, the specific region registration processing illustrated in  FIG. 3  is modified such that steps  204  to  218  are repeated a number of times equal to the number of specific regions, so that the two or more specific regions are set in the quick lock mode cancellation table  68 . 
     The second embodiment may be applied to the third embodiment. To be more specific, when user&#39;s tapping is detected in any of first semi-specific regions surrounding the first specific region or when user&#39;s tapping is detected in any of second semi-specific regions surrounding the second specific region, step  200  may be modified such that the value of the C is not incremented. In other words, it is also possible that the user&#39;s tapping is not counted as the number of times that the region other than the specific region is tapped. 
     In the first to third embodiments, the quick lock mode control processing illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 7, and 9  is performed in a state where the smart device  10  enters the quick lock mode and the display  72  is powered off. However, the disclosed technique is not limited to this. For example, if the disclosed technique is applied to a personal computer, the quick lock mode control processing may be started while a display is powered on in response to pressing down of a hardware key such as an Enter key. If the disclosed technique is applied to a personal computer, a click of a mouse in a specific region of the display may be detected in place of user&#39;s tapping detected on the touch panel display  70 . 
     In the first to third embodiments, the quick lock mode control processing illustrated in  FIGS. 5, 7, and 9  is performed in a state where the smart device  10  enters the quick lock mode and the display  72  is powered off. However, the disclosed technique is not limited to this. For example, when a user&#39;s touch operation is detected on the touch panel display  70 , the display  72  may be firstly powered on. In this case, the display  72  may display only a single color or any image (for example, a photograph, an illustration or the like). In the case where a certain image is displayed, the displayed image may be nothing to do with the specific region or give a hint of the specific region. Instead, the display  72  may display the grid, which is displayed in the specific region registration processing. 
     The disclosed technique enables the quick lock mode to be cancelled upon detection of a touch operation in the specific region which is stored in advance. The operation of cancelling the quick lock mode imposes a less load on a user than in the case of cancelling the lock mode, but other people who do not know the specific region may have much more difficulty in cancelling the quick lock mode than in cancelling the sleep mode. The disclosed technique provides the quick lock mode which imposes a less load for cancellation than the lock mode without impairment of the protection function. Thus, the utilization of the protection function by the user is promoted. This is because the quick lock mode lowers the barrier to setting the smart device  10  to enter the quick lock mode when the touch panel  74  does not detect a user&#39;s operation for a relatively short time (for example, 15 seconds) or longer. 
     Moreover, in the disclosed technique, when the predetermined time elapses after the shift to the quick lock mode, or when the touch operation is performed in the region other than the specific region more than the predetermined number of times, the smart device  10  enters the lock mode. Accordingly, the protection function is enhanced. 
     Furthermore, setting two or more specific regions may lower the possibility that the quick lock mode may be cancelled in response to detection of an accidental touch operation in a specific region. Thus, the protection function is even further enhanced. 
     All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.