Abstract:
Embodiments describe methods of releasing locked touchscreen in response of valid sequential gestures previously defined by user. First method describes when touchscreen is awaken by pressing physical buttons, if it is in locked state, the touchscreen allows user to drag image to user-defined directions sequentially. If the sequential movements are corresponding to pre-defined direction and sequence, unlock of touchscreen releases. Second method, in a locked state, allows user to select divided piece on the touchscreen in sequence in order to grant a release of locked screen.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention introduces ideas of unlocking method of touchscreen using a set of various movements and relocations of graphics. The manipulation of graphic is pre-instructed by user and memorized in electronic device which is interfaced with the touchscreen. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Trend of telecommunication industry, especially the trend of features in smartphone, move very quickly by developing enhanced communication technology and adapting new demands of users as upgrading features in existing software. Every smartphone is equipped with security protection systems to secure the device from being accessed by unauthorized 3 rd  party. Most commonly used technologies are password, pin number, and pattern which are pre-defined by authorized user. Biometric methods such as face, iris, and finger-print recognitions are being developed and began to be adapted in the recent smartphone industry although the biometric technologies currently provide low level of accuracy due to the initial stage of the technology development. Privacy may be another concern that the industry will eventually overcome to enforce the method widely adapted on the market. 
         [0005]    Continuous development on the method of identity verification of authorized user is related with security issues as current portable communication devices can provide access to banking, social network, personal and business email. Smartphone became the one portal provides a key to essentially every important aspects of life of individual. 
         [0006]    As important as security, convenience of user interface of the identity verification method should be addressed so that the particular method could be widely adapted and used for lengthy period to produce sufficient profit for its cost of development and investment. However in some aspects, pursuing both security and user convenience are like chasing two rabbits at the same time. Biometric method seems to meet the two requirements, but privacy is another unsettled topic the industry will carry on. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The invention is comprised of several methods of manipulation of graphics to unlock touchscreen. First method divides the touchscreen into multiple pieces where each piece is represented by distinct graphics. As an authorized user selects pieces of pre-designated graphics among multiple pieces of graphics, the user unlocks the screen and obtains access to the internal contents of the device. Second method divides the touchscreen into multiple pieces where each piece is represented by distinct graphics. As an authorized user relocates each piece into pre-designated location, the user unlocks the screen and obtains the access to the device. Another idea regarding the second method is that the graphical piece could be characters, numbers or graphical objects. As the graphical piece is aligned as pre-designated, user unlocks the screen and obtains access. Third method manipulates the screen by relocating the screen to pre-designated direction in pre-defined sequence. This particular method benefits where size of display is limited. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates that screen is divided into multiple pieces. As user selects a piece, next screen will allow user to choose another piece and repeats until all selections are completed. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates multiple pieces could be selected on one screen. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates the same procedures as  FIG. 1 , but circular screen is divided into pieces rather than rectangular. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates that multiple pieces in a circular screen could be selected. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates that screen is divided into multiple pieces. User relocates the pieces into pre-designated locations to unlock the screen. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates that a set of graphics is available for user to relocate into pre-designated locations. Screen unlocks when all graphics are aligned as pre-designated order and location. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates that a set of graphics is available for user to relocate into pre-designated locations. Screen unlocks when all graphics are aligned as pre-designated order and location. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates that user is allowed to relocate the screen to pre-designated directions in sequence. Screen unlocks as the sequential directions are corresponding to pre-defined. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates that multiple pieces could be relocated to pre-designated gates. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  illustrates that multiple pieces could be relocated to pre-designated directions. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  illustrates a process described in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 , &amp;  4  in a flowchart. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrates a process described in  FIG. 5  in a flowchart. 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  illustrates a process described in  FIGS. 6 &amp; 7  in a flowchart. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  illustrates a process described in  FIGS. 8, 9 , &amp;  10  in a flowchart. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   10 
                   divided piece 
                   12 
                   pre-designated piece 
                 
                 
                   14 
                   next screen 
                   16 
                   touchscreen 
                 
                 
                   18 
                   multiple pre-designated pieces 
                   20 
                   circular screen 
                 
                 
                   22 
                   multiple pieces on circular screen 
                   24 
                   pre-designated location 
                 
                 
                   26 
                   pre-designated order 
                   28 
                   align 
                 
                 
                   30 
                   pre-designated direction 
                   32 
                   undivided screen 
                 
                 
                   34 
                   gate 
                   36 
                   multiple pieces 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates that touchscreen  16  allows user to select a piece in sequence to unlock the screen. A number of sequences, a number of divided pieces  10  per screen, contents of each graphical piece, and pre-designated location of pieces could be pre-defined by user. A balance between high security and user interface convenience could be set in according to user&#39;s own preference. 
         [0023]    To configure the unlocking system, user is allowed to set a number of sequences which allow user to identify pre-designated pieces  12 . User is allowed to set a number of divided pieces 10 per screen. For example, it could be 2×2, 2×3, . . . , 10×20 or more. User is allowed to set the content of each divided piece  10  such as pictures from camera, album, or available graphics in default if provided by manufacturer. User is allowed to select one or more pre-designated pieces per each screen. 
         [0024]    To unlock a locked screen, user will be asked to select pre-designated graphical pieces among the available pieces on the screen. Whether user selects correct pre-designated piece  12  or not, next screen  14  will appear and request to select another pieces without informing user that his/her selection is correct until the last screen is reached. If user&#39;s all selections were correct, the screen will be unlocked otherwise the screen continues to be locked and guide user to return to the initial verification stage. There may be a limitation on the number of failure for security reasons. 
         [0025]    A pool, essentially a folder including graphics to be displayed on the screen could be set by user. User can add and delete graphics in the pool and can upload personal pictures to the pool. The pool may have multiple folders and each folder could be assigned to each screen. 
         [0026]    User may have an option to update the location of graphics on the screen automatically. The designated piece could be associated with a particular graphics or a constant location of a piece. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates multiple pre-designated pieces  18  could be selected on one screen instead of only one piece is allowed to select per screen. User is allowed to select one or more than one piece on any screens in sequence. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates that circular screen  20  is divided into pieces for the same verification procedures in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates that multiple pieces on circular screen  22  could be selected on one screen instead of only one piece is allowed to select per screen. User is allowed to select one or more than one piece on any screens in sequence. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates that the touchscreen  16  allows user to relocate the pieces into pre-designated locations  24  to unlock the screen. A number of divided pieces  10 , contents of pieces, and the final pre-designated location  24  of pieces could be pre-defined by user during initial configurations of this unlocking method. To unlock the screen, user will relocate pieces from default location to pre-designated location  24 . As all the relocated pieces are located at the pre-designated location, the screen will unlock. Until all movements are completed, there will be no notification for incorrect movement for security and if the final result is not corresponding to pre-designated input, user is redirected to initial screen for retry. There can be a limitation on the number of failure for security reasons. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates that a set of graphics is available for user to relocate into pre-designated locations. Screen unlocks when all graphics are aligned as pre-designated order  26  and location. To configure the method, user is allowed to select a number of graphics to be aligned  28 , contents of each graphics and pre-designated order of the graphics. Until all movements are completed, there will be no notification for incorrect movement for security and if the final result is not corresponding to pre-designated input, user is redirected to initial screen for retry. There can be a limitation on the number of failure or limitation on time per try for security reasons. 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates that a set of graphics is available for user to relocate into pre-designated locations. Screen unlocks when all graphics are aligned as pre-designated order  26  and location. To configure the method, user is allowed to select a number of graphics to be aligned  28 , contents of each graphics and pre-designated order of the graphics. Until all movements are completed, there will be no notification for incorrect movement for security and if the final result is not corresponding to pre-designated input, user is redirected to initial screen for retry. There can be a limitation on the number of failure or limitation on time per try for security reasons. 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  illustrates that user is allowed to relocate the undivided screen  32  to various directions in sequence. To configure the unlocking method, user is allowed to select a number of screens, a pre-designated direction  30  of each screen, and graphical contents of the screens. The directional movement could be set with four directions located at 0°, 90°, 180°, 270° or eight directions located at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315° from the center of the screen. The directions could be divided even more or less as needed. Graphical contents may be selected from one of basic images provided by manufacturer or from personal album of user, or camera or other sources. Until all sequential movements are completed, there will be no notification for incorrect movement and if the sequential movements are not corresponding to pre-designated input, user is redirected to initial screen for another try. There can be a limitation on the number of failure for security reasons. Screen unlocks as the sequential directional movements are corresponding to pre-defined by user. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate that the screen could be divided into multiple pieces and each piece is relocated into pre-designated direction  30 . When there are multiple pieces  36 , there could be several ways of setting directions. First is to establishing gates  34  at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315° or more or less so that pieces could be relocated to the pre-designated gates 34. Second is to assign pre-designated directions on each piece, for instance, angles at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315°. 
         [0035]    A pool, essentially a folder, of initially available graphics could be set by user. User can add and delete graphics in the pool and can upload personal pictures to the pool. The pool may have multiple folders and each folder lists a pool of pictures and is assigned to each screen. User may have an option to change the location of graphics on the screen automatically every time.