Abstract:
A shake unlock method for unlocking a shake unlock mobile touch device has steps of displaying an initial unlock image, receiving a touch signal that occurs when the initial unlock image is touched, displaying a shaking control image and an unlock endpoint on the touch panel, receiving a series of continuous location coordinates after the mobile touch device is shaken and varying coordinates of the shaking control image according to the received series of continuous location coordinates, and unlocking a lock mode of the mobile touch device when detecting the coordinates of the shaking control image coincide with coordinates of the unlock endpoint. Accordingly, the drawback of unlocking a conventional mobile touch device arising from the difficulty of dragging an image with single-handed operation can be eliminated without requiring additional hardware equipment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method for unlocking a mobile device and more particularly to a method for unlocking a mobile touch device using shake gestures. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventional mobile devices, such as mobile phones, MP3 players, tablet computers and the like, normally provide operation buttons for users to operate. To prevent users from accidentally touching the operation buttons while carrying the mobile devices, a touch lock function is provided to lock the operation buttons from being inadvertently touched. When intending to operate the mobile devices again, users must follow some particular operational processes, for example, simultaneously or sequentially pressing two or three operation buttons, to unlock the mobile devices. 
         [0005]    To keep abreast of technological development, many mobile devices are equipped with touch panels in replace of conventional mechanical buttons. Hence, the unlocking method of the mobile devices is also developed from button control to touch control. With reference to  FIG. 14 , to be unlocked, a conventional mobile touch device in a lock mode enters an unlocking process after receiving an unlock activation signal, such as when the touch panel detects a touch or receives a button touch signal. The touch panel then displays an unlock interface  90 . The unlock interface  90  has an unlock image  91 , an unlock endpoint  92  and a prompting path  93  connecting the unlock image  91  and the unlock endpoint  92 . Users must use a finger to touch the unlock image  91  and drag the unlock image  91  to the unlock endpoint  92  through the prompting path  93 . The conventional mobile touch device is unlocked only after the unlocking process is completed. 
         [0006]    As the unlocking operation of the conventional mobile touch device depends on the process of dragging the unlock image  91  to the unlock endpoint  92  along the prompting path  93  as shown in  FIG. 14 , when a hand of a user holds the mobile touch device, the thumb is subject to moving restriction and inconveniently drags the unlock image to complete the unlocking process, which should be finished by a finger of the other hand. When one hand of the user carries a bag or any other object, it is inconvenient for both hands of the user to complete the dragging motion and it oftentimes happens that users fail to answer the call in time. Voice recognition or optical pattern recognition (cornea recognition) are introduced as the latest unlocking solutions. However, the voice recognition has a relatively low recognition rate and is prone to the influence of noise in the environment, and the optical pattern recognition significantly increases the cost and therefore still has a low market acceptance now. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a shake unlock mobile touch device and a shake unlock method for unlocking a shake unlock mobile touch device and capable of easily unlocking a shake unlock mobile touch device with single-handed operation. 
         [0008]    To achieve the foregoing objective, the shake unlock mobile touch device has a lock mode, a touch panel and a master controller. 
         [0009]    The lock mode is configured in the shake unlock mobile touch device. 
         [0010]    The touch panel is adapted for users&#39; operation and outputs a touch signal. 
         [0011]    The master controller has a gravity sensing module and a shake unlock procedure. 
         [0012]    The gravity sensing module outputs a series of continuous location coordinates corresponding to a shaking motion of the mobile touch device after sensing that the mobile touch device is shaken. 
         [0013]    The shake unlock procedure is built in the master controller, is preset with an initial unlock image, a shaking control image and an unlock endpoint, and has steps of: 
         [0014]    displaying the initial unlock image on the touch panel; 
         [0015]    receiving the touch signal from the touch panel that occurs when the initial unlock image is touched, and then displaying the shaking control image and the unlock endpoint on the touch panel; 
         [0016]    receiving the series of continuous location coordinates outputted from the gravity sensing module and varying coordinates of the shaking control image displayed on the touch panel according to the received series of continuous location coordinates; and 
         [0017]    unlocking the lock mode when detecting the coordinates of the shaking control image coincide with coordinates of the unlock endpoint. 
         [0018]    To achieve the foregoing objective, alternatively, the shake unlock mobile touch device has a lock mode, a touch panel, and a master controller. 
         [0019]    The lock mode is configured in the shake unlock mobile touch device. 
         [0020]    The touch panel is adapted for users&#39; operation and outputs a touch signal. 
         [0021]    The master controller has a gravity sensing module and a shake unlock procedure. 
         [0022]    The gravity sensing module outputs a series of continuous location coordinates corresponding to a shaking motion of the mobile touch device after sensing that the mobile touch device is shaken. 
         [0023]    The shake unlock procedure is built in the master controller, is preset with an initial unlock image, an unlock path, and a unlock path image, and has steps of: 
         [0024]    displaying the initial unlock image on the touch panel; 
         [0025]    receiving the touch signal from the touch panel that occurs when the initial unlock image is touched, and then displaying the unlock path image on the touch panel; 
         [0026]    receiving the series of continuous location coordinates outputted from the gravity sensing module; and 
         [0027]    unlocking the lock mode after determining that a path formed by the series of continuous location coordinates matches the unlock path stored in the memory unit. 
         [0028]    When users intend to unlock the lock mode of the shake unlock mobile touch device, two steps need to be performed as follows.
       1. Touch the initial unlock image to ensure that users indeed enter an unlocking process and the users just need to touch the initial unlock image.   2. Shake the shake unlock mobile touch device to move the shaking control image to the unlock endpoint or shake the shake unlock mobile touch device according to the unlock path image for the gravity sensing module to output a series of continuous location coordinates as a basis of unlocking the mobile touch device if the path formed by the continuous location coordinates coincide with the unlock path.       
 
         [0031]    Hence, users can perform the two foregoing steps to replace the conventional unlocking method using a dragging operation. Users can hold a mobile touch device with a single hand and easily unlock the mobile touch device with a single-handed operation, rendering operational convenience. As the touch panel and the gravity sensing module are available to currently-existing mobile touch devices, no additional hardware cost is required for the mobile touch devices. 
         [0032]    To achieve the foregoing objective, the shake unlock method for unlocking a mobile touch device has steps of: 
         [0033]    displaying an initial unlock image; 
         [0034]    receiving a touch signal that occurs when the initial unlock image is touched; 
         [0035]    displaying a shaking control image and an unlock endpoint on the touch panel; 
         [0036]    receiving a series of continuous location coordinates after the mobile touch device is shaken and varying coordinates of the shaking control image according to the received series of continuous location coordinates; and 
         [0037]    unlocking a lock mode of the mobile touch device when detecting the coordinates of the shaking control image coincide with coordinates of the unlock endpoint. 
         [0038]    To achieve the foregoing objective, alternatively, the shake unlock method for unlocking a mobile touch device has steps of: 
         [0039]    presetting an unlock path; 
         [0040]    displaying an initial unlock image; 
         [0041]    receiving a touch signal that occurs when the initial unlock image is touched; 
         [0042]    displaying a shaking control image corresponding to the unlock path; 
         [0043]    receiving a series of continuous location coordinates after the mobile touch device is shaken and determining if a path formed by the series of continuous location coordinates matches the unlock path, and if positive, unlocking a lock mode of the mobile touch device. 
         [0044]    Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0045]      FIG. 1  is functional block diagram of a shake unlock mobile touch device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of a first embodiment of a method for unlocking a shake unlock mobile touch device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 3  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating a shake unlock mobile touch device during a step of the method in  FIG. 2  for displaying an initial unlock image; 
           [0048]      FIG. 4  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating a shake unlock mobile touch device during a step of the method in  FIG. 2  for displaying a shaking control image and an unlock endpoint; 
           [0049]      FIG. 5A  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating when the shaking control image of the shake unlock mobile touch device in  FIG. 4  is shaken to move to the unlock endpoint; 
           [0050]      FIG. 5B  is another operational schematic diagram illustrating when the shaking control image of the shake unlock mobile touch device in  FIG. 4  is shaken to move to the unlock endpoint; 
           [0051]      FIG. 5C  is a relationship curve between coordinates of the movement of the shaking control image in  FIG. 5A  continuously outputted from a gravity sensing module and time; 
           [0052]      FIG. 5D  is a relationship curve between coordinates of the movement of the shaking control image in  FIG. 5B  continuously outputted from a gravity sensing module and time; 
           [0053]      FIG. 6  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating a shake unlock mobile touch device during a step of the method in  FIG. 2  for unlocking the mobile touch device; 
           [0054]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of a second embodiment of a method for unlocking a shake unlock mobile touch device in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0055]      FIG. 8  is a first operational schematic diagram illustrating a shake unlock mobile touch device during a step of the method in  FIG. 7  for displaying an unlock path; 
           [0056]      FIG. 9  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating a shake unlock mobile touch device during a step of the method in  FIG. 7  for shaking the mobile touch device according to the unlock path in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0057]      FIG. 10  is a second operational schematic diagram illustrating a shake unlock mobile touch device during a step of the method in  FIG. 7  for displaying an unlock path; 
           [0058]      FIG. 11  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating when the shake unlock mobile touch device is moved along the unlock path in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0059]      FIG. 12  is a third operational schematic diagram illustrating a shake unlock mobile touch device during a step of the method in  FIG. 7  for displaying an unlock path; 
           [0060]      FIG. 13  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating when the mobile touch device is moved along the unlock path in  FIG. 12 ; and 
           [0061]      FIG. 14  is an operational schematic diagram illustrating a method for unlocking a conventional mobile touch device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0062]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a shake unlock mobile touch device in accordance with the present invention has a touch panel  10 , a system memory  20  and a master controller  30 . 
         [0063]    The touch panel  10  has a display signal input interface  11  and a touch signal output interface  12 , and outputs a touch signal through the touch signal output interface  12  after sensing a user&#39;s touch point. 
         [0064]    The system memory  20  has a lock mode configured therein. 
         [0065]    The master controller  30  is electronically connected to the touch panel  10  and has a memory unit  31 , a gravity sensing module  32 , a display signal output interface  33 , and an unlock signal determination module  34 . 
         [0066]    The memory unit  31  stores an initial unlock image, an unlock path, an unlock path image, a shaking control image and an unlock endpoint. The gravity sensing module  32  outputs a series of continuous location coordinates after sensing that the mobile touch device is shaken. The display signal output interface  33  is connected with the display signal input interface  11  of the touch panel  10 . The unlock signal determination module  34  is connected with the touch signal output interface  12  of the touch panel  10 , the system memory  20 , the gravity sensing module  32 , the memory unit  31  and the display signal output interface  33 , and is built in with a shake unlock procedure. In the present embodiment, the unlock signal determination module  34  is connected to the touch signal output interface  12  of the touch panel  10  through a touch signal controller  40 . 
         [0067]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a first embodiment of a method for unlocking a shake unlock mobile touch device in accordance with the present invention has the following steps. 
         [0068]    Step S 11 : The unlock signal determination module  34  reads the initial unlock image and outputs the initial unlock image to the touch panel  10  through the display signal output interface  33  for the touch panel  10  to display the initial unlock image. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the touch panel  10  displays the initial unlock image I 1  thereon. The initial unlock image I 1  can be preferably positioned on a right bottom corner of the touch panel  10  for users to touch the touch panel  10  when holding the mobile touch device with the right hand. The initial unlock image I 1  can be also positioned on a left bottom corner of the touch panel  10  to facilitate the operation of left-handed users, or can occupy the entire screen of touch panel for the operation of both left-handed and right-handed users. 
         [0069]    Step  12 : The unlock signal determination module  34  receives the touch signal outputted from the touch panel  10  and determines if the touch signal occurs when the initial unlock image I 1  is touched; if negative, resume Step  11 ; and if positive, go to next step. 
         [0070]    Step  13 : The unlock signal determination module  34  reads the shaking control image I 2 , the unlock endpoint P 1  and coordinates corresponding to the shaking control image I 2  and the unlock endpoint P 1  from the memory unit  31  and outputs the read information to the touch panel  10  through the display signal output interface  33  for the touch panel  10  to display as shown in  FIG. 4 . The shaking control image I 2  and the unlock endpoint P 1  are displayed on the corresponding coordinates thereof. As the respective coordinates of the shaking control image I 2  and the unlock endpoint P 1  are different, the shaking control image I 2  and the unlock endpoint P 1  are displayed on two different positions on the touch panel  10 . 
         [0071]    Step  14 : The unlock signal determination module  34  receives a series of continuous location coordinates outputted from the gravity sensing module  32  and varies the coordinates of the shaking control image I 2  displayed on the touch panel  10  according to a path variation represented by the series of continuous location coordinates as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . When the mobile touch device is moved along the paths indicated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the gravity sensing module  32  senses that the mobile touch device is shaken and outputs a series of continuous location coordinates represented by t 1 ˜t 10  in  FIGS. 5C and 5D  according to the shaking motions of the mobile touch device. The coordinates of the displayed shaking control image I 2  vary with the series of continuous location coordinates outputted by the gravity sensing module  32 . 
         [0072]    Step  15 : The unlock signal determination module  34  determines if the coordinates of the shaking control image I 2  on the move coincide with those of the unlock endpoint P 1 . 
         [0073]    Step  16 : If the determination result in Step  15  is positive, the unlock signal determination module  34  unlocks the lock mode configured in the system memory  20  as shown in  FIG. 6 , and if negative, the unlock signal determination module  34  returns to Step  11  if the coordinates of the shaking control image do not coincide with those of the unlock endpoint P 1  after a preset waiting time. 
         [0074]    As indicated in  FIG. 2 , if the users intend to unlock the lock mode, two steps required to be performed are summarized as follows. 
         [0075]    Step U 1 : Touch the initial unlock image I 1 . In relative to image-dragging operation, the user&#39;s thumb is not required to slide on the touch panel  10  in Step U 1  and even a thumb holding the mobile touch device can complete Step U 1 . The operation is more convenient and initiates the unlocking process due to accidental touch irrespective of whether the initial unlock image is located on the left bottom corner, on the right bottom corner, or on the entire screen of the touch panel  10 . 
         [0076]    Step U 2 : Shake the mobile touch device. Move the shaking control image I 2  to the unlock endpoint P 1  in completion of the unlocking process. Step U 2  can be performed by using one hand to hold and shake the mobile touch device. 
         [0077]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , a second embodiment of a method for unlocking a shake unlock mobile touch device in accordance with the present invention can also senses shaking motion to unlock and substantially differs from the foregoing embodiment in that the present embodiment further displays an unlock path image on the touch panel  10  to instruct users to shake according to a path indicated by the unlock path image. The shake unlock procedure has the following steps. 
         [0078]    Step  21 : Read the initial unlock image I 1  from the memory unit  31 , and output the initial unlock image I 1  to the touch panel  10  through the display signal output interface  33  for the touch panel  10  to display the initial unlock image. 
         [0079]    Step  22 : Receive a touch signal outputted from the touch panel  10 , determine if the touch signal is generated when the initial unlock image I 1  is touched; if negative, resume Step  21 , and if positive, go to next step. 
         [0080]    Step S 23 : Read the unlock path image I 3  stored in the memory unit  31 , and output the unlock path image I 3  to the touch panel  10  for the touch panel  10  to display the unlock path image I 3  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0081]    Step S 24 : Receive a series of continuous location coordinates outputted from the gravity sensing module  32 . 
         [0082]    Step S 25 : Determine if a path formed by the series of continuous location coordinates matches the unlock path stored in the memory unit  31 . 
         [0083]    Step  26 : If the determination result in Step S 25  is positive, unlock the lock mode configured in the system memory  20 , and if negative, return to step S 21 . 
         [0084]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5C , as the gravity sensing module  32  outputs a series of continuous location coordinates when the mobile touch device is moved, determining if a moving path indicated by the series of continuous location coordinates matches the unlock path provides judgment for users to know if the mobile touch device is shaken according to the instruction indicated by the unlock path image I 3 . With reference to  FIG. 9 , if the moving path of the mobile touch device matches the unlock path, the mobile touch device is unlocked. 
         [0085]    With reference to  FIG. 10 , as application software in a mobile touch device adds more value to the mobile touch device, the present invention further incorporates a game application into the mobile touch device to increase the fun of users in using the mobile touch device. The method further displays the shaking control image I 2  and the unlock endpoint P 1  in addition to the unlock path image I 3  in Step S 23 , and varies the coordinates of the displayed shaking control image I 2  with a series of continuous location coordinates received in Step S 24 , providing more fun to users in viewing the track formed by shaking the mobile touch device. 
         [0086]    With reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , when users intend to move a golf ball forward according to the path instructed in a leisure-type game, the operation is performed only on a two-dimensional plane defined by X and Z axes. The gravity sensing module  32  only outputs a series of continuous coordinates in at least two coordinate axes. To diversify the shaking operation and increase the operational pleasure, the gravity sensing module  32  can further output a series of continuous location coordinates in three coordinate axes to display a three-dimensional path image as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  for users to shake and unlock the mobile touch device in a three-dimensional space. 
         [0087]    In sum, the present invention not only allows users to easily unlock a shake unlock mobile touch device with single-handed operation but also provides various leisure-type game applications to application developers. Accordingly, users can enjoy the fun of playing the leisure-type game applications without adding additional expensive hardware and increasing the hardware cost of a shake unlock mobile touch device. 
         [0088]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.