Patent Publication Number: US-2013232446-A1

Title: Electronic device and method for unlocking electronic device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 101106653, filed on Mar. 1, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method for unlocking an electronic device, and in particular relates to a method for unlocking an electronic device by tapping an icon on the desktop of the electronic device during a locked state. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Presently, mobile devices are highly developed and multi-functional. For example, handheld devices, such as mobile phones or tablets, are capable of telecommunications, receiving/transmitting e-mails, maintaining social networks, managing contacts, and playing media, etc. Hence, users can implement various applications on their mobile devices, such as a simple phone call, social network, or commercial transaction. Therefore, mobile devices have becomes one of the necessities of people&#39;s lives, and the recording of personal information stored in the mobile device have become increasingly diverse and important. 
     Most of the current handheld devices include touch screens and touch units. Users may input information and commands by it. When a user has not operated the handheld device for a predetermined amount of time, the device will automatically enter a locked state. Hence, the user has to unlock the device to operate the device in a normal operation mode. 
     Generally, the handheld device can be unlocked by entering a predetermined code or sliding the screen according to the instruction on the device, and a specific application must be enabled by selecting the icon of the specific application after unlocking the handheld device when the user wants to implement the specific application. However, the operations and codes of unlocking are complicated and needs to be memorized, which may cause inconvenience for users in some conditions. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The present invention provides an electronic device capable of operating in a normal operating mode or a locked mode. The electronic device includes a touch screen, an image processing unit, a determination unit, and a switching unit. The touch screen is configured to receive a predetermined gesture and display a plurality of screen layers, wherein the screen layers comprise a lock layer corresponding to the locked mode and a desktop corresponding to the normal operating mode. The image processing unit is configured to insert the lock layer above the desktop when the electronic device is in the locked mode, wherein the lock layer includes a first non-transparent area having a lock icon, and the lock icon is disposed at a first predetermined position on the lock layer. The determination unit is configured to determine whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at the first predetermined position on the lock layer when the electronic device is in the lock mode and the touch screen has been triggered by the predetermined gesture. The switching unit is configured to force the electronic device to enter the normal operating mode from the lock mode and execute a first application corresponding to the lock icon at the first predetermined position when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the first predetermined position on the lock layer. 
     The present invention further provides a method for unlocking an electronic device, wherein the electronic device is capable of operating in a normal operating mode or a locked mode and includes a touch screen. The method includes inserting a lock layer above a desktop corresponding to the normal operating mode when the electronic device is in the locked mode, wherein the lock layer includes a first non-transparent area, and the first non-transparent area includes a lock icon disposed at a first predetermined position; determining whether the touch screen has been triggered by a predetermined gesture when the electronic device is in the locked mode; determining whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer when the touch screen has been triggered by the predetermined gesture; determining whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at the first predetermined position when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer; and forcing the electronic device to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute a first application corresponding to the lock icon at the first predetermined position when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the first predetermined position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a lock layer and a desktop of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of a lock layer of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a desktop, a lock layer and an event layer of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of a desktop, a lock layer and an event layer of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of an event layer of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic device of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  illustrate a flowchart of a method for unlocking the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a lock layer and a desktop of the present invention. The lock layer S 1  includes a first transparent area V 1  and a first non-transparent area V 1 ′, wherein the first non-transparent area V 1 ′ includes a plurality of lock icons O 1 -ON, and the lock icons O 1 -ON are disposed at different predetermined positions (i.e. first predetermined positions) and correspond to different applications, respectively. For example, the lock icon O 1  can be an unlock button, the lock icon O 2  can be a voice call application, etc., but the invention is not limited thereto. The desktop DT includes a plurality of the desktop icons DO 1 -DON, and the desktop icons DO 1 -DON are disposed at different predetermined positions (i.e. second predetermined positions) and corresponding to different applications, respectively. For example, the desktop icon DO 1  can be a music application, the desktop icon DO 2  can be a photogram application, etc., but the invention is not limited thereto. Additionally, the first transparent area V 1  is configured to display at least one of the desktop icons on the desktop DT when the lock layer S 1  is inserted above the desktop DT. Namely, the first transparent area V 1  displays at least one of the desktop icons on the desktop DT when the desktop DT is covered with the lock layer S 1 . For example, users can see the desktop icons DO 1 -DO 9  on the desktop DT through the first transparent area V 1  of the lock layer S 1  when the lock layer S 1  is inserted above the desktop DT. In another embodiment, the lock layer S 1  only has one lock icon, and the desktop DT only has one desktop icon, however, they are not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of a lock layer of the present invention. The lock layer S 1  of  FIG. 2  is similar to the lock layer S 1  of  FIG. 1  except that the lock layer S 1  of  FIG. 2  includes more than one first transparent areas V 1  and first non-transparent areas V 1 ′. For the details of the lock layer S 1  in  FIG. 2 , reference can be made to  FIG. 1 , and it is not discussed in further detail herein. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of a desktop, a lock layer and an event layer of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1  except for the event layer N 1 . The event layer N 1  includes a second transparent area V 2  and a second non-transparent area V 2 ′, wherein the second non-transparent area V 2 ′ includes a plurality of event icons NO 1 -NON. The event icons NO 1 -NON are disposed at different predetermined positions (i.e. the third predetermined positions) and corresponding to different applications, respectively. For example, the event icon NO 1  can correspond to answering a phone call when the new event is an incoming call, but it is not limited thereto. Additionally, the second transparent area V 2  is configured to display at least one lock icon on the lock layer S 1  and/or at least one desktop icon on the desktop DT when the event layer N 1  is inserted above the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT. For example, users can see the lock icons O 1 -ON on the lock layer S 1  through the second transparent area V 2  when the event layer N 1  is inserted above the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT. Furthermore, users can see the desktop icons DO 1 -DO 3  and DO 7 -DO 9  on the desktop DT through the first transparent area V 1  and the second transparent area V 2  when the event layer N 1  is inserted above the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT. In another embodiment, the event layer N 1  has only one event icon, and it is not limited thereto. 
     It should be noted that the event layer N 1  can be inserted between the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT, as shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3  except for the position of the event layer N 1  which is inserted between the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT. For example, users can see the event icons NO 1 -NON on the event layer N 1  through the first transparent area V 1  when the event layer N 1  is inserted between the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT. Additionally, users can see the desktop icons DO 1 -DO 3  and DO 7 -DO 9  on the desktop DT through the first transparent area V 1  and the second transparent area V 2  when the event layer N 1  is inserted between the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT. In another embodiment, the event layer N 1  only has one event icon, and it is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of an event layer of the present invention. The event layer N 1  of  FIG. 5  is similar to the event layers N 1  of  FIGS. 3-4 , except that the event layer N 1  of  FIG. 5  includes more than one second transparent areas V 2  and second non-transparent areas V 2 ′. For the details of the event layer N 1 , reference can be made to  FIGS. 3-4 , and it is not discussed in further detail herein. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic device of the present invention, wherein the electronic device  100  is capable of operating in a normal operating mode or a locked mode. The electronic device  100  includes a touch screen  110  and a control unit  120 . It should be noted that the electronic device  100  can be a mobile phone, a tablet, etc., and it is not limited thereto. 
     The touch screen  110  includes a touch module  112  and a display module  114 . The touch module  112  is configured to receive a predetermined gesture. The display module  114  is configured to display a plurality of screen layers, wherein the displayed screen layers include at least one lock layer S 1  corresponding to the locked mode and a desktop DT corresponding to the normal operating mode, as  FIG. 1  shows. It should be noted that the screen layers not only include the lock layer S 1  corresponding to the locked mode and the desktop DT corresponding to the normal operating mode, but also include an event layer N 1  corresponding to a new event, as  FIGS. 3-4  shows. Additionally, the predetermined gesture of the present invention can be ticking or circling action, but it is not limited thereto. 
     The control unit  120  includes an image processing unit  122 , a determination unit  124 , a switching unit  126 , and a detection unit  128 . The image processing unit  122  is configured to insert the lock layer S 1  above the desktop DT when the electronic device  100  is in the locked mode, as shown in  FIG. 1 . In another embodiment, the image processing unit  122  is further configured to insert at least one event layer N 1  above the lock layer S 1  or between the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , when a new event has occurred in the locked mode, wherein the event layer N 1  includes at least one second transparent area V 2 . 
     The determination unit  124  is configured to determine whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1  or the desktop DT when the touch screen  110  has been triggered by the predetermined gesture in the locked mode. Namely, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1  or the desktop DT after the touch screen  110  has detected a predetermined gesture in the locked mode. When the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 , the determination unit  124  is further configured to determine whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at a predetermined position corresponding to one of the lock icons O 1 -ON. When the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, the determination unit  124  is further configured to determine whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at a predetermined position corresponding to one of the desktop icons DO 1 -DON. 
     Additionally, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT or the lock layer S 1  according to the first transparent area V 1  and the position of the predetermined gesture on the touch screen  110 . For example, the determination unit  124  determines whether the touch screen  110  has been triggered by the predetermined gesture according to the signal produced by the touch screen  110 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 1 , when the touch screen  110  has been triggered by the predetermined gesture, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT or the lock layer S 1  according to whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1 . The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  instead of the first non-transparent area V 1 ′. The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1  when the predetermined gesture has not been executed on the first transparent area V 1 . Namely, the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1  when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first non-transparent area V 1 ′. The determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the lock icons O 1 -ON, when the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 . In another embodiment, the determination unit  124  is further configured to determine whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, the lock layer S 1 , or the event layer N 1  according to the first transparent area V 1 , the first non-transparent area V 1 ′, the second transparent area V 2 , the second non-transparent area V 2 ′, and the position of the predetermined gesture on the touch screen  110 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the determination unit  124  determines whether the touch screen  110  has been triggered by the predetermined gesture according to the signal produced by the touch screen  110 . The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the event layer N 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the second non-transparent area V 2 ′ instead of the second transparent area V 2 . The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the second transparent area V 2  and the first non-transparent area V 1 ′. The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  and the second transparent area V 2 . Similarly, for the details of  FIG. 4 , reference can be made to the above description. It should be noted that, in the  FIG. 4 , the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first non-transparent area V 1 ′ instead of the first transparent area V 1 . The determination unit  124  determines the predetermined gesture has been executed on the event layer N 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  and the second non-transparent area V 2 ′. The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  and the second transparent area V 2 . Additionally, in some of the embodiments, the first transparent area V 1  does not overlap with the first non-transparent area V 1 ′, and the second transparent area V 2  does not overlap with the second non-transparent area V 2 ′. 
     When the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the lock icons O 1 -ON on the lock layer S 1 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the lock icon at the executed predetermined position. Additionally, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the desktop icons DO 1 -DON of the desktop DT, the switching unit  126  is further configured to determine whether the application corresponding to the desktop icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. It should be noted that, when the application corresponding to the desktop icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the lock icon at the executed predetermined position. When the application corresponding to the desktop icon at the executed predetermined position does not require the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to operate in the locked mode to execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon at the executed predetermined position. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the lock icon O 1  at the first predetermined position, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the first predetermined position of the lock icon O 1  on the lock layer S 1 . Furthermore, the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 1  at the second predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the second predetermined position of the desktop icon DO 1  on the desktop DT. When the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 1  at the second predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 1  at the second predetermined position. For example, because the desktop icon DO 1  corresponds to website browsing, the electronic device  100  has to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 1 . In another embodiment, the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 2  at the second predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the second predetermined position of the desktop icon DO 2  on the desktop DT. Furthermore, the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 2  at the second predetermined position, when the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 2  at the second predetermined position does not require the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. For example, because the desktop icon DO 2  corresponds to music playing, the electronic device  100  does not have to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 2 . 
     In another embodiment, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the event icons NO 1 -NON of the event layer N 1 , the switching unit  126  is further configured to determine whether the application corresponding to the event icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. The switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode to execute the application corresponding to the event icon at the predetermined position, when the application corresponding to the event icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. The switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to execute the application corresponding to the event icon at the executed predetermined position in the locked mode, when the application corresponding to the event icon at the executed predetermined position does not require the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. For example, the switching unit  126  detects whether the application corresponding to the event icon NO 1  at the third predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the third predetermined position of the event icon NO 1  on the event layer N 1 . The switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the event icon NO 1  at the third predetermined position, when the application corresponding to the event icon NO 1  at third predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. For example, because the event icon NO 1  corresponds to mail receiving/sending, the electronic device  100  has to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to event icon NO 1 . In another embodiment, the switching unit  126  detects whether the application corresponding to the event icon NO 2  at the third predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the third predetermined position corresponding to the event icon NO 2  on the event layer N 1 . The switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to execute the application corresponding to the event icon NO 2  at the third predetermined position, when the application corresponding to the event icon NO 2  at the predetermined position does not require the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. For example, because the desktop icon DO 2  corresponds to call rejection, the electronic device  100  does not have to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to the event icon NO 2 . 
     The detection unit  128  is configured to detect whether a new event has occurred when the electronic device  100  is in the locked mode. When the new event has occurred, the detection unit  128  forces the image processing unit  122  to insert the event layer N 1  above the lock layer S 1  or between the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT, as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . 
       FIGS. 7A-7B  show a flowchart of a method for locking the electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method is applied to an electronic device  100  with a touch screen  110 , wherein the electronic device  100  is capable of operating in a normal operating mode or a locked mode, and the process starts at Step S 700 . 
     In the Step S 700 , the electronic device  100  enters the locked mode from the normal operating mode according to a predetermined condition. It should be noted that the electronic device  100  meets the predetermined condition when the electronic device  100  is not triggered at a predetermined time or receives a lock signal, but it is not limited thereto. 
     Next, in the Step S 702 , the image processing unit  122  inserts the lock layer S 1  above the desktop DT which is corresponding to the normal operating mode, wherein the lock layer S 1  includes a first transparent area V 1  and/or a first non-transparent area V 1 ′. The first non-transparent area V 1 ′ includes at least one of the lock icons O 1 -ON, and the lock icons O 1 -ON are disposed at different predetermined positions (i.e. first predetermined positions) and corresponding to different applications, respectively. For the details of the lock layer S 1 , reference can be made to  FIGS. 1-5 , and it is not discussed in further detail herein. 
     Next, in the Step S 704 , the determination unit  124  determines whether a new event has occurred. For example, the new event can be an incoming call, a new massage, game notices, etc., and is not limited thereto. When the new event has occurred, Step S 706  is performed; otherwise, Step S 708  is performed. 
     Next, in the Step S 706 , the image processing unit  122  inserts an event layer N 1  above the lock layer S 1  or between the lock layer S 1  and the desktop DT, as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 . Furthermore, the event layer N 1  includes a second transparent area V 2  and/or a second non-transparent area V 2 ′, wherein the second non-transparent area V 2 ′ includes at least one of the event icons NO 1 -NON. The event icons NO 1 -NON are disposed at different predetermined positions (i.e. the third predetermined positions) and corresponding to different applications, respectively. For the details of the event layer N 1 , reference can be made to  FIGS. 1-5 , and it is not discussed in further detail herein. 
     Next, in the Step S 708 , the determination unit  124  determines whether the touch screen  110  has been triggered by a predetermined gesture. For example, the predetermined gesture of the present invention can be ticking or circling action, but it is not limited thereto. Step S 712  is performed when the determination unit  124  determines that the touch screen  110  has been triggered by the predetermined gesture, and Step S 710  is performed when the determination unit  124  determines that the touch screen  110  is not triggered by the predetermined gesture. 
     Next, in the Step S 710 , the electronic device  100  stays in the locked mode. The process ends at Step S 710 . 
     Next, in the Step S 712 , the determination unit  124  determines which screen layer (i.e. the desktop DT, the lock layer S 1 , or the event layer N 1 ) the predetermined gesture has been executed on according to the position of the predetermined gesture. In one of the embodiments, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1  according to the position of the predetermined gesture on the touch screen  110 . For example, the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 , when the lock layer S 1  does not have the first transparent area V 1  (not shown) and the predetermined gesture has been executed on the touch screen  110 . 
     In another embodiment, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT or the lock layer S 1  according to the first transparent area V 1 , first non-transparent area V 1 ′ and the position of the predetermined gesture on touch screen  110 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, the determination unit  124  determines whether the touch screen  110  has been triggered by the predetermined gesture according to the signal produced by the touch screen  110 . Furthermore, the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  instead of the first non-transparent area V 1 ′. The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first non-transparent area V 1 ′ instead of the first transparent area V 1 . 
     In another embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, the lock layer S 1 , or the event layer N 1  according to the first transparent area V 1 , the first non-transparent area V 1 ′, the second transparent area V 2 , the second non-transparent area V 2 ′, and the position of the predetermined gesture on the touch screen  110 . 
     For example, the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the event layer N 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the second non-transparent area V 2 ′ instead of the second transparent area V 2 , as  FIG. 3  shows. The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the second transparent area V 2  and the first non-transparent area V 1 ′. The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  and the second transparent area V 2 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1  when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first non-transparent area V 1 ′ instead of the first transparent area V 1 . The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the event layer N 1 , when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  and the second non-transparent area V 2 ′. The determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the first transparent area V 1  and the second transparent area V 2 . It should be noted that the determination unit  124  can produce a determining signal corresponding to the executed screen layer according to the determination. 
     Next, in the Step S 714 , the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position on the executed screen layer. For example, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the lock icons O 1 -ON, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 . In another embodiment, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the desktop icons DO 1 -DON, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the desktop DT. In yet another embodiment, the determination unit  124  determines whether the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the event icons NO 1 -NON, when the predetermined gesture has been executed on the event layer N 1 . When the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position of one of the screen layers, Step S 716  is performed, otherwise, Step S 710  is performed. 
     Next, in the Step S 716 , when the determination unit  124  determines that the predetermined gesture has been executed on the lock layer S 1 , Step S 720  is performed, otherwise, Step S 718  is performed. 
     In the Step S 718 , the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. When the switching unit  126  determines the application corresponding to the icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, Step S 720  is performed, otherwise Step S 722  is performed. 
     When the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the desktop icons DO 1 -DON on the desktop DT, the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the desktop icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. For example, the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 1  at the second predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to the desktop icon DO 1  on the desktop DT. For instance, because the desktop icon DO 1  corresponds to website browsing, the electronic device  100  has to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 1 . In another embodiment, the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 2  at the predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the second predetermined position corresponding to the desktop icon DO 2 . For example, because the desktop icon DO 2  corresponds to music playing, the electronic device  100  does not have to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon DO 2 . 
     In another embodiment, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the event icons NO 1 -NON of the event layer N 1 , the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the event icon at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. For example, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to the event icon NO 1  on the event layer N 1 , the switching unit  126  determines whether the application corresponding to the event icon NO 1  at the executed predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked. For instance, because the event icon NO 1  corresponds to mail receiving/sending, the electronic device  100  has to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to event icon NO 1 . In another embodiment, the switching unit  126  detects whether the application corresponding to the event icon NO 2  at the predetermined position requires the electronic device  100  to be unlocked, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position correspond to the event icon NO 2  on the event layer N 1 . For example, because the desktop icon DO 2  corresponds to call rejection, the electronic device  100  does not have to be unlocked to execute the application corresponding to the event icon NO 2 . 
     In the Step S 720 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the icon at the executed predetermined position. In one of the embodiments, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the lock icons O 1 -ON on the lock layer S 1 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the lock icon at the executed predetermined position. In another embodiment, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the desktop icons DO 1 -DON of the desktop DT, the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode form the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the desktop icon at the executed predetermined position. In yet another embodiment, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the event icons NO 1 -NON on the event layer N 1 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to enter the normal operating mode from the locked mode and execute the application corresponding to the event icon at the executed predetermined position. The process ends at Step S 720 . 
     In the Step S 722 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to execute the application corresponding to the icon at the executed predetermined position in the locked mode. In one of the embodiments, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the lock icons O 1 -ON on the lock layer S 1 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to execute the application corresponding to the lock icon at the executed predetermined position in the locked mode. In another embodiment, when the predetermined gesture has been executed at the predetermined position corresponding to one of the event icons NO 1 -NON on the event layer N 1 , the switching unit  126  forces the electronic device  100  to execute the application corresponding to the event icon at the executed predetermined position in the locked mode. The process ends at Step S 722 . 
     The methods, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of a program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for practicing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of a program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application specific logic circuits. 
     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.