Patent Publication Number: US-2017351872-A1

Title: Method, device, and system for sending and receiving information

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims priority to PCT Patent Application No. PCT/CN2016/084670 filed on Jun. 3, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the technical field of Internet, and more particularly, to a method, a device and a system for sending and receiving information. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An application-locking application (APP) is an APP for locking applications in a terminal. When there are a plurality of APPs in the terminal, if a user prefers to lock one of the APPs, the user may lock that APP by configuring the application-locking APP. When the user wants to use that locked APP, an APP unlock interface may be prompted. The user may use that APP normally after entering a correct unlock password in the APP unlock interface. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a method, a device and a system for sending and receiving information. 
     According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for sending information. The method includes: acquiring an identifier of an APP, the APP being an application having an APP unlock interface; inquiring for information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, the information being information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP; and sending the information to a target terminal, the information being configured to be shown in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for receiving information. The method includes: providing an identifier of an APP to a server, the APP being an application having an APP unlock interface; receiving information sent from the server, the information being information corresponding to the identifier of the APP; and showing the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for sending information. The device includes: a processor; and a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform: acquiring an identifier of an APP, the APP being an application having an APP unlock interface; inquiring for information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, the information being information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP; and sending the information to a target terminal, the information being configured to be shown in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a device for receiving information. The device includes: a processor; and a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform: providing an identifier of an APP to a server, the APP being an application having an APP unlock interface; receiving information sent from the server, the information being information corresponding to the identifier of the APP; and showing the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a system for sending and receiving information including a server and a target terminal, the server and the target terminal being interconnected via a wired or wireless network, wherein the server includes a first device for sending information, the first device including a first processor and a first memory for storing instructions executable by the first processor, the first processor configured to perform: acquiring an identifier of an APP, the APP being an application having an APP unlock interface; inquiring for information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, the information being information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP; and sending the information to a target terminal, the information being configured to be shown in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP, and the target terminal includes a second device for receiving information, the second device including a second processor and a second memory for storing instructions executable by the second processor, the second processor configured to perform: providing the identifier of the APP to the server; receiving the information sent from the server, the information being information corresponding to the identifier of the APP; and showing the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system for sending information, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a method for sending information, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method for sending information, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic diagram of an interface when an information promoting terminal reports information to be promoted and promoting condition to a server. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an APP unlock interface, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an APP unlock interface, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of an APP unlock interface, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of an APP unlock interface, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart of a method for sending information, according to another exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a device for sending information, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of a device for receiving information, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram of a target terminal, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a server, according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The following description refers to the accompanying drawings in which the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise represented. The implementations set forth in the following description of exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. Instead, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with aspects related to the present disclosure as recited in the appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a system  100  for sending information, according to an exemplary embodiment. The system  100  includes one or more information promoting terminal  120 , a server  140 , and one or more target terminal  160 . 
     The information promoting terminal  120  is a terminal used by an information promoter. The information promoting terminal  120  may be a smart phone, a tablet, a portable computer, a desktop computer, and the like. In some embodiments, a promoting APP may be running in the information promoting terminal  120 . The promoting APP may be configured to upload to the server  140  information to be promoted. Alternatively, the promoting APP may be a webpage client. The information promoting terminal  120  is connected to the server  140  via a wired or wireless network. 
     The server  140  is configured to manage information uploaded from the information promoting terminal  120 , and to send the information to the target terminal  160  according to promoting conditions configured by the information promoting terminal  120 . The promoting conditions includes at least an identifier of the promoting APP. The server  140  may be one server, a plurality of servers or a cloud computing center. In some embodiments, the server  140  may be constructed by a supplier of an APP having the APP unlock interface, or may be constructed by a supplier of an application-locking APP. Optionally, the server  140  may be further connected to the target terminal  160  via a wired or wireless network. 
     The target terminal  160  may be a terminal including, for example, a smart phone, a tablet, a portable computer, a desktop computer, and the like. In some embodiments, the target terminal  160  is installed with an APP having an APP unlock interface, which is a native interface provided by the APP itself. Optionally, the target terminal  160  may be installed with an application-locking APP and other APPs that are not the application-locking APP, wherein the other APPs have APP unlock interfaces provided by the application-locking APP. 
     When an application-locking APP is used, a password is required to be set by a user. The password may be a digital password, a graphic password, a face image password or a fingerprint password. After setting the password, the user selects a second APP to be encrypted from installed APPs. After locking the second APP, when the user uses the second APP, the application-locking APP will intercept an initiating instruction of the second APP, and generate and display an APP unlock interface corresponding to the second APP. The user is required to input a correct password (i.e., the password set by the user) on the APP unlock interface to use the second APP normally. 
     The target terminal  160  is configured to receive information corresponding to an APP and sent by the server  140 , and to display the information in an APP unlock interface of the APP. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of a method  200  for sending information according to an exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, the method  200  will be described for the server  140  and the target terminal  160  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The method  200  includes the following steps. 
     In step  201 , the target terminal  160  provides to the sever  140  an identifier of an APP having an APP unlock interface. 
     The APP unlock interface may be a native interface of the APP. Alternatively, the APP unlock interface may be an interface provided by an application-locking APP. 
     In step  202 , the server  140  acquires the identifier of the APP. 
     The identifier of the APP is unique. The identifier of the APP may be represented by a name of the APP. Alternatively, the identifier of the APP may be represented by a character string. The form of the identifier of the APP is not limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In step  203 , the server  140  inquires information corresponding to the identifier of the APP. The information is information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP. 
     A corresponding relationship between identifiers of APPs and information to be promoted may be stored in the server  140 . Table 1 illustrates an exemplary corresponding relationship. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Exemplary corresponding relationships between identifiers of  
               
               
                 APPs and information to be promoted. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Identifier of APP 
                 Information to be promoted 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Study APPA 
                 Class information of training class X 
               
               
                   
                 Fitness APP B 
                 Introduction information of healthy weight 
               
               
                   
                   
                 loss 
               
               
                   
                 Shopping APP C 
                 Holiday discount information of shopping 
               
               
                   
                   
                 mall W 
               
               
                   
                 Music APP D 
                 Memorial information of 100 anniversary  
               
               
                   
                   
                 of birth of singer M 
               
               
                   
                 . . .  
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As shown in Table 1, for example, If the identifier of the APP is the “Study APP A”, the server  140  may acquire the information corresponding to the “Study APP A” as the “Class information of training class X”. 
     In step  204 , the server  140  sends the information to the target terminal  160 . The information is configured to be shown in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     In step  205 , the target terminal  160  receives the information sent from the server, and shows the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     In the method  200  for sending information according to the present embodiment, the server  140  inquires information corresponding to the identifier of the APP. The information is information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP. After the server  140  sends the information to the target terminal  160 , the target terminal  160  shows the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. It may solve the technical problem that an application-locking APP may be used only for locking and unlocking APPs, such that information may be shown in the APP unlock interface of the APP. Information relating to the APP may be provided to a user of the APP, thereby using the APP unlock interface as an effective information promoting window. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart of a method  300  for sending information, according to another exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, for example, the method  300  will be described for the system  100 —illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The method  300  includes the following steps. 
     In step  301 , the information promoting terminal  120  reports to the server  140  the information to be promoted and the promoting condition. The promoting condition includes at least the identifier of the APP. 
     When the information promoter has a promoting requirement, the information to be promoted and the promoting condition are reported to the server  140  through the information promoting terminal  120 . 
     The form of the information to be promoted may include, but is not limited to: images, text, videos, web links, audios, and the like. 
     The content of the information to be promoted may include, but is not limited to: recommended APP information, APP function introduction information, training class consulting information, sales promotion information, health management information, recommended audio and video information, movie on-show information, and the like. 
     The promoting condition includes at least the identifier of the APP. The APP is an APP corresponding to the information to be promoted. For example, if the information to be promoted is health management information, the corresponding APP may be a fitness APP. 
     In some embodiments, the promoting condition may further include at least one of age condition, sex condition, geographical location condition, educational background condition, recently browsed information condition, and recent shopping information condition. These promoting conditions may be configured as necessary conditions or optional conditions. When these promoting conditions are configured as optional conditions, a target terminal satisfying these promoting conditions may be a target terminal having a high priority, wherein a target terminal that matches more of these promoting conditions may have a higher priority. 
     For example,  FIG. 4  shows a schematic diagram of an interface of the information promoting terminal  120  reporting information to be promoted and corresponding promoting conditions. As shown in  FIG. 4 , information to be promoted entitled “Class information of training class X” is reported/uploaded to the server  140  via a web page client, wherein the content of the information includes “Good news for English lovers!!! Training class X is opening on June 1, please sign up at http://xxxxxxxxx.com”, and the promoting condition includes: APP “X dictionary” and age “12-35”. 
     Additionally, the illustrated promoting condition further includes promoting counts and promoting time. For example, the promoting counts are 1000 times, and the promoting time is 19:00-22:00 every evening. 
     Also, the promoting condition may further include showing information. The showing information may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the following forms: showing as a background image; showing as a background animation; showing as a background of a password input control; showing in the form of webpage link; and showing as an APP dock. 
     In step  302 , the server  140  stores the information to be promoted and the promoting condition. 
     The server  140  may receive information to be promoted and corresponding promoting conditions uploaded from one or more information promoting terminals. 
     For example, Table 2 schematically illustrates exemplary information to be promoted and the corresponding promoting conditions stored in the server  140 . 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Exemplary information to be promoted and corresponding promoting conditions 
               
               
                 stored in the server. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Promoting 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Information 
                 Identifier of the 
                 counts or 
                   
                   
               
               
                 title 
                 correlated APP 
                 promoting time 
                 Information content 
                 Showing form 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Class 
                 Study APP A 
                 1000 
                 Good news for 
                 Showing in the 
               
               
                 information 
                   
                   
                 English lovers!!! 
                 form of 
               
               
                 of training 
                   
                   
                 Training class X is 
                 webpage link 
               
               
                 class X 
                   
                   
                 opening on June 1, 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 please sign up at 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 http://xxxxxxxxx.com 
                   
               
               
                 Introduction 
                 Fitness APP B 
                 2000 
                 Aerobics twice a 
                 Showing in the 
               
               
                 information 
                   
                   
                 week, keeping your 
                 form of 
               
               
                 of healthy 
                   
                   
                 perfect figure 
                 webpage link 
               
               
                 weight loss 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Discount 
                 Shopping APP C 
                 100000 
                 Image and webpage 
                 The image is 
               
               
                 information 
                   
                   
                 link 
                 shown as a 
               
               
                 of shopping 
                   
                   
                   
                 background 
               
               
                 mall W on 
                   
                   
                   
                 image, and the 
               
               
                 holiday Z 
                   
                   
                   
                 webpage link 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 is shown in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 form of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 webpage link 
               
               
                 Memorial 
                 Music APP D 
                 A certain day 
                 Image and circular 
                 The image is 
               
               
                 information 
                   
                   
                 icon 
                 shown as a 
               
               
                 of 100 
                   
                   
                   
                 background 
               
               
                 anniversary 
                   
                   
                   
                 image, and the 
               
               
                 of birth of the 
                   
                   
                   
                 circular icon is 
               
               
                 singer M 
                   
                   
                   
                 shown as a 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 background of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 a password 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 input control 
               
               
                 News APP 
                 Chat APP E 
                 19:00-22:00 
                 Docking interface of 
                 Showing as an 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Every evening 
                 the news APP 
                 APP dock 
               
               
                 . . .  
                 . . .  
                 . . .  
                 . . .  
                 . . . 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In step  303 , the target terminal  160  provides to the server the identifier of the APP having the APP unlock interface. 
     Alternatively, the target terminal  160  may send a request for acquiring information to the server via the application-locking APP, wherein the request for acquiring information carries the identifier of the APP that is locked by the application-locking APP. 
     For example, if the chat APP E and the shopping APP C in a target terminal A are configured to be locked by the user, then the target terminal A sends a request for acquiring information to the server, wherein the request for acquiring information carries the identifiers of the chat APP E and the shopping APP C. 
     In some embodiments, the target terminal  160  sends the request for acquiring information to the server  140  every predetermined time intervals. Alternatively, the target terminal  160  sends the request for acquiring information to the server  140  at each bootup. Alternatively, the target terminal  160  sends the request for acquiring information to the server  140  when the configuration of the locked APP is changed. Optionally, the target terminal  160  may send the request for acquiring information to the server  140  upon interception of an initiating instruction for initiating the locked APP by the user. 
     The timing for the target terminal to send the request for acquiring information is not limited in the present embodiments, and the request for acquiring information may be sent at at least one of the above timings. Meanwhile, the count for the target terminal to send the request for acquiring information is not limited in the present embodiments. After receiving the request for acquiring information once, the server may actively send the information to the target terminal in subsequent time based on historically stored requests for acquiring information. 
     In step  304 , the server  140  acquires the identifier of the APP. 
     In some embodiments, the server  140  receives the request for acquiring information sent from the application-locking APP in the target terminal  160 , and acquires the identifier of the APP from the request for acquiring information. 
     For example, the request for acquiring information carries the identifiers of the chat APP E and the shopping APP C, and the server acquires the identifiers of the chat APP E and the shopping APP C from the request for acquiring information. 
     In some embodiments, the server  140  further stores a corresponding relationship between an identifier of the target terminal and the identifier of the APP. 
     In step  305 , the server  140  inquires for the information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, wherein the information is information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP. 
     In some embodiments, after receiving the request for acquiring the information, the server performs the step  305 . Alternatively, the server performs the step  305  every predetermined time interval based on the stored corresponding relationship between the identifier of the target terminal and the identifier of the APP. The time for performing the step  305  is not limited in the present embodiments. 
     A corresponding relationship between the identifier of the APP and the information to be promoted is stored in the server. The server inquires for the information to be promoted in the corresponding relationship according to the identifier of the APP. 
     For example, the server retrieves according to the “Chat APP E” the information corresponding to the “Chat APP E” as “News APP”. For another example, the server retrieves according to the “Shopping APP C” the information corresponding to the “Shopping APP C” as “Discount information of shopping mall W on holiday Z”. 
     In some embodiments, after retrieving the information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, the server further detects whether the target terminal satisfies other promoting conditions including at least one of an age condition, a sex condition, a geographical location condition, an education condition, a recent browsing information condition, a recent shopping information condition, and the like. 
     In step  306 , the server  140  sends the information to the target terminal  160 , wherein the information is configured to be shown in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     Optionally, the server may send the information to the application-locking APP in the target terminal, wherein the information is configured to be shown in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     Optionally, the server may simultaneously send the corresponding relationship between the identifier of the APP and the information to the application-locking APP in the target terminal. 
     Optionally, the server may further send a showing form of the information in an APP interface to the target terminal. 
     In step  307 , the target terminal  160  receives the information sent from the server  140 . 
     In some embodiments, the application-locking APP in the target terminal receives the information sent from the server. Optionally, the application-locking APP in the target terminal may also simultaneously receive the corresponding relationship between the identifier of the APP and the information. Optionally, the application-locking APP in the target terminal may further simultaneously receives the showing form of the information. For example, Table 3 illustrates the exemplary content received by the target terminal. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Exemplary content received by the target terminal. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Identifier of the 
                 Information  
                   
               
               
                 Information title 
                 correlated APP 
                 content 
                 Showing form 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Discount 
                 Shopping APP C 
                 Image and  
                 The image is shown 
               
               
                 information of 
                   
                 webpage link 
                 as a background 
               
               
                 shopping mall W 
                   
                   
                 image, and the 
               
               
                 on holiday Z 
                   
                   
                 webpage link is 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 shown in the form  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 of webpage link 
               
               
                 News APP 
                 Chat APP E 
                 Docking  
                 Showing as an  
               
               
                   
                   
                 interface of  
                 APP dock 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the News APP 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In step  308 , the target terminal  160  shows the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     When the user starts an APP locked by the application-locking APP, the target terminal will intercept the initiating instruction corresponding to the APP. The initiating instruction may be triggered by tapping the APP icon, tapping the notification message in the taskbar, tapping a corresponding APP preview in the APP management interface, or the like. The target terminal generates and displays an APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP according to the information corresponding to the identifier of the APP. 
     In some embodiments, if the information includes an image and the showing form of the image is “showing as a background image”, the application-locking APP in the target terminal displays the image in the background image of the APP unlock interface. 
     For example,  FIG. 5  shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary APP unlock interface. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , if the information includes the image “poster of children&#39;s dance class”  511 , the image “poster of children&#39;s dance class”  511  is displayed as the background image of the APP unlock interface  51  in the APP unlock interface  51  of APP A. 
     If the information includes a video and the showing form of the video is “showing as a background animation”, the application-locking APP in the target terminal displays the video in the background animation of the APP unlock interface. 
     If the information includes a control element and the showing form of the control element is “showing as a background of a password input control”, the application-locking APP in the target terminal displays the control element in a background of the password input control in the APP unlock interface. 
     The password input control may be at least one of a digital password input control, a graphic password input control, a voiceprint password input control, and a fingerprint password input control. 
     For example,  FIG. 6  shows a schematic diagram of another exemplary APP unlock interface. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the password input control is a “Sudoku” graphic password input control. If the information includes a control element, e.g., a circular head portrait of a famous rock singer  611 , the circular head portrait  611  is shown as the background of the “Sudoku” graphic password input control in the APP unlock interface  61  of the music APP D. 
     If the information includes a webpage link and the showing form of the control element is “showing in the form of webpage link”, the application-locking APP in the target terminal displays the webpage link in the form of webpage link in the APP unlock interface. 
     For example,  FIG. 7  shows a schematic diagram of yet another exemplary APP unlock interface. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , if the information includes a webpage link “39% off for children&#39;s wear on June 1 at shopping mall W”  711 , the webpage link  711  is shown in the form of webpage link in the APP unlock interface  71  of the shopping APP C on the left side of  FIG. 7 . 
     When the information includes an APP docking interface for other APPs and the showing form of the APP docking interface is “showing as an APP dock”, the application-locking APP in the target terminal displays an APP dock corresponding to the APP docking interface in the APP unlock interface. 
     For example,  FIG. 8  shows a schematic diagram of still yet another exemplary APP unlock interface. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when the information includes a docking interface for a news APP, the APP dock  811  of the news APP is displayed according to the docking interface in the APP unlock interface  81  of the chat APP E on the left side of  FIG. 8 . 
     In step  309 , if a correct password is received in the APP unlock interface, the target terminal  160  cancels the APP unlock interface and opens the APP. 
     If the user inputs a correct password in the APP unlock interface, the application-locking APP in the target terminal cancels the display of the APP unlock interface, and starts the APP for the user&#39;s normal use. 
     In step  310 , if an incorrect password is received in the APP unlock interface, the target terminal  160  popups an error message. 
     If the user inputs an incorrect password in the APP unlock interface, the application-locking APP in the target terminal generates and displays an error message. The error message is configured to indicate that the unlock password inputted by the user is incorrect, and that it is required to be inputted again or the user is refused to use the APP. 
     In step  311 , if a first tapping signal generated by tapping the webpage link is received in the APP unlock interface, the target terminal  160  opens a browser and displays the webpage content corresponding to the webpage link. 
     If the user taps the webpage link in the APP unlock interface instead of inputting a password, the application-locking APP in the target terminal opens a browser and displays the webpage content corresponding to the webpage link. The browser may be a built-in browser of the application-locking APP, or may be an independent browser installed in the target terminal. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 7 , when the webpage link “39% off for children&#39;s wear on June 1 at shopping mall W” is tapped, the application-locking APP starts the browser, and loads and displays the webpage content corresponding to the webpage link  711  by using the browser (right side of  FIG. 7 ). 
     In step  312 , if a second tapping signal generated by tapping the APP dock is received in the APP unlock interface, the target terminal starts another APP according to the APP dock. 
     If the user taps the APP dock in the APP unlock interface instead of inputting a password, the application-locking APP in the target terminal docks another APP into a running state using the docking interface corresponding to the APP dock. 
     For example, referring to  FIG. 8 , when the APP dock  811  is tapped, the application-locking APP docks the news APP into a running state according to the docking interface of the news APP (right side of  FIG. 8 ). 
     In the method  300  for sending information according to the present embodiment, the server inquires information corresponding to the identifier of the APP. The information is information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP. After the server sends the information to the target terminal, the target terminal shows the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. It may solve the technical problem that an application-locking APP may be used only for locking and unlocking APPs, such that information may be shown in the APP unlock interface of the APP, and information relating to the APP may be provided to the user of the APP, thereby using the APP unlock interface as an effective information promoting window. 
     Since most APPs are not developed for showing information, when it is desired to show information relating to an APP, the related conventional art may need to display the information in a webpage providing an installation package of the APP, or display the information in an installation management program of the APP. In the methods for sending information according to the present embodiments, by displaying information relating to an APP in the APP unlock interface, a new channel or scheme for showing information is provided, such that the information may be sent to a user precisely and timely when the user uses the APP, thereby sending information with an efficiency and accuracy higher than the related conventional art. 
     According to the methods for sending information provided in the present embodiments, there are provided a plurality of showing information for showing the information in the APP unlock interface, thereby showing the information in a diversified presentation without affecting the normal use of the APP unlock interface by the user. 
     In some embodiments, with respect to the information sent from the information promoter, the corresponding promoting condition may further include a promoting count. In this case, after step  305 , the server is required to determine whether the information has been sent more than the promoting count. If the information is not sent more than the promoting count, then step  306  is performed. If the information is sent more than the promoting count, the server will not send the information to the target terminal. 
     In some embodiments, with respect to the information sent from the information promoter, the corresponding promoting condition may further include promoting time. In this case, after step  305 , the server is required to determine whether a current time matches the promoting time. If the current time matches the promoting time, step  306  is performed. If the current time does not match the promoting time, the server will not send the information to the target terminal. 
     In some embodiments, with respect to a certain APP, there may be a plurality of information promoters that have provided information corresponding to the identifier of the APP. That is, in step  305 , the server inquires at least two pieces of information corresponding to the identifier of the APP. In this case, the above methods for sending information, for example the method  300  may further include steps  902  and  904 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9  (herein referred to as a method  900 ). In  FIG. 9 , the steps except for steps  902  and  904  are the same as the steps in the method  300 , the description of which is not repeated herein. 
     In step  902 , if the inquired information in  FIG. 9  includes at least two pieces of information, the server acquires personal information of the user of the target terminal. 
     The personal information of the user may include, but is not limited to, age, sex, geographical position, educational background, browser cache information, recently shopping information, name of recently used application, calendar information, or the like. The personal information of the user may be uploaded to the server using a predetermined program in the target terminal. The predetermined program may be the application-locking APP, and may also be another APP other than the application-locking APP. The upload procedure of the predetermined program is required to be authorized or permitted by the user. 
     In step  904 , the server selects the information having a highest matching degree with the personal information of the user from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In some embodiments, when the personal information of the user includes age, the information having a highest matching degree with the age is selected from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     For example, two pieces of information, i.e., information A and information B, may correspond to the APP. Information A is provided with an age condition “12-33” and information B is not provided with any age condition. If the personal information of the user includes an age “18”, the server selects the information A as the information to be sent. If the personal information includes an age “40”, the server selects the information B as the information to be sent. 
     In some embodiments, when the personal information of the user includes sex, the information having a highest matching degree with the sex is selected from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     For example, two pieces of information, i.e., information A and information B, may correspond to the APP. Information A is provided with a sex condition “male” and information B is provided with a sex condition “female”. If the personal information of the user includes a sex “male”, the server selects the information A as the information to be sent. If the personal information includes a sex “female”, the server selects the information B as the information to be sent. 
     Optionally, when the personal information of the user includes geographical position, the information having a highest matching degree with the geographical position is selected from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     For example, two pieces of information, i.e., information A and information B, may correspond to the APP. Information A is provided with a geographical position condition “Jiangsu” and information B is not provided with any geographical position condition. If the personal information of the user includes a geographical position “Nanjing”, the server selects the information A as the information to be sent since the city of Nanjing belongs to the Jiangsu province. If the personal information includes a geographical position “Beijing”, the server selects the information B as the information to be sent since the city of Beijing does not belong to the Jiangsu province. 
     Optionally, when the personal information of the user includes educational background, the information having a highest matching degree with the educational background is selected from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     Optionally, when the personal information of the user includes browser cache information, the information having a highest matching degree with the browser cache information is selected from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     For example, two pieces of information, i.e., information A and information B, may correspond to the APP. Information A is provided with a recently browsed information condition “browsing history relating to a dessert shop XX” and information B is provided with a recently browsed information condition “browsing history relating to a coffee shop YY”. If the personal information of the user includes a browser cache information “dessert shop XX: desert XX is on sale”, the server selects the information A as the information to be sent since the browser cache information “dessert shop XX: desert XX is on sale” belongs to the browsing history relating to the dessert shop XX. If the personal information includes a browser cache information “group purchase information of coffee shop YY”, the server selects the information B as the information to be sent since the browser cache information “group purchase information of coffee shop YY” belongs to the browsing history relating to the coffee shop YY. 
     Optionally, when the personal information of the user includes recent shopping information, the information having a highest matching degree with the recent shopping information is selected from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     For example, two pieces of information, i.e., information A and information B, may correspond to the APP. The information A is provided with a recent shopping condition “books” and the information B is provided with a recent shopping condition “digital products”. If the personal information of the user includes a recent shopping information “&lt;My Life&gt;”, the server selects the information A as the information to be sent since the recent shopping information “&lt;My Life&gt;” is a book. If the personal information includes a recent shopping information “SLR camera”, the server selects the information B as the information to be sent since the recent shopping information “SLR camera” belongs to a digital product. 
     Optionally, when the personal information of the user includes calendar information, the information having a highest matching degree with a location in the calendar information is selected from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     For example, two pieces of information, i.e., information A and information B, may correspond to the APP. The information A is provided with a geographical position condition “Jiangsu” and the information B is not provided with any geographical position condition. If the personal information of the user includes a calendar information, e.g., an airline ticket information of “from Tianjin to Nanjing”, the server selects the information A as the information to be sent since the city of Nanjing belongs to Jiangsu province. 
     In some embodiments, two or more of the above various personal information of the user may be combined, and a weighting mechanism may be introduced with respect to the various personal information, so as to comprehensively compute a matching degree of each piece of information with respect to the APP, and select the information having the highest matching degree as the information to be sent. 
     Additionally, in the case where two or more pieces of information may correspond to the APP, and if two pieces of information have the same matching degree, the server may select one piece of information as the information to be sent according to a random algorithm. 
     It should be noted that the steps performed by the information promoting terminal in each of the above method embodiments may be independently implemented as a method for sending information at the information promoting terminal side. The steps performed by the server may be independently implemented as a method for sending information at the server side. The steps performed by the target terminal may be independently implemented as a method for receiving information at the target terminal side. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a device  1000  for sending information, according to an exemplary embodiment. The device  1000  may be implemented as a whole or a part of the server  140  of  FIG. 1  using a specific hardware circuit or a combination of software and hardware. The device  1000  for sending information includes the following components. 
     An acquiring module  1020  is configured to acquire an identifier of an APP, and the APP is an application having an APP unlock interface. 
     An inquiring module  1040  is configured to inquire information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, and the information is information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP. 
     A sending module  1060  is configured to send the information to a target terminal, and the information is configured to be shown in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     In some embodiments, the acquiring module  1020  is configured to receive a request for acquiring information sent from an application-locking APP in the target terminal, and the request for acquiring information carries an identifier of an APP locked by the application-locking APP. 
     In some embodiments, the sending module  1060  is configured to send the information to an application-locking APP in the target terminal, and the application-locking APP is configured to generate and show the APP unlock interface including the information when the APP is triggered. 
     In an embodiment, the device  1000  may further include a selecting module  1080 . 
     The acquiring module  1020  is configured to, if the inquired information includes at least two pieces of information, acquire personal information of the user of the target terminal. 
     The selecting module  1080  is configured to select the information having a highest matching degree with the personal information of the user from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In an embodiment, the selecting module  1080  is configured to, if the personal information of the user includes age, select the information having a highest matching degree with the age from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In an embodiment, the selecting module  1080  is configured to, if the personal information of the user includes sex, select the information having a highest matching degree with the sex from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In an embodiment, the selecting module  1080  is configured to, if the personal information of the user includes geographical position, select the information having a highest matching degree with the geographical position from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In an embodiment, the selecting module  1080  is configured to, if the personal information of the user includes educational background, select the information having a highest matching degree with the educational background from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In an embodiment, the selecting module  1080  is configured to, if the personal information of the user includes browser cache information, select the information having a highest matching degree with the browser cache information from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent; 
     In an embodiments, the selecting module  1080  is configured to, if the personal information of the user includes recently shopping information, select the information having a highest matching degree with the recently shopping information from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In an embodiments, the selecting module  1080  is configured to, if the personal information of the user includes calendar information, select the information having a highest matching degree with a location in the calendar information from the at least two pieces of information as the information to be sent. 
     In the device  1000  for sending information according to the present embodiment, the server inquires information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, the information being information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP. After the server sends the information to the target terminal, the target terminal shows the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. It may solve the technical problem that an application-locking APP may be used only for locking and unlocking APPs, such that information may be shown in the APP unlock interface of the APP, and information relating to the APP may be provided to the user of the APP, thereby using the APP unlock interface as an effective information promoting window. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a structural diagram illustrating a device  1100  for receiving information, according to an exemplary embodiment. The device  1100  for receiving information may be implemented as a whole or a part of the target terminal  160  of  FIG. 1  using a specific hardware circuit or a combination of software and hardware. The device  1100  for receiving information includes the following components. 
     A providing module  1120  is configured to provide an identifier of an APP to a server, and the APP is an application having an APP unlock interface. 
     A receiving module  1140  is configured to receive information sent from the server, and the information is information corresponding to the identifier of the APP. 
     A showing module  1160  is configured to show the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. 
     In an embodiment, the providing module  1120  is configured to send a request for acquiring information to the server via an application-locking APP, and the request for acquiring information carries the identifier of the APP locked by the application-locking APP. 
     In an embodiment, the receiving module  1140  is configured to receive the information sent from the server via an application-locking APP. 
     In an embodiment, the showing module  1160  is configured to show the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP in a predetermined showing form, and the predetermined showing form includes at least one of the following showing forms: showing as a background image; showing as a background animation; showing as a background of a password input control; showing in the form of a webpage link; and showing as an APP dock. 
     In the device  1100  for receiving information according to the present embodiment, the server inquires information corresponding to the identifier of the APP, the information being information to be promoted and designated by an information promoter with respect to the APP. After the server sends the information to the target terminal, the target terminal shows the information in the APP unlock interface corresponding to the APP. It may solve the technical problem that an application-locking APP may be used only for locking and unlocking APPs, such that information may be shown in the APP unlock interface of the APP, and information relating to the APP may be provided to the user of the APP, thereby using the APP unlock interface as an effective information promoting window. 
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram of a target terminal  1200  according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, the target terminal  1200  may be a mobile phone, a computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a messaging device, a gaming console, a tablet, a medical device, exercise equipment, a personal digital assistant, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the target terminal  1200  may include one or more of the following components: a processing component  1202 , a storage component  1204 , a power component  1206 , a multimedia component  1208 , an audio component  1210 , an input/output (I/O) interface  1212 , a sensor component  1214 , and a communication component  1216 . 
     The processing component  1202  typically controls overall operations of the target terminal  1200 , such as the operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communications, camera operations, and recording operations. The processing component  1202  may include one or more processors  1218  to execute instructions to perform all or part of the steps in the above described methods. Moreover, the processing component  1202  may include one or more modules which facilitate the interaction between the processing component  1202  and other components. For instance, the processing component  1202  may include a multimedia module to facilitate the interaction between the multimedia component  1208  and the processing component  1202 . 
     The storage component  1204  is configured to store various types of data to support the operation of the target terminal  1200 . Examples of such data include instructions for any applications or methods operated on the target terminal  1200 , contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, video, etc. The storage component  1204  may be implemented using any type of volatile or non-volatile memory devices, or a combination thereof, such as a static random access memory (SRAM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic memory, a flash memory, a magnetic or optical disk. 
     The power component  1206  provides power to various components of the target terminal  1200 . The power component  1206  may include a power management system, one or more power sources, and any other components associated with the generation, management, and distribution of power in the target terminal  1200 . 
     The multimedia component  1208  includes a screen providing an output interface between the target terminal  1200  and the user. In some embodiments, the screen may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a touch panel. If the screen includes the touch panel, the screen may be implemented as a touch screen to receive input signals from the user. The touch panel includes one or more touch sensors to sense touches, swipes, and gestures on the touch panel. The touch sensors may not only sense a boundary of a touch or swipe action, but also sense a period of time and a pressure associated with the touch or swipe action. In some embodiments, the multimedia component  1208  includes a front camera and/or a rear camera. The front camera and the rear camera may receive an external multimedia datum while the target terminal  1200  is in an operation mode, such as a photographing mode or a video mode. Each of the front camera and the rear camera may be a fixed optical lens system or have focus and optical zoom capability. 
     The audio component  1210  is configured to output and/or input audio signals. For example, the audio component  1210  includes a microphone configured to receive an external audio signal when the target terminal  1200  is in an operation mode, such as a call mode, a recording mode, and a voice recognition mode. The received audio signal may be further stored in the storage component  1204  or transmitted via the communication component  1216 . In some embodiments, the audio component  1210  further includes a speaker to output audio signals. 
     The I/O interface  1212  provides an interface between the processing component  1202  and peripheral interface modules, such as a keyboard, a click wheel, buttons, and the like. The buttons may include, but are not limited to, a home button, a volume button, a starting button, and a locking button. 
     The sensor component  1214  includes one or more sensors to provide status assessments of various aspects of the target terminal  1200 . For instance, the sensor component  1214  may detect an open/closed status of the target terminal  1200 , relative positioning of components, e.g., the display and the keypad, of the target terminal  1200 , a change in position of the target terminal  1200  or a component of the target terminal  1200 , a presence or absence of user contact with the target terminal  1200 , an orientation or an acceleration/deceleration of the target terminal  1200 , and a change in temperature of the target terminal  1200 . The sensor component  1214  may include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. The sensor component  1214  may also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, for use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, the sensor component  1214  may also include an accelerometer sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor. 
     The communication component  1216  is configured to facilitate communication, wired or wirelessly, between the target terminal  1200  and other devices. The target terminal  1200  can access a wireless network based on a communication standard, such as WiFi, 2G, 3G, 4G, or a combination thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the communication component  1216  receives a broadcast signal from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel or broadcast associated information. In one exemplary embodiment, the communication component  1216  further includes a near field communication (NFC) module to facilitate short-range communications. For example, the NFC module may be implemented based on a radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, an infrared data association (IrDA) technology, an ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, a Bluetooth (BT) technology, and other technologies. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the target terminal  1200  may be implemented with one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, or other electronic components, for performing the above described methods for receiving information. 
     In exemplary embodiments, there is also provided a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions, such as included in the storage component  1204 , executable by the processor  1218  in the target terminal  1200 , for performing the above-described methods for receiving information. For example, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical data storage device, and the like. 
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram of a server  1300  according to another exemplary embodiment. For example, the server  1300  may be provided as a network side apparatus. Referring to  FIG. 13 , the server  1300  may include one or more of a processing component  1302  that further includes one or more processors, and memory resources represented by a memory  1304  for storing instructions executable by the processing component  1302 , such as application programs. The application programs stored in the memory  1304  may include one or more modules each corresponding to a set of instructions. Further, the processing component  1302  is configured to execute the instructions to perform the above described methods for sending information. 
     The server  1300  may also include a power component  1306  configured to perform power management of the server  1300 , wired or wireless network interface(s)  1308  configured to connect the server  1300  to a network, and an input/output (I/O) interface  1310 . The server  1300  may operate based on an operating system stored in the memory  1304 , such as Windows Server™, Mac OS X™, Unix™, Linux™, FreeBSD™, or the like. 
     Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present disclosure disclosed here. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure following the general principles thereof and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the present disclosure being indicated by the following claims. 
     It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to the exact construction that has been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosure only be limited by the appended claims.