Patent ID: 8244231

Claim:
A method for distinguishing between password entry and emergency call initiation at a mobile communication device comprising an input device, and a display device, said mobile communication device enabled to initiate emergency calls in a locked state, the method comprising: receiving password input data via said input device, when said mobile communication device is in said locked state, said password input data for unlocking said mobile communication device, said password input data comprising at least a sequence of characters for initiating an emergency call; in response to receiving said sequence of characters for initiating said emergency call, controlling said display device to provide a representation of instructions to initiate said emergency call upon receipt of emergency call initiate data from said input device; and controlling said display device to remove said representation of instructions and cancelling instruction to initiate said emergency call when either a next input in said password input data received from said input device, following said sequence of characters for initiating said emergency call, is any input other than said emergency call initiate data; and when said emergency call initiate data is not received within a given time period.