Touch-Lock State Management for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile devices with a touch-lock feature require complex gestures to unlock and activate user functions, making it difficult for users to inadvertently unlock the device and access information while in a locked state.

Innovation Solution

A mobile device that displays state information on the touch screen while in a touch-lock state, allowing users to easily recognize and manage information reception events, such as messages or calls, and partially unlocking the touch panel to enable intuitive touch events for unlocking or activating user functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a touch-lock function is implemented to prevent unintentional touch events, then device security is improved, but the device requires complicated gestures to unlock and activate user functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch-lock securityVSAvoidunlock gesture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is divided into multiple independent regions with different lock states. The first region can be unlocked independently from the second region, allowing users to access specific functions without fully unlocking the device. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing selective access that maintains overall security while enabling convenient operation of specific features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the touch panel are assigned different lock states and functionalities. The first region allows touch events when a first condition is met, while the second region requires a second condition. This local differentiation enables users to perform simple gestures in the first region for common operations while maintaining security in the second region, thus improving ease of operation without compromising overall security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a touch-lock state is maintained to prevent inadvertent unlocking, then device security is improved, but users cannot easily access information or activate user functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocked state securityVSAvoidinformation access efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is segmented into regions with different access conditions. Users can access information and activate functions in the first region by meeting the first condition, which is simpler than fully unlocking the device. This segmentation maintains the locked state security while improving information access efficiency for frequently used functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring full device unlocking for all operations, the system allows partial access to certain regions and functions by meeting partial conditions. Users can perform touch events in the first region without fully unlocking the device, enabling efficient access to commonly needed information and functions while maintaining overall security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If complex touch events are required to unlock the device, then security against simple gestures is improved, but the user interface becomes more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to simple gesturesVSAvoidtouch event complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch panel is divided into regions with different complexity requirements. The first region accepts simpler touch events for common operations, while the second region requires more complex gestures. This segmentation reduces the perceived device complexity for users while maintaining security through differentiated access control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions have different gesture complexity requirements tailored to their functions. The first region uses simpler gestures for frequently accessed functions, while the second region employs more complex gestures for sensitive operations. This local differentiation simplifies the overall user interface while maintaining security against simple gestures for critical functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3893095B1Mobile device having a touch-lock state and method for operating the mobile device
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3893095B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3893095B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3893095B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and electronic device for displaying a plurality of notifications, indicative of a plurality of information reception events on a lock screen via a display of the electronic device while the electronic device is in a lock state. In response to receiving a first touch input with respect to one of the plurality of notifications displayed on the lock screen, a form of the one of the plurality of notifications is altered to distinguish the one of the plurality of notifications from the rest of the plurality of notifications while the electronic device is in the lock state. In response to receiving a second touch input with respect to the altered notification, a transition occurs from the lock state to an unlock state and a user function corresponding to the one of the plurality of notifications is activated.