Touchscreen Unlocking Gesture Inversion for Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing screen unlocking methods for electronic devices with touchscreens are either complex and difficult to use or insecure, as they often rely on easily guessable patterns or simple numeric/letter inputs, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects a user's intent to unlock the screen by extracting contact information from the device's storage unit, displaying specific attributes, and requiring the user to input a matching attribute value, such as a name or phone number, to unlock the device, thereby increasing security and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a preset slider is displayed and the user drags it to a specified position to unlock, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates because everyone knows this common unlocking process
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a common slider that moves horizontally, the patent inverts the unlocking gesture by requiring the user to draw a downward arrow (from top to bottom of the screen). This inverted gesture is less common and provides better security while remaining simple to execute, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and security.
2Reliability
If numerics or letters in a specific arranging manner are required for unlocking, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because the user needs to first create and memorize personal passwords
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential security element (the arrow gesture) from complex password systems. Instead of requiring users to create and remember numeric or alphanumeric passwords, the system uses a simple graphical gesture that is easy to perform but provides adequate security, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of typing passwords with a graphical touch gesture system. Users simply draw an arrow on the touchscreen rather than entering complex passwords, eliminating the need to memorize passwords while maintaining security through the uniqueness of the gesture pattern.
3Ease of operation
If a simple slide-to-unlock manner is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for additional touch detection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing touchscreen serve multiple functions: it displays information and detects the unlocking gesture. The downward arrow gesture is detected using the same touchscreen technology already present in the device, eliminating the need for additional sensors or mechanisms and avoiding increased device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device and a method for unlocking a screen of the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a screen and a storage unit. The method includes detecting, in a screen-locked state, intent of a user to unlock the screen; if it is detected that the user intends to unlock the screen, extracting contact information from the storage unit of the electronic device, where the extracted contact information includes a first attribute value and a second attribute value; displaying the first attribute value of the extracted contact information on the screen and prompting the user to input a second attribute value; and detecting an input of the user, and comparing the input of the user with the second attribute value; if the input of the user is the same as the second attribute value, unlocking the screen; and otherwise, maintaining the screen-locked state.