Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Vikram Kapoor

Shamik Bandyopadhyay

Kathryn C Lemson

Donald Allen Barnett

Veronica Y Law

Ahmad Bilal

Tirthankar Sengupta

Divya Tyamagundlu

G Eric Engstrom

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for allowing smart phone users to 'capture the moment' by allowing easy access to a camera application when a mobile device is in an above-lock (or locked) mode, while also preventing unauthorized access to other smart phone functionality. According to one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state comprises receiving input data requesting invocation of an camera application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and invoking the requested camera application on the device, where one or more functions of the requested application are unavailable as a result of the mobile device being in the above-lock state.

Above-lock camera access

The present application allows wake-up and unlock operations to occur using a single event, such as a single keystroke. Additionally, a check is made to ensure that activation was caused by human touch, not an object. In one embodiment, an area of a mobile device is designated as a wake-up area, which is separate from the touch screen. A user can touch the wake-up area to both activate the mobile device from a sleep mode and unlock the mobile device. In another embodiment, the wake-up area can be integrated into the touch screen, so that there is not an appearance of a separate button. Fingerprint checking and/or proximity sensors can also be integrated into the mobile device.

Prevention of accidental device activation

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Vikram Kapoor