imax500 (Australia) Smartphone 'Handover' Screenlock Device Examples: - When using a smartphone a common desire for a user is to show another person a photo. - Often when transferring the phone to the second user there is an accidental touch of the touch screen by either the first or second user - Often the inadvertent touch activates a function that removes the desired photo from the display - Then there is a tedious process where the original user has to retrieve the phone and repeat the process The core of the invention is a capability to freeze the touch screen for the handover of the device. In this manner there is no inadvertent touch event during the handover. Freezing of the touch screen can mean: - Total lockdown of the touch screen so that no touch events are interpreted by the device OS - Or, partial lockdown of the touchscreen, so that, for example, the zone around the outside perimeter of the touchscreen does not register touch events, since it is this outside region that is most likely to experience inadvertent touches There are two key ways in which freezing of the touchscreen can be implemented - Automatically, where sensors in the device are used to monitor and detect a handover of a device from a first to a second user - Manually, where the first user implements an input that freezes the device for the handover function Time - The freezing of the device can be for a fixed period, designed so that the handover can be effected without issues. This fixed period can be a set time or user-defined, - Or for the whole period of time whilst the second user has the device - Or until either the first or second user implements a user input to unfreeze the device Automatic detection of the first and second handover events can include - Use of gyrometer sensors or other sensors that determine spatial position of the device - Use of camera sensors, front and back, for example to detect the position of the device with respect to the hand(s) and/or face(s) of the user(s) - Use of any other sensors in the device and any combination thereof Manual entering and/or leaving "handover" mode - A button that is pressed - A gesture that is made, possibly pre-recorded, and is used solely for this function - Voice command - Any other input possible into the device Apps - The "freeze" function may be used at all times, or only for certain apps which are more likely to contain content which is shared by users, eg photo apps - The user may be able to define which apps in which the freeze function is working |